Damsel Peak SE Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, NV Pinnacle Just Below Damsel Peak's Southern Summit Damsel Peak SE Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, NV Start at Parking Area on South Side of Kraft Mountain, Take Kraft Mt. Loop East Damsel Peak SE Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, NV View West: Red Rock Canyon Scenic Area Over This Ridge Damsel Peak SE Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, NV Paths Lead to Various Huge Fallen Rock Climbing Practice Boulders Damsel Peak SE Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, NV "Warm Up Boulder". White Chalk Marks Indicate "Bouldering" Practice. Damsel Peak SE Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, NV Continue East Along Kraft Mt. Loop. More Scattered Practice Boulders. Damsel Peak SE Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, NV "Angel Dynamo" Boulder? Huge, Challenging. Dwarfs My 6ft Trekking Poles Damsel Peak SE Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, NV Later in Day: Each Boulder Has Its Group of Mattress-Hauling Climbers Damsel Peak SE Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, NV "Monkey Bar Boulder" on SE Edge of Kraft Mt. Climb Upside-down??!! Damsel Peak SE Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, NV Leave Kraft Mt. Loop, Continue East Across Gateway Canyon Toward Low Ridgeline Damsel Peak SE Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, NV View Up Gateway Canyon to Turtlehead Peak Damsel Peak SE Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, NV Gene's Trail South, Then Powerline Maintenance Road East to Brownstone Basin Damsel Peak SE Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, NV Blue Diamond Hill & Rainbow Mts. View from Brownstone Basin Border Ridge. Damsel Peak SE Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, NV Blue Diamond Hill's Trail Network is a Daily Workout Wonderland Damsel Peak SE Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, NV Brownstone Basin's Unpaved Road Network Has Taken Its Toll! Damsel Peak SE Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, NV Damsel Peak in View (left). Summerlin Ridge (right). Damsel Peak SE Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, NV Interesting Ridge Along Brownstone Basin W. Border. Future Adventure! Damsel Peak SE Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, NV Turtlehead Peak Southeastern View Damsel Peak SE Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, NV First Jurassic Sandstone Bordering Little Red Rock At Damsel Peak SE Corner Damsel Peak SE Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, NV Heading for This Huge Gully Opening on SE Damsel Peak Damsel Peak SE Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, NV Little Red Rock, Summerlin Ridge Background (right) Damsel Peak SE Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, NV Toyota V6 That Didn't Make It. Damsel Peak SE Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, NV Is This the Missing Cab... 200ft Away? Violent Demise! Damsel Peak SE Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, NV Closing in on Damsel Peak Southeastern Gully Opening Damsel Peak SE Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, NV Now Descend into Gully. Could Take SE Slope Upward Here Instead. Damsel Peak SE Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, NV Lower Gully More Complicated. But Possibly Easier Summit Approach Above? Damsel Peak SE Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, NV View Out Gully Opening. Damsel Peak SE Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, NV Beautiful Artistic Assortment of Sculpted Plants and Limestone Boulders. Damsel Peak SE Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, NV Decision Point: Continue Up Gully or Ascend SE Slope to Left? Damsel Peak SE Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, NV Gully is Rocky, Complicated, Will Ascend the SE Slope Today Damsel Peak SE Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, NV Nice Fairly Gradual Incline Leads to Upper SE Slope Damsel Peak SE Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, NV Reference Tree Far Below in Main Gully Will Guide Return Trip Damsel Peak SE Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, NV Continuing to Ascend Toward SE Slope's Upper Ridgeline Damsel Peak SE Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, NV View Back Down to Main Gully. Incline Increasing, But Still Easy Damsel Peak SE Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, NV View Up to SE Slope Ridgeline. South Pinnacle Above to Left Damsel Peak SE Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, NV Had I Stayed in the Main Gully, That Summit Approach Also Looks Good Damsel Peak SE Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, NV Far Side of Main Gully More Vertical, Difficult Summit Route. Damsel Peak SE Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, NV Expansive View of Las Vegas Valley Below Damsel Peak SE Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, NV Vegas Strip with Arizona Black Mts. Background Across Lake Mead Damsel Peak SE Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, NV Muddy Mts. (left), Sunrise & Frenchman Mts. (right) Damsel Peak SE Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, NV SE View Toward Sloan Canyon Area, Arizona Beyond. Damsel Peak SE Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, NV Vegas Summerlin Growth Edge. Entire Valley Below Will Be Filled Damsel Peak SE Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, NV Cairn Helps Locate Descent Point, Avoid Dead-End Cliff on Return Trip Damsel Peak SE Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, NV Upper Ledge View South to Edge of Blue Diamond Hill and Beyond Damsel Peak SE Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, NV All Below