Class 2 10.6 miles 4700 gain 6-8 hrs Out + Back Feb 6, 2021
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Arch Mountain GPX Track

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Although geographically close to Las Vegas, Arch Mountain requires a significant drive. The roads leading out to the trailhead were fine overall, except for a couple of short sandy spots along Cohenour Loop Road, but mid-clearance would be fine. The naming of Arch Mountain is a little confusing, since Arch Mountain is an unranked peak at the north end of the range, and the high point is a bit farther south along the ridge. Arch Mountain seems to bring enough appeal for its remoteness to justify going for it. My friends Adam and Paula convinced me it would be worth the additional effort, even if it was only because I'd regret it later. It's also known to add some sketchy Class 3/4 to the day, but I decided to just work around that,  keeping the whole traverse at Class 2. 

I started east through a drainage, South Arch Mountain (which I labeled since it's only unnamed Peak 3323) my first peak. An optional Class 3 move up a dryfall followed by a slope led to the ridgeline and up to the summit, a Class 2 move. The views were hazy, but nice. I couldn't really see much of Lake Mead yet, but as my traverse of Arch Mountain progressed, the views improved. There were no serious obstacles all the way to Arch Mountain High Point, though the slope leading up the the summit was steep and rocky.

I continued along the undulating ridge past a benchmarked called Black Benchmark, which isn't really a high point of any sort and I was curious why the benchmark would be here. Just past Black Benchmark, I saw the Class 3/4 ridgeline that would lead to Arch Mountain, pretty much immediately deciding it wouldn't be worth the fear factor. The rock around here is loose, and surely scrambling on it would be less than smart, especially when there's a perfectly good drainage on the right that would bring me down to the base of Arch Mountain and then back up to its western saddle. Although this forced me to add an additional 900 feet (including the ascent and descent), I'm sure it would have taken me longer to do the traverse, which undulates. Others who decided to skip the ridge traverse seem to stay high and side-hill along the slopes below the crest, but I felt it was worth the extra effort to just descend all the way and keep to the drainage and have a pleasant hike. I followed the slope from the saddle west of Arch Mountain, keeping just left of the crest once I got higher up. I made it to the summit and took in the nice views of Lake Mead. Unfortunately the narrow section to the north was obscured by cliffs, but it was nice to be able to see the many peaks I've come to love across the river on the Nevada side.

I backtracked over Arch Mountain High Point and the few humps along the ridge in search of a reasonable slope to get down off the ridgeline. I located a less-steep looking spur ridge, but it ended up being a bit rocky and the gully just to its east would probably have been better. I avoided a dryfall and continued over a bunch of desert lumps as I made my way back to Cohenour Loop Road.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Arch Mountain South (Peak 3323)
3323 ft
420 rise
2
Arch Mountain High Point
3763 ft
1024 rise
3
Black Benchmark
3562 ft
n/a rise
4
Arch Mountain
3376 ft
260 rise

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I left the road and headed up a drainage toward Arch Mountain South, seen ahead.
I left the road and headed up a drainage toward Arch Mountain South, seen ahead.
Optional Class 3 dryfall obstacle.
Optional Class 3 dryfall obstacle.
Along the ridge leading to Arch Mountain South.
Along the ridge leading to Arch Mountain South.
Arch Mountain South's Class 2 summit block.
Arch Mountain South's Class 2 summit block.
Continuing north, Arch Mountain High Point visible center.
Continuing north, Arch Mountain High Point visible center.
View back toward Arch Mountain South.
View back toward Arch Mountain South.
Arch Mountain High Point ahead.
Arch Mountain High Point ahead.
View back toward Arch Mountain South.
View back toward Arch Mountain South.
Image 8 from gallery
Image 9 from gallery
Approaching a Class 2 loose slope to reach Arch Mountain High Point.
Approaching a Class 2 loose slope to reach Arch Mountain High Point.
View back from the top of the Class 2 slope.
View back from the top of the Class 2 slope.
Arch Mountain High Point ahead.
Arch Mountain High Point ahead.
Arch Mountain High Point, view back along the ridge.
Arch Mountain High Point, view back along the ridge.
Colorado River. Muddy Mountains visible top right. Charleston Peak top left.
Colorado River. Muddy Mountains visible top right. Charleston Peak top left.
Lake Mead's eastern reaches.
Lake Mead's eastern reaches.
Continuing north toward Black Benchmark.
Continuing north toward Black Benchmark.
View back to Arch Mountain High Point.
View back to Arch Mountain High Point.
Black Benchmark ahead, Arch Mountain visible top right.
Black Benchmark ahead, Arch Mountain visible top right.
Looking back toward a significant bump along the ridge from Arch Mountain High Point.
Looking back toward a significant bump along the ridge from Arch Mountain High Point.
You can see the Class 3/4 loose ridgeline on the left. I decided to drop to the right into the barely Class 2 drainage instead. Both routes would lead to the saddle in the center of this photo.
You can see the Class 3/4 loose ridgeline on the left. I decided to drop to the right into the barely Class 2 drainage instead. Both routes would lead to the saddle in the center of this photo.
Close-up toward the drainage route I chose to take. The Class 3/4 ridge is out of frame on the left.
Close-up toward the drainage route I chose to take. The Class 3/4 ridge is out of frame on the left.
Heading up to the western saddle of Arch Mountain.
Heading up to the western saddle of Arch Mountain.
View back toward Black Benchmark (top left) from the western saddle of Arch Mountain. You can see the scary ridge in the center.
View back toward Black Benchmark (top left) from the western saddle of Arch Mountain. You can see the scary ridge in the center.
Class 2 up to Arch Mountain. I ascended this slope and then kept to the left of the ridge crest.
Class 2 up to Arch Mountain. I ascended this slope and then kept to the left of the ridge crest.
Final ridgeline to the summit of Arch Mountain.
Final ridgeline to the summit of Arch Mountain.
Close-up toward the drainage I descended from Black Mountain. You can see the Class 3/4 ridgeline top right.
Close-up toward the drainage I descended from Black Mountain. You can see the Class 3/4 ridgeline top right.
Lake Mead leading into the narrow canyon that was unfortunately obscured by cliffs.
Lake Mead leading into the narrow canyon that was unfortunately obscured by cliffs.
Lake Mead's eastern reaches.
Lake Mead's eastern reaches.
I backtracked to Arch Mountain High Point and then continued down its Class 2 approach slope and located this spur ridge to descend. It might be easier to use the gully on the right. There are also lots of other options for descending off the ridge, but this one felt pretty efficient.
I backtracked to Arch Mountain High Point and then continued down its Class 2 approach slope and located this spur ridge to descend. It might be easier to use the gully on the right. There are also lots of other options for descending off the ridge, but this one felt pretty efficient.
The road is hidden, but located in the center of this photo. My goal was to head through the lumpy desert to get there.
The road is hidden, but located in the center of this photo. My goal was to head through the lumpy desert to get there.
View back toward Arch Mountain High Point just before reaching the road.
View back toward Arch Mountain High Point just before reaching the road.

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Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!