Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness
Final Approach to Hollow Rock Peak
Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness
The Beast at Mountain Spring Trailhead.
Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness
1st Waypoint: Communications Tower, Beginning of Trail.
Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness
Round Left Side of Fence, Trail Begins Below.
Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness
Height in Center is Southern Point of Rainbow Mountains Upper Crest Ridgeline.
Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness
View Back Toward Griffith Peak, Mummy Mt, Harris Mt and Lovell Canyon
Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness
Approaching Upper Crest Ridgeline, Straight Ahead.
Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness
Topping the Ridgeline, Windy Peak Appears.
Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness
Potosi Mountain from South End of Upper Crest Ridgeline.
Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness
Closeup of Potential Summit Approaches to Potosi Mountain.
Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness
"South of South Peak". This is the Southernmost Rainbow Mountain Peak.
Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness
"South of South Peak" with Potosi Mountain Background.
Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness
"South of South Peak" from Another Angle.
Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness
Hollow Rock Peak Comes Into View. Note 2 Summits About 200ft Apart.
Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness
2 Summits of Hollow Rock Peak. I Made the Left Summit Today.
Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness
Windy Peak and Las Vegas Valley.
Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness
Closer View of Windy Peak, Just North of Hollow Rock Peak.
Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness
Close-up of Windy Peak Summit. Vegas Strip to Right.
Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness
Windy Peak Summit.
Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness
Vegas Strip Below.
Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness
Northern Vegas Strip.
Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness
Southern Vegas Strip.
Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness
Continuing Approach to Hollow Rock Peak
Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness
Final Descent Then a Re-ascent to Hollow Rock Peak Ahead
Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness
South Peak Comes Into View. Southernmost Official Rainbow Mountains Peak.
Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness
Closer View of South Peak
Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness
Amazing Red Rock Formations. Circle Around to Left Then Descend.
Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness
Descend Through This Saddle to Continue to Summit.
Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness
Descent As Route to Hollow Rock Peak Continues.
Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness
View Back to Saddle. Left Trekking Poles Here. Need Hands to Scramble.
Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness
Larger View Back to Saddle from Beyond.
Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness
Route Ahead. Second Saddle Then Gully Toward Summit.
Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness
Looking Back Up Gully After 2nd Saddle.
Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness
Larger View Back to Gully. Remember This as the Way Back!
Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness
Ascending Toward Final Saddle Before Summit.
Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness
First Summit in Sight.
Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness
Approaching First Summit
Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness
Boulder on First Summit is Roped. Have Not Checked Rope Anchor Above.
Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness
2nd Summit Hidden Behind. Missed it! AAAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHH!
Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness
View to Blue Diamond Mountain from First Summit.
Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness
View to Potosi Mountain from First Summit.
Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness
Rainbow Mountains Upper Crest Ridgeline. Color Change at Keystone Thrust Fault
Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness
Additional View to Upper Crest Ridgeline and Keystone Thrust Faultline.
Approaching the Ridge Leading to Hollow Rock Peak | Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada The Beast at Mountain Spring Trailhead. | Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada 1st Waypoint: Communications Tower, Beginning of Trail. | Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada Round Left Side of Fence, Trail Begins Below. | Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada Height in Center is Southern Point of Rainbow Mountains Upper Crest Ridgeline. | Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada View Back Toward Griffith Peak, Mummy Mt and Harris Mt | Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada Approaching Upper Crest Ridgeline, Straight Ahead. | Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada Topping the Ridgeline, Windy Peak Appears. | Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada Potosi Mountain from South End of Upper Crest Ridgeline. | Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada Closeup of Potential Summit Approaches to Potosi Mountain. | Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada "South of South Peak" with Potosi Mountain Background. | Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada "South of South Peak" from Another Angle. | Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada "South of South Peak". This is the Southernmost Rainbow Mountain Peak. | Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada Hollow Rock Peak Comes Into View. Note 2 Summits About 200ft Apart. | Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada 2 Summits of Hollow Rock Peak. I Made the Left Summit Today. | Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada Windy Peak and Las Vegas Valley. | Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada Closer View of Windy Peak, Just North of Hollow Rock Peak. | Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada Close-up of Windy Peak Summit. Vegas Strip to Right. | Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada Windy Peak Summit. | Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada Vegas Strip Below. | Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada Northern Vegas Strip. | Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada Southern Vegas Strip. | Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada Continuing Approach to Hollow Rock Peak | Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada Final Descent Then a Re-ascent to Hollow Rock Peak Ahead | Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada South Peak Comes Into View. Southernmost Official Rainbow Mountains Peak. | Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada Closer View of South Peak | Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada Amazing Red Rock Formations. Circle Around to Left Then Descend. | Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada Descend Through This Saddle. | Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada Descent As Route to Hollow Rock Peak Continues | Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada View Back Up to Saddle. Left Trekking Poles Here. Need Hands to Scramble Over Rocks. | Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada Larger View Back to Saddle from Beyond. | Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada Route Ahead. Second Saddle Then Gully Toward Summit. | Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada Looking Back Up Gully After 2nd Saddle. | Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada Larger View Back to Gully. | Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada Ascending Toward Final Saddle Before Summit. | Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada First Summit in Sight. | Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada Approaching First Summit | Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada Boulder on First Summit is Roped. But I Have Not Checked Where Rope is Anchored Above. | Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada 2nd Summit Hidden Behind. Missed it! AAAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHH! | Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada View to Blue Diamond Mountain from First Summit. | Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada View to Potosi Mountain from First Summit. | Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada View to Rainbow Mountains Upper Crest Ridgeline. Keystone Thrust Fault Line is Where Color Changes. | Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada Additional View to Upper Crest Ridgeline and Keystone Thrust Faultline. | Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada

Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada

Overview | Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada

Hollow Rock Peak is the second to the Southernmost peak in the Rainbow Mountains with South Peak just beyond. It’s a great 5-mile round trip and offers climbing levels from class 2-3 to class 5, depending on the route you choose (see below). And the calico boulders, pinnacles, cliffs, ledges and scattered bonsai-like bushes and trees make this an adventure of wonder.

Spectacular Views Along the Way

Spectacular views include the Las Vegas Valley and Strip, Frenchman Mountain, Muddy Mountains, Virgin Mountains (dim, distant), Gass Peak, the Sheep Range, Blue Diamond Mountain, portions of Red Rock Canyon, Calico Basin and La Madre Mountains, Mt. Charleston Wilderness, Lovell Canyon Area, Potosi Mountain, Lake Mojave (or Havasu?), and too many additional points of interest to mention here. Watch the video and slide show on this page. 

Best Time of Year to Visit Hollow Rock Peak

The temperature you will experience on this adventure is about 15-20 degrees less than what is predicted in the Las Vegas Valley for any particular day. On this second Saturday in October the Las Vegas Valley temperature was predicted to reach 90 degrees. I was in a comfortable 70-75 degrees all day! Of course, when the Las Vegas temperature rises too much higher during the Summer months this adventure may get too hot to handle. And, when the Las Vegas temperature drops below the 40’s during the Winter months, you may find yourself in less than 20 degrees! So, Hollow Rock Peak is a Spring or Fall destination.

Note About the Upper Crest Ridgeline

This is a ridgeline that stretches above the Rainbow Mountains paralleling them from Highway 160, their Southernmost point to the Willow Creek area of Red Rock Park, the Northernmost point of the ridgeline. For a complete listing of the Rainbow Mountain peaks see these two pages:

Trailhead Directions | Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada

Take I-215 to the Charleston Blvd. Exit in Summerlin, then head upward toward Red Rock Park. Pass Red Rock Park, continuing on Hwy 159. Pass the town of Blue Diamond, then turn right onto Hwy 160 toward Pahrump. Hwy 160 will ascend upward to a high point just before the town of Mountain Springs. Around that high point park at the Mountain Springs Trailhead on your right. The trailhead has no marking and is a hard right turn off Hwy 160 onto a dirt road and into an area that looks like an unimproved campground with scattered areas to park. If you are the first to arrive in the morning it’s not obvious that you are at a trailhead. To make the Mountain Springs trailhead even more difficult to recognize there is a large sign at the entrance “Residential Use Only”.

Route Observations | Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada

Initial Exploration

Why an Initial Exploration?

The route to Hollow Rock Peak is fairly brief and simple (5 miles RT), so why more than one exploration? This first time I wandered around in the maze of the calico rock area in search of the most direct route to the summit with no more than class 3 level climbing. In the process I explored a few dead-end routes, meaning that to proceed would require a class 4 or 5 skill level. Eventually I discovered the most direct class 3 approach and streamlined it on the descent. A follow-up trip will completely streamline the out and back adventure. 

Another reason this is the initial exploration and requires a follow-up is that, with all this meandering, by the time I reached the huge boulder, the true summit, less than 50 yards beyond, was hidden from view. I thought I’d reached the summit and therefore stopped there. In reviewing my photos later, I realized that the true summit was just a little beyond!

