Juniper Peak and Gunsight Notch Peak in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, NV

Hike Juniper Peak and Gunsight Notch Peak Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, NV

Class 5 7.2 miles 2600 gain 4-6 hrs Loop Apr 26, 2022
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

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Juniper Peak is a minor unranked summit within Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area with excellent views toward the sheer face of Rainbow Wall and gorgeous dome of Bridge Mountain. Reaching Juniper Peak is only Class 3, but this route traverses from Juniper Peak across its southwestern ridge over to Gunsight Notch Peak, pushing the class rating to 5 due to a difficult section at around the halfway point. Most will likely prefer to do Juniper Peak as an out-and-back, but it's a short detour to attempt the traverse if you're so inclined. Just a little note that halfway through my trip report photos you'll notice a change in hiking companion and lighting going from 2022 to 2017 since I'd already documented the second half of the hike on a previous outing.

I've linked the trailhead coordinates above to just outside the exit of the Red Rock Canyon scenic drive at a large parking area, which is where we parked. Starting here means you don't have to drive the loop or deal with entering the park to do this hike. However, it does add about 2 easy miles of desert walking round-trip. Alternatively, you could park at the Oak Creek Trailhead here (36.1109, -115.46616) which gets you a bit closer, but requires driving the scenic drive. You could also park at the Pine Creek Canyon Trailhead for a comparable distance.

After hiking along well-maintained trails through the desert and reaching the Oak Creek Trailhead, we picked up the Arnight Trail and took this toward the mouth of Juniper Canyon where the trail became much more difficult to follow. There's a web of social trails everywhere. I recommend sticking close to the northern bank of Juniper Canyon and follow whatever trails seem most well-trodden before dropping into the drainage at roughly the 4600' contour line. Once within Juniper Canyon, there's some fun Class 2/3 on massive boulder obstacles typical for the canyons of Red Rock. The boulder-hopping only lasts for a few hundred feet before a heavily eroded trail leads out of the canyon drainage and steeply along the southern side of Juniper Canyon. The trail then drops back into the drainage and up to a small talus field that lies at the base of Juniper Peak's sheer southern face. Technical climbers may know this wall as Brownstone Wall.

Cairns mark the way up the boulder field and onto a wide slab of slickrock sandstone. Keeping pretty close to the wall to avoid larger cliffs (Class 4/5 scrambling), the cairned route took us north as it led away from Juniper Canyon. As the extended sandstone slab faded away, the route reached the west ridge of Juniper Peak and then led west, taking us up Juniper Peak's east ridge.

After a few hundred feet of ascending the east ridge, we got to an incredible overlook toward Bridge Mountain to the north, and cairns led south on some large ledgy boulders, nothing exceeding Class 3. Just below the summit, there's a pull move (Class 4) or a rabbit hole (Class 3) to crawl through to get to the top. After hanging out on the summit we continued southwest with the goal being to reach Gunsight Notch Peak. On our first run at this traverse in 2017 we didn't know anything about this ridge, except that some folks do the traverse in reverse (coming from Gunsight Notch Peak over to Juniper Peak), but we figured we could try to locate a route in this direction.

A few hundred feet along the ridge introduced some Class 3 on large boulders, a short squeeze through a crack, and a lightly exposed and short wannabe knife-edge. We neared the saddle separating the two peaks, which is where we found the crux. Above we could see webbing around a boulder for where the rappel would be done if coming from Gunsight Notch Peak. Keeping just to the right of the ridge, a few Class 3/4 moves took us up to a wide ledge and a big crack. The crack would serve as a Class 5 section of moves without much exposure. There's a ledge with a massive drop behind, but the climb is far enough away from the edge that a fall would likely not be fatal. On our first go at this traverse I was able to find a slightly easier option just next to the crack, but on the second visit I was oddly unable to locate that spot again.

