Independence Mountains Area

Hawk chicks hanging around near Saval Ranch.

Jacks Peak (left) and Chicken Creek

SR 225  runs along the east side of the range. The only gas after leaving Elko is at Owyhee. There is a lot of private land in this area that might get closed off at any time. Posted 2015.

• SWALES MOUNTAIN el 8068 has a jeep road to the top. Turn off SR 225 at mp 39.1 and go west to a fork at a cattleguard reading N40 56531, W115 58228. The easy road ends here. The  right fork goes to the top but it's eroded. There was no one big thing to stop a jeep, but it will take all day. I rode a cycle to el 7250 where the road goes parabolic for the last half mile. The main tower on top has a hand crank so it can be raised. An array of household TV antennas is perched on the west side. Maybe they were picking up the Reno transmitters. Now the only thing working seems to be a radio repeater using 2 solar panels. Posted 2015.
• EAST TWIN BM el 7475 is in the southern part of the Adobe Range. It has a 4wd road to the top. Take SR 225 to the Adobe Ranchos Rd at mp 39.8. Follow the road up to the saddle between towers. The towers on the left have the BM. Posted 2015.
• NANNIES PEAK el 8780 has an OHV track to el 8300 on the SE side. Take SR 226 to mp 3.7. Turn south on a good road and go past the Reed ranch to a fork at N41 09450, W115 56861. The right fork goes to a big spring in 2/3 mile where I filled bottles. But take the left fork, now 4wd, and follow it around the base of the peak to the OHV track at 06873, 57326 el 7150. 4wds can go a short way up the track. I rode a cycle to el 8300. The summit is defended by brush on the east and north. Walk the crest from the south to stay left of the brush. The Lone BM is at 07587, 58574. There are roads going high north of the peak, but it looked like a lot of brush to deal with. That big spring is shown as hot but it's not. Posted 2015.
• ADOBE RANGE HIGH POINT el 8135 is not far west of SR 225. I turned off on the Coal Mine Rd at mp 59.6. I hit 3 gates in less than 2 miles so I got mad and found another way to cut over to the road but it was bad, so deal with the gates.  Coal Mine Rd goes over Coal Mine Pass and down to I-80. At the pass, take the obvious 4wd road going toward the peak. Right before a spring, go left on a faint track and park at the end el 7200. It's easy to angle up the west slope and get on the bald crest and walk to the reg at N41 06817, W115 42502. The whole hike takes an hour and a half with 1000 gain. The part of the Coal Mine Rd that I was on was in good shape. Posted 2015.
• WHEELER MOUNTAIN el 9054 has an easy 4wd road to el 8500 from the north. Turn off SR 225 at mp 63.5 and go west for 6 miles on a graded road. Take a right fork, FR 56868 , just before the Saval ranch.  Stay on that road all the way to the crest overlooking a huge pit mine. Creekside camps are 4 miles along the way then it turns to easy 4wd. Go south on the crest to the peak. I walked thru a notch at N41 17773, W116 01321 then up the ridge for less than half a mile  to the BM at 17604, 01728. There was some brush but it wasn't very hard to get thru. After that I rode a side road up to the 8600 level on peak 8826 a couple miles north of Wheeler. That's a decent road but grassy. On the ride out I stayed north on the crest to where the road splits 3 ways just south of a cell tower. I went far left for a tenth mile to another fork where I went right then on to CALIFORNIA MOUNTAIN at 23161, 57487 el 8524.  I didn't see a good road out from there so I backtracked to FR 56868 and was lucky to get traction on a steep hill. All the roads here were packed dirt. The ride/drive is the main attraction. A mtn bike would work as far as the crest. Posted 2015.
• DOUBLE MOUNTAIN el 8147 has a jeep road up the north ridge. Take SR 225 to mp 69.6 and turn at the sign for Double Mtn. Go about 4 miles on a graded road then turn north on a 4wd road that goes up Water Canyon. The reading there is N41 21420, W115 43945. Go north to a T at 25495, 43525 then go right onto the north ridge. I wouldn't take a 4wd any higher than a flat spot at 25666, 42736 el 7800. An OHV made it to the top. The BM is on the east summit. Posted 2015.
• DIVIDE BM el  7580 is not far east of SR 225. Three different 4wd roads go up. The north ridge is a good ride or drive. Turn off at mp 81.7 and go east on a graded road for about 1.6 miles then go right for nearly a mile to a fence. Go left along the fence on easy 4wd and then it starts climbing and passes thru the fence and goes up the north ridge to a rock outcrop  el 7350. Hike right over the outcrop then go left around the second one then climb back up to the ridge center and then it's obvious to the BM at N41 29998, W115 46411. It's about a 3/4 mile hike each way and an easy grade. Posted 2015.
• McAFEE PEAK el 10438 is the high point of the Independence Mtns. Turn off SR 225 at mp 82.3 and take the graded road that goes up the north fork of the Humboldt River. The graded road ends at a ghost mine then a lesser road continues on to the pass  el 7850 which is the 2wd TH. A steep but not eroded 4wd road goes up from there. Cycles can go over the pass to the creek and use an eroded road that goes up along the creek and merges with the road up from the pass. At el 8650 is a tricky fork. Stay left but I wouldn't take a 4wd past N41 32653, W115 58537 el 8900. Hike to the end of the road at el 9100 then angle up the slope aiming for a major saddle on the high ridge at 32013, 58402 el 9850. I stayed below talus as much as possible but couln't avoid all of it.  Go up the ridge and stay near center because there aren't any bumps to deal with. The reg is at 31300, 58407. I stayed on the ridge for the return but talus is on that route too. Snow was here into August. 3 and a half hours,  1600 gain. The best camps I saw were about a mile inside the forest boundary on a spur road. Some hikers are using the road up to the tower, but I couldn't find a public road across the private land. The likely road is at mp 76 but a sign says private. Posted 2015.
• JACKS PEAK el 10200 is a short hike but the prettiest in the range. A 4wd road goes up Chicken Creek to the 9100 level. Use the 2wd road (not graded) that cuts across the range north of the peak. I got on it from SR 225 at mp 82.3. Drive to N41 32273, W116 02027 el 7000 and turn south. Keep right at the one fork and park at the end of the road. A mtn bike would work but the road gains 2000 feet in 3 and a half miles. I went up into the saddle left of the peak then up to the summit at 29192, 00381. I came down the saddle right of the peak.  The hike took an hour and a half with 1100 gain. Many springs are near the end of the road. Cattle rarely wander up there. It looked like it would be easy to run the crest south to peak 9734. Posted 2015.
• TABLE MOUNTAIN el 7500 is 3 miles east of SR 225. Turn off at mp 88.8 onto an easy 4wd road. Keep right at a fork in half a mile then left thereafter to a hidden fork at N41 37032, W115 46219 el 6400. It shrinks to an OHV track and goes on 2 more miles almost to the survey junk on top at 37311, 44132. A mtn bike would work here. Posted 2015.
• MERRITT MOUNTAIN el 8792 has a jeep road up the east side. Leave SR 225 at mp 106.7 and go 3.3 miles on a good road to a fork. Go left there on road # 236 for a mile and a half to a another fork. The reading there is N41 49365, W115 53665. Go right there on road # 934, now easy 4wd, for several miles to a road on  the left at 51310, 49150 el 7700. Take that road to the top. It is rougher but a jeep wouldn't have a problem. The reg is at 52113, 50450 and the BM is a quarter mile south. A loop for cycles and OHVs can be done from SR 225 near Wild Horse Res. Start at mp 92 where there is RV parking. Go north on a graded road for a mile then turn left on road # 226. Soon comes a tricky fork but stay left and keep going several miles to a fork at N41 47970, W115 52254. Go right there on road # 935 for a bit over 2 miles to the fork with road # 934 mentioned above at N41 49365, W115 53665 then follow that route to the summit. Come back down to the fork at el 7700 and go left and then there is only one main road to follow all  the way to a T at road # 931 reading 53367, 46401. Go south there for miles to a T then go right a short way to another T at road # 226. Go left back to the start. This will all make sense once you're out there and can see the layout. The roads are rarely  rocky except the side road going to the summit. Posted 2015.
• PENNSLYVANIA HILL el 9100 has a jeep road to the top. Turn off SR 225 at mp 105.8 and go south on a graded county road for 7 miles to road # 590. The reading there is N41 42514, W116 00664 el 6000. The road goes to the 9000 level in 4 miles. Jeeps would still fit on it as of August 2015. The first quarter mile has some ruts across it. After that it's just a matter of traction. The road goes on past the BM for over a mile then drops down which is where I turned around. The forest map shows it goes down to the county road but there is a short stretch of posted private land right before the county road.
• PORTER PEAK el 9200 is one that has no public road up from the east side. The only hope for that one is the west side.
• WILSON PEAK el 8500 has a 4wd road from IL Summit to the east. Turn off the county road at the summit and follow the 4wd road to a fork at N41 36915, W116 10376 el 6750.  A private land sign is on the left about a mile in but the BLM map shows no private land at that spot. Go left at the fork for less than a fifth mile then start hiking up the ridge to the left.  There is some light brush to deal with but it soon thins out. The reg is at 36718, 11523. The hike took me 130 minutes with 1700 gain.  I could see an unmapped road coming up the SW side to the 7000 level. That might be a better route if it's not blocked. Posted 2015.