Could Be Future Residential. Little Red Rock Owned by Hughes Corp Damsel Peak SE Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, NV SE View Toward Sloan Canyon Area. Better Lighting Toward Evening. Damsel Peak SE Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, NV Little Red Rock (left). Growth Edge and South Vegas Valley Beyond Damsel Peak SE Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, NV View from Narrow, Loose-Rock Ledge on Upper SE Slope. Damsel Peak SE Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, NV View South Over Ledge. Sheer 500ft+ Cliff Over Edge. Damsel Peak SE Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, NV View Up Ledge. Possible to Continue Upward, But At Turn-Around Point. Damsel Peak SE Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, NV Descending SE Slope Back to Main Gully. Damsel Peak SE Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, NV Vegas Valley View as Lighting Improves Toward Evening Damsel Peak SE Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, NV South Vegas Valley Damsel Peak SE Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, NV View South to Blue Diamond Hill (right) and Beyond Damsel Peak SE Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, NV Larger View of Frenchman Mt. (right), Sunrise Mt. (left) Damsel Peak SE Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, NV North Vegas Strip, Arizona Black Mts., Mt. Wilson High Pointy Peak Damsel Peak SE Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, NV Larger View of Mt. Wilson in Arizona Black Mountains. Damsel Peak SE Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, NV SE View as Lighting Continues to Improve. Damsel Peak SE Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, NV Vegas Strip and Beyond Damsel Peak SE Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, NV Right to Left: Frenchman Mt., Sunrise Mt., Muddy Mts. Little Red Rock Below Damsel Peak SE Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, NV Right to Left: Frenchman Mt., Sunrise Mt., Muddy Mts. Little Red Rock Below Damsel Peak SE Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, NV View Back to SE Slope & Pinnacle on Damsel Peak Damsel Peak SE Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, NV Vegas Strip. Arizona Black Mts. Background. Mt. Wilson Pointy Hight Peak Damsel Peak SE Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, NV Damsel Peak in Early Evening Light Southern Pinnacle Just Below Damsel Peak's Southern Summit | Damsel Peak Southeastern Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, Nevada Start at Parking Area on South Side of Kraft Mountain, Take Kraft Mt. Loop East | Damsel Peak Southeastern Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, Nevada View West: Red Rock Canyon Over This Ridge | Damsel Peak Southeastern Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, Nevada Many Huge Fallen Boulders, Paths Lead to Rock Climbing Practice Boulders | Damsel Peak Southeastern Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, Nevada "Warm Up Boulder". White Chalk Marks Indicate "Bouldering" Practice. | Damsel Peak Southeastern Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, Nevada Continue East Along Kraft Mt. Loop. More Scattered Practice Boulders. | Damsel Peak Southeastern Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, Nevada "Angel Dynamo" Boulder? Huge, Challenging. Dwarfs My 6ft Trekking Poles | Damsel Peak Southeastern Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, Nevada Later in Day: Each Boulder Has Its Group of Mattress-Hauling Climbers | Damsel Peak Southeastern Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, Nevada "Monkey Bar Boulder" on SE Edge of Kraft Mt. Climb Upside-down??!! | Damsel Peak Southeastern Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, Nevada Leave Kraft Mt. Loop, Cross Gateway Canyon Continuing East | Damsel Peak Southeastern Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, Nevada View Up Gateway Canyon to Turtlehead Peak | Damsel Peak Southeastern Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, Nevada Head South on Gene's Trail, Turn East onto Powerline Maintenance Rd | Damsel Peak Southeastern Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, Nevada At Brownstone Basin Border Ridge. View Back to Blue Diamond Hill & Rainbow Mts. | Damsel Peak Southeastern Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, Nevada Blue Diamond Hill's Trail Network is a World of Daily Workout Possibilities | Damsel Peak Southeastern Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, Nevada Brownstone Basin's Unpaved Road Network Has Taken Its Toll! | Damsel Peak Southeastern Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, Nevada Damsel Peak in View (left). Summerlin Ridge (right). | Damsel Peak Southeastern Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, Nevada An Interesting Ridge Along Brownstone Basin W. Border. Future Adventure! | Damsel Peak Southeastern Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, Nevada Turtlehead Peak Southeastern View | Damsel Peak Southeastern Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, Nevada Now Bordering Little Red Rock Area Below Damsel Peak SE Corner | Damsel Peak Southeastern Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, Nevada Heading for This Huge Gully Opening on SE Damsel Peak | Damsel Peak Southeastern Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, Nevada Little Red Rock, Summerlin Ridge Background (right) | Damsel Peak Southeastern Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, Nevada Toyota V6 That Didn't Make It. | Damsel Peak Southeastern Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, Nevada Is This the Missing Cab... 200ft Away? Violent Demise! | Damsel Peak Southeastern Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, Nevada Closing in on SE Gully