Overview | Lonesome Peak | El Dorado Wilderness, Nevada

Slide Guide will appear in December/January of 2024/2025.

Eldorado Wilderness High Point with Unrivaled 360-Degree Views

As high point in the Eldorado Wilderness, Lonesome Peak offers an unrivaled 360-degree view of the rugged East-West landscape from the Black Canyon, Colorado River and points beyond to the East to the Nelson Hills and South McCullough Wilderness to the West. To the North there is Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area along with glimpses of the distant Mt. Charleston Wilderness and Virgin Mountains. To the South there are the Black Mountains and the Mount TiptonWilderness. However, the most impressive view is looking straight down the rugged canyons and ridges all the way to the banks of the Colorado River in the Black Canyon.

The Route to the Summit

Though the route to the summit looks deceptively short, plan on the time it will take to cross numerous deep gullies and ascend steep, loose rock ridges along the way through this stark volcanic wilderness. The challenge will certainly add to your enjoyment of this adventure. In fact, this is a wonderful starter adventure if you have never previously explored the Eldorado Wilderness. You need not exceed a light class 3 level of climbing and the majority of the route is basically a walk, though at times on some steep, loose rock slopes. As a reward, you’ll receive unrivaled views most of the way, including the view of Hwy 165 where your vehicle is parked to help guide you back to the starting point.

In brief, you can see your destination, Lonesome Peak, from your parking spot on Hwy 165. The map and video on this page follow a logical route of least resistance from the highway to the summit and back.

Identification of Surrounding Landmarks

On the day of this adventure, it was only my second exploration of this wilderness area. To help identify surrounding landmarks I created a list on this page of landmarks and with directional coordinates. Then, I forgot to bring the list! So, from memory I identified a few of the surrounding landmarks. The coordinates are correct, so with some care, you will be able to do even better than I did in the video on this page! 

Best Time of Year to Explore Lonesome Peak

The best time of year for this adventure is during a clear day from late Fall through early Spring, when mid-day temperatures are usually remniscent of the most ideal outdoor temperatures. During the Summer months, temperatures can rise toward 120 degrees bringing the risk of heat exhaustion and even heat stroke.   

Route Starting Point Directions | Lonesome Peak | El Dorado Wilderness, Nevada

The Eldorado Wilderness is South of Las Vegas. Take Interstate 11 South toward Hoover Dam. Just after the Railroad Pass exit, take a right onto exit 14 to Hwy 95 toward Searchlight. Then, take a left onto Hwy 165. You’ll soon see well-placed, attractive interpretive signs for the Eldorato Wilderness and Nelson Hills. There is an Eldorado Trailhead, but you want to park at a wide spot by the road a couple thousand feet before the trailhead.

Narrative Guide | Lonesome Peak | El Dorado Wilderness, Nevada

Note that there is no established trail to Lonesome Peak’s summit. This is a wilderness route, but not too difficult if you take some time to establish your initial bearings.

Getting Your Initial Bearings

While standing by your vehicle on Hwy 165, notice some important surrounding landmarks. Of course, the most important is Lonesome Peak, pictured on the banner on this page. Notice on the right side of the peak how the incline levels off a bit following the initial descent from the summit. That more gradual incline to the right of the summit is where you will top the ridgeline, then turn left toward the summit. Notice also the long Arch Back Peak formation closer to the highway to your left.

And, to the right of Lonesome Peak, straight ahead to the East from your parking spot, is a long peak with a curious combination of volcanic rock and lighter sandstone. Looking closely at the two long sandstone formations on the summit, you might imagine them to be two pigs lying on their backs. This peak is aptly named, Pigs in Zen Peak. Both Arch Back and Pigs in Zen promise to be great future adventures. Roll them all into one along with Lonesome Peak, or take your time and make them three shorter adventures. Either way, you can’t loose!

Hwy 165 to the Initial Saddle

With your initial bearings in mind, now note that between where you are standing on Highway 165 and Lonesome Peak’s summit there is a saddle between a light-colored sandstone high point on the left and Pigs in Zen Peak on the right. That saddle is your initial target, passing between the two high points. As you leave Hwy 165 toward the saddle ahead you’ll cross a few surprising gullies, one of them pretty deep. These minor obstacles were invisible from the highway.

Initial Saddle to Lonesome Peak’s Southern Canyon 

Once on the saddle just mentioned, you find yourself looking down into a deep canyon gully you could not have imagined from the highway. You could descend into the gully and navigate the brush and boulders on your way toward Lonesome Peak. Or, you might find it easier to traverse the slopes above and to the right of the gully. Find a mid-point on the slopes. If you traverse too high the intervening gullies will be deeper. If you traverse too low, you may as well have stayed in the more complicated gully. There’s actually a faint pathway to help guide you along a mid-way height across the slopes. I call it the Big Horn Sheep Expressway after the skilled animals who likely created the pathway.

Lonesome Peak’s Southern Canyon to the Summit Saddle

As you approach Lonesome Peak, clearing the intervening slopes, notice that there’s a split in the terrain with one canyon heading downward to the left and another canyon ascending to the right. Also notice what looks like a nice gradual slope ascending to the saddle to the right and just below Lonesome Peak’s summit. Ascend the gradual slope toward the right side of the summit. At first the slope is very open and gradual, but as it nears Lonesome Peak’s ridgeline the angle of incline sharply increases as do the rocky obstacles.

It may look from a distance as if you’ll be stopped by a vertical headwall guarding the summit saddle, but as you get closer to the upper saddle, you’ll see how you can weave and switchback your way through the rocky areas. Soon you’ll be on the nice, wide saddle to the right (East) just below the summit!

Lonesome Peak’s Summit Saddle to the Summit

Take a left on the summit saddle toward the rounded summit of Lonesome Peak. I navigated along the right side of a short vertical rock wall all the way to the rounded summit, then found it was a false summit! Beyond, after a short descent, there rises the rocky pillar of the true summit. That rocky summit pillar looks imposing at first. But at the base of the pillar there is a clear gradual pathway winding around the left side of the pillar and easily spriling up to the summit! Looks do not deceive. As that summit looks like a rocky pillar from below, the summit itself is the small size of the area you’d expect at the top of a pillar. There’s just enough room at the very top for a few people. But the view is truly spectacular!

Returning to Highway 165

The return to Hwy 165 is actually easier than the trip to the summit. Just retrace the route all the way back to your starting point! Though some of the steep stretches, especially the stretch immediately descending from the summit saddle, may seem difficult, when you’re descending they’re actually easier than the ascent. I find that descending any class 3 or lower stretch is easier than ascending the same class 3 stretch. If the incline is more vertical, say class 4 or above, all bets are off and the descent may be more difficult than the ascent.

Conclusion

Congratulations on summiting the Eldorado Wilderness high point! Along the way, and at the summit, you’ve likely identified a few additional adventures in this surprisingly fun volcanic wilderness! North Lonesome Peak, Pigs in Zen Peak and Archback Peak are great next adventures in the Eldorado Wilderness.