Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Spectacular Views of the Rainbow Mountains from Juniper Peak to Hidden Peak Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada If Starting at the South End of the Ridge, Begin at Wheeler Spring Camp Parking. Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Cross Hwy 159, Head Up a Wash. Trail Soon Ascends to Left Edge of Wash. Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Wash Below Becomes a Deep Canyon! Ascend Left Toward Ridgeline Saddle. Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Views from First Cone Hill Above Saddle. Potosi Mt. on South End of Spring Mts. Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Southern Rainbow Mts. This is a Rainbow Mts. View Adventure, from Many Angles. Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Right to Left: Hidden Peak, Black Velvet Peak. Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Sandstone Peak Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Indecision Peak Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Mt. Wilson Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Right to Left: Bridge Mt., Juniper Peak, Rainbow Mountain. Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada View from First Cone Hill Toward Saddle, Second Cone Hill & Ridgeline North. Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Right to Left: Wilson, Indecision, Sandstone, Hidden, Black Velvet, Windy Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Ridgeline Looking South to First Cone Hill Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Southern Rainbow Mts. to Potosi. Spring Mt. State Park & Bonnie Springs Below. Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada This Tortoise Didn't Make It. Drought, Few Plants, Extreme Temperatures. Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Rainbow Mts. Right to Left: Bridge, Juniper, Rainbow, Wilson, Indecision Peaks. Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Ridgeline Looking North to Mid High Point. Gypsum Mining on Right. Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Origin of Awesome Hiking & Mountain Biking Trails Around Ridgeline. Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Right to Left: La Madre Ridgeline, Bridge Mt, Juniper Peak, Rainbow Mt. Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Little Zion Area Just North of Hidden Peak. Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Right to Left: Bridge, Juniper, Rainbow, Wilson, Indecision Peaks. Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Red Rock Canyon Calico Hills, Gray Cap Ridge, Damsel & Turtlehead Peaks. Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Larger View Toward Red Rock Canyon & La Madre Mts. Note Road Below to Right. Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Right to Left: Bridge, Juniper, Rainbow, Wilson Peaks; Red Rock Scenic Drive. Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Wilson, Indecision, Hidden, Black Velvet, Windy, Hollow Rock, South Peaks. Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Ridgeline Looking South. Gypsum Mining to Left. Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Red Rock Canyon; Damsel Peak, La Madre Ridgeline Background. Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Distant View of Gass Peak, North End of Las Vegas Valley. Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Bridge, Juniper, Rainbow, Wilson Peaks. Oak Creek Canyon Trail. Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada North on Ridgeline Looking South to Mid-Ridgeline High Point. Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Descending to Intersection of Unpaved Rd. & Hwy 159. North Ridgeline Parking. Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada 2 Car Strategy: Park Car 1 Here; Car 2 at Wheeler Spring Camp. Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada On Unpaved Road. One of Few Passages Through Hwy 159 Long Barrier Fence. Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada If You Started at North End of Ridgeline, Head for Hill to Right. Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Now on Hwy 159 at Oak Creek Trailhead Viewing Western High Ridge Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Passing First Creek Trailhead: Used to Climb Mt. Wilson from Canyon Below. Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Western High Ridge from First Creek Trailhead Area. Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Rainbow Mt., Oak Creek Canyon, Mt. Wilson, First Creek Canyon, Indecision Pk. Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Indecision Peak and Southern Rainbow Mts. from First Creek Trailhead Area. Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Arrival Back at Wheeler Spring Camp Parking Area. Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Looking Up Toward Hidden Peak and Monument Peaks. Access Routes Here. Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Looking Back at Two Cone Hills Marking Southern End of Ridgeline. Spectacular Views of the Rainbow Mountains from Juniper Peak to Hidden Peak | Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada If Starting at the South End of the Ridge, Begin at Wheeler Spring Camp Parking Area. | Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Cross Hwy 159, Head Up a Wash. Trail Soon Ascends to Left Edge of Wash. | Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Wash Below Becomes a Deep Canyon! Ascend Left Toward Ridgeline Saddle. | Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Views from First Cone Hill Above Saddle. Potosi Mt. on South End of Spring Mts. | Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Southern Rainbow Mountains. This is a Rainbow Mts. View Adventure, from Changing Perspectives. | Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Right to Left: Hidden Peak, Black Velvet Peak. | Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Sandstone Peak | Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Indecision Peak | Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Mt. Wilson | Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Right to Left: Bridge Mt., Juniper Peak, Rainbow Mountain. | Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada View from First Cone Hill Toward Saddle, Second Cone Hill & Ridgeline North. | Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada View Back To Rainbow Mts. Right to Left: Wilson, Indecision, Sandstone, Hidden, Black Velvet, Windy | Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Ridgeline Looking South to First Cone Hill | Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Southern Rainbow Mts. to Potosi. Spring Mt. State Park & Bonnie Springs Below. | Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada This Tortoise Didn't Make It. Drought, Few Plants, Extreme Temperatures. | Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Rainbow Mts. Right to Left: Bridge, Juniper, Rainbow, Wilson, Indecision Peaks. | Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Ridgeline Looking North to Mid High Point. Gypsum Mining on Right. | Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Origin of Awesome Hiking & Mountain Biking Trails Around Ridgeline. | Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Right to Left: La Madre Ridgeline, Bridge Mt, Juniper Peak, Rainbow Mt. | Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Little Zion Area Just North of Hidden Peak. | Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Right to Left: Bridge, Juniper, Rainbow, Wilson, Indecision Peaks. | Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Red Rock Canyon Calico Hills, Gray Cap Ridge, Damsel & Turtlehead Peaks and More. | Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Larger View Toward Red Rock Canyon & La Madre Mts. Note Road Below to Right. | Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Right to Left: Bridge, Juniper, Rainbow, Wilson Peaks; Red Rock Scenic Drive. | Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Southern Rainbow Mts.: Wilson, Indecision, Hidden, Black Velvet, Windy, Hollow Rock, South Peaks. | Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Ridgeline Looking South. Gypsum Mining to Left. | Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Distant View of Gass Peak, North End of Las Vegas Valley. | Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Red Rock Canyon; Damsel Peak, La Madre Ridgeline Background. | Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Bridge, Juniper, Rainbow, Wilson Peaks. Oak Creek Canyon Trail. | Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Further North on Ridgeline Looking South to Mid-Ridgeline High Point. | Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Descending to Intersection of Unpaved Rd. & Hwy 159. Northern Parking Area for Ridgeline. | Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada 2 Car Strategy: Park One Car Here; Other Car at Wheeler Spring Camp, South End of Ridgeline. | Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Now on Unpaved Road. One of Very Few Passages Through Hwy 159 Long Barrier Fence. | Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada If You Started at North End of Ridgeline, Head for Hill to Right. | Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Now on Hwy 159 at Oak Creek Trailhead Viewing Western High Ridge | Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Passing First Creek Trailhead: Used to Climb Mt. Wilson from Canyon Below. | Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Western High Ridge from First Creek Trailhead Area. | Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Right to Left: Rainbow Mt., Oak Creek Canyon, Mt. Wilson, First Creek Canyon, Indecision Peak. | Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Indecision Peak and Southern Rainbow Mts. from First Creek Trailhead Area. | Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Arrival Back at Wheeler Spring Camp Parking Area. | Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Looking Back at Two Cone Hills Marking Southern End of Ridgeline. | Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Looking Up Toward Hidden Peak and Monument Peaks. Access Routes Here. | Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada

