Devils Thumb in Newberry Mountains BLM, NV

Hike Devils Thumb Newberry Mountains BLM, NV

Class 4 3.8 miles 900 gain 1-2 hr Out + Back Mar 19, 2022
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Devils Thumb GPX Track

I need to offset my substantial website costs somehow! You can download a hike/drive GPX to assist you here. Before sharing my GPX tracks with others, please remember my site is otherwise a free resource.

With a few hours to kill before sunset after doing the nearby Castle Peaks, Chris and I searched for a worthy objective with some scrambling that I would otherwise not want to do without my burly and fearless companion. Devils Thumb fit the bill, being only a short drive off the highway. This peak is known to locals as the "Real Devils Thumb", since Devils Thumb is also a name given to a minor peak near Spirit Mountain to the south, though this peak is more thumb-like than the latter.

We took Golden Rod Snyder Road here (35.3816, -114.89825) on the way out, and while it's less distance it's got some deep sand and rougher sections. I recommend taking this much better road sequence to reach where we started: Start east along Loran Station Road here (35.31298, -114.88178) and pass an old LORAN station, then turning left here (35.31743, -114.77761) and continue northwest to here (35.33695, -114.80425), where a right turn leads along Golden Rod Snyder Road.

From our parking spot in a wash we headed north, going up and over a low ridge to enter a drainage. This drainage continued north, and we followed it for a short time until we started making our way up to the southern ridge of Devils Thumb. The views here of the peak were great, Lake Mohave visible in the distance behind it. We scrambled up Class 2 loose terrain to gain the base of Devils Thumb's southern cliff face, and then wrapped to the left around the feature. We were looking for what is apaprently the easiest way up the very fortified summit block.

Now on the west side of the peak, we spotted what we were looking for: a fixed line established by Harlan Stockman. This rope would facilitate gaining the first 15 feet of the peak, by far the most difficult portion. Without the rope, this section would be a tough 15-foot set of technical moves (Chris thought roughly a 5.10), or as Harlan reports, would require a rope lasso. Much thanks, Harlan! I rated this route Class 4 with the assuption that this fixed line is there when you visit.

After climbing the rope, we scrambled on Class 2/3 terrain to the base of the Class 4 pitch, characterized by an ascending traverse on small boulders lodged into the volcanic face. If the small boulders were guaranteed to stay in place, this would be an excellent climb. However, the general nature of the volcanic rock and the fact that some of these boulders felt hollow/wobbly meant I was happy Chris could toss me so webbing to keep me feeling secure. Past the crux, a short Class 2/3 ledge led to a final Class 3 pull over the rim and onto the flat summit block of Devils Thumb.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Devils Thumb
3440 ft
360 rise

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!

Starting north from where we parked.
Starting north from where we parked.
Within a wash leading toward the southern ridge of Devils Thumb. Peak 3515 visible ahead.
Within a wash leading toward the southern ridge of Devils Thumb. Peak 3515 visible ahead.
View back as we ascend to the southern ridge of Devils Thumb. Spirit Mountain visible top left in the distance. We came up from the far right in this photo.
View back as we ascend to the southern ridge of Devils Thumb. Spirit Mountain visible top left in the distance. We came up from the far right in this photo.
Devils Thumb ahead.
Devils Thumb ahead.
Close-up of Devils Thumn. We headed up to the cliff base.
Close-up of Devils Thumn. We headed up to the cliff base.
Class 2 to reach the cliff base.
Class 2 to reach the cliff base.
View back as we wrap around the cliff base.
View back as we wrap around the cliff base.
Nearing the west side of the peak.
Nearing the west side of the peak.
Chris at the base of the ascent. Fixed line not guaranteed to be there, of course.
Chris at the base of the ascent. Fixed line not guaranteed to be there, of course.
Close-up of Chris on the fixed line to get above the otherwise difficult first few moves.
Close-up of Chris on the fixed line to get above the otherwise difficult first few moves.
View back down from the top of the fixed line.
View back down from the top of the fixed line.
We came up from the gap on the right, Chris seen scoping out potential routes. Where I'm standing is the route we recommend.
We came up from the gap on the right, Chris seen scoping out potential routes. Where I'm standing is the route we recommend.
Chris standing where I was in the previous photo, at the base of the Class 4 pitch.
Chris standing where I was in the previous photo, at the base of the Class 4 pitch.
Chris heading up the Class 4.
Chris heading up the Class 4.
View down the Class 4.
View down the Class 4.
Class 2/3 ledge past the Class 4.
Class 2/3 ledge past the Class 4.
Final somewhat exposed Class 3 move to pull the rim.
Final somewhat exposed Class 3 move to pull the rim.
Devils Thumb summit, view toward Spirit Mountain. Peak 3515 visible center. The car is somewhere top right hidden by a hill.
Devils Thumb summit, view toward Spirit Mountain. Peak 3515 visible center. The car is somewhere top right hidden by a hill.
Devils Thumb summit, view north. Lake Mohave seen right, Pinto Benchmark left.
Devils Thumb summit, view north. Lake Mohave seen right, Pinto Benchmark left.

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!