Of course, the question: Why not use GPS? I like to get lost and find my way around. This gives me a more complete understanding of the surroundings and sharpens my decision making and route finding skills. By the time I finally reach a summit, I know the entire mountain.

For these reasons, a second streamlined trip to Hollow Rock Peak is in order. In the meantime, what follows here is my account of the meandering discoveries of the initial exploration. 

Mountain Springs Trailhead to The Rainbow Mountains Upper Crest Ridgeline

From the Mountain Springs Trailhead, if you’re on foot, take the unpaved road angling right (North) and upward from the trailhead. You’ll soon see a communications tower ahead. Head for the communications tower and continue around the gate to the left of the tower, descending to the beginning of the trail to the Rainbow Mountains Upper Crest Ridgeline. You can see the ridgeline to your right. The trail heads for that ridgeline. As you ascend, watch for potential summit approaches to Potosi Mountain and look behind to take in views of the Mt. Charleston Wilderness including Charleston Peak, Griffith Peak, Mummy Mountain and Harris Mountain.

From the Rainbow Mountains Upper Crest Ridgeline to the Beginning of Hollow Rock Peak Ridge

As you top the Ridgeline, a spectacular view opens up to the East. Immediately visible is Windy Peak. Note a small cairn marking the location of the trail you just took from the communications tower. You won’t want to miss that intersection on the return trip!

Now, at the trail intersection, a right turn heads South to the two Southernmost peaks in the Rainbow Mountains: Hollow Rock Peak and South Peak. A left turn heads to Windy Peak, Black Velvet Peak and to other points North along the Ridgeline.

Take a right and head up to the high point which is the Southern tip of the Rainbow Mountains Upper Crest Ridgeline. Now you can see the ridge to Hollow Rock Peak below. The trail begins to descend toward Hollow Rock Peak and reaches the calico rock section within about a quarter mile. The demarcation line where the ground turns from brownish gray to calico is actually the fault-line of the world famous Keystone Thrust. That fault-line stretches through Red Rock Park and all the way to Valley of Fire State Park and beyond.

From Hollow Rock Peak Ridge to the Summit

Soon after you cross into the calico rock section, you’ll continue to an additional high point. Take time to deviate from the trail to that spectacular high viewpoint, then descend again to the trail. Soon the trail will become harder to pick out as it enters the calico boulder section. There are cairns, but realize that the cairns along the Hollow Rock Peak Ridge were placed by different hikers and climbers. Some will lead you to class 4-5 sections, which like myself a class 3 climber, you may see as dead-ends. You may need to experiment a bit, but rest assured that there is a streamlined class 2-3 approach all the way to Hollow Rock Peak summit. Check out the video on this page where I made a lot of dead-end turns and had to redirect myself until I finally discovered the best route.

Basically, the best route begins on the approach ridge, passes through a small saddle to the left, descends angling to the right and below the high summit ridge, ascends through another saddle, descends a gully on the other side of that saddle, then heads up toward a large red boulder which looks like the summit. Sounds a bit confusing? Watch the video.

False Summit and True Summit

That large red boulder looks like the summit. On this day there was a rope dangling from the top of the boulder to its base. I never trust ropes that had been exposed to the elements for who knows how long, and are anchored from above, who knows how securely? 

The boulder blocked my view of the summit, less than 50 yards beyond, so I thought I’d arrived at the summit. Wrong! Photos from some of my earlier dead-end high points later revealed the true summit beyond. Need to return to complete the trip. In the meantime, the boulder is a good resting place with shade and a spectacular view!

Return Descent on Hollow Rock Peak Ridge

My return descent streamlines the best class 2-3 route to Hollow Rock Peak. Watch the video.

Warning About the Mountain Springs Trailhead

When I returned to my car following this adventure I discovered it had been broken in. The passenger side window was completely shattered and removed. Fortunately there was nothing of value in the car and so, no loss other than the window. This is my first break-in ever in over 30 years of adventures. How to avoid this? Mine was the only car at this unmarked trailhead right off a major highway (highway 160). Why? It was the 2nd Saturday of October, Las Vegas temperatures predicted at 90 degrees. Too early in the season, too hot in people’s imaginings. Moral of the story: Park at protected trailheads or trailheads or busy trailheads. Don’t be the only vehicle on a trailhead right off a major highway!

Summary
Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada
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Hollow Rock Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada
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Hollow Rock Peak is the second to the Southernmost peak in the Rainbow Mountains with South Peak just beyond. The calico boulders, pinnacles, cliffs, ledges and scattered bonsai-like bushes and trees make this an adventure of wonder.
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LasVegasAreaTrails.com
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