Central McCullough Range Loop in McCullough Mountains BLM, NV

Hike Central McCullough Range Loop McCullough Mountains BLM, NV

Class 3 15.9 miles 6900 gain 7-10 hrs Loop Mar 17, 2022
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

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This hike traverses an uninspiring loop of peaks roughly in the center of the McCullough Range that I likely wouldn’t recommend to anyone unless there’s nothing else left of interest in the greater Las Vegas area. The tedious terrain through much of the route wasn’t offset by particularly nice views and even though I enjoyed myself, I questioned my hobby choice a couple of times, wondering if my time would be better spent elsewhere than these weird hills outside of Las Vegas. My hiking companions (non-peakbaggers) felt similarly. Our loop was composed of a small cluster of desert humps in a small region nestled between the North McCullough Wilderness and the South McCullough Wilderness, an area that seems to have been completely overlooked by any sort of protective agency, relegated to being mining and shooting territory. We copied much of Adam Walker’s efficient route for bagging all the peaks in this loop. Reaching the trailhead is doable by any vehicle, and Google had no issue getting us there.

We set out from a pullout along Liteweight Road, a (mostly) paved road leading out to a mining operation out here. On foot we headed west along a dirt road and arrived at the base of Tortoise Foot Hill. You could drive along this bad dirt road, but there’s really no point since the loop ends up right back to the pavement anyway. We left the road and made our way up the progressively steepening slope to Tortoise Foot Hill, which slowly introduced more and more black boulders. From this minor summit, we dropped south off its rim and descended the same boulders typical for the McCullough range farther north, crossed the dirt road we walked in on, and headed up the tamest-looking slope we could find to reach Bad Hill. There was some steeper stuff here with some Class 2, but it wasn’t a memorable peak.

From Bad Hill’s summit we started east toward Peak 4040, a sub-peak along the way added Class 2 on loose rock and even some unexpected scree. Animal trails help to weave up this slope. A short section of flat hiking led to the final ascent to Peak 4040, more Class 2 with some particularly loose portions, as well a couple of slightly more fun moves. Continuing east along the ridge crest, we encountered a few bumps and rock outcroppings that we kept to the left of on more tedious terrain. Eventually we descended to a lower mesa-like feature, and then descended further on Class 2 to the base of Peak 4027. Class 2 brough us up some interesting-colored rock and to this fourth peak for the loop. We backtracked the same way we came up from this peak. You may notice Austin and Chelsey only appear in the first half of my trip report, this being because the terrain is slow and tedious and therefore not fun for non-peakbaggers, requiring me to return to repeat the loop another day alone.

I continued alone to the south, making my way up the Class 2 northern ridge of Peak 4360, the tallest peak of the loop. An animal trail led much of the way up the ridge. The summit is located at the southern end of the extended, flattish peak. McCullough Mountain was visible fairly prominently to the south. I didn’t linger, continuing east along the slowly descending slope on much better terrain. A significant obstacle formed by a minor cliff band (reportedly Class 3 by Adam) met me along the ridge crest, but I decided to scout around the north side of the obstacle to try to locate an easier-looking route. I found a Class 2+ weakness, but you could likely just continue side-hilling to avoid the scramble altogether if you want. Back on the crest, I continued descending to the saddle with my next peak, Hole Benchmark.

There are some really delightfully colored yellow rock formations (pyroclastic, I think?) that devolved into the same black boulders prevalent along the rest of the hike so far. Hole Benchmark had a nice perspective toward the peaks I’d done so far, but otherwise wasn’t memorable. I dropped down loose terrain to the north and joined a dirt road, which I followed for about a half mile until I reached the base of Peak 3934. Steep, fun Class 2 boulder-hopping led me to the west side of Peak 3934, and a bit of exploring along the base of the peak revealed that it was quite protected by a 20-foot cliff band. I located a Class 3 weakness and scrambled up, adding a cairn at the top of the weakness so I could remember where it was on my way back. A couple hundred feet of Class 2 took me to Peak 3934’s summit. This was the nicest peak of the loop, in my opinion.

I dropped off Peak 3934 and descended along its northern ridge, where an animal trail led me down on soft terrain into the wash below. Next up was Peak 4292, the final peak of the loop. I followed this wash as it meandered north and slowly became more choked with colorful boulders. The wash bent to the east and I was confronted with a 30-foot sheer dryfall, but a Class 2 slope on its right led to a somewhat exposed Class 2 ledge that took me above it safely. Past here, I continued ascending north on Class 2 boulders as I made my way up Peak 4292. The Liteweight Mine’s operations were now completely visible below to the west, but I doubt the workers still fiddling around with machines cared I was up here if they’d noticed me. Some Class 2 side-hilling brought Peak 4292 into view and I headed up more Class 2 to the summit.