Once past the crux, the going was easier to the summit of Gunsight Notch Peak. From its summit we dropped to the left (south) into Gunsight Notch, a long gully that drops steeply back into Juniper Canyon. This section included plenty of fun stemming, Class 3 moves, and a fixed line aiding in a tougher spot (Class 3/4 without the line aid). Once the gully opened up, we followed a very good social trail down into Juniper Canyon. Note that if you're bushwhacking through the Gunsight Notch gully, you went the wrong way.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Juniper Peak
6109 ft
149 rise
2
Gunsight Notch Peak
6160 ft
160 rise

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Starting out from just outside the scenic road. Juniper Canyon is seen ahead. A trail leads to the mouth of the canyon.
Starting out from just outside the scenic road. Juniper Canyon is seen ahead. A trail leads to the mouth of the canyon.
Getting closer to the mouth of Juniper Canyon.
Getting closer to the mouth of Juniper Canyon.
The trail becomes difficult to follow due to the many climber trails leaving the main branch. I recommend sticking just right of the drainage.
The trail becomes difficult to follow due to the many climber trails leaving the main branch. I recommend sticking just right of the drainage.
Eventually we dropped into Juniper Canyon and did the typical Red Rock boulder-hopping obstacle fun. It was short-lived, though.
Eventually we dropped into Juniper Canyon and did the typical Red Rock boulder-hopping obstacle fun. It was short-lived, though.
View back, a social trail leads out of the drainage.
View back, a social trail leads out of the drainage.
The social trail leads just above the drainage before dropping back in. There's a talus field (seen left of center) that appears at the base of Juniper Peak. The brown-colored face above is known to climbers as Brownstone Wall.
The social trail leads just above the drainage before dropping back in. There's a talus field (seen left of center) that appears at the base of Juniper Peak. The brown-colored face above is known to climbers as Brownstone Wall.
View back as we continue up the drainage, a nice social trail preventing any unpleasant brush.
View back as we continue up the drainage, a nice social trail preventing any unpleasant brush.
At the base of the talus field.
At the base of the talus field.
View back down Juniper Canyon.
View back down Juniper Canyon.
Austin starting up the talus field, Class 2.
Austin starting up the talus field, Class 2.
Past the talus field, a wide sandstone slope/ramp leads along the base of the Juniper Peak's southern cliff.
Past the talus field, a wide sandstone slope/ramp leads along the base of the Juniper Peak's southern cliff.
View back into Juniper Canyon, where we came out of.
View back into Juniper Canyon, where we came out of.
Another shot back.
Another shot back.
Cairns mark the way, but there are at least two routes up the sandstone slab. I recommend just keeping high to avoid unnecessary Class 4/5 lower down.
Cairns mark the way, but there are at least two routes up the sandstone slab. I recommend just keeping high to avoid unnecessary Class 4/5 lower down.
Ascending the ramp toward the center of this photo.
Ascending the ramp toward the center of this photo.
A shot back along the ramp, the impressive Rainbow Wall visible in the background.
A shot back along the ramp, the impressive Rainbow Wall visible in the background.
The slab sort of fades away, and a social trail leads to the right and up to the east ridge of Juniper Peak.
The slab sort of fades away, and a social trail leads to the right and up to the east ridge of Juniper Peak.
The route wraps around to get to the east ridge.
The route wraps around to get to the east ridge.
Heading up the east ridge, which follows the trees in the gully ahead.
Heading up the east ridge, which follows the trees in the gully ahead.
Class 2, a nice social trail marks the way.
Class 2, a nice social trail marks the way.
(Photo from 2017) Tara on ascending along the east ridge of Juniper Peak, Juniper Canyon seen below on the left.
(Photo from 2017) Tara on ascending along the east ridge of Juniper Peak, Juniper Canyon seen below on the left.
View back.
View back.
Continuing to ascend on Class 2, a cool feature seen along the wall.
Continuing to ascend on Class 2, a cool feature seen along the wall.
At the top of the ridge, cairns mark a route up the big boulders on the left, nothing exceeding Class 3.
At the top of the ridge, cairns mark a route up the big boulders on the left, nothing exceeding Class 3.
Navigating the well-cairned boulders.
Navigating the well-cairned boulders.
A Class 4 option just below the summit. This can be avoided by dropping into the small gully just behind Austin...
A Class 4 option just below the summit. This can be avoided by dropping into the small gully just behind Austin...
