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Bypass Dry Fall, Ascend Canyon. | Wilson Summit, Arizona (near Lake Mead NRA) View Down to Parking Area from Bypass Trail Above Dry Fall | Wilson Summit, Arizona (near Lake Mead NRA) View Down Canyon from Further Up Beyond Dry Fall | Wilson Summit, Arizona (near Lake Mead NRA) Horse Thief Canyon Springs Oasis in the Desert | Wilson Summit, Arizona (near Lake Mead NRA) Turn Right Up Adjoining Canyon at Springs; Continue to Saddle at Upper End | Wilson Summit, Arizona (near Lake Mead NRA) Left Turn on Saddle, Then Ascend to Mt. Wilson Approach Ridge Above. | Wilson Summit, Arizona (near Lake Mead NRA) Views Begin to Appear. Vegas Strip, Mt. Charleston Wilderness Background | Wilson Summit, Arizona (near Lake Mead NRA) Enlarged View of Vegas Strip and Charleston Wilderness | Wilson Summit, Arizona (near Lake Mead NRA) Lake Mead Appears Along with Lava Butte and Frenchman Mountain in Background | Wilson Summit, Arizona (near Lake Mead NRA) I-11 Bridge at Hoover Dam Area | Wilson Summit, Arizona (near Lake Mead NRA) Jean-Luc with One of Many Similar Rock Formations on Approach Ridge | Wilson Summit, Arizona (near Lake Mead NRA) Mt. Wilson at Summit of Approach Ridge. Easy Navigation: Just Stay on Ridge | Wilson Summit, Arizona (near Lake Mead NRA) Enlarged View of Mt. Wilson Summit. | Wilson Summit, Arizona (near Lake Mead NRA) Mt. Wilson Summit Final Approach | Wilson Summit, Arizona (near Lake Mead NRA) More Pillar Rock Formations on the Approach Ridge | Wilson Summit, Arizona (near Lake Mead NRA) Can You See the Formation Reminiscent of Easter Island Statues Below the Summit? | Wilson Summit, Arizona (near Lake Mead NRA) Enlarged View of the Sculpted Pillar Formation | Wilson Summit, Arizona (near Lake Mead NRA) Now You Can't Miss it! | Wilson Summit, Arizona (near Lake Mead NRA) Easter Island Sculpted Pillar Just Below Mt. Wilson Summit | Wilson Summit, Arizona (near Lake Mead NRA) Final Summit Approach. More Sculpted Pillars | Wilson Summit, Arizona (near Lake Mead NRA) A Living Easter Island Sculpture Just Below the Summit | Wilson Summit, Arizona (near Lake Mead NRA) Navigating the Final Summit Approach | Wilson Summit, Arizona (near Lake Mead NRA) SW View from the Summit Black Joe Mine Rd Below. | Wilson Summit, Arizona (near Lake Mead NRA) South End of Lake Mead from Mt. Wilson Summit | Wilson Summit, Arizona (near Lake Mead NRA) South Lake Mead from Mt. Wilson Summit. Fortification Hill Below to Left. | Wilson Summit, Arizona (near Lake Mead NRA) Fortification Hill Center. Mid Lake Mead Background. | Wilson Summit, Arizona (near Lake Mead NRA) Northern Lake Mead and Terrain to the East | Wilson Summit, Arizona (near Lake Mead NRA) Terrain to the East of Lake Mead | Wilson Summit, Arizona (near Lake Mead NRA) Terrain to the Southeast of Lake Mead | Wilson Summit, Arizona (near Lake Mead NRA) Northern Lake Mead Toward Overton Area | Wilson Summit, Arizona (near Lake Mead NRA) Lupine - Begin Flowers, Insects, Lizards and Geology. Thanks to Jean-Luc Montagnier | Wilson Summit, Arizona (near Lake Mead NRA) Milkvetch Family Flower? | Wilson Summit, Arizona (near Lake Mead NRA) California Poppy | Wilson Summit, Arizona (near Lake Mead NRA) Desert Plume | Wilson Summit, Arizona (near Lake Mead NRA) Large Mountain Fleabane (Aster family) | Wilson Summit, Arizona (near Lake Mead NRA) California Barrel Cactus with Large Mountain Fleabane (Aster family) | Wilson Summit, Arizona (near Lake Mead NRA) California Barrel Cactus | Wilson Summit, Arizona (near Lake Mead NRA) California Barrel Cactus | Wilson Summit, Arizona (near Lake Mead NRA) California Barrel Cactus Budding | Wilson Summit, Arizona (near Lake Mead NRA) Beavertail Cactus in Bloom | Wilson Summit, Arizona (near Lake Mead NRA) Beavertail Cactus in Bloom | Wilson Summit, Arizona (near Lake Mead NRA) Ladyabug (Convergent Lady Beetle, Hippodamia Convergens) | Wilson Summit, Arizona (near Lake Mead NRA) Sagebrush Checkerspot Chlosyne Acastusa Butterfly Caterpillar | Wilson Summit, Arizona (near Lake Mead NRA) Sagebrush Checkerspot Chlosyne Acastusa Butterfly | Wilson Summit, Arizona (near Lake Mead NRA) Great Basin Collared Lizard | Wilson Summit, Arizona (near Lake Mead NRA) Side-Blotched Lizard | Wilson Summit, Arizona (near Lake Mead NRA) Big Horn Sheep Jaw Bone | Wilson Summit, Arizona (near Lake Mead NRA) Bluish/Green Indicates Azurite and Malachite | Wilson Summit, Arizona (near Lake Mead NRA) Calcite Veined Boulder in Horse Thief Canyon Wash Creates Mosaic Design | Wilson Summit, Arizona (near Lake Mead NRA)