Overview | Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada

Blue Diamond Hill’s Western High Ridge is a spectacular view adventure running parallel and East of the Rainbow Mountains from Juniper Peak to Hidden Peak. View all of these high points, along with the entire Rainbow Mountains Range from an incredible unique perspective! And the views gradually transform as you progress Northward on the ridge!

In addition, I discovered a largely unknown network of beautiful mountain bike and hiking trails on and below the ridgeline. This is a rare jewel of a wilderness adventure that easily merits one or more days.

What Spectacular Views Will You Experience Along the Along the Blue Diamond Hill Western High Ridge Adventure?

What is the Best Time of Year for the Blue Diamond Hill Western High Ridge Adventure?

Fall, Winter or Spring work well. The ridgeline is normally ice and snow free during the Winter months. Summer months can bring temperatures exceeding 100 degrees!

Route Starting Point Directions | Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada

Take the Charleston Blvd. exit off Hwy 215 in Las Vegas. Head up Highway 159 toward the mountains (Red Rock Canyon). You’ll pass Calico Basin, the Red Rock Canyon scenic drive entrance and exit. Continue on Highway 159 past the Oak Creek and First Creek trailheads. Continue past Spring Mountains State Park and Bonnie Springs. Just before the Gypsum Mining road branches off to the left, watch carefully for the Wheeler Spring Camp trailhead parking area on the right. It’s not marked and easy to miss. This very nice trailhead parking area is your starting point for taking the ridgeline from South to North.

On the other hand, you could take the ridgeline from North to South by parking at a wide spot on Highway 159 at an unmarked paved road intersection just past the Cowboy Horseback Riding operation. But the lighting from the sun works best going South to North.

A third option is to use two vehicles: Park one at the North entrance to the ridgeline. Park the other at the South entrance at Wheeler Spring Camp Trailhead. Hike the ridgeline from South to North and use that second vehicle to return to the Wheeler Spring Camp Trailhead.

Narrative Guide | Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada

Wheeler Spring Camp Trailhead Parking to South End of the Blue Diamond Hill Western High Ridge

Begin by setting your sights on the two cone-shaped hills across Highway 159 and a little to the left. This is your first target: The South end of the Blue Diamond Hill Western High Ridge. By the way, “Wheeler Spring Camp” is a bit of a misnomer. There is no camping allowed!

Now cross Highway 159 and pass through an opening in the long barbed-wire fence that spans most of the opposite side of Highway 159 from Red Rock Canyon to this point. You’re entering a canyon, shallow at first, but eventually to deepen above to a narrow canyon with towering high walls. Find the trail in the canyon wash. Soon the trail will rise a bit along the right side of the canyon, then cross over to the left side and ascend toward those cone-shaped hills at the Southern end of the Blue Diamond Hill Western High Ridge.

