Overview | Gold Strike Heights North | Hoover Dam Area | Lake Mead NRA, Nevada

Adventure Slide Guide will appear December/January, 2024/2025.

Explore the wild terrain above and around Gold Strike Trail in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area of Nevada. Prepare to encounter incredible scenes from cliffs of molten magma frozen in mid-boiling to slot canyons surrounded by towering walls to unique spectacular aerial views of Hoover Dam that tourists to the dam never see.

The Adventure Route

This adventure is called “Gold Strike Heights North” because it covers the upper cliffs, ridges and peaks on the North side of the popular Gold Strike Trail in Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Nevada. This well-traveled trail extends about 4 miles downward from its trailhead to the banks of the Colorado River. But today, we’re taking a fascinating detour from the upper trail to 1,935ft Hoover Peak towering over the South side of Hoover Dam. The route ascends the high ridge to the left (North) of the trail about a half-mile down from the trailhead. From the ridgeline summit Hoover Peak is prominently in view to the Northeast along with the first views of Hoover Dam. Descend the ridgeline to a lower plateau, then ascend a long approach ridge to Hoover Peak summit.

The return route makes a loop, descending from Hoover Peak summit to lower Gold Strike Trail, just below the final upper rope section on that trail. Continue up Gold Strike Trail to return to the trailhead.

Spectacular Views Along the Way

The surrounding landscape is stark with volcanic hills and peaks in every direction. Many high points are unnamed, identified only by their altitude: Example, Peak 1876 (1,876ft elevation). See the list of peaks and other reference points on this page with elevation and and directional information. Also see the video where many of these are identified. This is a good adventure to gain a basic orientation of this entire region.

Here are a few of the outstanding surrounding landmarks, which will make awesome future adventures:

• Promontory Point
• Hoover Dam
• Fortification Hill
• Mt. Wilson (Arizona)
• Battleship Formation and High Point
• Gold Strike Mountain
• Mt. Charleston Wilderness (far distant)

On the date of this adventure, I was just beginning a focused exploration of the region. There are adventures on the linked landmarks above. Additional adventures will appear soon.

Best Time of Year to Explore Gold Strike Heights

This entire region is best visited from late Fall through early Spring. Temperatures from late Spring through early Fall are often dangerously high. Red Rock Search and Rescue often sets up a command center at the Gold Strike trailhead during the dangerous months and conducts multiple rescues of heat and dehydration victims on the Gold Strike Trail. The region is a welcome respite from cold temperatures in the Winter, but dangerous during the Summer.    

Directions to the Trailhead | Gold Strike Heights North | Hoover Dam Area | Lake Mead NRA, Nevada

Take Interstate 11 South from Las Vegas toward Hoover Dam. Take Exit 2 and turn right at the traffic circle at the end of the exit. Gold Strike Trailhead parking is an unpaved area on the right about 200ft beyond the traffic circle. 

Narrative Guide | Gold Strike Heights North | Hoover Dam Area | Lake Mead NRA, Nevada

Trailhead to the Northern Ridgeline Summit

From the trailhead, head down Gold Strike Trail. Shortly after passing under the I-11 bridge, begin looking for an approach ridge/slope to the upper ridgeline on your left. You can still see the bridge behind you and on the ridgeline above there are a few power line towers from Hoover Dam. Begin winding upward toward the tower on just left of the tower on the right. That tower at the ridgeline summit is your next target destination. The approach slope is rather steep in places and the rock surface is loose. However, faint pathways will appear, disappear and reappear along the way to help guide and stabilize your ascent. Just take your time, carefully place each step, and you may get all the way to the summit without facing any dangerous exposure. See the video. Trekking poles will help!

Northern Ridgeline Summit to the Lower Plateau

Once on the Northern Ridgeliine Summit, at the base of the powerline tower identified earlier, there’s actually an old road that makes a nice secure vantage point from which you may take in the view. You can look down on I-11 below and see your first view of Hoover Dam to the North. Of particular importance are your next two targets:

1. The lower plateau
2. Hoover Peak and its approach ridgeline

Hoover Peak is the prominent high point to the Northeast. That’s your ultimate target for this adventure. Note how the terrain between you and Hoover Peak descends from the ridgeline to a large plateau below. Also note a gully descending toward the plateau and, near the plateau, a distinctively visible trail. You want to weave downward in the gully to connect with the trail below which will take you to the lower plateau.