Overview | Mt. Wilson Arizona Summit | Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Arizona

Adventure Slide Guide to Appear Here Summer, 2024

Arizona Mt. Wilson as a Spectacular, Unique, Stand-Alone Summit

You may be familiar with Mt. Wilson towering above Red Rock Canyon in Nevada’s Rainbow Mountains. But did you know that there is another Mt. Wilson…in Arizona? This other Mt. Wilson is closely surrounded on three sides by Lake Mead National Recreation Area. As a tall stand-along high point, the Arizona Mt. Wilson summit at 5,713ft elevation serves as one of the most outstanding vantage points to view the Lake Mead National Recreation Area and the surrounding region from the Mt. Charleston Wilderness in Nevada to the Virgin Mountains to the Colorado River basin and many additional famous reference points. In fact, so distinctive is the summit of Mt. Wilson that it is used as a reference point for commercial aircraft in their final approach to Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas!

Route to the Summit of Arizona Mt. Wilson

The route to the summit of Mt. Wilson with its spectacular views begins at the Arizona Hot Springs Trailhead on Hwy 93 South of Hoover Dam (enlarge the map on this page). Instead of heading down toward Arizona Hot Springs near the edge of the Colorado River, head in the exact opposite direction up the unpaved Horse Thief Canyon Road. If you’re driving, be sure to have a very rugged high-centered vehicle! At the upper end of Horse Thief Canyon Road, continue up the canyon to a beautiful spring and take a right into an adjoining canyon. Continue up that canyon, eventually ascending to a saddle on the ridgeline at the upper end of the canyon. Take a right on that ridgeline and ascend that ridgeline all the way to the summit of Mt. Wilson!

Difficulty Level of the Arizona Mt. Wilson Adventure Route

This entire adventure is an easy class 2 ascent, but with some steep, loose rock stretches. The beautiful desert flowers we saw on this April adventure, along with lizards and geological formations are featured in this video. A surprised rattlesnake evaded our cameras!

Best Time of Year to Summit Arizona Mt. Wilson

The best time of year for this adventure is Spring and Fall. Winter can occasionally bring icy conditions on the boulders approaching the summit of Mt. Wilson and Summer often brings temperatures approaching and exceeding 100 degrees!  