Opening | Damsel Peak Southeastern Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, Nevada First Descend into Gully. Could Just Take the Slope Upward Here. | Damsel Peak Southeastern Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, Nevada Gully More Complicated Below But Possibly Easier Summit Approach Above? | Damsel Peak Southeastern Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, Nevada View Out Gully Opening. | Damsel Peak Southeastern Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, Nevada Beautiful Artistic Assortment of Sculpted Plants and Limestone Boulders. | Damsel Peak Southeastern Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, Nevada Decision Point: Continue Up Gully or Ascend SE Slope to Left? | Damsel Peak Southeastern Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, Nevada Gully is Rocky, Complicated, Will Ascend the SE Slope | Damsel Peak Southeastern Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, Nevada Nice Fairly Gradual Incline Leads to Upper SE Slope | Damsel Peak Southeastern Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, Nevada My Reference Tree Far Below in Main Gully Will Guide Will Guide Return Trip | Damsel Peak Southeastern Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, Nevada Continuing to Ascend Toward SE Slope's Upper Ridgeline | Damsel Peak Southeastern Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, Nevada View Back Down to Main Gully. Incline Increasing, But Still Easy | Damsel Peak Southeastern Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, Nevada View Up to SE Slope Ridgeline. South Pinnacle Above to Left | Damsel Peak Southeastern Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, Nevada Had I Stayed in the Main Gully, That Summit Approach Looks Good | Damsel Peak Southeastern Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, Nevada Far Side of Main Gully Very Steep, Difficult Summit Route. | Damsel Peak Southeastern Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, Nevada Expansive View of Las Vegas Valley Below | Damsel Peak Southeastern Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, Nevada Vegas Strip with Arizona Black Mts. Background Across Lake Mead | Damsel Peak Southeastern Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, Nevada Muddy Mts. (left), Sunrise & Frenchman Mts. (right) | Damsel Peak Southeastern Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, Nevada SE View Toward Sloan Canyon Area, Arizona Beyond. | Damsel Peak Southeastern Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, Nevada Vegas Summerlin Growth Edge. Entire Valley Below Will Be Filled | Damsel Peak Southeastern Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, Nevada Cairn Helps Me Locate Descent Point, Avoid Dead-End Turn on Return Trip | Damsel Peak Southeastern Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, Nevada View South to Edge of Blue Diamond Hill and Beyond | Damsel Peak Southeastern Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, Nevada Yes, All Below Could Be Future Residential. Little Red Rock Owned by Hughes Corp | Damsel Peak Southeastern Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, Nevada SE View Toward Sloan Canyon Area. Better Lighting as Day Progresses. | Damsel Peak Southeastern Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, Nevada Little Red Rock (left). Growth Edge and South Vegas Valley Beyond | Damsel Peak Southeastern Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, Nevada Now on a Narrow, Loose-Rock Ledge on Upper SE Slope. | Damsel Peak Southeastern Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, Nevada View South Over Ledge. Sheer 500ft+ Cliff Over Edge. | Damsel Peak Southeastern Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, Nevada View Up Ledge. Possible to Continue Upward, But Complicated. At Turn-Around Point. | Damsel Peak Southeastern Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, Nevada Descending SE Slope Back to Main Gully. | Damsel Peak Southeastern Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, Nevada Vegas Valley View as Lighting Improves Toward Evening | Damsel Peak Southeastern Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, Nevada South Vegas Valley | Damsel Peak Southeastern Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, Nevada South to Blue Diamond Hill (left) and Beyond | Damsel Peak Southeastern Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, Nevada Larger View of Frenchman Mt. (left), Sunrise Mt. (right) | Damsel Peak Southeastern Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, Nevada North Vegas Strip, Arizona Black Mts., Mt. Wilson High Pointy Peak | Damsel Peak Southeastern Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, Nevada Larger View of Mt. Wilson in Arizona Black Mountains. | Damsel Peak Southeastern Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, Nevada Lighting Continuing to Improve. SE View. | Damsel Peak Southeastern Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, Nevada Vegas Strip and Beyond | Damsel Peak Southeastern Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, Nevada Right to Left: Frenchman Mt., Sunrise Mt., Muddy Mts. Little Red Rock Below | Damsel Peak Southeastern Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, Nevada Right to Left: Frenchman Mt., Sunrise Mt., Muddy Mts. Little Red Rock Below. | Damsel Peak Southeastern Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, Nevada View Back to SE Slope & Pinnacle on Damsel Peak | Damsel Peak Southeastern Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, Nevada Damsel Peak in Early Evening Light | Damsel Peak Southeastern Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, Nevada Vegas Strip. Arizona Black Mts. Background. Mt. Wilson Pointy Hight Peak | Damsel Peak Southeastern Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, Nevada

