Overview | Nelson Benchmark | Eldorado Wilderness, Nevada

Visit Nelson Benchmark, towering over Nelson Ghost Town in the Eldorado Wilderness of Nevada. Enjoy a spectacular view of a huge stretch of the Colorado River all the way to Lake Mohave. Discover some cool natural arches.

Where is Nevada’s Nelson Benchmark, Elevation 3828ft?

Nelson Benchmark, elevation 3828 feet, is located near the Southwestern corner of the Eldorado Wilderness. Because it’s the most prominent peak in the surrounding area it offers unique views into this rugged volcanic corner of wilderness, along with opportunities to visit a number of natural arches along the way. The surrounding terrain also presents a beautiful overview look at the historic mining history of Nevada’s gold and silver rush days in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. The historic gold-rush town of Nelson with its notoriously violent history is almost immediately below. If you look carefully into the surrounding hills, you can pick out the tailings of numerous Nelson, Nevada area mines, mostly now abandoned.

Spectacular Views from Nevada’s Nelson Benchmark

To the North and East is a window into the rugged volcanic, little-known Eldorado Wilderness, most of which is pathless. Some of the most visible high points include:

• Lonesome Peak, 3858 feet elevation: high point in the Eldorado Wilderness
• Mt. Stocker, 3854 feet elevation
• Mt. Stalker, 3848 feet elevation
• Pigs in Zen Peak, 3832 feet elevation
• Mt. Duncan, 2790 feet elevation

There are views of the Colorado River all the way from Lonesome Wash Cove to Lake Mohave. Beyond Lonesome Wash Cove, in the Arizona side of the Colorado River, there’s the impressive Malpais Flattop Mesa, elevation 2,771ft and the impressive spinning turbines of Arizona’s White Hills Wind Farm. 

Though the Northern approach route taken here is pathless, it’s all a class 2 walk, though along some steep loose rock slopes. Nelson Benchmark itself has a 40-50ft summit rock that has class 3-5 rock climbing approaches, all exposed. I did not scale the summit rock, but the views from its North base, not far below, were very similar to what you’d experience on top of the rock.

Adventure Route Summary

This Northern approach to Nelson Benchmark begins at on of the very few Eldorado Wilderness trailheads on Highway 165 just a couple miles Northwest of the Ghost Town of Nelson. The trail crosses a low ridge, then descends following Bridge Creek along the Techatticup Wash toward the Murl Emery Arch. Just before the arch, turn right to ascend the long ridgeline to Nelson Benchmark. I ascended from the Techatticup Wash along the upper West side of the main ridgeline and returned to the Techatticup Wash along the lower East side of the ridgeline for a nice loop.

The Terrain and Best Time of Year to Visit Nelson Benchmark

As mentioned, this Northern approach to Nelson Benchmark is entirely a class 2 walk. However, it’s pathless and in places along a steep loose-rock volcanic slope. You can avoid exposure to a dangerous fall based on the particular route you take along the steeper slopes, but place every step carefully. The Southern approach to Nelson Benchmark from the Nelson Town area, on the other hand is more vertical and exposed.

Mid-Fall through early-Spring is the best time of year to visit Nelson Benchmark. Summer temperatures can rise to a dangerous 120 degrees! I’d recommend visiting Nelson on a day the temperature in Las Vegas will not exceed 75 degrees. 

Trailhead Directions | Nelson Benchmark | Eldorado 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. Continue 16-18 miles on Highway 165 to the UNMARKED Eldorado Trailhead just a couple miles North of Nelson Ghost Town (see map).

Narrative Guide | Nelson Benchmark | Eldorado Wilderness, Nevada

Getting Your Initial Bearings

From the trailhead on Hwy 165, a ridge immediately above to the East blocks your view of Nelson Benchmark and the surrounding terrain, so take the short stretch of trail to the summit of that ridgeline to get your initial bearings. From the summit of the ridgeline, look Southeast to see the distinctive rocky ridgeline with Nelson Benchmark as it’s highest point on the right (South) end. You can see the trail continuing below you, down through into Techatticup Wash. You’ll take that trail down to some light brown hills. You can see where the Techatticup Wash below meets the lower base of the ridges leading up to the rocky Nelson Benchmark ridgeline. From there, it’s just an out-and-back hike from the Techatticup Wash trail to the Nelson Benchmark.