Route Starting Point Directions | Mt. Wilson Arizona Summit | Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Arizona

The adventure begins at the Arizona Hot Springs trailhead on Arizona Highway 93, 4 miles South of the Nevada/Arizona border. Instead of crossing under the highway as you would if headed toward Arizona Hot Springs and Liberty Bell Arch, travel in the opposite direction up Horse Thief Canyon Road, the unpaved road that branches off from the trailhead parking area.

Narrative Guide | Mt. Wilson Arizona Summit | Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Arizona

Beginning on Horse Thief Canyon Road

Horse Thief Canyon Road is well marked with a road sign visible from the Arizona Hot Springs trailhead area. In the past I’ve walked/ran the road. Driving the road for the first time today was like driving up a canyon wash. Hold your breath in more than one place. The road is distinct and near the upper end winds around to the right ending at a box canyon, blocked by a vertical dry fall. It’s not hard to imagine the canyon corralled by horse thieves as a place to keep their stolen horses.

Horse Thief Canyon to Horse Thief Canyon Spring

Hiking begins here, by taking a bypass trail to your left circling up and around the dry fall before descending into the upper canyon. Continue up the canyon, ascending some beautiful limestone terraces, surrounded by tall canyon walls artistically populated by cactus gardens. Further up the canyon you may see water cascading over the limestone terraces, indicating you’re approaching the lush Horse Thief Canyon Springs. Suddenly, there are willows, tall grasses, and singing birds in the beautiful marsh area. Contrast this scene with the stark dry desert terrain surrounding the spring.

Adjoining Canyon to It’s Upper End Saddle

Continue up through Horse Thief Canyon Spring and at the spring’s upper end, take a right into an adjoining canyon. Now you’re again in a stark desert area populated by cacti and sage brush. Though there are ridges branching upward to the left (which I have taken on previous adventures), continue up the canyon as it winds around, eventually ending in a high ridgeline saddle. 

Initial Ridgeline Ascent Toward Mt. Wilson

Ascend to the saddle and take a left on its ridgeline. Now you’re on the ridgeline that will take you all the way to the summit of Mt. Wilson! The most challenging stretch of this ridgeline is straight ahead as you wind around boulders and ascend a steep loose rock slope to the higher level above.

Spectacular Viewpoints Along the Way!

Once you’ve attained the higher level continue upward as the ridgeline veers slightly to the left, continuing upward toward Mt. Wilson’s pointed summit in the distance. There are a number of spectacular vantage points along the ridgeline where you can view Lake Mead, the Las Vegas Strip framed by the Mt. Charleston Wilderness in the background. At points you’ll be looking down upon Hoover Dam, the rugged Colorado River Gorge and the bridge you crossed earlier between Nevada and Arizona. The sculpted rock formations on the ridgeline create an incredible foreground to your photos.

Sculpted Rock Formations On the Mt. Wilson Summit Approach

As you approach Mt. Wilson’s summit, the sculpted rock formations become more distinct and unique. Watch for a formation reminiscent of the statues on Easter Island!

360-Degree Views from Mt. Wilson’s Summit!

Standing on the summit, observe the commercial airliners passing above like clockwork…so close you can read their painted logos. They’re receiving guidance signals from a communications tower you can see on a ridge across Horse Thief Canyon. Enjoy the spectacular 360-degree views from the summit before returning by the same route, this time nearly 100% downhill all the way back to the parking area in Horse Thief Canyon. 

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Mt. Wilson Summit | Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Arizona
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Mt. Wilson Summit | Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Arizona
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This stand-alone mountain has a spectacular 360-degree view with Mt. Charleston Wilderness to the Northwest, the Sheep Range to the North, Virgin Mountains to the Northeast, Grand Canyon area to the East , Colorado River & Black Mountains to the South. Discover how to reach this incredible summit!
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LasVegasAreaTrails.com
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