Goldstrike Mountain and Hoover Peak in Lake Mead National Recreation Area, NV

Hike Goldstrike Mountain and Hoover Peak Lake Mead National Recreation Area, NV

Class 3 9.2 miles 3500 gain 5-7 hrs Out + Back Feb 27, 2019
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

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This was a great route to bag a few peaks near the Hoover Dam. The views are stunning throughout the whole day, and it ends with a hot spring. Unlike the technical Motorcycle/Telephone Canyons Loop, this route takes the high roads via scrambling and leaves the ropes behind, but visits a lot of the highlights from that route.

Starting from the ever-growing in popularity gold Strike Canyon Trailhead (as seen from the absurd amount of trash and graffiti in the canyon, screw you people), head down until the junction with Telephone Canyon. To the left is Hoover Peak, and to the ridge is Goldstrike Mountain. Shortly after heading up Telephone Canyon, take a Class 2 gully to the ridge where you'll have awesome views of the Colorado River and Boy Scout Canyon to the south. Pass over Peak 2125 (Hoover Dam Bridge Overlook, labeled as such on the summit register), three small bumps and an sketchy Class 3 downclimb, and then to the base of Goldstrike Mountain. There is a cliff band barring direct access, but a weakess just to the right of the ridge makes for a nice Class 3 scramble to the summit. Descend using the drainage just east of the summit leaving the drainage to avoid a 15 foot dryfall and then heading down Telephone Canyon and its pretty and fun obstacles.

Back at the junction with Gold Strike Canyon, head up a south-draining canyon and scramble to the ridge just west of Hoover Peak to gain the summit with only a few Class 2+ moves. Finish up the day with a short hike down to Nevada and/or Gold Strike Hot Springs.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Hoover Dam Bridge Overlook (Peak 2125)
2125 ft
n/a rise
2
Goldstrike Mountain
2395 ft
535 rise
3
Hoover Peak
1880 ft
440 rise