Schell Creek Range

Burnt Peak

Kalamazoo Peak

• CLEVE PEAK el 11768 is what I  call South Schell Peak's higher neighbor to the SE. The trail in the Cleve Creek north fork provides access.  It's the best hike in the range. Take SR 893 north from US 50 for a dozen miles and turn at the sign for the Cleve Creek Campground. Go thru the campground then keep going on easy 4wd for 5 miles up the main canyon to a sunny TH reading N39 15446, W114 36403 el 7400. Stay right at forks along the way. Mtn bikes would work but there are 3 shin deep fords. Hike the trail over into the north fork to a sheep camp. Go up the left bank nearly a fifth mile to a mega spring el 8900 where half the creek is gushing out of the ground. I can't think of a bigger spring in the state. Keep going up the easy canyon on game trails under a canopy of aspen. The next good springs are at 18654, 35501 el 9400. Next comes a major dry fork on the right at 18970, 35608 el 9700. Good springs are here too. I wouldn't camp any higher. Hike up the right fork to the last good spring at 19341, 35417 el 10200 then keep going up canyon to the main saddle el 10800 between Cleve Peak and S. Schell Peak. Turn right for 900 feet gain to the summit at 19467, 34676 where someone, likely sheepmen, built the best rock chair ever.  It took me nearly 5 hours with 4500 gain to the summit. I kept going on the rocky ridge to Black Mountain, which had nothing on it, then down the south ridge at 16308, 33651 el 10500 to the campground. There was no brush, but too many rocks caused it to take 6 hours. That route down is for mad dogs only. I went wrong by staying on the south ridge. I should have gone down the south ridge then veered left down a side ridge at 14989, 33279 because it has a track coming way up it. The high ridges were covered with tiny, fragrant flowers on tundra between the rocks. I would call the Forest Service to check on sheep before backpacking in here. It's certainly one of the best destinations in the state. Posted June 2015.
• The KOLCHECK TRAIL is another hike in Cleve Creek canyon. Drive the same as Cleve Peak but only go 3 and a third miles past the campround and park at the TH reading N39 14202, W114 35557 el 6900. The trail goes left of a closed road. It tops out in a nice forest on the crest after 3000 ft gain. Walk the shady crest for a third mile to a peak I call Rocky Top at 12905, 37467 el 10150. 5 hrs, 3200 gain. Hardcore hikers can make a loop back via the Kolcheck Mine. Hike west on the crest, use the left side at first. Aim for a saddle at 13274, 38169 el 9900. A game trail can be used to continue along the left side of the crest. Another trail is further along at 13662, 38657. Don't drop off the crest until 14092, 38567 el 10400. Go down here on a steep ridge and aim for the mine road at 14590, 37742 el 8600. A cliff is just before the road. I went left around it. Going left on the road leads shortly to the mine, going right is the way back. The mine still has rails. Structures were built with logs instead of milled wood. The mine road goes down a canyon and connects with the Cleve Creek Rd about a mile up from the start. 7 hours, 3800 gain for the loop.
• TAYLOR PEAK el 9400 is the first major peak north of US 50. A 4wd road goes to the east saddle el 8700. Take SR 893 to mp 3 then go 7 miles on a decent dirt road up Cooper Canyon to Cooper Meadows reading N39 97256, W114 38610 el 7200. Turn left and keep left of a corral and go along the left side of the meadows then the road gets steep and 4wd for sure. Stay on the main road all the way to the east saddle. It's only a one hour hike and 700 gain. The reg and BM are at 05476, 39270. The roads are mostly packed dirt. Mtn bikes would easily work to the meadows, but beyond there would entail a lot of pushing up steep grades. The road goes on thru the saddle and down to US 50 at mp WP 52, but I didn't ride it.  From the meadows, the main 4wd road going north goes over a pass to the state park. A right fork at 10067, 38404 el 8200 is the one that goes to the towers on Cave Mountain el 10700. Posted 2015.
• O'NEAL PEAK el 10097 is the northernmost 10,000 footer in the Snake Range. It makes a good cycle ride or 4wd tour from Cleve Creek Cg. Take SR 893 to mp 17.9 and go east across the valley on a graded road to the main graded road on the east side that runs north/south. Go north for 7 and a half miles to the Eightmile road just before a ranch. The reading here is N39 22503, W114 21356. That easy 4wd road goes to the crest and was in good shape, but there was a rocky mile. Follow the first road going north on the crest until it fizzles in about 6 miles at el 9600. A shady camp is about 2 miles along. The peak is a mile away from the end of the road but 2 minor bumps are in the way. Hike to a table at 26225, 17151 el 9800 and walk that level along the right side of bumps to the BM at 26744, 17269. The hike took an hour and a half with 500 gain and was in a nice forest the whole way. A road runs south along the east side of the crest from the Eightmile road to the Fourmile road. It's easy to follow until a tricky fork at 20463, 14505. Both forks go, but since right is shorter I took that one but it turned out to be rocky. So try left and it too will go to the rim at 19304, 16497 el 9000. Now it's a steep descent down Fourmile Canyon to the main graded road. The hike and 75 mile ride took me 5 and a half hours. The roads on the crest were mostly packed dirt and frequently rutted, but no problem for 4wds. It might be better for cycles to reverse this and come down Eightmile as it seemed less steep. Posted 2015.
• TAFT CREEK turnoff is at mp 21 on SR 893. The road ends at the mouth. It's way too rocky so forget it. But somebody drives up there, so there must be a brothel or something. Posted 2015.
• McCOY CREEK turnoff is at mp 23.6 on SR 893. A decent 4wd road goes 2 and a half miles to a creekside camp. The road goes to hell after that. Posted 2015.
• PIERMONT CREEK turnoff is near mp 33 on SR 893. An easy 4wd road goes about 6 miles to the wilderness boundary at el 8300. Down trees were blocking the last tenth mile. Nice creek and no cattle. Posted 2015.
• KALAMAZOO  CREEK turnoff is at mp 38.3 on SR 893. A 2WD road goes 3 and a half miles to a campground that was trashed by cattle. What a stink. A skunk wouldn't camp there. I found one good spot up past the restroom. The road goes on another 5 miles to a pass el 9000 then on down to US 93.  Posted 2015.
• KALAMAZOO CREEK SOUTH FORK - this is a dry fork but there is one spring I call Frenchman Spring and the best looking forest I saw in the whole range. Drive a mile and a quarter up from the Kalamazoo campground and park at the south fork. Walk a couple hundred feet to an old trail on the left bank reading N39 33657, W114 36297 el 7300. Go up canyon a mile and a half.  It's easy at first then fallen trees have to stepped over or walked around. At 32535, 36727 be sure to stay on the left bank. At 32358, 36733 el 8200 is where the spring stream is coming down  the right slope. Cross over and start up the right slope following the stream. At 32324, 36879 el 8400 is the first engraved aspen I saw. It read " Vive la France 1923". Beyond that a few feet is the water source in a small clearing and not safe to drink without treating. Many artistically engraved trees are here going back to 1921. Treat it like a rock art site and DON'T add your name. There is a good view of the upper canyon and Kalamazoo Peak.  It' obvious to return on the open slope at that level then after half a mile a major fork is in the way. Just go down the easy rim back to the main canyon and it's a mile back to the start. There is some light brush but with long pants it didn't slow me down a bit. 3 hours, 1100 gain. Posted 2015.
• KALAMAZOO PEAK el 10948 (3337m) is what I call the peak at the head of the Kalamazoo Creek south fork, in the northern part of the High Schells Wilderness. It has the most dramatic summit face in the range. The north ridge is one route. Drive a mile and a quarter up from the Kalamazoo campground and park at the south fork. Walk a couple hundred feet to an old trail on the left bank reading N39 33657, W114 36297 el 7300. Go up canyon nearly 2 miles.  It's easy at first then fallen trees have to stepped over or walked around. At 32535, 36727 be sure to stay on the left bank. At 32358, 36733 el 8200 is where the Frenchman Spring is coming down  the right slope.That would have to be treated if you're camping there. Cattle don't wander up that far. Keep going on the left bank a bit more to 32221, 36716 el 8300 then start up the left slope. Go up to 32039, 36525 el 8900 then to a rim at 31925, 36344 el 9600 then top out on the north ridge at 31849, 36186 el 10000+. Now turn right toward the peak but there's a minor bump in the way. Walk level along the left side for a quarter mile to get past it and then you can see the rest of the route. Go up staying below the crags until a final grassy slope leading to the summit at 30893, 36416. It took me nearly 4 hours with 3700 gain to get there. I was in a fir forest the whole way until near the summit. I made a loop by going back to the campground via the north ridge. It's easy to walk the ridgetop but the downhill part is steep as hell. At 32864, 35691 el 9900 is where I started down "golf ball gully". I found a ball near there. The gully is very steep dirt under the trees. I angled down to a viewpoint at 33025, 35740 el 9300 where I could see a bald ridge just ahead. Game trails got me on it then it drops right to the campground. The loop hike took 7 and a half hours. This is the best hike in the range that is in a real wilderness. There was a little bit of knee high grass and other soft plants but no serious brush. I once tried this via the NW ridge from the pass but crags near the top meant taking a big dip so I got discouraged. Posted 2015.
• MUNCY PEAK el 9450 is what I call the dramatic peak on the south rim of Muncy Creek, shown on maps as MM NO 2.  It's an easy hike from the west. Drive up creek from the Kalamazoo campground for nearly a mile to the north fork which has a creek flowing. Take the 4wd road up that to a divide with a cattleguard at el 8600. Turn right there and go to the end at a saddle el 8900. A big bump is in the way, so hike around the right side in some light brush to a saddle at N39 35543, W114 36237 el 9050. Now it's easy going up the ridge under big trees along the edge of the burn. There are no more bumps worth skirting. The ridge tops out at 3 peaks at about el 9500. Muncy has the view you want at 35586, 34998. 3 hours and a little over 1000 gain if you do all 3 peaks. Easy. Posted 2015.
• MUNCY CREEK is near mp 40 on SR 893 where pavement ends. It burned and I was told the road washed out. I skipped it. I could see from a peak above that it's a barren wash. Posted 2015.
• AURUM turnoff is 8 miles past the end of pavement on SR 893. The reading is N39 42921, W114 32075. It's 3 miles to Silver Canyon where a cemetery remains. A new sign tells how an avalanche killed some residents in 1884. The road goes up canyon for 2 miles to a basin with a fir forest and log cabin ruins at el 8600. It's easy 4wd but brushy.I saw no water. You could hike straight up to Siegal BM or use a mine road el 9200 on the south side of the canyon to get at the BM. SUNKIST is another site to the south with a creek but not much else. SNOWBANK CANYON has an ATV trail up it.  Posted 2015.
• SIEGEL CREEK turnoff is 9 miles north of the end of pavement on SR 893. The reading is N39 43421, W114 32157. It's a decent road that soon merges with a better one and goes for a dozen miles along the east slope and joins the graded road just east of Schellbourne Pass. It's mostly packed dirt but there are a couple of 4wd spots. An OHV track forks off at 46687, 36260 el 7500 and goes up a ridge then goes up onto a higher ridge and on to the crest at the head of McCurdy Creek. Some mines are there and a cycle trail going south. The OHV track goes down the west side to the Schellbourne Ranch then down to US 93. Posted 2015.
• NORTH LOVELL PEAK el 9600 has an easy 4wd road up into the west saddle el 8500. Use the good dirt road running along the east side of the Schell Creek Range and turn at N39 51039, W114 33317. The road runs north then west along the north rim of Spring Gulch. Drive up into the canyon ahead and keep left at forks and the road will top out at the west saddle.  The reg is at 51530, 38983. It's easy to run the bald crest south for 3/4 mile to LOVELL PEAK. Cooley's Cabin is along the drive in but it's just log cabin ruins. Posted 2015.
• BECKY PEAK el 10000 caps the north end of the range. An easy 4wd road goes up to el 9000 on the NE ridge. Use the good dirt road running along the east side of the Schell Creek Range and turn west at N39 55567, W114 31854. Stay on that road and it goes up Box Canyon and all the way up to the NE ridge. Hike up the bald ridge but don't stray too far left like I did and get into brush where a big fat rattler was waiting. That must have been Becky. The reg is at 58301, 36174. 2 hours, 1100 gain. Posted 2015. 
• BALDY PEAK el 9360 is the high point of the Antelope Range. Use the good dirt road running along the east side of the Schell Creek Range and turn east at N39 59133, W114 30915. Drive to the first main fork in the range. A sign there says "Tunnel Canyon" is to the right. Keep right and now it's 4wd. Stay on the main road until it tops out at el 8500. Turn left there and drive to the end at the west saddle el 8800. It's a half mile to the reg and Smoothie BM at 57851, 23792. The main dirt road drops down the east side then comes back up and runs along the crest for 8 air miles to a T which is the Pony Express route. Turning right there takes you over Rock Springs Pass and back out. That was all easy 4wd and the best part of the trip in 2015. The map shows a road climbing up the crest from the head of Chin Creek. That looks interesting.
• An OHV track just east of Shellbourne Pass goes up to the crest at el 8800 just south of Lovell Peak. Turn north off the graded road at N39 48811, W114 37688 and go about an air mile to Garrett Canyon. Go up that canyon to the crest. It's a 45 minute walk up the crest to Lovell Peak and 20 minutes more to North Lovell. Nice ride. Posted 2015.
• McMAUGHN CANYON turnoff is west of Shellbourne Pass at N39 48232, W114 40588 el 6900. An easy 4wd road goes 3 and a half miles up canyon then goes parabolic up the right slope. The road is packed dirt so a mtn bike would work to the 8100 level then it would be a short hike to the Lovell peaks. Some ranch ruins and springs are in there. Posted 2015.
• SIEGAL BENCHMARK el 10200 is in a cluster of peaks south of Schellbourne Pass. Whiteman Creek has a road but a ranch might lock it off at any time. The jeep road up Mattier Creek is smoother. Use the old highway on the west side of the range to get to a fork at N39 41202, W114 44476. Drive up into the canyon and stay left at a main fork at el 7050. Stay on the main road to another fork at 42136, 38693 el 8200. Go left and keep going up to the crest where the road goes to the saddle el 9850 south of the peak. A track goes from there most of the way to the BM at 43047, 37520. Whiteman Peak is what I call the 10000 footer a mile to the NW. A foot trail on the crest runs along side it. Cycles and ATVs will have a smooth ride on these roads but 4wds will have 2 wheels in a rut, mostly above the 8600 level. Getting to the 8200 level is easy but brushy. It wouldn't be a hard hike from there. No cattle or horses in this area.  Posted 2015.
• BIG INDIAN CREEK is a main route onto the crest. A good road goes up the shady canyon about 4 miles to the 8000 level then climbs out and goes 4wd. It meets the Ranger 4wd Trail on the crest. I went north on that to the north fork of Mattier Creek where the road shrinks to a foot trail at el 9000 and drops in. I was able to ride a 125 down to an ATV track then get on the road up to Siegal BM. The south fork of Mattier has an ATV track coming down from the Ranger Trail. One peak to do in this area is the one at N39 41945, W114 37496 el 10300.  The first 4 miles in Big Indian Canyon would make for a good mtn bike ride. Posted 2015.
•  NORTH SCHELL PEAK - from Mcgill, go north about 5 miles on  US 93 to the paved Duck Creek Road. Take that for 8 and a half miles and turn left at the sign for Timber Creek Campground. Go 4 miles on bumpy 2wd thru the campground then to roads end on 4wd in about half a mile after the campground. A couple of good camps are here at 9000 ft. Hike up the trail in the left fork. Above timberline, forget the trail and get on the ridge to the left and then go on to the top at N39 24812, W114 36010 el 11800. 4 hrs, 2800 gain. 
• SOUTH SCHELL PEAK is a short hike. Drive the same as North Schell but don't turn off the Duck Creek Road. Stay on it going south for nearly 2 miles to the end of pavement. Turn left for 5 miles on the graded Berry Creek Road to a campground. Now it's easy 4wd to the end at 9400 feet. Mtn bikes would work but strenuous. I filled up at a gushing spring at N39 19018, W114 37102. Then I went up to the right on a game trail. When that fizzled I came back left into the trees to another trail at 19011, 36907 and kept going north to a saddle at 19541, 36359 el 11100. From there it's an easy stroll north for 3/4 mile to the summit el 11700+. 3 hours, 2400 gain. 
• CLEVE CREEK BALDY has a trail most of the way. Drive to Cave Creek State Park but don't turn in at the entrance. Instead,keep going north to Success Summit. Then go another quarter mile down the other side to a sharp left turn. Now go right for a mile on a 4wd road to a camp spot at the end el 9500. Hike up the canyon on a rocky trail to timberline then go up the easy slope to the reg at N39 15621, W114 38776 el 10940. 2 hours, 1500 gain. Nice easy hike. If you really want to wuss out,you can drive to the top of CAVE MOUNTAIN el 10700. Drive thru the state park. I never pay to drive thru. Go on up canyon and turn left after 3 miles and go up on an easy 4wd road. This is the highest in the state that the average SUV can make it.

