Windy Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada
View from Windy Peak Summit: Mt. Wilson and La Madre Mountains Visible
Windy Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada
Only Welcome Sign Off Hwy 160 at Entrance of Mountain Springs Trailhead!
Windy Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada
"The Beast" Parked at Mountain Springs Trailhead.
Windy Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada
Trailhead Road to the Right - More Direct But with Brief Wilderness Traverse
Windy Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada
Around the Corner the Communications Tower Marks True Trailhead Beginning
Windy Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada
If You Take the Road to the Left at the Parking Area, Take the Right Split in 100 Yds
Windy Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada
Arrival at First Reference Point. Trailhead Begins Beyond Fence.
Windy Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada
Nice Trail/Roadlet Begins at Rock Barrier Behind Communication Tower
Windy Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada
Approaching High Ridgeline, Spans Upper Rainbow Mt Wilderness to Red Rock Pk
Windy Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada
Charleston Wilderness Viewed While Ascending Toward High Ridgeline
Windy Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada
Spring Blooms on High Ridgeline
Windy Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada
About 1000ft Along High Ridgeline Windy Peak Trail Breaks Off To Right
Windy Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada
Shortly Thereafter One Final Right Turn, Then Descend Toward Windy Peak
Windy Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada
Potosi Mountain South of High Ridgeline, Across Hwy 160
Windy Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada
This Obscure Jurassic Era Peak is the Southernmost Peak of the Rainbow Mts.
Windy Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada
Windy Peak is Just to the North of That Last Southern Peak.
Windy Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada
High Ridgeline Heading Toward Mt. Wilson (right) to the North
Windy Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada
Another Obscure Rainbow Mt Peak Just North of Windy Peak. Mt. Wilson Beyond.
Windy Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada
Peak Just North of Windy Peak. Vegas Valley, Frenchman Mt Behind in Distance
Windy Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada
Descending Toward Windy Peak. Good View of Summit Area.
Windy Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada
Closer View of Windy Peak Summit Area
Windy Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada
Summit Ascent Crack to the Left Just Before Cliffline
Windy Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada
Summit Ascent Crack Easy Class 3, Less Daunting up Close
Windy Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada
Summit Ascent Crack from Above. Looks Like Cliff Drop-off!
Windy Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada
Ascending Above Summit Crack. Bonsai-Like Pines Appear Amid Jurassic Rock
Windy Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada
Final Approach to Summit in View. Note Channels and Rocks to Navigate
Windy Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada
Higher View of Summit Approach Slope
Windy Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada
Passing Through a Channel We Just Viewed from Above
Windy Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada
More Artistic Rock and Plant Placement At Eastern Cliff Edge
Windy Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada
Darker Red Rock, Bonsai Pine Toward Eastern Cliff Edge
Windy Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada
View Back Down Summit Approach Ridge from Near Summit
Windy Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada
View Back Down Summit Approach. Keep the Hill Beyond as Reference Point
Windy Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada
View at Eastern Cliff Edge Near Summit
Windy Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada
View Over Eastern Cliff Edge at Summit
Windy Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada
Northern View from Summit: Mt. Wilson and La Madre Mts Straight Ahead
Windy Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada
Southeast View Across the Summit Ridge
Windy Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada
Last Southern Rainbow Mountain Wilderness Peak South of Windy Peak
Windy Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada
Potosi Mountain to the South of Windy Peak Summit
Windy Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada
Peak North of Windy Peak; Mt. Wilson and the High Ridgeline
Windy Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada
Quiet Beautiful Resting Spot Just South of Roaring Winds on Summit
Windy Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada
View North from the Quiet Rest Spot
Windy Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada
View East from the Quiet Rest Spot. More Artistic Placement of Rock and Plants
Windy Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada
View South from Quiet Rest Spot Shielded by Beautiful Rock Formation
Windy Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada
Returning Trip. Griffith Peak Saddle to Harris Mt. Marks Upper Lovell Canyon

Windy Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada

Windy Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada Overview

Windy Peak in Nevada is the Southernmost peak in the Rainbow Mountain Wilderness and a good jumping off point to explore the Wilson Ridge which borders Red Rock Canyon NCA to the East and Lovell Canyon to the West. The Wilson Ridge continues North and eventually tops out at Harris Mountain in the Mt. Charleston Wilderness. About 15 miles to the South of Windy Peak is Potosi Mountain, the Southernmost peak in the Spring Mountain Range.

Windy Peak is one of the Rainbow Mountains beautiful Jurassic Era Aztec red rock frozen sand dunes similar to the famous formations in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. To stand in that place is to be surrounded by the artistic beauty of red and white rock with occasional bonsai-like pine trees.

Views from Windy Peak

The views from Windy Peak are pretty incredible including a good portion of the Rainbow MountainsMt. Wilson in particular standing out – the La Madre Mountains, the Las Vegas Valley with Frenchman Mountain, Sunrise Mountain and the Muddy Mountains as a backdrop, the Black Mountains in Arizona with the faint line of the other Mt. Wilson in Arizona, and Potosi Mountain huge, directly to the South at the Southern tip of the Spring Mountains. There are other reference points yet to be visited to the Southeast.

RT Distance to Windy Peak

The round trip to Windy Peak from the Mountain Springs Trailhead on Highway 160 is a little over 5 miles with an ascent from 5,470ft to 6,238ft.

Best Time of Year to Visit Windy Peak

The best time of year to hike, run or otherwise ascend Windy Peak is Fall through Spring. Summer temperatures can exceed 100 degrees.