Overview | Damsel Peak Southeastern Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, Nevada

Damsel Peak is that little-know massive 6,977ft destination right on the border of NW Las Vegas. If you’ve looked at the Las Vegas skyline above Summerlin, you’ve unknowingly seen Damsel Peak. The entire peak is a high desert wilderness wonderland with an incredible combination of scattered bonsai-like pines, junipers, yucca and cacti to a spectacular backdrop of one of the best aerial views of Las Vegas and its surrounding wilderness.

Are you looking for a secluded, seldom-traveled wilderness less than 5 miles from Las Vegas? Explore Damsel Peak! But you’ll need to overcome two challenges.

Challenge #1: Getting to Damsel Peak

From the East (Summerlin area) you’ll encounter access barriers due to construction of a huge Las Vegas growth edge. Gated communities are emerging, roads are unfinished, public parking areas are rare to non-existent. And the terrain is changing week by week. We’re talking about the upper ends of Lake Mead Blvd., Far Hills Avenue and Charleston Avenue and the Little Red Rock area, privately owned by the Hughes Corporation. From the South, you’re facing a similar growth edge along the lower stretch of Highway 159. There are a few places to park along the highway, but do you really want to leave your car exposed there? From the North, forget it! From the West you’re looking at crossing two desert basins…Calico Basin and Brownstone Basin.