• MAJOR BM, SCHELL BM el 9900+ is the first major peak south of US 50. Two good routes go up from near Buck Spr. Take US 50 to mp WP 54.9 then turn SE on a good road. Go 4 miles to a main fork and go left for 8 miles on a good road to a road on the left forking backwards at N38 54352, W114 41424 el 7500. This is the road up the canyon with Buck Spring, but only OHVs use it. I rode to the end at 53287, 39477 el 8400. A mtn bike would work here.  A trail from there goes up canyon a short way then you can cross over to the left slope and just keep going up to the Major BM at 54311, 37659 with a good view to the east. The reg is on the high point just before the BM. Schell BM, a few feet lower, is an easy half mile walk to the west. That route up is a nice hike with no brush. 4 hours, 1600 gain. 4wds should avoid Buck Spring canyon and stay on the main road another half mile to get on the south rim road. I didn't ride it, but I know it fades at 53075, 39777 el 8400. It looked easy to walk up the rim from there and it merges with the other route. I filled up with cold water from the spring. Posted 2015.
• MOUNT GRAFTON el 10990 is the highest peak south of US 50. The unsteepest route is an elk route that goes up the north ridge. There are two ways to get at the north ridge. Take US 93 to mp WP 1.3 and take a good dirt road for a mile and a third to forks at a gate. Straight ahead goes to the standard TH el 6800. The next fork to the right of that goes to Campbell Spring el 7150 which is where I started. That road is 4wd for 4 and a half miles with some tricky ruts. From the spring, go up canyon on a trail which enters a left fork in a fifth mile. It's a shady walk up that fork to where the canyon opens up at el 7900. There is brush here but not too hard to get thru on a million animal trails. The ridge I went up is at N38 43487, W114 44839 el 8300. The forest starts at el 8500 then there is no more brush. There is a bump in the way at el 9200, but a trail goes around the right at 42945, 45094. The next crag has an obvious trail around the right. The trees get thick so aim for 42496, 44972 el 9500 where you can stay left of dense aspen. Now peak 10109 is the next thing. Elk are getting around it on the right on trails at 42318, 44977 el 9700. Go up on various trails to a main trail at 42171, 44919 el 10000 then it's obvious the rest of the way to the BM at 41531, 44546. 7 and a half hours, 3900 gain. The first third mile of this hike is in a burn area. The spring had a small, clear flow from a pipe. The other way to get to the north ridge is the road in Robbers Roost Basin. A major road runs across the north end of the basin. A decent road runs south from that at 50317, 46617 for 6 miles to the closure at el 8050 with some shady camps.There is only one main road to follow. 2wd trucks might make it if they can get past the first tenth mile. I didn't hike the closed road, but the map shows it has some dips. I could see that it went as far as the saddle el 8750 due west of peak 8785. This would likely be the easiest way though it is a mile longer each way. Posted Sept 2015.
• PATTERSON BENCHMARK el 10063 is the southernmost 10000 footer in the range. A mine road goes to el 9700, OHVs can get to el 9500. Take US 93 along the east side of the peak to a big sign for Patterson Pass. Turn onto a graded road and go nearly 4 miles to the mine road reading N38 35684, W114 42766 el 6965. Only OHVs can fit on the road but it's not eroded. It tops out on the west side of the summit at el 9500. Two overgrown roads fork left from there. Take the higher one to el 9700 then go straight up and then along a spine of bedrock to the BM at 37117, 43838. If I had no OHV, I would hike up the mine road then go down the south ridge to the pass. A free semi-shady OHV campground is about a mile in from the highway. There is no rule that says you have to have an OHV to camp there. Posted 2015.
• SILVER KING MOUNTAIN el 7851 is at the south end of the Schell Creek Range. Take SR 318 to mp NY 9.7 and go SE on a graded road for about 9 miles to Silver King Pass. Hike to the mouth of the north canyon at N38 13691, W114 53188 el 6400. There are 2 ways to go. Either up the ridge to your right, which is the NW ridge, or up canyon. I went up canyon to the saddle at 13108, 52906 el 7000 on the NE ridge. Then I went on up the ridge. There's a cliff in the way at el 7500. I went up along the left side then got back on top of the ridge and on to the Black Cone BM at 12747, 53336. I returned down the NW ridge to the mouth of the canyon. 2 and a half hours, 1500 gain. The hike is in a nice pj forest the whole way. Posted 2015.
• BURNT PEAK el 7189 is a conical pile of loose rocks at the southern tip of the Schell Creek Range. The NW slope is a decent route. Take SR 318 to the Bristol Wells Rd at mp LN 46.4. Go east about 2 and a half miles to an easy 4wd road at N38 07313, W114 57795. Follow that road toward the peak. Stay right at forks near the peak. The last turnaround for 4wds is at 10261, 55367 el 6400, just short of the NW saddle. I hiked from the saddle and stayed under the rock field then angled up to a game trail at 10183, 54907 which led me to the surveyor junk on the summit. 1 hour, 800 gain. Mtn bikes would work here. This little pipsqueak peak isn't so tough. I showed it who's boss. Posted 2015