...where you can locate a rabbit hole.
...where you can locate a rabbit hole.
Class 2 to the summit block of Juniper Peak. Bridge Mountain seen left, Calico Hills on the right.
Class 2 to the summit block of Juniper Peak. Bridge Mountain seen left, Calico Hills on the right.
Juniper Peak summit block on the left, Rainbow Wall on the right.
Juniper Peak summit block on the left, Rainbow Wall on the right.
Bridge Mountain from the summit of Juniper Peak.
Bridge Mountain from the summit of Juniper Peak.
Starting along the ridgeline to Gunsight Notch Peak, the small yellow bump seen center.
Starting along the ridgeline to Gunsight Notch Peak, the small yellow bump seen center.
View back toward the descent from Juniper Peak.
View back toward the descent from Juniper Peak.
(Photo from 2017) Shot of Tara happily descending from Juniper Peak.
(Photo from 2017) Shot of Tara happily descending from Juniper Peak.
Class 2/3 obstacles down the ridge.
Class 2/3 obstacles down the ridge.
A close-up of the crux. The crack in the center is where people rappel from. The Class 4/5 route wraps just to the right of the crack.
A close-up of the crux. The crack in the center is where people rappel from. The Class 4/5 route wraps just to the right of the crack.
View back at Austin descending to the saddle of Juniper Peak and Gunsight Notch Peak.
View back at Austin descending to the saddle of Juniper Peak and Gunsight Notch Peak.
Class 3 fun traversing just below the ridge.
Class 3 fun traversing just below the ridge.
A Class 4 move up a small crack, just below the crux.
A Class 4 move up a small crack, just below the crux.
Just past the small crack, the crux seen here, a long crack with some Class 5 movement. On my first visit, I was able to locate a slightly easier route on the left, but I couldn't locate it on my second attempt. Weird.
Just past the small crack, the crux seen here, a long crack with some Class 5 movement. On my first visit, I was able to locate a slightly easier route on the left, but I couldn't locate it on my second attempt. Weird.
View down the Class 5 crack. The rest of the photos are from 2017, the first time doing this route, hence the change in photo lighting.
View down the Class 5 crack. The rest of the photos are from 2017, the first time doing this route, hence the change in photo lighting.
Tara on the Class 5 crack, dog in her bag.
Tara on the Class 5 crack, dog in her bag.
Above the crux, view back along the ridge. Seen here is the rappel spot you'd likely use if you came from Gunsight Notch Peak instead of the way we came.
Above the crux, view back along the ridge. Seen here is the rappel spot you'd likely use if you came from Gunsight Notch Peak instead of the way we came.
Looking toward Gunsight Notch Peak.
Looking toward Gunsight Notch Peak.
View back as we continue along the ridge to Gunsight Notch Peak, Juniper Canyon to the right.
View back as we continue along the ridge to Gunsight Notch Peak, Juniper Canyon to the right.
Gunsight Notch Peak is the yellow-colored nubbin on the top right.
Gunsight Notch Peak is the yellow-colored nubbin on the top right.
Looking back toward Juniper Peak from near the Gunsight Notch Peak summit.
Looking back toward Juniper Peak from near the Gunsight Notch Peak summit.
Descending Gunsight Notch Peak in order to enter Gunsight Notch for the final descent.
Descending Gunsight Notch Peak in order to enter Gunsight Notch for the final descent.
Rainbow Wall above, Gunsight Notch below.
Rainbow Wall above, Gunsight Notch below.
Dropping into Gunsight Notch.
Dropping into Gunsight Notch.
Tight, Class 2/3, with some Class 3+.
Tight, Class 2/3, with some Class 3+.
Tara got this shot of me looking out as we start down Gunsight Notch.
Tara got this shot of me looking out as we start down Gunsight Notch.
It's steep, but nothing too crazy.
It's steep, but nothing too crazy.
Image 52 from gallery
Image 53 from gallery
There was still some snow in here.
There was still some snow in here.
Image 55 from gallery
A bypassable chockstone by going through a hole.
A bypassable chockstone by going through a hole.
A Class 3+ section where someone kindly left a fixed rope.
A Class 3+ section where someone kindly left a fixed rope.
Image 58 from gallery
There's lots of brush, but a social trail leads through it. If you're not having fun, it's likely because you didn't locate the most well-traveled trail through the brush.
There's lots of brush, but a social trail leads through it. If you're not having fun, it's likely because you didn't locate the most well-traveled trail through the brush.
Looking down into Juniper Canyon after descending through Gunsight Notch, where we completed the mini-loop.
Looking down into Juniper Canyon after descending through Gunsight Notch, where we completed the mini-loop.

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