I could see the entire loop from Peak 4292’s summit, prettier from up here than expected. The last two peaks of the loop were certainly the highlight of the hike and maybe worth doing if you prefer to omit the first six. I backtracked along the ridge and descended steep, loose crap leading toward the Liteweight Mine. Along the way down there was a hard-to-see cliff on the left and a cool-looking chasm on the right, but I managed to thread this needle and got to flatter terrain below. Rather than descend to the mine (trespassing) and taking the convenient road leading back to my car, I headed northwest away from the mine on mostly pleasant terrain and was back at my car as the sun was setting.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Tortoise Foot Hill
3613 ft
333 rise
2
Bad Hill
3644 ft
404 rise
3
Peak 4040
4040 ft
560 rise
4
Peak 4027
4027 ft
467 rise
5
Peak 4360
4360 ft
560 rise
6
Hole Benchmark
3682 ft
362 rise
7
Peak 3934
3934 ft
374 rise
8
Peak 4292
4292 ft
812 rise

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Starting out with a mile or so of hiking along a dirt road.
Starting out with a mile or so of hiking along a dirt road.
At the base of Tortoise Foot Hill.
At the base of Tortoise Foot Hill.
View back toward the dirt road as we ascend Tortoise Foot Hill. Peak 4040 visible top right, Peak 4292 (last peak of the loop) top left.
View back toward the dirt road as we ascend Tortoise Foot Hill. Peak 4040 visible top right, Peak 4292 (last peak of the loop) top left.
Approaching Tortoise Foot Hill summit.
Approaching Tortoise Foot Hill summit.
Descending from Tortoise Foot Hill via it's south ridge.
Descending from Tortoise Foot Hill via it's south ridge.
Bad Hill visible ahead. We crossed the dirt road and ascended the ridge/slope that seemed most tame.
Bad Hill visible ahead. We crossed the dirt road and ascended the ridge/slope that seemed most tame.
View back toward Tortoise Foot Hill as we ascend Class 2 to Bad Hill.
View back toward Tortoise Foot Hill as we ascend Class 2 to Bad Hill.
Bad Hill summit, view west.
Bad Hill summit, view west.
Bad Hill summit, view north. Charleston Peak seen top left.
Bad Hill summit, view north. Charleston Peak seen top left.
Descending east from Bad Hill, Peak 4040's false summit visible ahead. Peak 4292 top left, Peak 4360 top right.
Descending east from Bad Hill, Peak 4040's false summit visible ahead. Peak 4292 top left, Peak 4360 top right.
View back toward Bad Hill as we descend.
View back toward Bad Hill as we descend.
Class 2 to gain Peak 4040's false summit.
Class 2 to gain Peak 4040's false summit.
It's a lot of this to gain the false summit.
It's a lot of this to gain the false summit.
View back toward Bad Hill.
View back toward Bad Hill.
View down from near the top of the false summit and the rougher terrain, Class 2.
View down from near the top of the false summit and the rougher terrain, Class 2.
False summit, view toward Peak 4040, center.
False summit, view toward Peak 4040, center.
View back toward the false summit.
View back toward the false summit.
More loose stuff on the way up to Peak 4040.
More loose stuff on the way up to Peak 4040.
Peak 4040 summit, view west. Peak 4292 seen top left.
Peak 4040 summit, view west. Peak 4292 seen top left.
Continuing west along the ridge, a view back toward Peak 4040.
Continuing west along the ridge, a view back toward Peak 4040.
Class 2 descent to a mesa-like feature, seen center. Peak 4027 seen up top, our next peak.
Class 2 descent to a mesa-like feature, seen center. Peak 4027 seen up top, our next peak.
View back along the ridge descent from Peak 4040.
View back along the ridge descent from Peak 4040.
At the base of Peak 4027.
At the base of Peak 4027.
Class 2 up Peak 4027.
Class 2 up Peak 4027.
View back toward Peak 4040 on our way up Peak 4027. You can see the mesa-like feature we descended from on the left.
View back toward Peak 4040 on our way up Peak 4027. You can see the mesa-like feature we descended from on the left.
Peak 4027 summit, view toward 4360 to the south, the next peak.
Peak 4027 summit, view toward 4360 to the south, the next peak.
Peak 4027 summit, view toward the weakness I'd be using later to gain Peak 3934.
Peak 4027 summit, view toward the weakness I'd be using later to gain Peak 3934.
Back down from Peak 4027, onward to Peak 4360.
Back down from Peak 4027, onward to Peak 4360.
Ascending Peak 4360, view back toward Peak 4027 (right). I came from the drainage on the left.