Southeast Nevada Peaks

Black Cliff  BM

Shingle Peak

Schoolhouse Peak

• ADAMS BENCHMARK el 9612 is the highest peak in the South Egans Wilderness. NINEMILE MOUNTAIN el 8990 is west of it. Maps show a trail along the west side of Ninemile Mtn. That is now a steep ATV trail. Take SR 318 to gravel pit at mp WP 2.4. Turn in there and follow the 4wd road running SE. You'll come to a corral and a BLM sign with a map. Go south shortly to a fork and take the right fork and it will go to the mouth of Ninemile Canyon where it shrinks to an ATV track. The track goes up to a fork at N38 40770, W114 59969 el 8400. Left shortly ends at el 8500 on the west shoulder of Ninemile Mtn as shown on maps. It's only 500 gain to the summit of that one. The right fork, which is unmapped,  loses 400 feet to an unmapped spring then goes back up and ends just past West Parker Spring el 8500. That spring was useless.  From there there is a trail to walk for a half mile toward the peak. Then go to a viewpoint at 40348, 58654 el 8750 where you can see the west ridge. It has a 200 foot deep saddle out of view. But circling left cuts it to 100 feet. To do that, go up thru a lovely fir forest to a minor saddle at 40362, 58078 el 9300. Go thru then walk level toward the deep saddle at 40086, 57981 el 9200. You'll see when it's time to drop 100 feet to it. Then go up to the BM at 39992, 57685. The whole hike from the spring took me 3 hours, 8 minutes and 1400 gain on the ascent, 300 gain on the return. Another option for Adams is the ATV track going to Head of Ninemile Spring. It's not as steep.  If I were backpacking, I would follow the trail on the map to the west shoulder of Ninemile Mtn then cut over to the unmapped road at dry West Parker Spr.  Then go down the road a third mile to the unmapped spring at el 8000 to reload. Then go back up the road on on toward Adams BM. Hike the BM as a side trip then go down to Head of Ninemile Spr wich had a good flow from a pipe. Then take the unmapped ATV track from there which goes over into Sheep Pass Canyon then walk out thru the Box Canyon narrows on smooth gravel. The creek in Ninemile Canyon was flowing at 42340, 59819 el 6500.  The unmapped spring at el 8000 had a flow of one quart per minute from a pipe and Head of Ninemile had a larger flow.  Nobody goes in there until hunting season. No cattle were in there on June 15, 2015. The other way in is from Long Canyon to the east. Drive to the Shingle Pass Rd at  mp NY 25.6 on SR 318. Go north on the main road for 15 miles to a good road going left at N38 38139, W114 50635. Go left there along the north side of Haggerty Wash to a ranch. The road goes along the fence on the north side of the ranch. I stopped there, but the rancher said the road goes on to Long Canyon and is 4wd. Posted 2015.
• ARROW CANYON PEAK el 5226 is what I call the high peak in the Arrow Canyon Range. US 93 runs right next to the range. Just park near the ascent canyon which is at N36 39086, W114 53996. I went to mp CL 77.2 to get on the power line road. That saved a half mile each way but took longer. Go up the canyon to the main saddle el 4300. It's easy to go up the ridge from there until some dark crags get in the way at el 4700. Angle up around the right side and soon a route appears to get on top then stay on center to the reg at 39800, 53239. 4 and a half hours, 2500 gain from the power lines. Posted 2015. CLIFF BM el 3598 is at the north end of the range. Take SR 168 to mp CL 5.2 and go south for 2 miles on easy 4wd to a T. Walk to N36 45970, W114 52245 and go up the ridge to the BM at 45507, 53050. 2 and a half hours, 1500 gain. Posted 2015.
•  BADGER MTN, TIKABOO PEAK- Take US 93 to mp LN 32.2 and turn west on the Badger Valley Road. Go about 5 miles to a main fork. Both go, but the sat image shows the right fork is not graded. I went left on the graded fork. It makes a big loop south then enters Badger Valley. Keep going NE to dry Badger Spring at el 6700. The road gets worse here. Keep going past the spring junk for a half mile to where the road makes a hard left. It's not worth trying to drive beyond here unless you have an OHV. For Tikaboo, walk the road to the end in a quarter mile to the foot trail at N37 20829, W115 20850 el 7100. The trail goes parabolic to the 7600 level then loses over 100 feet before the final push to the reg at 20658, 21536 el 7900. 2 hours, 1300 gain. Don't expect a nature hike. The route is littered with cans, bottles, foil, fire rings, painted rocks and a million ribbons. It's the trashiest hike I ever took and I didn't even get to see any UFOs. Badger Mtn is the same TH. Hike north into a saddle at N37 21148, W115 20723 el 7000. Then go up the  ridge and angle left into another saddle at 21320, 20330 el 7600. Now circle left to the reg at 21099, 19565 el 7900+. Posted 2015.
• BLACK CLIFF BM el 8589 is at the northern tip of the Seaman Range. The NW ridge goes. Take SR 318 to mp LN 49.1. Go west on a graded road for nearly 10 miles over a pass to a corral. Keep going another mile to a 4wd road. Go left for nearly a mile to a  fork. Go right a third mile to a T and park el 6200. Walk to the NW ridge at N38 04178, W115 07559 el 6500. Go right up the center of the ridge until crags get in the way at 03837, 06659 el 7900. Then go along the right side of the crags until you walk into an obvious gully that goes up to the summit ridge el 8300. It's a stroll from there thru a nice forest to the BM at 03838, 06100. 4 hours, 2400 gain. Mtn bikes would work on the 4wd  road. An unused road goes in from east of the pass. Walking that would add 3/4 mile each way. Posted 2015.
• BURNT PEAK el 7189 is a conical pile of loose rocks at the southern tip of the Schell Creek Range. The NW slope is a decent route. Take SR 318 to the Bristol Wells Rd at  mp LN 46.4. Go east about 2 and a half miles to an easy 4wd road at N38 07313, W114 57795. Follow that road toward the peak. Stay right at forks near the peak. The last turnaround for 4wds is at 10261, 55367 el 6400, just short of the NW saddle. I hiked from the saddle and stayed under the rock field then angled up to a game trail at 10183, 54907 which led me to the surveyor junk on the summit. 1 hour, 800 gain. Mtn bikes would work here. This little pipsqueak peak isn't so tough. I showed it who's boss. Posted 2015.
• DELAMAR MOUNTAINS WILDERNESS, MAR BM el 6181- the western edge of the wilderness is a high escarpment that is the most appealing area for hiking. Mar BM el 6181 is the high point along the cliff edge. An ATV track runs up the canyon to the north of point 6050. That can be used for a one way hike back to the highway. Leave 1 car at a gravel pit at mp LN 19.1 on US 93, then drive to the graded Turtle Walk Rd at mp LN 25.1. Go a half mile to a gravel pit then keep far right on graded road and go another 2.8 miles to an easy 4wd road, just past tower 97 / 1. Go south for 2/3 mile to a T. Go left a fifth mile to the ATV track, but it's better to keep going past it for a third mile and walk over a low ridge at  N37 12882, W114 59552 and get into the main wash with the track . Walk up the track in the sandy wash for about 3 miles then go up a canyon at 13189, 56209. It's easy going to a guzzler at 12701, 55700 el 4900. The one tank I looked in had clear water. Stay on the left bank for another quarter mile then cross to the right, then back and forth as needed. A dry fall is in the way at 12128, 55919. Boulders get dense before that so you might as well get up on the right slope to get past it all. At the top of the fall you're on the easy plateau. I stayed in the wash keeping the high slope to my left and got to the escarpment edge at 10977, 56851 el 6000. Then it's an easy stroll for 2 miles along the edge, passing over Mar BM at 10219, 56321. All the wood there must have been flown up in 1969. How many people have ever hiked up here? I went south to a viewpoint at 09384, 56505 el 5700 where I could see a route down the ridge. I went on down to 09209, 56970 el 4800 and could see smooth ridges below me. I followed those to a crag 09146, 57412 el 4400 then dropped into the canyon on the right and got down to the flats where I walked to the gravel pit. 8 hours, 13 miles, 2700 gain, very little gain is steep. May is the time to go. I saw a million mallows on top. A peculiar "trail" is at 10535, 56598 and may be fire related. BOMBER WASH is the longest canyon in the wilderness and has a sandy 4wd road up it. Take US 93 to mp 13.3 and get on the old highway. Go south for a mile and a half and turn left at the sign. It's 10 miles up the wash to the fence at the end of the road.  Posted 2015.
• EAST PAHRANAGAT RANGE HIGH POINT el 6388 is an easy hike. Take SR 375 to mp LN 41.6. Go south for 4 miles on a good road then it turns to easy 4wd. Keep going another mile to a brushy track at N37 25053, W115 18769 el 5500. I easily rode my cycle a half mile to the end of the track el 5700, staying left at one fork along the way. I went up the canyon then circled north up to the ridgetop then south to the reg at 25207, 17820. I came down south on a steeper route. 1 hour, 700 gain, some light brush. This would be a good mtn bike ride. The first 5 miles only gains 140 feet per mile. Posted 2015.
