Harris Mountain and Griffith Peak Loop in Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, NV

Hike Harris Mountain and Griffith Peak Loop Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, NV

Class 2 11.2 miles 4900 gain 5-7 hrs Loop May 25, 2022
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

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Harris Mountain was the last major mountain I had left to do in the Spring Mountains because I'd heard such horrible things about a grueling ascent to its summit and run-ins with unfriendly nearby residents if soming from the town of Mount Charleston. Additionally, the Griffith Peak Trail (which comes from the east) was closed due to a fire and was only recently reconstructed and opened,so I was content to wait until that was complete (thanks for the hard work, trail builders!). I should note that you can reach both Harris Mountain and Griffith Peak from Harris Spring Road, which starts here (36.2742008, -115.5207354) and ends here (36.2295188, -115.619045), and while I don't know what the road is like it's probably not suitable for passenger cars. That option didn't sound appealing to neither Austin nor me since we wanted more exercise than what that out-and-back would offer. To avoid trespassing, we decided to approch the peak from the trail system and bypass any residential areas. I warned him we may have some brush and excessive steepness on my proposed route, but he seemed okay with it. So we parked at the popular Cathedral Rock Trailhead and started up.

We hiked along the South Loop Trail for a while, taking it up to just after a few switchbacks and before the short, steep portion with built-in steps. Here we located an old roadbed that directed us north and away from the official trail. It led us up to a spur ridge, where we got views of Harris Mountain. There was a ton of deadfall in our way, as well as a bunch of little arroyos we'd have to crawl in and out of, but at least we'd be avoiding the private land to the north. I recommend staying low if you can to avoid the steeper and brushier terrain higher up. Sporadic animal trails helped traverse the slope, but we couldn't avoid a few steep Class 2 drops into the arroyos. It really wasn't that bad, and the whole ordeal was short-lived, but I guess it just depends on your tolerance for post-fire terrain. Eventually we reached a protruding slope that would take us steeply up to the west ridge of Harris Mountain. We noted a few pink tags on some trees, marking what could be a social trail. We tried following them and realized the social trail wasn't good enough to warrant sticking to it. Instead we just stayed at the high point of this slope as it led south, gaining in steepness as we ascended. Toward the top we had some scree that required hands and feet, but soon we were on the ridgeline.

First we headed up toward Harris Mountain, initially passing through some new aspens that were growing, likely to be annoying in a few years. We stuck to the wide ridge crest for the most part, following a pleasant social trail as it alternately appeared and petered out. As the slope steepened, the trail became heavily eroded and I don't recommend staying on it because it's loose and steep and with more feet will come more erosion. Just ascend the slope wherever feels best since the brush isn't bad and the footing is better everywhere that isn't the social trail. The summit of Harris Mountain was nice, and I was happy to finally be up here for the first time.

We backtracked to the saddle separating Harris Mountain and Griffith Peak, where we located the Griffith Peak Trail, which was in excellent shape and a ton of work was put into its construction. Following this singletrack was effortless, and we enjoyed the scenery as we ascended on ample switchbacks along the east ridge of Griffith Peak. Parts of the trail were carved into the rock, steps were created, and all deadfall was cleared. A few miles later we were just below the summit of Griffith Peak, but rather than ascend directly to the peak we stuck to the trail as it wrapped around the south side of Griffith and over to its west side. Here we took spur trail that shoots off from the standard South Loop Trail approach that folks use to reach the summit. The Griffith Peak spur trail is a surprisingly steep section for being official, but it's always nice to have a trail regardless of its grade.

After coming back down from Griffith Peak we took the standard South Loop Trail back on the endless switchbacks on the north side of Griffith Peak and got back to where we had left the trail earlier. From here we just continued back to the Cathedral Rock Trailhead.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Harris Mountain
10013 ft
925 rise
2
Griffith Peak
11060 ft
430 rise

