Keystone Thrust Summit from Willow Spring | Red Rock Canyon, Nevada
Summit the Keystone Thrust from Willow Spring in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. Touch Two Additional Wilderness Areas: Rainbow Mountain Wilderness and La Madre Mountains Wilderness. Route goes along the North side of White Rock Mountain, up to La Madre Spring, past Miner’s Cabin and on to Keystone Thrust summit.
Kyle Canyon Grand Crossing Northern Half | La Madre Mountains Wilderness, Nevada
The Kyle Canyon Grand Crossing North is the Northern half of the larger Kyle Canyon Grand Crossing which begins at the intersection of Kyle Canyon and Harris Springs Roads, ascends to the El Bastardo Mountain area on the Keystone Thrust above Red Rock Canyon, then descends to Red Springs Desert Oasis in the Calico Basin. This Northern half of the adventure takes you to the saddle between Burnt Peak and El Bastardo Mountain on the Keystone Thrust Ridgeline, looks down to Red Rock Park and contemplates various routes into the park below before returning to the starting point on Kyle Canyon Road. Highlights include a walk though the beautiful La Madre Mountains Wilderness camping, navigating numerous rocky plateaus through the wilderness up the Burnt Peak approach ridge, exploring a section of the upper Keystone Thrust and seeing spectacular 360-degree views all along the route. Route details: 20 Miles + RT / 4500-7900ft; *Some Road, Mostly Wilderness* Click image or title above for more…
Kyle Canyon Grand Crossing Southern Half | Red Rock Canyon NCA, Nevada
This is the Southern half of the Kyle Canyon Grand Crossing from the intersection of Kyle Canyon and Harris Springs Roads in Kyle Canyon, up over the Keystone Thrust and down to the base of White Rock Mountain in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. The entire Kyle Canyon Grand Crossing gives an experience of the La Madre Mountains Wilderness and Red Rock Canyon. In addition, there are views of the Sheep Range, Gass Peak, Mt. Charleston Wilderness, Rainbow Mountains Wilderness, Las Vegas Valley including the Strip and many points beyond. But this Southern portion of the route included what can be seen from the Keystone Thrust in Red Rock Canyon. Route details: 10-15 miles RT; **Some trails, mostly wilderness** Click image or title above for more…
La Madre Mountain Eastern Approach from Red Rock Park, Nevada
The Eastern approach route will begin following the same path as the Southern approach route starting at the Sandstone Quarry parking area (Turtlehead Peak trailhead). From there head up Red Rock Wash and circle around the upper end of the Turtlehead Peak ridge system into Calico Basin, cross the upper Calico Basin, circle around the East end of the Keystone Trust and finally ascend the North side of La Madre Mountain.
It’s important to note that as with the other routes up La Madre Mountain, this route is quite the marathon and the most limiting factor will be enduring the distance and altitude gain. Image: Damsel Peak from La Madre Mt. East approach. Route description: 28 mi / 4306-8000ft; *Wilderness, No Trail* Click image or title above for more…
La Madre Mountain Northern Approach from Kyle Canyon | La Madre Mountains Wilderness, Nevada
The La Madre Mountain Northern approach route moves deep into the beautiful La Madre Mountain Wilderness to summit La Madre Mountain from the Kyle Canyon/lower Harris Springs Roads intersection. The plant life undergoes a change from the Joshua Tree forest to pine and juniper trees. From the La Madre Mountain Summit one can see the entire Las Vegas Valley to the East, Red Rock Canyon to the South, Mt. Charleston Wilderness, Rainbow Mountains and Potosi Mountain to the West and Gass Peak and the Sheep Range to the North. There is too much more visible from La Madre Mountain summit to list here. Route details: 25 mi / 4500-8000ft; *Some Road, Mostly Wilderness* Click image or title above for more…
La Madre Mountain Southern Approach from Red Rock Canyon | La Madre Mountains Wilderness, Nevada
