Central Resting Spring Range in Resting Spring Range BLM, CA

Hike Central Resting Spring Range Resting Spring Range BLM, CA

Class 2 10.4 miles 4100 gain 4-6 hrs Loop Mar 31, 2023
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

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The Resting Spring Range is a string of peaks just outside of Death Valley and is usually referenced by its high point, Stewart Point. This traverse visits some of the lesser-visited peaks to the south of the high point. I parked on the side of CA-178 at the midpoint of the traverse to come and just started hiking northwest through the desert on easy terrain. I entered a major drainage on the south side of my first objective, the tallest of my peaks for the loop, Peak 4481. The drainage ascended on typical limestone boulder-hopping and introduced some fun Class 2/2+ dryfall obstacles. Anything harder can be avoided easily.

Once at the top of the drainage I continued north along the ridgeline toward the peak. The ridgeline was surprisingly tame, really just a steep slope with minimal rockiness. The last quarter mile had some rock outcroppings to avoid along the crest, first by wrapping on the right and then on the left, both wrap-arounds Class 2. The views were pretty standard for the desert, but nice nonetheless. I backtracked to the saddle and started up Peak 4272, really just a slope with some light brush and otherwise very little difficulty in regard to the terrain. This was turning out to be a much less serious endeavor than I thought it might be. Reaching Top Benchmark, my third peak, was much of the same, light rockiness and mostly just pleasant dirt walking amongst some low brush. Across the valley to the east, I had a panoramic view of the Nopah Range.

The route I took leading down from Top Benchmark was a bit different in character compared to the rest of the traverse, a progressively steepening Class 2 endeavor that started off kind enough and then shifted to being more loose and slow. I reached the saddle with Peak 3724, a much lower summit that's separated from the previous peaks I'd just done in the range. If this add-on doesn't interest you, just take the drainage out from here and back to the highway. However, I knew skipping this last peak would haunt me since this is probably the closest I'll ever be to it. After avoiding a small outcropping along the way to the peak's base, I then ascended its steep Class 2 northern ridge. From below, the summit seemed potentially hazardous, a significant cliff wrapping around its base, but a weakness seemed a reasonable option to the left of the summit. Just below the cliff band in question, I hung a left and wrapped beneath the cliff (Class 2) and was able to ascend with more ease than expected through the weakness. Class 2 got me to the summit. Looking back toward Top Benchmark offered some unique views of the oddly-colored cliffy slopes.

I started dropping east off Peak 3724, but the significant sliff band from earlier seemed to wrap all the way over here. I avoided it by dropping down on the slope to the right (Class 2), then traversed beneath it back to the primary ridge. I continued down on the ridge until it made sense to head back through the desert and return to my car.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Peak 4481
4481 ft
1267 rise
2
Peak 4272
4272 ft
433 rise
3
Top Benchmark
4222 ft
383 rise
4
Peak 3724
3724 ft
771 rise

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Starting out toward the Resting Spring Range through the desert. Peak 4481 seen on the right, my first peak.
Starting out toward the Resting Spring Range through the desert. Peak 4481 seen on the right, my first peak.
Approaching the drainage I'd use to gain the ridgeline.
Approaching the drainage I'd use to gain the ridgeline.
Some fun rock formations within the drainage.
Some fun rock formations within the drainage.
Progress up the drainage, rocky and Class 2.
Progress up the drainage, rocky and Class 2.
More fun obstacles within the drainage.
More fun obstacles within the drainage.
View back at my progress.
View back at my progress.
Ridge visible ahead, some Class 2 (Class 3 if you want) obstacles along the way.
Ridge visible ahead, some Class 2 (Class 3 if you want) obstacles along the way.
Above a dryfall, a bit before reaching the ridgeline.
Above a dryfall, a bit before reaching the ridgeline.
At the ridgeline, a view toward Peak 4481, seen center.
At the ridgeline, a view toward Peak 4481, seen center.
View south along the ridgeline, Peak 4272 seen center (my next peak). I came up from the drainage on the left.
View south along the ridgeline, Peak 4272 seen center (my next peak). I came up from the drainage on the left.
Avoiding rock outcroppings on the right.
Avoiding rock outcroppings on the right.
Another outcropping, which I avoided on the left.
Another outcropping, which I avoided on the left.
Class 2+ move to get back to the crest.
Class 2+ move to get back to the crest.
Summit of Peak 4481, view at my traverse to come.
Summit of Peak 4481, view at my traverse to come.
Summit of Peak 4481, view north. Pahrump Point seen far right.
Summit of Peak 4481, view north. Pahrump Point seen far right.
Back at the saddle, heading up to Peak 4272.
Back at the saddle, heading up to Peak 4272.
Easy terrain along the way to Peak 4272.
Easy terrain along the way to Peak 4272.
View back toward Peak 4481 (left).
View back toward Peak 4481 (left).
Top Benchmark seen ahead.
Top Benchmark seen ahead.
More tame ridgeline, with some minor rockiness at times.
More tame ridgeline, with some minor rockiness at times.
Top Benchmark, view back.
Top Benchmark, view back.
Top Benchmark, a view at the drainage to its east. You can see my last peak, Peak 3724 on the far right.
Top Benchmark, a view at the drainage to its east. You can see my last peak, Peak 3724 on the far right.
On the way down the steep descent from Top Benchmark, Peak 3724 seen center.
On the way down the steep descent from Top Benchmark, Peak 3724 seen center.
Along the ridgeline toward Peak 3724.
Along the ridgeline toward Peak 3724.
View back at Top Benchmark (left) and Peak 4272 (right).
View back at Top Benchmark (left) and Peak 4272 (right).
Avoiding a rocky hump before reaching the base of Peak 3724. You can see the ridge gets treacherous up there. I used the weakness seen top left.
Avoiding a rocky hump before reaching the base of Peak 3724. You can see the ridge gets treacherous up there. I used the weakness seen top left.
View back down at the Class 2/2+ steepness.
View back down at the Class 2/2+ steepness.
Ascending Class 2.
Ascending Class 2.
Along the ridge before reaching the cliff. I traversed left toward the weakness seen far left.
Along the ridge before reaching the cliff. I traversed left toward the weakness seen far left.
Class 2 up the weakness.
Class 2 up the weakness.
View back down the weakness, Top Benchmark seen top left.
View back down the weakness, Top Benchmark seen top left.
Peak 3724 summit, view south.
Peak 3724 summit, view south.
I descended via Peak 3724's east ridge.
I descended via Peak 3724's east ridge.
Rocky descent at first.
Rocky descent at first.
Looking back, I also had to avoid this cliff band using the weakness seen left.
Looking back, I also had to avoid this cliff band using the weakness seen left.
The ridge turned into a slope and led down to the desert. Here's a shot back toward Top Benchmark (left) and Peak 4272 (right).
The ridge turned into a slope and led down to the desert. Here's a shot back toward Top Benchmark (left) and Peak 4272 (right).

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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!