Cherry Creek Benchmark in Goshute Canyon Wilderness Area BLM, NV

Hike Cherry Creek Benchmark Goshute Canyon Wilderness Area BLM, NV

Class 2 5.2 miles 2900 gain 2-4 hrs Out + Back Oct 7, 2020
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

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Cherry Creek Benchmark is an obsure and fairly big mountain in central Nevada, located off NV-93. My mid-clearance had no difficulty making it to my start point, and I suspect even less burly vehicles than mine could have made it with maybe some decent tires. The road continues a little farther, but a massive boulder blocks vehicle travel, and the road peters out shortly after anyway. I started hiking along the road to a point where I couldn't easily stay on the road due to lots of overgrowth, dropping to my right into the mouth of Exchequer Canyon where hiking was far less tedious. I continued up Exchequer Canyon, dodging the occasional tree and brush, but by no means did this feel like a bushwhack.

I came across a set of mining ruins just outside of the drainage, followed by another a few hundred feet up. The second set was nestled next to a limestone cliff that marked the entrance to a nice narrow section of canyon. I continued through the canyon, some minor Class 2 along the way. The canyon ws short-lived, but a nice shift from the gully that otherwise comprises the majority of this hike. I passed a junction in the drainage, keeping right. I eventually passed Exchequer Spring, which is just a trickle of water with some mosses and grasses. The drainage started becoming more steep past the spring and initially it was just a nice forest walk. Later, the drainage became littered with deadfall, easily avoidable by keeping just out of the drainage. The ascent got even steeper as I neared the head of Exchequer Canyon, but it's not an unpleasant experience.

Once out of the drainage and on the ridge I headed to the right and soon reached the summit, which has nice views of the surrounding obscure NV peaks and an old survey marker that's still standing.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Cherry Creek Benchmark
10520 ft
3733 rise

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Along the deteriorating road, past where I parked.
Along the deteriorating road, past where I parked.
The road eventually becomes more of a nuisance to follow, so I dropped to the right into Exchequer Canyon.
The road eventually becomes more of a nuisance to follow, so I dropped to the right into Exchequer Canyon.
Within Exchequer Canyon.
Within Exchequer Canyon.
Looking back at my progress up Exchequer Canyon.
Looking back at my progress up Exchequer Canyon.
Exchequer Canyon narrows into a pretty canyon, some mining ruins visible on the left.
Exchequer Canyon narrows into a pretty canyon, some mining ruins visible on the left.
Mining ruins.
Mining ruins.
Entering the Exchequer Canyon narrows.
Entering the Exchequer Canyon narrows.
Pretty section of narrows.
Pretty section of narrows.
Looking back just before leaving the Exchequer Canyon narrows.
Looking back just before leaving the Exchequer Canyon narrows.
Continuing up Exchequer Canyon.
Continuing up Exchequer Canyon.
Image 10 from gallery
Image 11 from gallery
Exchequer Spring.
Exchequer Spring.
Past Exchequer Canyon where the terrain gets more steep and forested.
Past Exchequer Canyon where the terrain gets more steep and forested.
The drainage has some deadfall and minor obstacles.
The drainage has some deadfall and minor obstacles.
Looking back down Exchequer Canyon.
Looking back down Exchequer Canyon.
A small section of bushwhacking through aspens, but it's not a big deal.
A small section of bushwhacking through aspens, but it's not a big deal.
Looking back as I ascend the steep last ew hundred feet of Exchequer Canyon.
Looking back as I ascend the steep last ew hundred feet of Exchequer Canyon.
Looking back just below the ridge, at the head of Exchequer Canyon.
Looking back just below the ridge, at the head of Exchequer Canyon.
I gained the ridge and headed to the right. This is a view to the north once I gained the ridge.
I gained the ridge and headed to the right. This is a view to the north once I gained the ridge.
Continuing along the ridge to the summit of Cherry Creek Benchmark.
Continuing along the ridge to the summit of Cherry Creek Benchmark.
Cherry Creek Benchmark ahead.
Cherry Creek Benchmark ahead.
Cherry Creek Benchmark summit, view north.
Cherry Creek Benchmark summit, view north.
Close up north.
Close up north.
Cherry Creek Benchmark, view southeast. NV-93 is down there somewhere.
Cherry Creek Benchmark, view southeast. NV-93 is down there somewhere.

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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!