La Madre Mountain is 8,154ft in elevation. It is the highest central feature of the Keystone Thrust, the cliff system that spans the rear area of Red Rock Park in Nevada. The La Madre Mountain Southern approach, from a distance, looks impossible as you’re facing a sheer cliff wall between 1000 and 2000 feet high. However, as you approach the base of the cliff from Calico Basin it’s evident that there is a passage between the two peaks. The summit view is amazing featuring Las Vegas Valley with Lake Mead across and to the East, Gass Peak and the Sheep Range to the North, spectacular views of Mt. Charleston Wilderness to the East and the awesome total expanse of Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area and Calico Basin to the Southwest. Route details: 22 mi / 4306-8000ft; *Wilderness, No Trail* Click image or title above for more…
La Madre Mountain Western Approach from Red Rock Canyon NCA | La Madre Mountains Wilderness, Nevada
This is my favorite approach to La Madre Mountain due to the beauty of the terrain and the scenery. You begin in the scenic Willow Springs area (ample parking available), circle around between the Keystone Thrust Cliffs and White Mountain. Head up through the La Madre Springs area, pass an old Miner’s Cabin, then ascend to the top of the Keystone Thrust (the cliff system at the back of Red Rock Park). At the top take a right and travel along the very top of the Keystone Thrust ridge to La Madre Mountain. Route Details: 28 mi / 4306-8000ft; *Wilderness, No Trail* Click image or title above for more…
La Madre Mountains Wilderness High Elevation Perspective | La Madre Mountains Wilderness, Nevada
Standing on a high point just West of the Devil’s Slide (also referred to at the La Madre Mountain Scar), I was able to view the exact spot where the Southern Pass emerged from between the La Madre Mountain and El Padre Mountain cliffs originating in Calico Basin. At the same time I was able to look West along the top of the Keystone Thrust to see where the Western Approach originating in the Willow Springs area of Red Rock Park emerged at the summit of El Padre Mountain. Finally, looking North I was able to see the entire Northern approach route originating at the intersection of Kyle Canyon Road and Harris Springs Road. In short, this was an experience in “connecting the dots” in the La Madre Mountains Wilderness. Route Details: 21 mi / 4500-7800ft; *Some Road, Mostly Wilderness* Click image or title above for more…
La Madre Mt, El Padre Mt, Burnt Peak | La Madre Mountains Wilderness, Nevada
This adventure summits three of the highest peaks in the La Madre Mountains Wilderness to the West of Las Vegas, Nevada: La Madre Mountain, El Padre Mountain and Burnt Peak from the intersection of Kyle Canyon and lower Harris Springs Roads. The entire adventure took about 17 hours (including getting bogged down in a lower wash) compared to my recent completion of the Mt. Charleston Loop in 7 and a half hours! The La Madre Mountain, El Padre Mountain and Burnt Peak circuit offers incredible views all along the way including the Mt. Charleston Wilderness with Griffith Peak, Charleston Peak, Lee Peak, Mummy Mountain, Fletcher Peak and Angel Peak to the West. Then there is the Sheep Range, Fossil Ridge and Gass Peak to the Northeast. Add spectacular aerial views of Las Vegas Valley and the Las Vegas Strip with Frenchman Mountain and Lake Mead in the background to the East. Then add Calico Basin, Calico Hills, Damsel Peak, Red Rock Park, Turtlehead Peak, White Rock Mountain and the Rainbow Mountains all the way to Potosi Mountain to the Southwest including Bridge Mountain, North Peak, Rainbow Mountain, Juniper Peak, Mt. Wilson, Indecision Peak and Windy Mountain. Route details: 25+ Miles RT / 4500-8,500ft; *Some Road, Mostly Wilderness* Click image or title above for more…
Lovell Canyon Trail & Loop | Lovell Canyon, Nevada
Lovell Canyon trail quickly ascends and then follows a ridge on the Western side of Lovell Canyon with many grand views up the canyon to Griffith Peak and Harris Mountain. The canyon is beautiful, fairly untouched and features spectacular views of Griffith Peak, Harris Mountain and their long descent ridges on either side of Lovell Canyon. Lovell Canyon Trail branches into Lovell Canyon Loop which makes a large circuit around Handy Peak. Lovell Canyon Loop descends into Lovell Canyon’s main wash. In addition it provides access to Schaefer Springs Loop and Griffith Shadow Loop. Route details: About 5.5 Miles RT; **Excellent Trail** Click image or title above for more detail…