• FOSSIL PEAK el 6400 sits right next to SR 318. The NE ridge is the way. Drive to mp LN 17.4 then go west on a graded road for a third mile. Then turn south for 1.7 miles to a road going west. Take that and park where it passes the tip of the NE ridge. The ridge has minor bumps on it that pose no problem. The reg is at N37 43415, W115 11057. I retreated to 43671, 10981 where I could see a  route down into the north canyon. I went on down, moving left a little, and walked cow trails back out. 4 hours, 2100 gain. Posted 2015.
• MEADOW VALLEY MOUNTAINS high point el 5700 is informally known as Cathedral Peak. Take US 93 to mp LN 7.6. Turn onto the graded Kane Springs Rd and go nearly 11 miles to a short side road at N37 02984, W114 50170. You can see the entire route from here. Walk to a minor ridge at 02407, 49379 el 3250. Follow that as it swings left and goes all the way to the main canyon mouth. Go up canyon until walls close in at el 4600. Here it's best to use sheep trails up on the left bank. When those fizzle out you come back to the creekbed and it really goes parabolic. Aim for the main saddle at 01688, 47666 el 5200. Now go up the easy ridge to the summit block. A class 3 crack on the SW side at 01860, 47573 is the easiest route up. It's not dangerous. 5 hours and 6 minutes, 2800 gain. Plane wreckage is along the way. I found a pair of Craftsman locking pliers clamped on one piece. An RV pullout is along the graded road nearly a mile in from US 93. Posted 2015.
• MOUNT IRISH el 8700 is the high peak in the Mount Irish Wilderness. It  has a standard route up the south ridge. Take SR 318 to a gated road at mp LN 3.2 or go north for 3/4 mile to another road with no gate. It soon merges with the other road. Go about 7 miles to a main fork at the petroglyph area. Keep left and go another 5 miles to Logan Pass el 7200. A short spur road goes to a camp spot. The whole road to here is bumpy and the last mile is easy 4wd. Hike up the ridge from the pass. It goes parabolic right out of the gate. Go on up  to a plateau at el 8100. Use a break in the cliffs at N37 38059, W115 24336 to get on it. Then walk thru the lovely forest to a viewpoint at 38234, 24288 el 8250. From there you can see the rest of the route. 3 hours, 1500 gain. A jeep road goes up the SE ridge to el 7400. Jeeps could still make it as of 2015, but it's for those who like a wild ride. The Silver Canyon Rd is decent and makes a good loop around the peak for cycles and 4wds. I went around to one of the north canyons to see if I could ride into ponderosa pines. At about the 7000 level I came to pines and some mine cabins. The road is washed out beyond there, but I walked it to the 7700 level. That would be a route to the 8600 peak. I was able to keep circling west on decent roads and came back thru Logan Pass. On the way back to SR 318 is the turn for the Shaman walking tours at N37 36491, W115 22652. The Many Sheep panel is there. REED PEAK el 7580 is what I call the high peak in the southern part of the wilderness. Take SR 375 to mp LN 43.2. Go north for 7 and a half miles to a cabin at Reed Spring at the end of the road. The road had recently been bladed, but sand makes it 4wd. I went up the ridge from the spring, but it's steep. Try driving back a  tenth mile from the spring and go up that canyon. The peak is at N37 33983, W115 25283. The whole hike takes less than 2 hours with about 1000 feet of gain. Pj forest all the way. The spring had a tiny flow. Posted 2015.
• SAWMILL PEAK el 9474 is at the north end of the South Egans Wilderness. Drive to mp WP 12.8 at the north end of Lund. Turn east on dirt and go to a T. Go left and the easy 4wd road soon swings west into Sawmill Canyon. About 3 and a half miles up the canyon is a fork. Go right and the road climbs to the pass at 8500 ft with a shady little camp spot. Delorme maps incorrectly show the peak is half a mile west of the pass and 900 ft up. You have to go over that one to the real one at N38 53376, W114 55418. There is a good view point at N38 53185 W114 54650. It took me 45 mins one way. Take long pants. The dirt road in is about 10 miles and bumpy. This peak rises about 4000 ft over Lund. Updated 2015.
• SCHOOLHOUSE PEAK el 9580 is what I call the peak at the head of Schoolhouse Canyon in the South Egans Wilderness. The north ridge goes. Take SR 318 to mp WP 7. Two crude roads go east from there. Take the northern one for nearly 3 miles to a shady camp on the edge of Schoolhouse Canyon el 6400. 2wd trucks might get there. Hike up canyon half a mile then start up the slope at N38 48401, W114 57410 el 6700. Aim to the left of cliffs and top out on the north ridge at 48302, 57032 el 7600. Go up the ridge a short way to the cliffs then stay left of center to get on top. Now there are no hidden saddles or bumps to deal with all the way to the summit at 46860, 57326. It would take a level to tell if the knob a few feet north is higher. 5 hours, 3200 gain. It's shady most of the way. The canyon route might work for a loop. I could see a nice forest down there. Higher roads come in from the east, but it's an ugly burn area. Posted 2015.
• SEAMAN RANGE HIGH POINT el 8606 is also the high point of the Weepah Spring Wilderness. Take SR 318 to mp LN 24.5. Go NW on a good road a bit over 7 miles to a main fork. Both go to the TH in 3 or 4 miles, but left was in better shape that day. Go left then right at the next main fork and the road will shrink to a crude track at el 6400. Some 2wds would make it here. Go a quarter mile on the crude road to the wilderness boundary. Look up at all the talus in the southern drainage of the peak. If you're going up or down that route, keep to the east side of the drainage. Luckily there's a wuss route that goes up the east canyon into the NE saddle. Walk the old road into the east canyon and stroll up that to the 7000 level. A ponerosa pine and corral are there. Go up the ridge there at N37 58961, W115 05063. The ridge levels off at 7550 then move left to the drainage at 59032, 05636. Now go straight up under the big pines into the NE saddle el 8150. Then walk under more pines to the reg at 58844, 06085. I went down the south drainage on the east side of the creekbed. It saved a mile but I doubt it saved any time because of all the rocks. 5 hours, 2300 gain. Posted 2015.
• SHINGLE PEAK el 9823 is the highest peak in the Far South Egan Wilderness. The north canyon is the way. Take SR 318 to mp NY 25.6 and go east on a graded road for 5 and a half miles to a corral at Shingle Spring el 6400. Hike to a logger trail at N38 31984, W114 56239 and walk it into the canyon. Go up canyon and use a path on the right side at 31730, 55982 el 6800. Stay on the right side, sometimes up on the bank, but don't stray up any side draws. Then at el 7000 cross over to the logger trail on the left side reading 31549, 55715. There are segments of the trail along the way to a major fork at el 7900. Go up the ridge on the right side of the right fork. The reading here is 30966, 54826. It's 2000 feet of gain in a mile, but it's a nice route under the big trees. The reg is at 30495, 55668. 6 hours, 3400 gain. I read that some hikers had trouble with brush. I wore long pants as far as the 7300 level then never wore them again all the way up and back to the start. You can start out in long pants then stash them.  They're dead weight for sure after el 7900, but they can save some weaving to that point. This peak is not to be confused with the Shingle BM just to the north, shown as Shingle Peak on some BLM maps. The shadiest camp I saw along the road is on the left a mile past the spring. Posted 2015.
• SILVER KING MOUNTAIN el 7851 is at the south end of the Schell Creek Range. Take SR 318 to mp NY 9.7 and go SE on a graded road for about 9 miles to Silver King Pass. Hike to the mouth of the north canyon at N38 13691, W114 53188 el 6400. There are 2 ways to go. Either up the ridge to your right, which is the NW ridge, or up canyon. I went up canyon to the saddle at 13108, 52906 el 7000 on the NE ridge. Then I went on up the ridge. There's a cliff in the way at el 7500. I went up along the left side then got back on top of the ridge and on to the Black Cone BM at 12747, 53336. I returned down the NW ridge to the mouth of the canyon. 2 and a half hours, 1500 gain. The hike is in a nice pj forest the whole way. Posted 2015.
• SUNNY BENCHMARK el 8824 is a major peak in the Far South Egan Wilderness. The east ridge is the route up. Take SR 318 to a 4wd road at mp NY 16.7. There is only one main road to follow. It goes up Trough Spring Canyon then north to a pass el 6800 with a shady camp. I went up the easiest looking ridge at N38 24750, W114 57582 el 7000. It tops out on the main ridge then it's less than half a mile south to the BM at 24998, 58575. 4 hours, 2100 gain. You're in a pj forest the whole way. The reg, placed in 1990, had no more entries until 2014. And it was the same person. Peculiar rock alignments are few feet south of the BM. Helipad? Posted 2015.
• WHITE RIVER BM el 6221 is the high point of the Hiko Range. The long north ridge is an easy route. Take US 93 to a good road at mp LN 60.4. Go north for 4.1 miles to an easy 4wd road reading N37 38648, W115 04954. Go west on that for at least 4 and a half  miles and park at el 4950. Or go another half mile to an ATV track on the left and walk that to the 5200 level then go up the north ridge to the reg at 39521, 10002. I started at the 4950 spot and the hike took me 2 hours with 1300 gain. I found out I could have easily rode my cycle on the ATV track to the 5200 level. It's too rocky beyond there. The track goes to a guzzler at el 5400, but hiking from there would be steeper. Posted 2015.

