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!

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!