If you have a very good 4WD vehicle, there is a network of rugged access roads.

The most secure places to park your vehicle and make to approach to Damsel Peak on foot are the Kraft Mountain Trailhead in the Calico Basin, the Sandstone Quarry parking area in Red Rock Canyon and the Buckskin Trailhead on Cheyenne Road at the base of Cheyenne Mountain. But you’re looking at traversing 4-5 miles of fairly pathless wilderness just to get to the base of Damsel Peak. 

Challenge #2: Summiting Damsel Peak

Once you get to the base of Damsel Peak, there’s the question of summit approaches. The South summit approach has a very steep incline on a loose rock surface. That’s on my list for a future attempt, but I’m not enjoying the thought of ascending that 1,500 – 2,000ft stretch that appears somewhat exposed. Forget a West summit approach. That’s a sheer 1,500 – 2,000ft cliff! You’d need to be an advanced rock climber with a lot of skill and experience. If you’re looking for something resembling a steep challenging walk, this leaves the North and East summit approaches.

The North summit approach is class 2 (steep, but fairly gradual incline walk) with some light class 3 climbing (need to use hands to scramble over some fairly tame obstacles) …that’s once you get to the summit approach. The Sandstone Quarry parking area on the Red Rock Canyon Scenic Drive is a good access point. The Kraft Mountain parking area would also work. Both are long wilderness approach routes.

In this adventure I’m beginning to work out a class 2, light class 3 Southeast summit approach from the Kraft Mountain parking area.

Damsel Peak Southeast Summit Approach

This approach traverses an incredibly beautiful canyon and ridgeline on the Southeast corner of Damsel Peak. There’s very little evidence of human passage along this little-known isolated summit approach route. You may feel as if you had been transported to a distant wilderness until you look up and see Las Vegas and the Strip below. It’s a strange, wonderful feeling. By the way, you’re likely to have phone coverage all the way up the Southeastern ridgeline.

What’s Visible from the Damsel Peak Southeastern Approach Slope?

Here’s a short list of what’s visible from the ridgeline. Views from the summit are greater by a number of degrees:

Best Time of Year for a Southeastern Summit Approach

You’ll need a long day with extended sunlight. During this adventure, I it happened to be one of the shortest days of the year: 3rd week in December! You may experience some ice and snow January through March. Summer temperatures can approach 100 degrees and exceed that along the base approach routes. Fall or Spring appears to be the best time of year for this adventure. 

Route Starting Point Directions | Damsel Peak Southeastern Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, Nevada

From Hwy 215 in the Summerlin area, take the Charleston Blvd exit, turn upward (West) on Charleston Blvd toward the mountains. Charleston Blvd becomes Blue Diamond Rd. (159) as you leave the city. Take the Calico Basin exit off 159 (right turn) onto Calico Basin Road. Continue on Calico Basin Road to the end of the road. On the way you will pass the Red Springs Desert Oasis parking area as the road veers right and becomes Calico Drive, then Sandstone Drive. Sandstone Drive ends with the Kraft Mountain parking lot, on the left.

Adventure Description | Damsel Peak Southeastern Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, Nevada

Streamlined Route to the Base of Damsel Peak

I’m working on streamlining the long approach from the Kraft Mountain parking area. The approach took me about 5 hours, the return, more streamlined and downhill took about 2.5 hours. Using a network of trails and roads where possible speeds up the approach to the base of Damsel Peak. It’s possible to get all the way to the summit approach gully and ridge on roads and trails. 

Begin on the Kraft Mountain Loop Trail

From the Kraft Mountain parking area, take the Kraft Mountain Loop trail East along the base of Kraft Mountain. Along this stretch you’ll pass many great bouldering locations used by rock climbers to develop their skills.