Also note a low, ascending ridgeline to the left (Southwest) of Hoover Peak, beginning at the plateau and leading to the summit of Hoover Peak. The steep terrain near Hoover Peak summit looks pretty vertical and unapproachable from your high perspective. However, realize that the closer you get to Hoover Peak Summit, a way will open that is entirely a class 2 walk with minimal exposure, as long as you stay on course. It’s just a bit more difficult than the ridge you ascended from Gold Strike Trail below. If you have successfully summited Turtlehead Peak, this adventure is just one more level of difficulty above that. If you have not yet summited Turtlehead Peak, summit that peak first to see if you’re ready for Hoover Peak.

As you descend the gully toward the lower plateau, there are faint trails that appear, disappear and reappear to help keep you on the most stable footing. Once you reach the lower trail, you’re good all the way to the plateau.

Lower Plateau to Hoover Peak Summit

Once on the lower plateau, head for that low ridgeline to the left of Hoover Peak Summit, ascending to the summit. Again, watch for faint trails that appear, disappear and reappear to help guide and stabilize your ascent. Once on the center of the low ridgeline, just stay on or near the ridgeline center all the way to the summit of Hoover Peak. You may need to weave around to the right side of the ridgeline on the way up in order to find the most stable, least exposed pathway. Again, faint trails will help guide you. Occasionally, you will weave to the left of the ridgeline center, but not very often. The terrain to the left is mostly vertical and exposed to large drop-offs. 

At the base of Hoover Peak Summit, the final approach begins, and the angle of ascent dramatically increases. Faint trails will help you switchback your way upward through this stretch, remniscent of switchbacks on the way up Turtlehead Peak. But the pathways in this case are fainter and less defined. Think of the most difficult stretches on the way up to Turtlehead Peak. If you’ve ever summited my alternate route to Turtlehead Peak, this final approach stretch to Hoover Peak is actually easier!

As you approach Hoover Peak Summit, the incline levels off, and the summit itself is a large, rounded hilltop with lots of room to rest and enjoy the view! From the summit you’ll see all the reference points listed on this page, including the best aerial view of Hoover Dam to be had anywhere! Yes, you could look down from a plane or helicopter, but in that case your view is limited by a small window, brief and fleeting, disrupted by the roar of the aircraft engine. From Hoover Peak you have an enduring, sweeping 360-degree view with only the sound of the wind, and you can linger as long as you want. The view is second to none!

Have you ever been to Liberty Bell Arch? You can actually see the arch from Hoover Peak Summit! You have to look closely to pick it out. Once identified, you will be able to pick out the high point above the arch (Black Canyon Overlook) and the oasis along the Colorado River below which is the starting point to the ascent to Arizona Hot Springs. Also in view is the impressive Battleship Cliffline and high point to the Southeast.

But you’re not done. There’s an additional viewpoint!

Hoover Peak Summit to the Peak Beyond

Beyond Hoover Peak Summit there’s a final peak, just a bit lower, but closer to the Colorado River with it’s own unique view. There’s a steep descent than reascent to get to this further peak, but it’s worth the effort. And, the effort is easier than it looks from above. Again, be guided by that faint trail that appears, disappears and reappears along the way. You’ll descend to the saddle between the two peaks, then ascend that second peak along the right side and up to the summit.

From that second peak you can see more of the path of the Colorado River from Lake Mead above Hoover Dam to the spillways below to the line of the river as it continues descending through the canyon. Note the green oasis points along the river. You can see a road below which leads down to the launch point for kayaaks traveling down the Colorado River, resting at the various oasis spots and embarking on explorations of the surrounding canyons and peaks.

Hoover Peak to Gold Strike Canyon

Now retrace your way back up to Hoover Peak and then down the final ascent. Just before you reach that low ridgeline at the base of the final approach, note a gully and canyon to your left (to the left of the large plateau you crossed earlier). This gully and canyon descend to connect with Gold Strike Canyon just below the upper rope climb on that canyon’s popular trail. A trail, more distinct than many you’ve seen so far, will guide you down that canyon, soon landing on the main Gold Strike Canyon Trail.

Return to Gold Strike Canyon Trailhead

Take a right onto the main Gold Strike Trail to head back to the trailhead.

On this day, we explored the base of a narrow canyon leading upward to the heights South of the Gold Strike Trail. Running out of time, we turned around when we encountered a barrier in that lower side canyon. I understand the barrier is brief and the approach to the ridgelines above is wide-open above the barrier. However, we determined the barrier needs a little more time and study at the beginning of a fresh new day!

This alternate route (colored green on the map) will eventually be Gold Strike Heights South and hopefully include Gold Strike Mountain, another spectacular high point in the area (enlarge and view the map).