Hike Black Mountain, Fracture Ridge, North McCullough Mountain Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area, NV

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Black Mountain is a Las Vegas local hike, popular and a great workout just outside of the suburban sprawl. The loop described in this trip report outlines a much longer undertaking than just heading up and back from Black Mountain, which is an endeavor of roughly 2000 vertical and 7 miles. This hike traverses south from Black Mountain, heads over Fracture Ridge Peak, and continues south to the North McCullough Wilderness High Point. The ridgeline has no trail.

From the trailhead I started along the Anthem East Trail, which begins with a short section of pavement leading to some sort of human-constructed depression. It's a little tricky to find the Black Mountain Trail from here, but just go to the left of a small concrete building and look for a sign reading "Black Mountain Trail". Once on here the trail is easy to follow to the summit, making tiny switchbacks and progressing up to Black Mountain. It's a little rocky in sections, but the first half had most of the big black volcanic boulders removed and is just a nice walk with a pretty moderate grade. The trail is pretty uneventful until it steepens for the last quarter mile to the summit, ending with some light Class 2 just before the popular high point. The scrambling is easy and solid.

We peered south toward Fracture Ridge Peak, a lower point just along the ridgeline. The ridgeline leading from Black Mountain to Fracture Ridge Peak is pretty and has some Class 2 to navigate, but it's nothing too serious, just boulder-hopping. The saddle separating the two drops farther than it may seem from above. There was no notable social trail along this section of the hike. Once we made it to Fracture Ridge Peak, we were able to locate a social trail that led west from this minor summit and would bring us back to the trailhead.

However, farther south was the next objective, North McCullough Wilderness High Point. We'd be returning to Fracture Ridge Peak on the way back in order to descend. As you'll notice in photos, it clearly a different day: I re-documented this section a couple of years later when I did it with my boyfriend Austin. The traverse south is much more tame than the traverse from Black Mountain to Fracture Ridge Peak was. For one, the elevation changes aren't as steep, but really the main reason is because the black volcanic boulders are more spread out and there is much more flat ground void of scrambling, which makes this additional out-and-back go much faster than anticipated. There is another major drop before the final push to the summit, but this only becomes clear once you're pretty much right at it. Of course, this will need to be re-ascended on the way back. The summit of North McCullough Wilderness High Point is very similar to the rest of the hike, so we didn't linger.

Back at Fracture Ridge Peak, we headed down its west slope on a less-obvious trail than the Black Mountain Trail, but it's still pretty easy to follow overall. The scenery is near-identical on the way down compared to the ascent to Black Mountain, but we didn't see anyone on the way down and that was a nice benefit.

We took a short excursion to bag the tiny hump named Park Peak, a quick trail jaunt to a minor viewpoint overlooking the suburbs to the west. From the eastern base of Park Peak, a trail continues north down a bunch of switchbacks before continuing through relatively flat desert and rejoining the Black Mountain Trail.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)

Peaks on hike

Elevation

Prominence

Black Mountain

5092 ft

1612 rise

Fracture Ridge

4931 ft

280 rise

North McCullough Wilderness High Point

5058 ft

538 rise

Park Peak

3824 ft

144 rise

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Starting from the Shadow Canyon Access Point, Black Mountain on the left.

Keep left around this structure and continue along the top of the concrete depression in the center of this photo to reach the start of the Black Mountain Trail.

Along the Black Mountain Trail, after navigating a slightly difficult series of trails/roads to find the start of the trail within Sloan Canyon NCA.

Looking back along the trail toward Las Vegas.

Black Mountain ahead.

The last quarter mile or so introduces some Class 2.

View back before the Class 2.

The steepest portion of the hike, Class 2.

View back down along the ridge, just below the summit of Black Mountain.

Black Mountain summit looking north toward Las Vegas.

Trail-less ridgeline toward Fracture Ridge Peak (right).

Sub-peak along the ridge, looking toward the rest of the route.

Pretty section along the ridge. Fracture Ridge Peak on the top right.

Fracture Ridge Peak, looking back toward Black Mountain.

Fracture Ridge Peak, looking south toward the rest of the range. North McCullough Wilderness High Point is poking out in the center, the next objective.

Alrighty, obviously the next few photos are from a different day when there were intensely cool clouds. Here we go continuing south toward North McCullough Wilderness High Point.

View back toward Fracture Ridge Peak.

Along the traverse to North McCullough Wilderness High Point.

A dip before reaching the northern base of North McCullough Wilderness High Point, seen ahead.

View back.

Nearing the summit of North McCullough Wilderness High Point, view back.

View east as we ascend.

North McCullough Wilderness High Point summit, view back the way we came.

North McCullough Wilderness High Point, view south.

Back at Fracture Ridge Peak, headed down a social trail down from its summit. The trail was overall easy to follow, but less obvious than the Black Mountain Trail.

Looking back up toward Black Mountain (left), and Fracture Ridge Peak (right) on the way up to Park Peak.

Quick detour to Park Peak. This is the "summit".

After coming down from Park Peak, onward back to the Black Mountain Trail. This is a nice little last view of Black Mountain (left) and Fracture Ridge Peak (right).

Hire me or show me some love!

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!