State: Nevada
Location: Las Vegas
Length, One-Way: 4 miles
Trail Type: Out and Back
Minimum Elevation: 3500 feet
Maximum Elevation: 5639 feet
Best Season: Spring, Fall, Winter
Difficulty: Difficult
Usage: Moderate
Directions
Although the summit can be reached many different ways, this is the most direct route. From the parking area, go generally north, angling up the slope toward the last of the granite outcrops on the skyline above. Stay below the steepest terrain near the top of the ridge until nearly to the northernmost visible outcrop then climb an easy gully just to the south of this last outcrop. The top of the ridge is broad and gentle with pleasant little basins. Notice the gradual change from mesquite desert to pinyon-juniper woodland as you ascend.
After wet winters, the ground will be covered with cheat grass, an exotic plant which cures rapidly when the temperature starts to rise in the summer. Once it is completely dry it is a pale yellow or straw color and is extremely flammable. On any slope or with the slightest breeze a wild fire will spread rapidly, burning not only the cheat grass but also the shrubs and trees as well. Most of the native plants are very slow growing and take many years to replace once burned.
In dry years, however, there may be almost no cheat grass, leaving the desert nearly fireproof, its more natural state. Continue directly up the ridge above, going generally west and avoiding rock outcrops to either side. As this ridge joins the main north-south summit ridge angle northwest to reach another pleasant ridgetop. From here, it appears that the summit is the peak to the northeast, but it is actually to the northwest at the end of the very rugged granite ridge.
The easiest way to the highest point is to stay below the summits to the north and head diagonally northwest. Skirt the massive granite fins at their southern ends then walk up a gully to a saddle just below the summit. The highest point is marked by an old survey post.
The mountains of four states are spread before you. To the south are the low ranges near Needles, California. The 8,000-foot Hualapai Mountains are visible southeast near Kingman, Arizona. To the northeast, the 8,000-foot Virgin Mountains mark the extreme northwest corner of Arizona. Just beyond the Virgins, the Pine Valley Mountains rise to 10,000 feet above St. George, Utah. Finally, to the northwest, the 11,000-foot Spring Range towers above Las Vegas.
Directions
From Laughlin:
Drive west on Nevada Highway 163 approximately six miles to the signed turnoff for Christmas Tree Pass. Turn right on this graded dirt road and continue for 6.2 miles then turn right and continue 0.2 mile to the end of the road. This same turnoff may be reached from the west by leaving U. S. Highway 95 about one mile south of Cal-Nev-Ari and turning east onto the signed Christmas Tree Pass Road, which is maintained gravel. It is approximately ten miles to the trailhead turn off, which is just past the first units of the Christmas Tree Pass Campground.
Grand Canyon Tour Co. offers the BEST tours at the BEST price from Las Vegas.
Popularity: 1% [?]
|
|
