Promontory Point | Hoover Dam Area | Lake Mead NRA, Nevada
Direction of Reference Points
Viewed from the Summit
These are the magnetic North coordinates rounded to nearest whole number (same as the direction you see with your compass).
Promontory Point (center) 2,224ft | Your Position
Paint Pots | 1,709ft | 52 Degrees
Fortification Hill | 3,717ft | 62 Degrees
Cove Peak | 1,575ft | 70 Degrees
Dam Viewpoint (Arizona) | 2,020ft | 87 Degrees
Mt. Wilson (Arizona) | 5,445ft | 96 Degrees
Peak 1876 | 1,876ft | 111 Degrees
Alfan Peak | 2,420ft | 121 Degrees
Battleship High Point | 1,610ft | 160 Degrees
Lost Man Peak | 1,560ft; 165 Degrees
Sugarloaf Mountain | 1,954ft | 168 Degrees
River Bend Bridge View Peak (Arizona) | 1,610ft | 172 Degrees
Peak 2125 | 2,125ft | 184 Degrees
Gold Strike Mountain | 2,410ft | 191 Degrees
Hoover Peak | 1,940ft | 194 Degrees
Peak 1935 | 1,935ft | 198 Degrees
Peak 2420 | 2,420ft | 202 Degrees
Windbreak Peak | 2,583ft | 204 Degrees
Peak 1862 | 1,862ft | 210 Degrees
“J” Hill | 2,087ft | 212 Degrees
Pass Benchmark | 2,695ft | 216 Degrees
Peak 2645 | 2,645ft | 222 Degrees
Rough Peak | 1,900ft | 223 Degrees
Gold Strike Pass Peak | 2,710ft | 225 Degrees
Pluto Peak | 2,138ft | 232 Degrees
Uranus Peak | 2,170ft | 234 Degrees
Peak 1920 | 1,920ft | 234 Degrees
Peak 1823 | 1,823ft | 237 Degrees
Rock Island Peak | 3,660ft | 273 Degrees
Sentinel Island | 3,420ft | 336 Degrees
Overview | Promontory Point | Hoover Dam Area | Lake Mead NRA, Nevada
Video and Slide Guides to appear early January, 2025
Hike to a spectacular view of Lake Mead and Hoover Dam! Most of this route is pathless wilderness away from established trails.
When you stand on Promontory Point, you may feel as if you were on the bow of a huge ship streaming past Hoover Dam Northward across Lake Mead. Promontory Point is a gigantic peninsula jutting out to the Northeast at the point the Colorado River exits Lake Mead and heads down the final channel to Hoover Dam, then beyond into Black Canyon below.
Spectacular Views from Promontory Point
The vast Promontory Point peninsula is definitely worthy of a full day of exploration. On the lower South end there’s a high plateau from which you will receive a unique view of the Colorado River entering world-famous Hoover Dam before spilling into wild Black Canyon below.
From the North end of the peninsula, the summit ridgeline, there’s a panoramic 360-degree view of Lake Mead to the North, it’s brilliant blue water sharply contrasting with the stark but colorful surrounding volcanic terrain. The massive Fortification Hill and the Colorado River channel it to your right (East). Black Mesa, Lava Butte and Frenchman Mountain are ahead to the North with the Mt. Charleston Wilderness visible in the distance. Boulder City and Callville Bay Marinas are below with Boulder City to the West just beyond a few volcanic peaks, Rough Peak prominent. To the South, beyond Hoover Dam are Sugarloaf Mountain, Hoover Peak, Goldstrike Mountain and the Colorado River flowing through Black Canyon past Liberty Bell Peak and Arch toward the Eldorado Wilderness.
Geologic History, An Open Book
As you survey the surrounding landscape, you may imagine previous apocalyptic floods streaming down the Colorado River channel, pouring over the Boulder City slope to the West and carving out various pathways for the Colorado River to the South. Notice the hills forming wave patterns on the Arizona side below Mt. Wilson and its long ridgeline. The geology is all visible, begging for interpretation, and theories abound.
Challenges Along the Route to Promontory Point
The hike to Promontory Point has one challenging stretch along the Northeastern cliffline of “J” hill. There, you will be hugging the base of the high vertical cliffs on your right and looking down a steep drop-off to the shore of Lake Mead below to your left as you wind along a narrow big horn sheep pathway. Though this stretch looks impossible from a distance, it does not exceed the class 3 level of climbing. Just take it step by step as you carefully navigate the pathwayt. Once you’ve past “J” Hill’s cliffline and reached the upper end of Promontory Point, the terrain is more gradual and wide-open.
Best Time of Year to Explore Promontory Point
Heat is the most dangerous factor here. Late Fall through early Spring bring the best temperatures. Late Spring through early Fall mid-day temperatures can easily rise to 120 degrees and beyond! Stay away during the hot months.