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Starting down the popular Goldstrike Canyon Trail.
Starting down the popular Goldstrike Canyon Trail.
Within Goldstrike Canyon, you can see Goldstrike Mountain (seen at the top of this photo).
Within Goldstrike Canyon, you can see Goldstrike Mountain (seen at the top of this photo).
Image 2 from gallery
Image 3 from gallery
Lovely graffiti along the Goldstrike Canyon Trail.
Lovely graffiti along the Goldstrike Canyon Trail.
Goldstrike Canyon opens up around halfway down and you get a view of Hoover Peak on the left. The junction for Hoover Peak (head left) and Goldstrike Mountain (head right) is coming up.
Goldstrike Canyon opens up around halfway down and you get a view of Hoover Peak on the left. The junction for Hoover Peak (head left) and Goldstrike Mountain (head right) is coming up.
Starting up Telephone Canyon (right at the junction), on the way up to Goldstrike Mountain.
Starting up Telephone Canyon (right at the junction), on the way up to Goldstrike Mountain.
Image 7 from gallery
Image 8 from gallery
Narrow section within Telephone Canyon.
Narrow section within Telephone Canyon.
Goldstrike Mountain on the top right, Hoover Dam Bridge Overlook on the left. Head toward the gully on the left.
Goldstrike Mountain on the top right, Hoover Dam Bridge Overlook on the left. Head toward the gully on the left.
The gully to get up to the ridge.
The gully to get up to the ridge.
Looking back down the gully, the Hoover Dam bridge on the top right. Hoover Peak seen in the middle.
Looking back down the gully, the Hoover Dam bridge on the top right. Hoover Peak seen in the middle.
The insanely pretty view once you get out of the gully and up onto the ridge.
The insanely pretty view once you get out of the gully and up onto the ridge.
Scramble up to Hoover Dam Bridge Overlook.
Scramble up to Hoover Dam Bridge Overlook.
Along the scramble to Hoover Dam Bridge Overlook, looking back toward the Colorado River.
Along the scramble to Hoover Dam Bridge Overlook, looking back toward the Colorado River.
Hoover Dam Bridge Overlook summit looking toward Goldstrike Mountain.
Hoover Dam Bridge Overlook summit looking toward Goldstrike Mountain.
Looking back toward Hoover Dam Bridge Overlook.
Looking back toward Hoover Dam Bridge Overlook.
There are a few bumps between Hoover Dam Bridge Overlook and Goldstrike Mountain.
There are a few bumps between Hoover Dam Bridge Overlook and Goldstrike Mountain.
A dubious Class 3 downclimb to get off the third bump, just before ascending to Goldstrike Mountain.
A dubious Class 3 downclimb to get off the third bump, just before ascending to Goldstrike Mountain.
At the saddle just before Goldstrike Mountain, looking back toward that Class 3 downclimb. The drainage we went down after summitting is on the left in this photo. Hoover Peak visible on the left.
At the saddle just before Goldstrike Mountain, looking back toward that Class 3 downclimb. The drainage we went down after summitting is on the left in this photo. Hoover Peak visible on the left.
A break in the cliff band just to the right of the ridge leading up to Goldstrike Mountain.
A break in the cliff band just to the right of the ridge leading up to Goldstrike Mountain.
Headed up the scramble to Goldstrike Mountain.
Headed up the scramble to Goldstrike Mountain.
Image 23 from gallery
Goldstrike Mountain summit, looking toward the Hoover Dam and Hoover Peak (left).
Goldstrike Mountain summit, looking toward the Hoover Dam and Hoover Peak (left).
After summitting Goldstrike Mountain, this is heading down the drainage to the north of the peak.
After summitting Goldstrike Mountain, this is heading down the drainage to the north of the peak.
A dryfall we opted to avoid.
A dryfall we opted to avoid.
Back in Telephone Canyon.
Back in Telephone Canyon.
Interesting sections of narrows within Telephone Canyon.
Interesting sections of narrows within Telephone Canyon.
Image 29 from gallery
Back at the junction with Goldstrike Canyon, headed up toward Hoover Peak.
Back at the junction with Goldstrike Canyon, headed up toward Hoover Peak.
Looking back toward Goldstrike Canyon. You can see Goldstrike Mountain on the right, Hoover Dam Bridge Overlook visible in the center and the three bumps we traversed earlier.
Looking back toward Goldstrike Canyon. You can see Goldstrike Mountain on the right, Hoover Dam Bridge Overlook visible in the center and the three bumps we traversed earlier.
Approaching the ridge to Hoover Peak.
Approaching the ridge to Hoover Peak.
Image 33 from gallery
Hoover Dam, and the short scramble to the Hoover Peak summit.
Hoover Dam, and the short scramble to the Hoover Peak summit.
Image 35 from gallery
Close to the highway, but the summit is really nice.
Close to the highway, but the summit is really nice.
Close-up of the Hoover Dam.
Close-up of the Hoover Dam.
View down into Goldstrike Canyon from Hoover Peak summit. Goldstrike Mountain visible on the right.
View down into Goldstrike Canyon from Hoover Peak summit. Goldstrike Mountain visible on the right.
Headed back down the Hoover Peak scramble.
Headed back down the Hoover Peak scramble.
Back in Goldstrike Canyon, headed to the hot springs.
Back in Goldstrike Canyon, headed to the hot springs.
Passing a smaller hot spring.
Passing a smaller hot spring.
Image 42 from gallery
Image 43 from gallery
Some obstacles, but most have ropes.
Some obstacles, but most have ropes.
Image 45 from gallery
Image 46 from gallery
Gold Strike Hot Springs.
Gold Strike Hot Springs.
Crazy colors on the walls in Goldstrike Canyon.
Crazy colors on the walls in Goldstrike Canyon.
View of the Colorado River from within Goldstrike Canyon.
View of the Colorado River from within Goldstrike Canyon.

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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!