Windy Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada, Trailhead Directions

Take I-215 to the Charleston Blvd. Exit in Summerlin, then head upward toward Red Rock Park. Pass Red Rock Park, continuing on Hwy 159. Pass the town of Blue Diamond, then turn right onto Hwy 160 toward Pahrump. Hwy 160 will ascend upward to a high point just before the town of Mountain Springs. Around that high point park at the Mountain Springs Trailhead on your right. The trailhead has no marking and is a hard right turn off Hwy 160 onto a dirt road and into an area that looks like an unimproved campground with scattered areas to park. If you are the first to arrive in the morning it’s not obvious that you are at a trailhead. To make the Mountain Springs trailhead even more difficult to recognize there is a large sign at the entrance “Residential Use Only”.

Windy Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada, Trail Description

Locating the Unmarked Trail to Windy Peak

Once you have successfully located the Mountain Springs Trailhead, your next challenge is to locate the unmarked trail to Windy Peak.

The key now is the communications tower about 1/4th mile up the hill to the North from the trailhead. The trail to Windy Peak begins behind the communication tower. There are 2 unpaved roads heading North to the communication tower from the Mountain Springs Trailhead area: One to the right and one to the left. The road to the left is the main road that leads all the way to the communication tower. In about 100 yards, when that road splits take the right split up to the communication tower.

If, on the other hand, you took the road to the right of the Mountain Springs Trailhead, that road ends in a few hundred feet, but you can see the communication tower from that point and head cross-country on a faint use trail directly to the tower.
From the Communication Tower to the Upper Ridgeline

Once you reach the communication tower, just continue around the gate blocking the road to find the true beginning of the very good trail to Windy Peak.

Now your point of reference is the ridgeline you see to your right (Northeast). The trail will rise to the top of that ridgeline and continue above the rainbow mountains, all the way to the familiar Mt. Wilson, Rainbow Mountain and Bridge Mountain of Red Rock Park.

Right Split-Off Trail to Windy Peak

However, you want to take an unmarked right fork off that trail in about 100 yards or so after toping the ridgeline. That right fork will lead down to Windy Peak.

If You Had Continued Along the Upper Ridgeline Instead of Heading for Windy Peak

Incidentally, if you had continued along the ridgeline, you might be able to take a right at further points along the ridgeline trail down to the other peaks of the Rainbow Mountains. We have yet to explore those other Rainbow Mountain Peak approaches and can’t at this time guarantee they are good routes to Mt. Wilson, Rainbow Mountain and other peaks in the Rainbow Mountains. We do know that Bridge Mountain can be summited from the ridgeline. One thing is certain: The route down to those peaks from the ridgeline is potentially easier than summiting the peaks from below. And, by the way, North Peak is located on this ridgeline.

Right Split-Off Trail to Windy Peak (Continued)

Back to the Windy Peak approach split off trail: After you take the right fork off the main ridgeline trail, within another 100ft or so there will be one final right turn. Take this right turn and precede about ½ mile down to Windy Peak.

Ascending the Windy Peak Summit Approach Slope

The trail ends at the base of Windy Peak where there is a class 3 crack that will take you up to the summit slope. Ascend the crack (about 20 feet) to find yourself on the summit slope.

Navigating the summit slope is an act of weaving around rocks and through small channels. Turn around often to get an idea of how you will return to the trail. On the return trip to the trail, you want to stay on course because veering too far downhill will lead to a cliff drop-off. So, look back often. The hill you descended before reaching the base of Windy Peak is a good reference point for the return trip through the maze of rocks and channels.

Back to your ascent of the Windy Peak summit slope: As you ascend (and later descend) keep to the upper (East) edge of Windy Peak. Watch for a few cairns. However, the cairns tend to disappear when you need them, so just keep to the upper edge of Windy Peak. In a short time, you will reach the summit. Look to the video and slide show on this page for a visual of the summit approach route.

The Roaring Wind on Windy Peak!

On the day I was there, Windy Peak lived up to its name in a big way! I was nearly blown off my feet a few times, so be careful not to veer too close to the edge of the upper cliff. The wind wanted to blow me off the cliff and over to the Las Vegas Strip! In addition, the wind overcame my mic muffler system at times.

On Windy Peak Summit

Once on the true summit, enjoy looking around. The view is incredible. In addition, the artistic placement of scattered lone bonsai-like pine trees against the backdrop of the Aztec red rock is amazing. After a few roaring windy moments on the summit, you might want to descend to a rocky formation South of the summit where things are quieter and it’s possible to rest in a calm spot.

Returning to Mountain Springs Trailhead Windy Peak

Finally, retrace your way back up the summit ridge and then back down to the trail at the base of Windy Peak. If you looked back a few times during your earlier ascent to get the lay of the land, your return trip to Windy Peak base should be relatively flawless. On this day I missed the class 3 crack I had ascended and instead descended a steeper crack just 20-30 feet West. Not a big problem as the crack was so narrow, I was able to wedge myself in it to keep control of the descent.

Once on the main trail again, your return is easy. Just retrace your route back up to the ridgeline, take a left, follow the ridgeline for 1000ft or so, then descend to the right. At this point you can see that communication tower landmark. The Mountain Springs Trailhead where you began is less than 1/4th mile below the tower.

Summary
Windy Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada
Article Name
Windy Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada
Description
Windy Peak in Nevada is the third peak from the South end of the Rainbow Mountain Wilderness and a good jumping off point to explore the Wilson Ridge which borders Red Rock Canyon NCA to the East and Lovell Canyon to the West.
Author
Publisher Name
LasVegasAreaTrails.com
Publisher Logo
Translate »