By the way, note that from that first ridge above Hwy 165 you can see some additional future adventure destinations. There’s Pigs in Zen Peak to the Northeast, Lonesome Peak further beyond and Archback Peak to the North. Across Hwy 165 to the West are hills filled with abandoned mines from Nevada’s gold and silver rush of the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. Some of the mines are still active, so do a little research to locate the abandoned mines. The best access to these mines will be closer to the Ghost Town of Nelson. 

Start Point to North Base of the Nelson Benchmark Ridgeline

Head down the trail along the Techatticup Wash toward the light brown hills ahead. Notice a distinctive cove/cave-like opening in the brown hills. That’s approximately where you will take a right turn off the trail to begin ascending the long ridgeline toward Nelson Benchmark. That cove in the hills contains a surprising discovery we’ll explore at the end of this adventure!

The trail down Techatticup Wash is fairly easy, with the expected short dips encountered in washes at points along the way. About half-way to the brown hills ahead there are a couple small, but beautiful volcanic arches. The surrounding hills contain additional small arches which you can discover by taking side-trips up the small tributary washes.

As you approach the hills with the cove (on the left), there’s an unmistakable huge boulder perched in a scary balancing act over the trail. It’s around this point that you want to take a right turn, leaving the trail and starting up the ridgeline that leads to Nelson Benchmark.

Techatticup Wash to Nelson Benchmark

The Nelson Benchmark approach ridgeline is at first fairly gradual. I took the upper right (West) side of the ridgeline during the ascent, and the canyon on the opposite (East) side of the ridgeline later for the descent. As you reach the steeper, rockier part of the approach ridgeline closer to Nelson Benchmark, the slope on the West side becomes a slower traverse across its steep, volcanic, loose rock surface. There’s no real exposure to a fall, just the opportunity to slip and scrape yourself on the rocky slope. So ensure every foot placement is secure as you traverse the slope just below the cliffy ridgeline above. There’s a nice approach gully just below Nelson Benchmark and the going for that final ascent to the upper center or the ridgeline is easier.

Nelson Benchmark’s Double Summit

Nelson Benchmark has two summits separated by a short saddle. The first summit is just a bit lower and offers the best views to the West and to the currently active area in the town of Nelson below. This is the best summit viewpoint to see the Western hills, filled with mostly abandoned mines from the historic gold rush era and also a few currently active mines.

The true Nelson Benchmark summit just to the East offers a view of the historic Ghost Town of Nelson below along with the Techatticup Mine aka Eldorado Mine, the Colorado River to Lake Mohave and the Arizona desert further East. The true summit is capped by a 40-50ft high rocky summit block. Clearly visible below to the North is the entire ridgeline you just ascended with Pigs in Zen Peak beyond and Lonesome Peak, the Eldorado Wilderness high point a bit further. Closer, below to the East, toward the Colorado River, you can see Mt. Stocker and Mt. Stalker. Further beyond, at the banks of the Colorado River is Lonesome Wash Cove. Down the Colorado to the right is Nelson Landing, where boats once brought supplies for the historic Nelson mining town. Further down the Colorado you can see Lake Mohave.

Nelson Benchmark Back to Techatticup Wash

The descent canyon is at first wide, gradual and inviting. But there’s a vertical drop at the lower end. When you hit that barrier, you can summit either ridgeline to your right or left to bypass the barrier. I summited the ridgeline to the left, then descended the canyon on the opposite side. That canyon ended is a very steep 20ft slope that fortunately had just enough micro holds to enable a safe descent. I continued North back to the Techatticup Wash just opposite the hill with the huge cove opening. I ascended that hill to find that surprisingly, the cove was actually a cave with light visible at the opposite end! This makes it a kind of natural arch cave, missed by most people on their way to the Murl Emery Arch. There was another small volcanic arch on the approach slope to the cove.

Nelson Benchmark Adventure Summary

It was an easy descent back to the Techatticup Wash and finally back along the wash to the starting point. Looking back, this adventure had quite a variety. There were small volcanic arches, a larger cave arch and all the spectacular views enjoyed while ascending and descending Nelson Benchmark. Had I gone less than 1,000ft further down Techatticup Wash I could have also taken in the impressive Murl Emery Natural Bridge Arch.