Seaman Range, White River Petroglyphs

White Rock Spring above and below

Several public rock art sites are in the White River Narrows along SR 318. RVs can park at a gravel pit at mp LN 24.6 where there is a Vz cell tower in sight. Ash Springs, Alamo and Lund have gas.

• WHITE RIVER NARROWS - there are 3 main petroglyph sites in the section that the highway bypasses. Take SR 318 to mp LN 23.9. Turn east on an easy 4wd road and stay left at main forks. It runs north parallel to the highway for 2.2 miles then deadends at the highway. The fence panel is a mile in on the right. A half mile past that on the left is the Martian panel. More panels are at the end of the road, almost to the highway fence. Go back to the first main fork in from the highway. Go right  for a third mile and 3 sites are in that area. That road goes on into a sandy canyon but I saw nothing in there. More panels are in the section of the narrows that the highway runs thru, but vandals got to them. The MEGA SITE is the northernmost site. Drive to mp 27 and go north on a crude road for nearly a mile along the cliff base. That road goes on north for another mile to join the highway near mp 29. Mtn bikes would be handy on these dirt roads.
• SEAMAN RANGE HIGH POINT el 8606 is also the high point of the Weepah Spring Wilderness. Take SR 318 to the Weepah Rd at mp LN 24.6. Go NW on the good road a bit over 7 miles to a main fork. Both go to the TH in 3 or 4 miles, I went right that day. The road goes to a T on a ridge. Right goes to Weepah Spring (4wd), but you want to go left and the road will shrink to a crude track at el 6400. Some 2wds would make it here. Go a quarter mile on the crude road to the wilderness boundary. Look up at all the talus in the southern drainage of the peak. If you're going up or down that route, keep to the east side of the drainage along the creekbed. Luckily there's a wuss route that goes up the east canyon into the NE saddle. Walk the old road into the east canyon and stroll up that to the 7000 level. A ponderosa pine and corral are there. Go up the ridge there at N37 58961, W115 05063. The ridge levels off at 7550 then move left to the drainage at 59032, 05636. Now go straight up under the big pines into the NE saddle el 8150. Then walk under more pines to the reg at 58844, 06085. I went down the south drainage on the east side of the creekbed. It saved a mile but I doubt it saved any time because of all the rocks. 5 hours, 2300 gain. Weepah Spring was just a slow drip into a mudhole trashed by cattle. Posted 2015.
• OCEANA SPRING is in the southern part of the range. Major dirt roads allow for a good loop for cycles and 4wds.  Start on the Weepah Rd at mp LN 24.6 on SR 318.  Go about 4 and a half miles on the dirt road to a major fork. Go left for several miles to a T. Go right for 2/3 mile to another another major fork. The right fork goes to the spring in less than a mile reading N37 55050, W115 09098. Water was coming out of a pipe, but I didn't trust it. Back on the main road, keep going east to a T which is the Weepah Rd where you go right to get back. Sand on these roads is the main reason to need 4wd. Another spring a half mile north of Oceana had nothing. Posted 2015.
• WHITE ROCK SPRING is near the highway. Drive SR 318 to mp LN 30 and go west on a 4wd road. It's washed out in half a mile.  Walk on up the canyon for 10 minutes and you'll see the spring thicket on the left. Use the rocky slope to the right of it to circle to the source where it's gushing out of the cliff. I thought it would be dry since there was no sign of grazing, but it's the best spring I've seen in the whole state. It took me 20 minutes to walk to it. Posted 2015. SEAMAN SPRING is at the south end of the range. 4wds can still get there, but there isn't much to see. It has a cottonwood tree, a puddle, and water dripping out of a pipe. No grazing there in 2015.
• TIMBER MOUNTAIN el 8450 is in the central part of the range. It is not named on USGS maps, but is named on other maps and google earth. One way in is the long NE canyon. The hike starts out in a pj forest then ends in a majestic pine forest on top. Take SR 318 to mp LN 45.3. If the gate is locked, you have to go nearly 2 miles south and cross a cattleguard. Then stay far right on a road that comes back north to join the locked one. The bumpy 4wd road goes to mines at the edge of the range. Just before the mines is a 4 way. Go left along the foot of the range to the end of the road at N38 02666, W115 03198 el 6100. Hike a trail up canyon over a mile then veer right into a main right fork at 01550, 03665 el 6600. There is a faint trail to use in this fork too. Go up to a main fork at 00918, 04640 el 7100. There are several ways to go from there. I went up the left fork but dense trees slowed me down. Later I could see that the ridge between the forks might be the best way to get to the north saddle at 00510, 05037 el 7750. Then it gets steep to the north end of the elongated summit at 00263, 05039. My GPS showed the south end as being slightly higher. It's easy to walk to the south end but there's one little block in the way. Go over it, not around it. I returned on the NE ridge to a saddle at the 7000 level then dropped left back to the trail. A horse skull was on the ridge at 00356, 04766. 5 hours, 2400 gain. If I were going to take a 4wd in there, I would camp out under the pinyons and hike the second day to Black Cliff BM. This is strictly for those who like to camp and hike in the middle of nowhere.  Posted 2015.
• BLACK CLIFF BM el 8589 is at the northern tip of the Seaman Range. The NW ridge goes. Take SR 318 to mp LN 49.1. Go west on a graded road for nearly 10 miles over a pass to a corral. Keep going another mile to a 4wd road. Go left for nearly a mile to a  fork. Go right a third mile to a T and park el 6200. Walk to the NW ridge at N38 04178, W115 07559 el 6500. Go right up the center of the ridge until crags get in the way at 03837, 06659 el 7900. Then go along the right side of the crags until you walk into an obvious gully that goes up to the summit ridge el 8300. It's a stroll from there thru a nice forest to the BM at 03838, 06100. 4 hours, 2400 gain. Mtn bikes would work on the 4wd  road. An unused road goes in from east of the pass. Walking that would add 3/4 mile each way. Posted 2015.

