Overview | Mt Wilson Summit from Lovell Canyon | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada

Adventure slide guide will appear on this page in mid-to-late November, 2024.

Mt. Wilson is the highest prominent peak in the Rainbow Mountains. It’s that square-topped peak you can see not only from Red Rock Canyon, but from most of the Las Vegas Valley. And, since it is so visible from many points below, imagine the view from the summit! From the summit you have a spectacular 360-degree view of a huge portion of the vast wilderness surrounding Las Vegas including points in Arizona and California. So Mt. Wilson’s summit is well worth the climb.

Thanks are due to Jean-Luc Montagnier, former 20-year director of a national park in the French Alps who accompanied me on this adventure and offered some educational insights, filmed in the video.

The Traditional Route to Mt. Wilson’s Summit

The traditional route to Mt. Wilson’s summit is from below through First Creek Canyon. It’s pretty complicated and involves some difficult rock scrambling. Just picking out the route can involve multiple attempts.

Descending to Mt. Wilson’s Summit from Above!

But did you know that there is another, less complicated route to Mt. Wilson’s summit…descending to the summit from above? The route from above begins in Lovell Canyon, ascends to the Rainbow Mountains Upper Crest Ridgeline, then descends from First Creek Overlook Cliff to the sandstone saddle between the Upper Crest Ridgeline and Mt. Wilson. From that saddle it’s an easy walk to reach the summit of Mt. Wilson. That descent from the Upper Crest Ridgeline to the sandstone saddle is the most complicated stretch of the adventure, which we’ll describe below.

Spectacular View from the Summit of Mt. Wilson

Your adventure to the summit of Mt. Wilson will be rewarded with the following views of the vast major wilderness areas surrounding Las Vegas (short list):

• The Rainbow Mountain Wilderness (entire stretch from the North end to the South end)
• Potosi Mountain
• Blue Diamond Hill (directly below)
• Red Rock Canyon
• Calico and Brownstone Basins
• Wilderness Areas South of Las Vegas
• The La Madre Mountains
• Lake Mead National Recreational Area (both in Nevada and Arizona)
• The Muddy Mountains Wilderness
• Gass Peak
• The Sheep Range
• The Mt. Charleston Wilderness
• Distant Points Above Death Valley California

Best Time of Year for This Route to Mt. Wilson’s Summit

Since this summit route begins at over 5,000ft elevation in Lovell Canyon, the climbing season is a bit longer than the route from First Creek Canyon below (beginning 4,000ft elevation). Only mid-June through mid-to-late August may be too hot. The route is unsafe due to snow and ice during the Winter months, depending on the first snows in mid-to-late Fall through the snow and ice melt, typically sometime in April. So, the potentially safe-weather months for this route are:

• April through mid-June
• Late August through November

But check the weather! If temperatures in Las Vegas are below 40 degrees (with snow in the surrounding mountains) or above 90 degrees, you’re possibly in a weather danger zone on this route to Mt. Wilson’s summit.

Route Starting Point Directions | Mt Wilson Summit from Lovell Canyon | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada

Take Hwy 160 from Las Vegas toward Pahrump. The highway ascends over a “hump” (the Potosi Mountain area). There’s a saying around here, “Over the hump to Pahrump”. Well, you’ve just traveled over that hump. Around 4-5 miles from the point where the highway begins to descend toward Pahrump there is a well-marked sign on the right for Lovell Canyon Road.

Locating the Intersection of Lovell Canyon Road and Saltgrass Road

Proceed a couple miles up the well-paved road to Lovell Canyon Campground. You will park at the intersection of Lovell Canyon Road and Saltgrass Road which will be on the right. However, there is no sign that says “Saltgrass Road”. Your only indication that you are at the intersection of Lovell Canyon Road and Saltgrass Road is a small marker on the right indicating Road: #45540. If you’re going to proceed from this point on foot, find a place to park near that intersection. However, if you have a good 4WD vehicle you can save a few miles by driving to the end of Saltgrass Road and starting from there.

Narrative Guide | Mt Wilson Summit from Lovell Canyon | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada

To the Upper End of Salt Grass Road

Beginning from the intersection of Lovell Canyon & Salt Grass Roads (Forest Road #45540), head to the upper end of Salt Grass Road, where boulders block further traffic by vehicle. Realize that Salt Grass Road is recommended 4WD. You can take Salt Grass Road by foot, but that will draw on the energy and time you may need to reach the summit. Note the sight of the Rainbow Mountains Upper Crest Ridgeline in the horizon beyond Salt Grass Road. You can see a portion of that ridgeline in the distance beyond (and between) the two large ridges at the upper end of Salt Grass Road. You’ll need to make a note of the position of that ridgeline because once you reach the upper end of Salt Grass Road you’re in the pathless wilderness. 