Cross a Low Ridgeline into Brownstone Basin

At the Southeast corner of Kraft Mountain, leave the loop trail and continue East on a trail across Gateway Canyon. Once across Gateway Canyon head South on Gene’s Trail until you reach a string of powerlines. Take a left (East) along the powerline maintenance road to cross a low ridgeline over to Brownstone Basin. At the ridgeline summit, look to the Northeast to see Damsel Peak.

There’s an unpaved road (all the roads in this area are unpaved) that parallels the low ridgeline, just over the ridgeline, heading North. Take this road for about a mile, watching for an intersecting road heading East about a half mile below the base of Damsel Peak.

Turn North (left) Toward Damsel Peak’s Southeastern Gully Opening

As you skirt the South side of Damsel Peak along this road, notice a huge ridge between the road and Damsel Peak. Stay on the road until you reach the East side of this ridge. At this point the Southeastern approach ridge and gully of Damsel Peak will be clearly visible. Also, at this point you are at the edge of Little Red Rock. You’ll notice scattered Jurassic Red Rock formations in the valley there.

Head North on a faint road up the ridgeline stretching toward the large Southeastern gully of Damsel Peak. You’ll know you’re on the right road and ridgeline when you see a few large scattered parts of a dead Toyota Pickup (see the video and slide guide on this page). The road will end at the gully opening.

Begin Ascending the Damsel Peak Southeastern Gully

Once at the gully opening, it’s a matter of continuing to ascend the ridge or ascending the gully. In this initial exploration I entered the gully as I continued to ascend. The combination of high desert plants (pines, juniper, yucca, cacti and grasses) scattered among the  limestone rock formations is incredibly beautiful!

About a thousand feet up the gully there are 3 choices:

  1. Continue up the gully.
  2. Ascend to the right above the gully.
  3. Ascend an adjoining gully to the left to reach the Southeastern ridgeline.

Ascending an Adjoining Gully to the Damsel Peak Southeastern Slope

The gully was becoming complicated with rocks and ledges, however these did not look too imposing, still class 2-3.

The slope to the right looked pretty vertical.

I chose a gully to the left leading toward the Southeastern slope. It was fairly easy ascending this gully (see the video, map and slide guide on this page). However, identify reference points that you can use to ensure you descend the same gully on the return trip! If you wander off down another route you may risk being blocked by a vertical ledge. I selected a large pine tree in the main gully below as my reference point, and that kept me safely on course during the return trip.

Damsel Peak Southeastern Slope Toward the Southern Pinnacle

Once on the Southeastern ridgeline summit, you’ll find yourself on a ledge about 15-20 feet wide with an large vertical drop on your left (South). I continued along this ledge for a hundred feet or so before reaching my turn-around point. The views from the ledge are spectacular and the ledge itself is a great destination! By the way, you’re not far below the Southern pinnacle on Damsel Peak. The ledge may end before you reach the pinnacle, requiring some class 3-4 climbing. There is a proven route from the pinnacle to the summit, so things should begin to level off once you reach the pinnacle.

Future Route Exploration for a Damsel Peak Southeastern Approach

My next exploration will continue further up the main gully before ascending the Southeastern slope. There appears to be a more direct, gradual approach to the Southern pinnacle from further up in the main gully. There’s also the option of continuing up the main gully all the way to the summit. The incline looks steep, but fairly gradual and potentially class 2 all the way to the summit. 

Summary
Damsel Peak Southeastern Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, Nevada
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Damsel Peak Southeastern Slope | Calico & Brownstone Basins, Nevada
Description
Adventure from the Kraft Mountain Trailhead and through the Calico & Brownstone Basins to just below Damsel Peak's Southern Pinnacle in Nevada. Enjoy spectacular views of Little Red Rock, Summerlin’s new growth edge, Las Vegas all the way to Frenchman Mountain, Lake Mead and further points East!
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LasVegasAreaTrails.com
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