Ascending Peak 4360, view back toward Peak 4027 (right). I came from the drainage on the left.
Ascending to Peak 4360.
Ascending to Peak 4360.
View back along the northern ridge of Peak 4360. Bad Hill seen far left, Peak 4292 (the final peak of the day) top right.
View back along the northern ridge of Peak 4360. Bad Hill seen far left, Peak 4292 (the final peak of the day) top right.
Summit of Peak 4360, view toward McCullough Mountain.
Summit of Peak 4360, view toward McCullough Mountain.
Descending from Peak 4360 to Hole Benchmark (on the left). You can see a cliff band in the center.
Descending from Peak 4360 to Hole Benchmark (on the left). You can see a cliff band in the center.
Approaching the cliff band. Class 3 (reportedly) up the buttress ahead. I wrapped around to the left and found a Class 2+ option.
Approaching the cliff band. Class 3 (reportedly) up the buttress ahead. I wrapped around to the left and found a Class 2+ option.
Back on the ridge, descending toward Hole Benchmark, center.
Back on the ridge, descending toward Hole Benchmark, center.
Cool rocks at the base of Hole Benchmark.
Cool rocks at the base of Hole Benchmark.
Hole Benchmark summit, view toward Peak 3934 in the center, my next peak. Peak 4292 far right. I descended from Hole Benchmark to the road seen center, following it to the base of Peak 3934.
Hole Benchmark summit, view toward Peak 3934 in the center, my next peak. Peak 4292 far right. I descended from Hole Benchmark to the road seen center, following it to the base of Peak 3934.
Walking along the dirt road, a view back toward Hole Benchmark.
Walking along the dirt road, a view back toward Hole Benchmark.
At the base of Peak 3934 where I left the road and started up to the peak's cliff band.
At the base of Peak 3934 where I left the road and started up to the peak's cliff band.
Class 2 boulder-hopping up to the west side of Peak 3934.
Class 2 boulder-hopping up to the west side of Peak 3934.
Wrapping around Peak 3934, looking for a weakness.
Wrapping around Peak 3934, looking for a weakness.
Class 3 weakness.
Class 3 weakness.
Peak 3934 summit ahead, Class 2.
Peak 3934 summit ahead, Class 2.
Peak 3934 summit, view toward Peak 4292 on the right, the last peak of the day. The Liteweight Mine poking out in the center.
Peak 3934 summit, view toward Peak 4292 on the right, the last peak of the day. The Liteweight Mine poking out in the center.
Descending from Peak 3934 into the wash on the left.
Descending from Peak 3934 into the wash on the left.
View back toward Peak 3934. I descended from the center in this photo.
View back toward Peak 3934. I descended from the center in this photo.
Colorful rocks in the wash as I head north to the base of Peak 4292.
Colorful rocks in the wash as I head north to the base of Peak 4292.
Approaching the base of a dryfall.
Approaching the base of a dryfall.
Dryfall, avoidable on the right via Class 2 slope.
Dryfall, avoidable on the right via Class 2 slope.
View at a Class 2 ledge with light exposure. I came from the wash seen center. The Liteweight Mine is visible on the right.
View at a Class 2 ledge with light exposure. I came from the wash seen center. The Liteweight Mine is visible on the right.
Class 2 boulder-hopping. Yes, that's a machine from the mine on the left.
Class 2 boulder-hopping. Yes, that's a machine from the mine on the left.
Class 2. Straightforward as to where to go. Before reaching the cliffs higher up, I kept left and side-hilled.
Class 2. Straightforward as to where to go. Before reaching the cliffs higher up, I kept left and side-hilled.
Peak 4292 comes into view. Class 2 to get up there.
Peak 4292 comes into view. Class 2 to get up there.
Peak 4292 summit, view south. Hole Benchmark on the left (quite small). Peak 3934 center, Peak 4360 on the right. McCullough Mountain top center.
Peak 4292 summit, view south. Hole Benchmark on the left (quite small). Peak 3934 center, Peak 4360 on the right. McCullough Mountain top center.
Peak 4292 summit, view toward the Liteweight Mine on the left. I descended toward the small bump in the center of this photo and then headed to the right in order to avoid trespassing.
Peak 4292 summit, view toward the Liteweight Mine on the left. I descended toward the small bump in the center of this photo and then headed to the right in order to avoid trespassing.
A shot of the Liteweight Mine.
A shot of the Liteweight Mine.

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