Hike Boundary Peak and Montgomery Peak Inyo National Forest, CA

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Boundary Peak, the highest point in Nevada, is an unranked bump on the way to Mongomery Peak, which is a higher-pominence mountain just over the California border. I also took a quick detour to bag Trail Canyon Saddle Peak along the way up to Boundary Peak. This hike is another long-lived item on my to-do list, so I was really looking forward to the trip. I was skeptical about taking my car farther than I did, so I left it at the remains of an old mining site and continued up the road, which was steep but in good shape, except for the spot where I gave up. Low clearance would have difficulty getting to even where I did. If you can drive to the official trailhead, you'll be able to knock off about 800 vertical gain and a couple of miles from the day.

From the official trailhead, the Queen Canyon Trailhead, the Boundary Peak Trail was very easy to follow. It follows a gorgeous ridge, and I had to stop and gawk for a moment when Boundary Peak came into view. It's unlike any desert peak I've seen to date, and the lighting was really dramatic. The trail keeps south of Trail Canyon Saddle Peak, but a social trail diverges to head up to its minor summit. More great views of Boundary Peak from the top. I continued down the steep south slope of Trail Canyon Saddle Peak and began up the well-traveled route up Boundary Peak. The scree and dirt is minimal, despite how it appeared from farther away. The trail is just so well-traveled that the majority of the loose stuff has been kicked away. After a fair amount of huffing and getting blown over by intense wind, I made it to a false summit, where I followed the ridge south a bit more. The trail was still really great, and I kept right as the ridge became rocky and loose. Social trails seem to lead to the left (east), but keep to the right around rock outcrops. Eventually I got to Boundary Peak, and scoped out the somewhat sketchy-looking ridge to Mongomery Peak.

The ridge to Montgomery Peak overall wasn't bad, despite its crumbly appearance from Boundary Peak's summit. A couple of loose Class 3 moves near the saddle were cause for a teeny bit of thought, but a lot of it can be avoided if you stay to the left of the ridge crest. A bunch more Class 2+ stuff leads to the summit, social trails and other erosion marking the way. There is one extremely steep section a couple hundred feet below the summit that I needed to navigate around. Views of the Sierra and White Mountain Peak from the summit were nice.

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

Peaks on hike

Elevation

Prominence

Trail Canyon Saddle Peak

11325 ft

485 rise

Boundary Peak

13140 ft

253 rise

Montgomery Peak

13441 ft

1241 rise

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I hiked along the road for a while, unsure if my car could make it. What's an extra 800 vertical? lol

Boundary Peak official trailhead.

Very pretty trail that ascends to the ridgeline.

View back as I make my way up the trail.

Boundary Peak comes into view, super pretty.

Continuing along the pretty ridgeline.

Trail Canyon Saddle Peak visible top right. A social trail heads to its summit.

Summit of Trail Canyon Saddle Peak, view back along the ridge.

Trail Canyon Saddle Peak summit, view toward Boundary Peak. I headed down on steep terrain to rejoin the trail.

View back toward Trail Canyon Saddle Peak (top left). You can see the Boundary Peak Trail in the center of this photo, avoiding Trail Canyon Saddle Peak.

Heading up the steep slope on a well-defined trail.

View back, Trail Canyon Saddle Peak top left.

The trail is much better than it appears from below.

View back toward my progress.

On the left is a bump along the ridgeline that the trail avoids. The trail keeps to its right and heads to the saddle in the center of this photo.

At the saddle before the final push to Boundary Peak. Keep to the right of the rock outcrops along the ridge crest.

View back along the ridgeline toward the previously mentioned bump.

Loose at points along the social trail leading to Boundary Peak, nothing exceeding Class 2.

View back from just below the summit of Boundary Peak. Trail Canyon Saddle Peak and the ridge that I came in on from the trailhead are visible in the center of this photo, way down there.

Boundary Peak, view toward Montgomery Peak, left. It's a bit loose, but never exceeds Class 3.

View back toward Boundary Peak as I make my way to Montgomery Peak.

Montgomery Peak ahead. Class 2 talus.

Some loose stuff, Class 3 at points, as I near the saddle of Boundary Peak and Montgomery Peak.

A social trail leads for a while toward Montgomery Peak.

View back toward Boundary Peak.

Rough, loose section past the saddle.

Steep for the last few hundred feet. Follow social trails and be careful.

View back toward Boundary Peak from Montgomery Peak.

Montgomery Peak summit, view south toward Mount Dubois.

Close-up toward Mount Dubois and White Mountain Peak to the south.

Close-up to the east.

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!