Rainbow Mountain Peaks | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada
15 Major Sandstone Peaks from North to South
View 15 of the most famous, beautiful Jurassic sandstone peaks in the Rainbow Mountains of Nevada. We’ll take you from the North to the South end of the Rainbow Mountains. Discover routes to every summit.
Located Between Red Rock Canyon and Lovell Canyon
The Rainbow Mountains are a range of colorful Jurassic Era Sandstone peaks between Red Rock Canyon and Lovell Canyon in Southern Nevada. They are a world famous destination for rock climbers.
Rainbow Mountains Upper Crust Ridgeline
A cool feature is that parallel to and running above the Jurassic Era Sandstone peaks there is a limestone ridgeline: The Rainbow Mountains Upper Crust Ridgeline.
Geological History of the Rainbow Mountains
In many places a stark border can be seen between the older gray limestone and younger red sandstone. This border is the world famous Keystone Thrust fault.
Explore Peaks and Summit Routes
Summit routes are mostly from Lovell Canyon and Rocky Gap Road. The West side of the Rainbow Mountains from Lovell Canyon and the Rainbow Mountains Upper Crust Ridgeline is far more gentle than the more difficult East (Red Rock Canyon) side. Most of the routes documented here descend to the summits from points along the Rainbow Mountains Upper Crest Ridgeline. These routes are primarily class 2 (walking) with some class 3 and 3+ rock scrambling.
More technical routes not generally covered here begin below in Red Rock Canyon, ascending sandstone canyons, ledges and cliffs. Climbers can enjoy adventures at nearly every difficulty level in the Rainbow Mountains. View Rock Climbing Comparison Grade Charts from various countries worldwide.Â