Upper End of Salt Grass Road to the Rainbow Mountains Upper Crest Ridgeline

Continue on the road beyond the boulder barrier, soon descending into the large wash to your right. Wind along through that wash (it’s pretty wide open), then take the first adjoining wash to the left. Now you have two choices:

• The Ridge Route to the Upper Crest Ridgeline: The benefits of this route are the views and the open terrain. The drawbacks are ascent followed by descent followed by re-ascent. But the descents and re-ascents are not horrible, if you don’t mind some steep slopes, and it’s nice to see where you are at all times. Almost immediately after taking the first left turn in the wash, head up the large hill to your right. Surrounding views immediately begin to open! Once at the top of that hill you get a great view of the Rainbow Mountains Upper Crest Ridgeline ahead. Between you and the Upper Crest Ridgeline there’s a descent, then re-ascent to the next intervening ridge. From that next ridgetop you can clearly see the ridgeline spur that will take you to the summit of the Rainbow Mountains Upper Crest Ridgeline.
• The Wash Route to the Upper Crest Ridgeline: The benefits of this route are that it’s a more gradual ascent to the base of the Rainbow Mountains Upper Crest Ridgeline. The drawbacks are potentially turning into a wrong adjoining wash, being a bit blind to your big-picture surroundings and weaving around and over boulder and brush obstacles in the wash. Take that first left turn in the main wash, continuing in the wash. You can see a rocky spur ahead. Take a right turn in the wash into a wash that runs along the base of that rocky spur. When you reach the upper end of that wash, where it becomes blocked by thick brush and a dry fall, head up the slope to the right of the wash. That slope will take you to the summit of the Rainbow Mountains Upper Crest Ridgeline.

By either route just described, once you reach the summit of the Rainbow Mountains Upper Crest Ridgeline, you’re looking across, just to the West, at Mt. Wilson in all its glory! Note there is a saddle between Mt. Wilson and the Rainbow Mountains Upper Crest Ridgeline. You want to descend to that saddle. But from the point on which you are standing, that descent is impossibly vertical! But there is a more gradual descent point from the Upper Crest Ridgeline to the Wilson Saddle below.

Rainbow Mountains Upper Crest Ridgeline to the Wilson Saddle Descent Point

Turn left along the Rainbow Mountains Upper Crest Ridgeline. Above and to your left there is a high point. That first high point is First Creek Overlook Cliff. Before you begin to ascend to that high point, not a beautiful arch through which you can see a spectacular, framed view of Mt. Wilson! There is a faint trail along the ridgeline.

Continue along the Rainbow Mountains Upper Crest Ridgeline up and over First Creek Overlook Cliff. The terrain is gradual up and over that high point (the cliff edge is to your right). Descend to a low point between First Creek Overlook Cliff and the next high point on the ridgeline. The low point is where you will descend from the ridgeline, angling toward the Mt. Wilson saddle.

Descent to the Mt. Wilson Saddle

Take a good look at the video and slides on this page to get an idea of the reference points along the descent from the Rainbow Mountains Upper Crest Ridgeline to the Wilson Saddle. This is the most challenging stretch of your entire adventure!   

There is a faint trail at the beginning of the descent, and at points along the descent. However, the descent is a traverse on a steep loose rock slope with a yawning canyon below (Oak Creek Canyon). You’re never at the edge of a vertical drop during this traverse, and you can always, carefully, find good footing. But the yawning canyon below can be a bit unnerving. If you slipped, you’d most likely slide to a stop, though it looks as if you wouldn’t! 

Stay high as you angle along the base of the Upper Crest Ridgeline above to your right. There are a few rocky spurs you will need to get around along the traverse. Cross each spur just to the left of its rocky outcrop. One spur, we call Stegosaurus Ridge, you will cross between two outer rocks. 

You’ll know when you’ve reached the Mt. Wilson saddle. You’re immediately below First Creek Overlook Cliff to your right (West) and Mt. Wilson to your left (East). And, as you descend to the base of the saddle you’ll come across a faint trail from the First Creek Canyon route below, helping guide your navigation along the saddle. However, once you’re reached the saddle, it’s a fairly easy walk all the way to the Mt. Wilson Summit!

Final Approach to Mt. Wilson’s Summit

Once you ascend above the base of the saddle toward Mt. Wilson’s summit there are three potential routes to the summit.

• Easy Walking Route (to your right): This is a good route if it’s your first time to Mt. Wilson’s summit and you’d rather walk than scramble over rocks and ledges. And the route is well-cairned. This is the route I took and it’s documented in the video and slides on this page. The slope is fairly gentle and gradual, making a circuit along the right (Southwest) side of Mt. Wilson. There’s a beautiful gully about half-way up populated by some Ponderosa pines. Head through the gully, then angle to the left up to and along the summit block. To your right you can see Mt. Wilson’s lower South summit. To the West there’s a 3,000ft near-vertical drop with the First Creek Trailhead and Blue Diamond Hill below. To the left is Red Rock Canyon, the Calico Hills and the Calico Basin. Further West is the Las Vegas Valley and Strip. Continue upward to a high point from which you can see the mound of the Northern “true” summit ahead. There’s a fairly easy descent then re-ascent to the summit! 
• Gully Crack Route #1 (first crack to your left): The terrain in this crack is more steep and challenging, requiring rock some scrambling. There are some beautiful ponderosa pines along the crack. If you’re a rock climber, you might find this more fun than the easy walking route. 
• Gully Crack Route #2 (second crack to your left): I believe this route, similar to the first crack, is more difficult. 

Return to the Upper End of Salt Grass Road

Basically, retrace the route you took getting to the Mt. Wilson summit. Alternately, for variety, I took a steeper ascent to the Upper Crest Ridgeline about half-way between the Mt. Wilson saddle and the original ridgeline descent point. In addition, instead of taking the gully route from the Upper Crest Ridgeline toward Salt Grass Road, I took the ridge route.

Conclusion

Once you’re been on Mt. Wilson’s summit, you’ll never view the summit in the same way. As noted, this prominent summit can be seen from most places in Red Rock Canyon and the Las Vegas Valley. Every time you look at the summit, you’ll remember standing on that amazing place!