Bearing Peak, Canyon Point, Boulder Peak Loop in Lake Mead National Recreation Area, NV

Hike Bearing Peak, Canyon Point, Boulder Peak Loop Lake Mead National Recreation Area, NV

Class 2 19.8 miles 5900 gain 9-12 hrs Loop Feb 7, 2019
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

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This long walk through a remote section on the north shore of Lake Mead follows a long series of washes/canyons to get to a few gorgeous high points. From the trailhead, just a pulloff on Northshore Road, head southeast along Cottonwood Wash, eventually leading to the Pinto Valley. Locaate the hills to the south and find a drainage continuing south. This canyon has some nice walls and an interesting rock pinnacle (my compliments to Adam Walker, Gimpilator for locating this interesting canyon/route down). The canyon opens up and you can ascend Bearing Peak from the east. I decided to follow a southwestern-leading ridge, but it ended up being maybe a bit more loose than I wanted, but still nothing more than Class 2. From the wash to the south of Bearing Peak, you should locate a weakness up the north side of Canyon Point and scramble up and and along the Class 2 ridge to the Canyon Point summit. There are stunning views of Lake Mead here, and the remoteness of the area adds to its beauty.

Back in the wash north of Canyon Point, I decided to follow a series of washes to get to the east ridge of Boulder Peak. Just a nice easy scramble to the summit, and then another easy wash/walk up to West Boulder Peak. I'm sure from West Boulder Peak that I could have found a way up and over some hills and into Pinto Valley, but I decided to go through another series of washes/canyons to complete the loop and follow my earlier route back out.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Bearing Peak
2520 ft
584 rise
2
Canyon Point
2398 ft
495 rise
3
Boulder Peak
3004 ft
684 rise
4
West Boulder Peak
2733 ft
433 rise