Pahranagat Valley

The Shooting Gallery

Pahranagat NWR has a shady campround on the valley floor along US 93 at mp LN 34.9. That makes a good hub for a week of hiking. There is no water but no fee. Fires are not allowed. Alamo is 4 miles north. The Sinclair has a full grocery. The street next to the Sinclair goes west to a laundromat and a park with a faucet. The county publishes a guide to 5 rock art sites in the area. Just google "lincoln county rock art". Floods hit the area in May 2015, right as I was leaving. That means road conditions have changed from what I wrote. Posted 2015.

• BIRD BM el 5889 is a big crag at the northern tip of the Sheep Range. An easy route goes up the east side. Use the northern entrance south of Alamo at mp LN 31.8. Drive a short way to the Pahranagat visitor center then take a right fork. Follow the main road for 14 miles to a hill of black boulders. The road is packed dirt and sand, not too many rocks. 4wd might be needed in some spots. Hike to a canyon at N37 06901, 10096 el 4300. Go up that to a right fork at 05987, 09730 el 4900 then go up that to the BM at 06023, 10256. I followed the cliff edge down the main north ridge on the return.  4 hours, 1900 gain. Posted 2015. The first 3 or 4 miles of this road were roughed up by a flood in May 2015.

• TIKABOO PEAK, BADGER MTN, BADGER  VALLEY LOOP- a graded road can be used to make a loop on the west side of the valley. There are some steep spots that might need 4wd. Take US 93 to mp LN 32.2 and turn west on the Badger Valley Road. Go about 5 miles to a main fork. Both go, but the sat image shows the right fork is not graded. I went left on the graded fork. It makes a big loop south then enters Badger Valley and the first main fork at N37  15712, W115 14638 offers 2 options. Go right if you're skipping the peaks, or go left like I  did and keep going NE to dry Badger Spring at el 6700. The road gets worse here. Keep going past the spring junk for a half mile to where the road makes a hard left. It's not worth trying to drive beyond here unless you have an OHV. For Tikaboo, walk the road to the end in a quarter mile to the foot trail at N37 20829, W115 20850 el 7100. The trail goes parabolic to the 7600 level then loses over 100 feet before the final push to the reg at 20658, 21536 el 7900. 2 hours, 1300 gain. Don't expect a nature hike. The route is littered with cans, bottles, foil, fire rings, painted rocks and a million ribbons. It's the trashiest hike I ever took and I didn't even get to see any UFOs. Badger Mtn is the same TH. Hike north into a saddle at N37 21148, W115 20723 el 7000. Then go up the  ridge and angle left into another saddle at 21320, 20330 el 7600. Now circle left to the reg at 21099, 19565 el 7900+. To continue the loop drive, go back to the spring then go another 3 and a half miles and take a left on a graded road. An obvious side road will take you up to towers for a view. Keep going north on the main road to the turn for the Shooting Gallery petroglyph site at N37 21320, W115 16330. That crude road goes a quarter mile to a fence. Just walk the old road downhill to the main canyon and the rock art is on boulders on the west side of the main canyon. The graded road continues on north and drops back to the main valley floor. Keep left at a main fork on the valley floor to get to Alamo. I had about 45 miles of dirt road. It's a good ride for dual sport cycles. Posted 2015.

• EAST VALLEY LOOP- a graded goes to dry Delamar Lake then on south back to US 93. Take US 93 to Alamo Canyon Rd at mp LN 36.1. Stay on the main road for 14 miles to the lake. Petroglyphs are along the road at a point on the lake's edge. Then get on the power road on the east side of the lake. Cut across the lake if it's dry. Follow the V shaped towers south. At wooden pole # 100 / 5 is where the 4wd road goes north and circles west to the towers on peak 5888. A gate about a mile in was crashed. If it's fixed, that's the end of that side trip. Keep following the main graded road to get back to US 93 at mp LN 25.1. The graded loop is about 30 miles.

• SOUTH PAHROCS WILDERNESS - a 4wd loop can be made around the wilderness with a side trip to climb the Hyko BM on  the high peak. Take US 93 to Alamo Canyon Rd at mp LN 36.1. Stay on the main road for about  11 miles to a main fork reading N37 21864, W114. Go left for nearly 2 miles to another main fork. Graded road ends here. Go left for nearly 7 miles along the base of the range to the side road for Twin Springs at N37 27944, W115 00826. Go left here for half a mile to a camp area  el 6200. There is an occasional easy 4wd spot to deal with on the last 7 miles to get here. A route up a bald ridge is obvious. Hike on up the road and it soon shrinks to an ATV track. I left the track and went up the easiest grassy slope on the right and followed the bald ridge to the summit ridge. It's easy to walk the summit ridge until a third mile from the BM where boulders get dense. Stay on ridge center until that no longer works. I found a decent route thru the boulders and ducked it. I saw another ducked route. At the summit block, go around the left to the north side to walk up to the reg and BM at N37 29007, W115 01821 el 7948. 3 and a half hours, 1700 gain. This is a grassy hike. Everything else burned off. The spring had a small flow.  I rode back out the same way but the road goes on north to US 93 in about 10 miles. Posted 2015.

• CAMPGROUND HIKE, PEAK 4845 - the refuge is so small that there aren't any hikes but a high peak is across the highway from the campground. Start at the restroom a fifth mile north of campsite #1. Go up the wash and across the highway. Stay in the wash as it passes thru a narrows then go left to a ridge at N37 18589, W115 06571 el 3800. Go up that long easy ridge to the summit at 19417, 06014. There is one minor dip at the 4000 level on the ridge. On the return, I came back down to that and dropped to the right and walked that canyon back out. 3 and a half hours, 1500 gain. A nice hike on a pristine peak. Posted 2015.

• CAMPGROUND MTN BIKE LOOP - a 17 mile loop can be done from the campground. Ride from the south end to the visitor center road. Then get on the highway and go a tenth mile to a one lane graded road on the east side. Take that road and stay left on every graded road, though some of it hasn't been graded in a while. After about a dozen miles you come back to the highway at mp LN 36.1. Then it's a bit over a mile back, but there is no paved shoulder. Never steep. Posted 2015.

• ALAMO BM el 5131 is the high peak just east of town with the letter P painted on it. Take US 93 to Alamo Canyon Rd at mp LN 36.1. Go 3 miles then turn left on another graded road. Go 2 miles then hike up the left slope to the rim at N37 22090, W115 06434 el 4900. Go across a shallow valley then up to the BM at 21879, 07134. 2 hours, 1200 gain. An easier route for trucks is from the north. Drive another 2 miles to a crude road going left up a wash. The reading here is 23432, 07350. Drive a mile up that and it fades at el 4400. Walk from there up the canyon and the peak soon comes into view. The graded road goes on nearly 5 miles to Alamo, but there is a quarter mile of deep sand. This loop would make a good mtn bike ride. There is a dozen miles of lonely dirt road and 3 or 4 miles on the highway, but there is no paved shoulder. Posted 2015.