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Starting up the South Loop Trail from the Cathedral Rock Trailhead.
Starting up the South Loop Trail from the Cathedral Rock Trailhead.
Along the South Loop Trail.
Along the South Loop Trail.
View back toward the trailhead, Charleston Peak looming above in the distance.
View back toward the trailhead, Charleston Peak looming above in the distance.
After hiking along the South Loop Trail and ascending a few switchbacks, we left the trail to take this old roadbed.
After hiking along the South Loop Trail and ascending a few switchbacks, we left the trail to take this old roadbed.
View back toward the where the South Loop Trail leads from our unofficial old roadbed detour.
View back toward the where the South Loop Trail leads from our unofficial old roadbed detour.
The unofficial roadbed/trail led up to a spur ridge. This view is back toward Mummy Mountain and the town of Mount Charleston below.
The unofficial roadbed/trail led up to a spur ridge. This view is back toward Mummy Mountain and the town of Mount Charleston below.
Harris Mountain came into view top left. Our goal was to traverse this messy landscape to reach a minor spur ridge on the left in this photo. I recommend keeping pretty low since it seemed to get more steep and loose higher up.
Harris Mountain came into view top left. Our goal was to traverse this messy landscape to reach a minor spur ridge on the left in this photo. I recommend keeping pretty low since it seemed to get more steep and loose higher up.
We had to climb in and out of little arroyos.
We had to climb in and out of little arroyos.
The deadfall wasn't horrible, but it was there.
The deadfall wasn't horrible, but it was there.
We probably passed through 3-4 significant arroyos. You can see the spur ridge we started on in the top right of this photo.
We probably passed through 3-4 significant arroyos. You can see the spur ridge we started on in the top right of this photo.
We reached our protruding slope of choice, which immediately started to climb steeply.
We reached our protruding slope of choice, which immediately started to climb steeply.
View back down.
View back down.
Loose and steep at times, but not too bad. And the deadfall was minimal.
Loose and steep at times, but not too bad. And the deadfall was minimal.
Another shot back as we near the top. The spur ridge we were on before doing the messy traverse is seen center.
Another shot back as we near the top. The spur ridge we were on before doing the messy traverse is seen center.
Some scree toward the top.
Some scree toward the top.
Finally on the west ridge of Harris Mountain. The peak is seen ahead.
Finally on the west ridge of Harris Mountain. The peak is seen ahead.
View back along Harris Mountain's west ridge. You can see Griffith Peak on the top left.
View back along Harris Mountain's west ridge. You can see Griffith Peak on the top left.
Along the wide ridge as we ascend to Harris Mountain. There was a social trail much of the way.
Along the wide ridge as we ascend to Harris Mountain. There was a social trail much of the way.
View back as we ascend to Harris Mountain.
View back as we ascend to Harris Mountain.
There's an eroded social trail on the steepest part of the ascent, but it's not helpful since it's quite loose.
There's an eroded social trail on the steepest part of the ascent, but it's not helpful since it's quite loose.
Approaching the summit of Harris Mountain.
Approaching the summit of Harris Mountain.
Harris Mountain summit, view east. You can see Red Rock Canyon and Mount Potosi in the distance.
Harris Mountain summit, view east. You can see Red Rock Canyon and Mount Potosi in the distance.
After descending from Harris Mountain, we located the Griffith Peak Trail and took it as it started west.
After descending from Harris Mountain, we located the Griffith Peak Trail and took it as it started west.
View back toward Harris Mountain as we head along the Griffith Peak Trail.
View back toward Harris Mountain as we head along the Griffith Peak Trail.
Well-constructed switchbacks.
Well-constructed switchbacks.
And some nice views.
And some nice views.
Image 26 from gallery
Another shot back toward Harris Mountain. You can also see where the Griffith Peak Trail comes in from Harris Spring Road, the scar on the right in this photo.
Another shot back toward Harris Mountain. You can also see where the Griffith Peak Trail comes in from Harris Spring Road, the scar on the right in this photo.
Image 28 from gallery
Griffith Peak is up there in the center.
Griffith Peak is up there in the center.
Another shot back.
Another shot back.
Getting closer to Griffith Peak.
Getting closer to Griffith Peak.
Image 32 from gallery
Harris Mountain visible left of center.
Harris Mountain visible left of center.
Image 34 from gallery
Wrapping around the south side of Griffith Peak to reach its spur trail.
Wrapping around the south side of Griffith Peak to reach its spur trail.
We took the spur trail up to Griffith Peak. Here's the view from the summit, looking west.
We took the spur trail up to Griffith Peak. Here's the view from the summit, looking west.
Griffith Peak, view east.
Griffith Peak, view east.
Starting back down the spur trail as we make our way to the South Loop Trail, our hike back.
Starting back down the spur trail as we make our way to the South Loop Trail, our hike back.
View back up toward Griffith Peak.
View back up toward Griffith Peak.
Heading down the South Loop Trail.
Heading down the South Loop Trail.
Another shot back toward Griffith Peak.
Another shot back toward Griffith Peak.
Lots of switchbacks on our way down the South Loop Trail.
Lots of switchbacks on our way down the South Loop Trail.
Image 43 from gallery
Image 44 from gallery
Image 45 from gallery
Mount Charleston Wilderness sign.
Mount Charleston Wilderness sign.
At the base of Griffith Peak as we continue down the South Loop Trail, incredible limestone cliffs visible around us.
At the base of Griffith Peak as we continue down the South Loop Trail, incredible limestone cliffs visible around us.
Image 48 from gallery
The South Loop Trail leads us back to where we left it earlier.
The South Loop Trail leads us back to where we left it earlier.

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