Directions to the Trailhead | Promontory Point | Hoover Dam Area | Lake Mead NRA, Nevada
Take Interstate 11 South from Las Vegas and turn onto Exit 2. At the traffic circle at the end of the exit turn left and cross under the freeway. Then take a right onto Hoover Dam Access Road (#172). Finally, take the first left on Hoover Dam Access Road, which will ascend to the Lake Mead – Lakeview Overlook parking area above the Historic Railroad Trail.
Narrative Guide | Promontory Point | Hoover Dam Area | Lake Mead NRA, Nevada
Lake Mead – Lakeview Overlook to the Hoover Dam Boneyard
Below the Northeast edge of the Lake Mead – Lakeview Overlook parking area, to the right of the interpretive displays, you can see an unmarked pathway below leading down to the Lake Mead Historic Railroad Trail. Take that pathway. Once on the Historic Railroad Trail, continue toward Hoover Dam. Along the way you’ll past the rest area with restroom before continuing on the trail to the Hoover Dam Boneyard.
Hoover Dam Boneyard to the Base of “J” Hill
At the Hoover Dam Boneyard, notice a slope to the left of the trail. That’s the slope of Peak 1900. Notice a faint use trail ascending along the Eastern base of Peak 1900. Take this trail as it winds along the Eastern base of Peak 1900, ascending to two saddles. At the second saddle a spectacular view of Lake Mead and its surrounding wilderness appears below. To the left, the saddle ascends to Peak 1900. To the right the saddle ascends to the base of “J” Hills cliffline.
Assessing Your Route Along the Eastern Cliffs of “J” Hill
As you look to your right, the terrain along the base of the “J’ Hill’s Eastern cliffs looks pretty imposing. Notice a large monolith boulder located mid-way along the cliff base. You want to hug the cliff base as you navigate to the opening between that monolith and the cliff base, then circle around the Northeast side of “J” Hill and upward to the upper terrain on Promontory Point.
Eastern Cliffs of “J” Hill to the Monolith
As you ascend the saddle you’re on to reach the “j” Hill cliff base, you’ll notice the terrain along the cliff base isn’t so imposing. There’s a narrow big horn sheep trail to help you navigate along the cliff base toward the monolith. Just take it carefully, step by step. It’s all class 2 and 3. There is a steep slope dropping off to your left, downward to the shore of Lake Mead below. But the pathway you’re on between the cliff above and the slope below is fairly secure. You might want to have tackled Gold Strike Trail and summited Hoover Peak before making this traverse. This is just a bit more challenging.
Monolith to the Upper Terrain of Promontory Point
The final stretch up to the monolith is steep, but still class 2 and 3. Above the monolith the pathway continues, switchbacking a little less steeply to the upper terrain of Promontory Point. Once you’ve reached the upper terrain, you have an expansive view of Promontory Point. To your left, above, is the high summit ridge. To your right, below, there’s an old road heading downward along a large gully and across to a rocky ridge toward the Southeastern end of Promontory Point. Notice a high plateau on the right (East) end of the rocky ridge. That plateau is a spectacular overlook of Hoover Dam.
Hoover Dam Overlook Plateau
Head downward from the point you summited the Northeastern edge of “J” Hill and take the old road to the rocky ridgeline. Then traverse the near (Northeastern) edge of that ridgeline to the plateau you saw from above. Enjoy the unique, spectacular view of Hoover Dam and the wild Colorado River streaming onward, down Black Canyon below the dam!
Hoover Dam Overlook Plateau to Promontory Point’s Summit Ridgeline
Now retrace your way along the rocky ridgeline and back up the old road to just below the point you earlier reached the upper Promontory Point terrain above the monolith. This time, continue up the gully navigating along the Western edge of Promontory Point to the high summit ridge. The short summit ridge has a high point and old wooden cairn and summit post on its Northwestern and Southeastern end. You’ll reach the Northeastern end first, which offers a great view of the Colorado River channel streaming from the South end of Lake Mead toward Hoover Dam. Watch for a view of Kingman Wash below and the massive Fortification Hill, both to the East across the Colorado River channel.
Northwestern Summit Marker
Now cross the short summit ridge to the Northwestern summit marker for the best, most expansive 360 degree view of Lake Mead and its vast, surrounding wilderness. You can descend from thie point to explore more of the ridgeline above the Colorado River channel. The route to the Northeastern edge of Promontory Point looks much more gradual and open than that narrow stretch you earlier navigated along the “J” Hill Eastern cliffline! We did not explore that terrain on this day. To explore the entire terrain on Promontory Point’s peninsula and give it the justice it deserves would take a longer day (late Fall or early Spring) or more than one adventure.
Conclusion
If you’ve also summited Hoover Peak, you’ve now seen some of the best, most unique views of Lake Mead, Hoover Dam and the Colorado River flowing through Black Canyon from the Nevada side of the Colorado River. Press on to experience additional unique views of Hoover Dam and Black Canyon from the Arizona side from adventures to North River Bend View, around the South River Bend Bridge View area and possibly (to be explored if there is access) from Sugarloaf Mountain.
All these adventures quickly move from well-traveled areas to an experience of remote, untouched wilderness with spectacular surrounding vistas!