• DELAMAR MOUNTAINS WILDERNESS, MAR BM el 6181- the western edge of the wilderness is a high escarpment that is the most appealing area for hiking. Mar BM el 6181 is the high point along the cliff edge. An ATV track runs up the canyon to the north of point 6050. That can be used for a one way hike back to the highway. Leave 1 car at a gravel pit at mp LN 19.1 on US 93, then drive to the graded Turtle Walk Rd at mp LN 25.1. Go a half mile to a gravel pit then keep far right on graded road and go another 2.8 miles to an easy 4wd road, just past tower 97 / 1. Go south for 2/3 mile to a T. Go left a fifth mile to the ATV track, but it's better to keep going past it for a third mile and walk over a low ridge at  N37 12882, W114 59552 and get into the main wash with the track . Walk up the track in the sandy wash for about 3 miles then go up a canyon at 13189, 56209. It's easy going to a guzzler at 12701, 55700 el 4900. The one tank I looked in had clear water. Stay on the left bank for another quarter mile then cross to the right, then back and forth as needed. A dry fall is in the way at 12128, 55919. Boulders get dense before that so you might as well get up on the right slope to get past it all. At the top of the fall you're on the easy plateau. I stayed in the wash keeping the high slope to my left and got to the escarpment edge at 10977, 56851 el 6000. Then it's an easy stroll for 2 miles along the edge, passing over Mar BM at 10219, 56321. All the wood there must have been flown up in 1969. How many people have ever hiked up here? I went south to a viewpoint at 09384, 56505 el 5700 where I could see a route down the ridge. I went on down to 09209, 56970 el 4800 and could see smooth ridges below me. I followed those to a crag 09146, 57412 el 4400 then dropped into the canyon on the right and got down to the flats where I walked to the gravel pit. 8 hours, 13 miles, 2700 gain, very little gain is steep. May is the time to go. I saw a million mallows on top. A peculiar "trail" is at 10535, 56598 and may be fire related. BOMBER WASH is the longest canyon in the wilderness and has a sandy 4wd road up it. Take US 93 to mp 13.3 and get on the old highway. Go south for a mile and a half and turn left at the sign. It's 10 miles up the wash to the fence at the end of the road.  Posted 2015.

• DOUBLE BM el 6372 is on the SE shore of Delamar Lake The north ridge is easy. Take US 93 to the graded Turtle Walk Rd at mp LN 25.1 then go half a mile on that road to a gravel pit. Stay far right on the graded road for 10 miles to the lake. Then turn right on the lake bed to get to where I parked reading N37 18699, W114 55434 el 4600. Hike south up the valley to the north ridge at 17506, 54735 then on to the BM at 16557, 53966. 3 and a half hours, 1800 gain. Stay alert and you'll see something of interest on this route up. It would be easy to keep going on the high ridge for 3 miles to peak 6193. MINE BUTTE el 5136 is also along the Turtle Walk Rd. A mine road goes to the 4800 level. At the gravel pit, stay in the wash along the right side and go 2 and a half miles to a fork reading N37 13544, W115 00443 el 3800. Go left and now it's a jeep road. Drive it as far as you can then walk to the end and up to the surveyor junk on top at 14437, 01363. I rode my 125 to the 4700 level just short of the mine. I saw nothing to stop jeeps from getting there, but the last half mile on the  ridge top starting at the 4400 level is very rocky. Posted 2015.
• HELLS ACRES GULCH is east of Ash Springs. Turn off US 93 at mp LN 44.2 and go nearly 4 miles on a graded road to shady camps at the mouth el 4300. I walked up high on the right bank until cliffs got in the way then moved to the creekbed which had a flow. It was easy to work around minor falls then it leveled off with smooth sand. But that didn't last as trees got dense but it was easy walking on the left bank. I came upon an Indian rock ring at N37 28025, W115 06409 el 5000. Then I came to a main fork at 27980, 06121 el 5100. I went right for a quarter mile then up to the high ground between the forks, but it might be less bouldery to use the left fork. I crossed over the right fork and climbed out of the canyon at 27411, 05833 el 5650 then over the rim to another canyon at 27407, 05920 el 5700 and went down that to a passage on the left at 27453, 06205 el 5550. I went thru that to the next canyon and stayed in that all the way to the rim el 5000. Then I walked north on the rim to 27242, 07345 el 5000 where I could see down a gully to the bottom then it was half a mile back to the start. That loop took 5 hours with less than 1000 of strenuous gain and a lot of class 3 boulders to deal with, nothing scary. There is light brush. The high plateau has nice parks studded with pinyon and juniper. ALTERNATE - an easier loop can be done around the north side. Walk north along the base on a bad jeep road and go up a wash at 28772, 07838 el 4600 and follow it into a small basin with a rock ring at 28706, 07523 el 4750. Keep going up canyon until it opens up and walk an OHV trail then veer south in a cove and over a saddle at 28219, 06452 el 5200 which puts you in the Gulch then just go downstream to the start. None of the gain is steep. The jeep road has faint petroglyphs.                          Posted 2019.
• PEAK 5583 is a high peak in the Hiko Range south of US 93. Turn off US 93 at mp LN 45 and go up a major wash. Or use the road thru the petroglyph site third mile to the north and it comes into the wash. At a fork in the wash reading N37 27833, W115 10833 take the right fork up onto the high ground an go nearly 2 miles to the end in a  canyon. A bad jeep road is there at 28820, 09991 el 4000. It goes up to the base of Table Top Mtn but I used it on the return. I went up the main canyon to faint petroglyphs at 29685, 09821 el 4350 then kept going to the south saddle at 30278, 10649 el 4900. I followed the easy ridge up to the reg at 30708, 10757. 3 sheep were along the way. I retraced back and went left up a fork at 29569, 09793 el 4250 and stayed in that until a jeep road at 29250, 09148 el 4400. I went south on that and stayed south to shortcut a loop on the road then Table Top came into view and I went over that then down the road to the start. That took 5 hours with 1000 noticeable gain. The canyons are bouldery but easy to weave thru. Posted 2019.

• MOUNT IRISH el 8700 is the high peak in the Mount Irish Wilderness. It  has a standard route up the south ridge. Take SR 318 to a gated road at mp LN 3.2 or go north for 3/4 mile to another road with no gate. It soon merges with the other road. Go about 7 miles to a main fork at the petroglyph area. Keep left and go another 5 miles to Logan Pass el 7200. A short spur road goes to a camp spot. The whole road to here is bumpy and the last mile is easy 4wd. Hike up the ridge from the pass. It goes parabolic right out of the gate. Go on up  to a plateau at el 8100. Use a break in the cliffs at N37 38059, W115 24336 to get on it. Then walk thru the lovely forest to a viewpoint at 38234, 24288 el 8250. From there you can see the rest of the route. 3 hours, 1500 gain. A jeep road goes up the SE ridge to el 7400. Jeeps could still make it as of 2015, but it's for those who like a wild ride. The Silver Canyon Rd is decent and makes a good loop around the peak for cycles and 4wds. I went around to one of the north canyons to see if I could ride into ponderosa pines. At about the 7000 level I came to pines and some mine cabins. The road is washed out beyond there, but I walked it to the 7700 level. That would be a route to the 8600 peak. I was able to keep circling west on decent roads and came back thru Logan Pass. On the way back to SR 318 is the turn for the Shaman walking tours at N37 36491, W115 22652. The Many Sheep panel is there. REED PEAK el 7580 is what I call the high peak in the southern part of the wilderness. Take SR 375 to mp LN 43.2. Go north for 7 and a half miles to a cabin at Reed Spring at the end of the road. The road had recently been bladed, but sand makes it 4wd. I went up the ridge from the spring, but it's steep. Try driving back a  tenth mile from the spring and go up that canyon. The peak is at N37 33983, W115 25283. The whole hike takes less than 2 hours with about 1000 feet of gain. Pj forest all the way. The spring had a tiny flow. Posted 2015.
• ALAMO CANYON is what I call the canyon 5 miles due west of Alamo. There are 3 rappels up to 100 feet and it's all downhill. There are shuttle options depending on how much driving you care for. From the Sinclair in town, we drove west on Broadway for .6 mile to Park, then right for .4 mile to Lincoln, then left for .3 mile to a major dirt road. We took the dirt road for 2 and a half miles where the road makes a jog to the right. We left one truck there reading N37 22703, W115 13234. Then we stayed on the main road for another 1.8 miles to where it merged with another main road at the mouth of a canyon. That other road is the best way out at the end of the day. We drove up into the canyon where the road becomes 4wd then climbs steeply up the left slope and exits the canyon. We stayed on the main road to a crude road reading 22075, 16110 about 5 and a half miles from where we left the lower truck. We parked then walked down the crude track and stayed right at a fork to get in the south arm of the canyon. The first drop is bolted  then there are some minor drops that 2 people can help each other down. Next are 2 short rappels close together using the same anchor. The canyon opens up to the last rap which is the big one and mostly mid air. We anchored from a chokestone in a right side crack. A 300 foot rope doubled over got us down with several feet to spare. It's likely a bit over 100 feet. A tiny pipe spring is at the bottom. We walked over a mile on easy flats to the lower truck. This canyon is smooth gravel and the big rap can be bypassed. All anchors except the bolts had been washed away, but big rocks were available to restore the 2 missing anchors. The minimum needed is a 150 foot rope and pull cord, 30 feet of webbing. It took us 3 and a half hours to get from truck to truck,  about 4 miles, but will take less next time. It would be hard to get trapped in this one.  Posted October 2015 

Giant sheep at Mt Irish

Many Sheep at Mt Irish