In the video I meander around a bit, but you can take the nice hiking/mountain biking trail all the way up to the saddle between the two cone-shaped hills. The point is to arrive at that saddle. In my meandering along the way (see the video), I skirted the upper edge of the canyon as it deepened with towering walls on either side. Trails continue along the upper walls of the canyon, but that’s another adventure. Note that the Blue Diamond Gypsum Operations Road ascends along the opposite side of the canyon.

Back to the saddle between the two cone-shaped hills: I took a short detour to the left and up to the summit of the first cone-shaped hill. Unique spectacular views from that summit, and the ascent was all class 2. Note especially the great views of the Southern stretch of the Rainbow Mountains. Following this, I headed back down to the saddle and up to the second cone-shaped hill. I left the trail in the saddle and took a direct ridgeline approach to that second summit. Again, a steep but fairly easy class 2 ascent. In fact, one happily continuing factor along this entire ridgeline is that points that look difficult ahead will appear easier the closer you get. You can’t see beyond the next high point, but have faith that when you reach that point, you’ll see a fairly easy class 2 stretch along the ridgeline ahead to the next high point. “Class 2”, by the way, is walking on an incline.

South End of the Blue Diamond Hill Western High Ridge to the Mid-Ridge Highest Point Overlook

Now it’s just a matter of continuing North along the ridgeline. Though there is no trail until you approach the Mid-Ridge Highest Point Overlook, the going is pretty easy class 2 walking. Note the great views not only of the Rainbow Mountains to the West, but also, views of the Blue Diamond Hill Gypsum mining operation below to the East. And, to the West, below between the ridgeline and Highway 159 below, notice the network of great hiking/mountain-biking trails.

Another observation to note: There are many “escape routes” down the ridgeline toward Highway 159 below, so you could shorten this adventure to fit the distance that works best for you. However, remember that long barbed wire fence along Highway 159. There may be multiple openings through that fence, but at this point I am only aware of two: One on the North end and one on the South end of the ridgeline!

Mid-Ridge Highest Point Overlook to Ridgeline Split

As you approach the Mid-Ridge Highest Point Overlook, a ridgeline trail will appear, streamlining your progress. Take this trail to the Overlook, but note, as I got close to the overlook I left the trail and took a straight beeline to that summit where I caught the trail again (see the video). Once on the overlook summit more views open. You’re almost directly across from Mt. Wilson the the West. The Northern stretch of the Rainbow Mountains appears with greater definition, along with Red Rock Canyon, the La Madre Mountains ridgeline cliffs and other surrounding reference points. To the East you can see the Overlook Trail area of Blue Diamond Hill on the horizon along with the radio towers and Maverick Helicopters landing site. Below to the East you can see the trail network of Blue Diamond Hill including Bunny Trail, Kibbles and Bits Trail and Fossil Ridge.

Note the unpaved road directly below to the East (right). That road continues North to the Northern edge of the Western High Ridge you are on. That road intersects Highway 159 at an opening in the barbed wire fence and a parking area you could use as a Northern access to the ridgeline.

Continue North along the ridgeline to a point where the ridgeline splits. You’re on a nice trail to this point. There’s a sign on the trail indicating the ridgeline trail network was mostly the work of one dedicated individual who put 300 hours into the project. Awesome trails, well done!

As you progress North, the ridgeline eventually splits. The trail takes you down to the right and to that unpaved road mentioned earlier. Instead I took the pathless left split with the better high views.

Ridgeline Split to Highway 159 (North End of the Blue Diamond Hill Western Ridgeline)

The split-off ridgeline ahead and to the left (West) continues offering the best views. Eventually, that split-off ridgeline circles around and ends up at the intersection of the unpaved road and Highway 159, where you can pass through an opening in that long barbed wire fence.

North End of Ridgeline Back to Wheeler Spring Trailhead Parking

Take a left turn on Highway 159 to head back to your starting point. Progress is easy, though noisier, along the shoulder of Highway 159, making this a great loop. Be sure to notice the Western High Ridge above to the East (left), along with more beautiful views of the Rainbow Mountains, now from below along the Eastern base of that range.

Timing for the Blue Diamond Hill Western High Ridge Adventure

Curiously, it took me about 6.5 hours to complete progress along the Western High Ridge from Wheeler Spring Camp Trailhead Parking to the North end of the ridgeline (You can subtract about 2 hours for filming, meandering discoveries and rest). It took only one hour and ten minutes to make the return South along Highway 159!

Summary for the Blue Diamond Hill Western High Ridge Adventure

Whether you make this a one-day hiking adventure, a mountain bike adventure, employ a one or two-vehicle strategy, or split the adventure into multiple days, this spectacular view adventure is well worth the experience! Unique images and memories will be enduring! Enjoy!

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Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada
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Western High Ridge | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada
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Blue Diamond Hill’s Western High Ridge in Nevada is a spectacular view adventure running parallel and East of the Rainbow Mountains from Juniper Peak to Hidden Peak. View all of these high points from an incredible unique perspective!
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LasVegasAreaTrails.com
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