La Madre Mountain Northern Approach from Kyle Canyon | La Madre Mountains Wilderness, Nevada

The La Madre Mountain Northern approach route moves deep into the beautiful La Madre Mountain Wilderness to summit La Madre Mountain from the Kyle Canyon/lower Harris Springs Roads intersection. The plant life undergoes a change from the Joshua Tree forest to pine and juniper trees. From the La Madre Mountain Summit one can see the entire Las Vegas Valley to the East, Red Rock Canyon to the South, Mt. Charleston Wilderness, Rainbow Mountains and Potosi Mountain to the West and Gass Peak and the Sheep Range to the North. There is too much more visible from La Madre Mountain summit to list here. Route details: 25 mi / 4500-8000ft; *Some Road, Mostly Wilderness* Click image or title above for more…

El Padre Mountain, La Madre Mountains Wilderness, Nevada

At 8,093 feet in elevation, El Padre Mountain, is the second highest mountain in the La Madre Mountains Wilderness and offers sweeping views of Las Vegas and Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, Nevada. Route details: 24 mi / 4500-7500ft; *Some Road, Mostly Wilderness* Click image or title above for more…

Burnt Peak | La Madre Mountains Wilderness, Nevada

Burnt Peak is located in the La Madre Mountains Wilderness of Nevada just a mile or two from La Madre Mountain. The summit is about 7,900ft, similar to the summits of La Madre Mountain and El Padre Mountain. All three mountains make up the section of the Keystone Thrust at the rear (North end) of Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area and Calico Basin in Nevada. Route details: 8 Miles RT / 4500-7900ft; *Some Road, Mostly Wilderness* Click image or title above for more…

La Madre Mt, El Padre Mt, Burnt Peak | La Madre Mountains Wilderness, Nevada

This adventure summits three of the highest peaks in the La Madre Mountains Wilderness to the West of Las Vegas, Nevada: La Madre Mountain, El Padre Mountain and Burnt Peak from the intersection of Kyle Canyon and lower Harris Springs Roads. The entire adventure took about 17 hours (including getting bogged down in a lower wash) compared to my recent completion of the Mt. Charleston Loop in 7 and a half hours! The La Madre Mountain, El Padre Mountain and Burnt Peak circuit offers incredible views all along the way including the Mt. Charleston Wilderness with Griffith Peak, Charleston Peak, Lee Peak, Mummy Mountain, Fletcher Peak and Angel Peak to the West. Then there is the Sheep Range, Fossil Ridge and Gass Peak to the Northeast. Add spectacular aerial views of Las Vegas Valley and the Las Vegas Strip with Frenchman Mountain and Lake Mead in the background to the East. Then add Calico Basin, Calico Hills, Damsel Peak, Red Rock Park, Turtlehead Peak, White Rock Mountain and the Rainbow Mountains all the way to Potosi Mountain to the Southwest including Bridge Mountain, North Peak, Rainbow Mountain, Juniper Peak, Mt. Wilson, Indecision Peak and Windy Mountain. Route details: 25+ Miles RT / 4500-8,500ft; *Some Road, Mostly Wilderness* Click image or title above for more…

La Madre Mountains Wilderness High Elevation Perspective | La Madre Mountains Wilderness, Nevada

La Madre Mountains Wilderness High Elevation Perspective | La Madre Mountains Wilderness, Nevada

Standing on a high point just West of the Devil’s Slide (also referred to at the La Madre Mountain Scar), I was able to view the exact spot where the Southern Pass emerged from between the La Madre Mountain and El Padre Mountain cliffs originating in Calico Basin. At the same time I was able to look West along the top of the Keystone Thrust to see where the Western Approach originating in the Willow Springs area of Red Rock Park emerged at the summit of El Padre Mountain. Finally, looking North I was able to see the entire Northern approach route originating at the intersection of Kyle Canyon Road and Harris Springs Road. In short, this was an experience in “connecting the dots” in the La Madre Mountains Wilderness. Route Details: 21 mi / 4500-7800ft; *Some Road, Mostly Wilderness* Click image or title above for more…

01 Lovell Canyon Overview | La Madre Mountains Wilderness | Spring Mountains, Nevada

Lovell Canyon is a beautiful, little known canyon beginning at the Southern base of the saddle between Griffith Peak and Harris Mountain and extending all the way to Hwy 160 near Potosi Mountain. Lower Lovell Canyon skirts the entire length of the Rainbow Mountains Wilderness and provides a unique access to that wilderness. Upper Lovell Canyon is bordered by Sexton Ridge and Wilson Ridge. Lovell Canyon is within the La Madre Mountains Wilderness area. There are improved car camping areas throughout Lovell Canyon and it is a popular recreation destination for those who know of its existence. Lovell Canyon Road spans the 13-mile length of lower Lovell Canyon, ending at the Lovell Canyon trailhead and camping area. This area provides access to numerous hiking opportunities in Lovell Canyon along with wilderness excursions up Sexton Ridge to Griffith Peak and up Wilson Ridge to Harris Mountain. These two ridges border upper Lovell Canyon. Best time of year for adventures here: Late Fall to early Spring below 5,000ft; Early Summer to Mid-Fall above 5000ft. Temperatures at the higher elevations are usually in the mid-70s even when Las Vegas Valley is up to 115 degrees! Winter temperatures in the lower elevations will average in the 40’s to 60’s. Expect to navigate Winter snow above 8,000ft. Follow the thumbnail images to view individual adventures in Lovell Canyon, Nevada. Click image or title above for more…

01 La Madre Mountains Wilderness, Nevada | Overview

La Madre Mountains Wilderness, Nevada | Overview

The La Madre Mountains Wilderness in Nevada is unknown to most visitors and even many locals. Yet it is 4 times the size of Red Rock Park, bordering the North end of the park. The cliffs you see on the North end of Red Rock Park are a geological feature called the Keystone Thrust on the Southern border of the La Madre Mountains Wilderness. The La Madre Mountains Wilderness stretches from its Western point bordering the Mt. Charleston Wilderness at Lovell Canyon to its Eastern point bordering Las Vegas. The highest point is La Madre Mountain at about 8,154ft elevation. Best time of year for adventures in the higher elevations here: Fall and Spring. You may need to navigate snow during Winter months. When Las Vegas Valley temperatures rise above 95 degrees, the higher elevations can become uncomfortably hot and even dangerous. Follow thumbnail images on this page to view individual adventures in the La Madre Mountains Wilderness. Follow thumbnail images to view the details you will need to plan your adventures here. Click image or title above for more…

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