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Start up Cottonwood Wash, following it all the way southeast until the desert opens up.
Start up Cottonwood Wash, following it all the way southeast until the desert opens up.
Image 1 from gallery
Some colorful mounds along the way.
Some colorful mounds along the way.
Image 3 from gallery
The wash begins to narrow a little bit. Scramble out of it when you can before it heads too far east into Pinto Valley, avoiding the loads of cryptobiotic soil.
The wash begins to narrow a little bit. Scramble out of it when you can before it heads too far east into Pinto Valley, avoiding the loads of cryptobiotic soil.
Traversing open desert as I head to another canyon (behind me). This is a view looking north toward Pinto Ridge. Pinto Valley visible in the center.
Traversing open desert as I head to another canyon (behind me). This is a view looking north toward Pinto Ridge. Pinto Valley visible in the center.
Headed down a south-draining canyon. I got a small peek at Lake Mead.
Headed down a south-draining canyon. I got a small peek at Lake Mead.
There are some narrow, interesting sections in this canyon.
There are some narrow, interesting sections in this canyon.
Image 8 from gallery
A couple of Class 2 obstacles on the way down, but otherwise just a nice remote canyon walk.
A couple of Class 2 obstacles on the way down, but otherwise just a nice remote canyon walk.
Bearing Peak becomes visible within the canyon (center).
Bearing Peak becomes visible within the canyon (center).
Image 11 from gallery
Image 12 from gallery
A really neat rock pinnacle in the center of the canyon.
A really neat rock pinnacle in the center of the canyon.
The canyon ends at a wash that drains from the northeast. Head into it and locate a colorful side-canyon on Bearing Peak's western slope.
The canyon ends at a wash that drains from the northeast. Head into it and locate a colorful side-canyon on Bearing Peak's western slope.
Heading up a side canyon that drains from Bearing Peak.
Heading up a side canyon that drains from Bearing Peak.
Gully leading up to Bearing Peak's summit.
Gully leading up to Bearing Peak's summit.
Looking down the gully into the wash I just mentioned passing through. You can see the canyon I came down paralleling that wash as well.
Looking down the gully into the wash I just mentioned passing through. You can see the canyon I came down paralleling that wash as well.
Ridgeline to Bearing Peak summit.
Ridgeline to Bearing Peak summit.
Bearing Peak summit looking east toward West Boulder Peak (left) and Boulder Peak (right center).
Bearing Peak summit looking east toward West Boulder Peak (left) and Boulder Peak (right center).
Bearing Peak summit looking south toward Lake Mead and Canyon Point (center). I chose to follow the ridgeline.
Bearing Peak summit looking south toward Lake Mead and Canyon Point (center). I chose to follow the ridgeline.
Close-up of Canyon Point and Bearing Cove.m
Close-up of Canyon Point and Bearing Cove.m
Animal trail leading lots of the way down from Bearing Peak.
Animal trail leading lots of the way down from Bearing Peak.
Chosen route up to the Canyon Point ridgeline.
Chosen route up to the Canyon Point ridgeline.
Looking down the gully I came up. you can see Bearing Peak in the center, and the wash I'll be ascending after Canyon Point.
Looking down the gully I came up. you can see Bearing Peak in the center, and the wash I'll be ascending after Canyon Point.
Canyon Point ahead.
Canyon Point ahead.
Image 26 from gallery
Last bit of ridgeline to Canyon Point.
Last bit of ridgeline to Canyon Point.
Canyon Point ahead.
Canyon Point ahead.
Image 29 from gallery
Image 30 from gallery
View west into Lake Mead, Bearing Cove below on the right.
View west into Lake Mead, Bearing Cove below on the right.
View south from Canyon Point summit.
View south from Canyon Point summit.
After getting down from Canyon Point, I headed up this not-so-interesting wash.
After getting down from Canyon Point, I headed up this not-so-interesting wash.
Looking down the wash toward Canyon Point (left) and the southern slope of Bearing Peak (right.
Looking down the wash toward Canyon Point (left) and the southern slope of Bearing Peak (right.
West Boulder Peak on the left, Boulder Peak on the right.
West Boulder Peak on the left, Boulder Peak on the right.
Another view looking down the wash, Canyon Point on the left and Bearing Peaka on the right. The wash ascends for a bit before descending to the wash separating West Boulder and Boulder.
Another view looking down the wash, Canyon Point on the left and Bearing Peaka on the right. The wash ascends for a bit before descending to the wash separating West Boulder and Boulder.
One more shot of my route so far before descending.
One more shot of my route so far before descending.
Drainage to the wash between West Boulder and Boulder. Boulder Peak is visible on the right.
Drainage to the wash between West Boulder and Boulder. Boulder Peak is visible on the right.
Passed a bighorn sheep skull along the way.
Passed a bighorn sheep skull along the way.
Close-up of the skull, my route continuing past it.
Close-up of the skull, my route continuing past it.
Image 41 from gallery
My chosen slope up Boulder Peak.
My chosen slope up Boulder Peak.
A view of Lake Mead, Canyon Point (left), Bearing Peak (center), and West Boulder Peak (right).
A view of Lake Mead, Canyon Point (left), Bearing Peak (center), and West Boulder Peak (right).
Remainder of the ridgeline to Boulder Peak.
Remainder of the ridgeline to Boulder Peak.
Boulder Peak summit looking east.
Boulder Peak summit looking east.
Boulder Peak summit looking southwest toward my route up from Canyon Point. you can see West Boulder Peak on the right.
Boulder Peak summit looking southwest toward my route up from Canyon Point. you can see West Boulder Peak on the right.
Boulder Peak summit looking northwest toward the Muddy Mountains.
Boulder Peak summit looking northwest toward the Muddy Mountains.
Boulder Peak summit looking northeast, a close-up of The Sentinel.
Boulder Peak summit looking northeast, a close-up of The Sentinel.
On the way down from Boulder Peak. I went up the wash ahead, which leads to the north side of West Boulder Peak.
On the way down from Boulder Peak. I went up the wash ahead, which leads to the north side of West Boulder Peak.
Image 50 from gallery
Looking back toward Boulder Peak.
Looking back toward Boulder Peak.
West Boulder Peak summit ahead.
West Boulder Peak summit ahead.
West Boulder Peak summit, view south toward Canyon Point (left) and Bearing Peak (right).
West Boulder Peak summit, view south toward Canyon Point (left) and Bearing Peak (right).
Following another couple of washes back to complete the loop.
Following another couple of washes back to complete the loop.
Image 55 from gallery

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