Knife Peak and Slabs Peak in Lake Mead National Recreation Area, NV

Hike Knife Peak and Slabs Peak Lake Mead National Recreation Area, NV

Class 3 2.9 miles 1700 gain 2-4 hrs Out + Back Jan 26, 2019
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Knife Peak and Slabs Peak GPX Track

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These two easily-accesed scrambles were a huge amount of fun. Since they had no approach, I decided to go along both ridgelines to see how intense the scrambling would get, rather than choosing the more direct and easier approaches (see descents on map for easiest access to the high points).

Park along the wash and head up Knife Peak first – it's more of a warm-up than Slabs Peak. I decided to bag the minor peak to the east of the true summit of Knife Peak, and the ridgeline, though totally unnecessary and avoidable, was an incredibly fun Class 3 scramble due to the massive solid limestone blocks. The views of the narrow Slabs Peak behind you are really cool. From the top of the false summit of Knife Peak, continue along the ridge to the high point, keeping along the ridge crest for the easy Class 3 scramble to the summit. Just below the summit, a slope leads down to the desert floor to get back more quickly.

Slabs Peak was a massively cool surprise. I had no idea I'd be greeted with a knife edge! Head up the northern side of the west ridge of Slabs Peak and get to the ridgeline as quickly as you can for maximum scramble time. The ridgeline might be Class 4, but I don't know how to properly classify knife edges. There aren't any hard moves, but definitely don't fall. The high point was somewhere along my route and multiple sources gave different locations for the true high point. It doesn't really matter. Just scramble unitl you get sick of it – I found a weakess (Class 3) to get down off the summit and down to the desert.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Peak 2493
2493 ft
196 rise
2
Knife Peak
2566 ft
n/a rise
3
Slabs Peak
2492 ft
n/a rise

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Starting up Knife Peak, looking east toward Slabs Peak. You can see my car down there for scale.
Starting up Knife Peak, looking east toward Slabs Peak. You can see my car down there for scale.
Really fun scrambling up the eastern ridge of Knife Peak's east peak.
Really fun scrambling up the eastern ridge of Knife Peak's east peak.
Image 2 from gallery
Slabs Peak from near the summit of Knife Peak's east peak.
Slabs Peak from near the summit of Knife Peak's east peak.
Image 4 from gallery
Image 5 from gallery
Heading down from Knife Peak's east peak to the true peak ahead.
Heading down from Knife Peak's east peak to the true peak ahead.
Looking back toward Knife Peak's east peak.
Looking back toward Knife Peak's east peak.
Short Class 3 couple of moves to gain Knife Peak's summit.
Short Class 3 couple of moves to gain Knife Peak's summit.
Looking down Knife Peak's Class 3 section, and the ridge from Knife Peak's east peak.
Looking down Knife Peak's Class 3 section, and the ridge from Knife Peak's east peak.
Approaching Knife Peak summit.
Approaching Knife Peak summit.
Knife Peak summit, view west.
Knife Peak summit, view west.
Knife Peak summit, view east toward the way I came.
Knife Peak summit, view east toward the way I came.
Knife Peak summit looking south toward Lake Mead.
Knife Peak summit looking south toward Lake Mead.
Back at my car, heading up the west ridge of Slabs Peak ahead.
Back at my car, heading up the west ridge of Slabs Peak ahead.
Starting up Slabs Peak.
Starting up Slabs Peak.
Looking back toward Knife Peak.
Looking back toward Knife Peak.
Approaching the incredible knife edge.
Approaching the incredible knife edge.
Long knife-edge to the summit, which isn't a clearly defined high point, in my opinion.
Long knife-edge to the summit, which isn't a clearly defined high point, in my opinion.
Looking back along the knife edge.
Looking back along the knife edge.
Image 20 from gallery
Image 21 from gallery
Image 22 from gallery
A particularly interesting section of the knife edge.
A particularly interesting section of the knife edge.
Just after pulling a solid Class 3 move.
Just after pulling a solid Class 3 move.
Looking back from what I think is the high point of Slabs Peak.
Looking back from what I think is the high point of Slabs Peak.
Slabs Peak summit looking east toward Endless Peak.
Slabs Peak summit looking east toward Endless Peak.
My descent gully.
My descent gully.
Looking back toward Slabs Peak, my descent gully on the right.
Looking back toward Slabs Peak, my descent gully on the right.
Headed back through the desert to my car, Knife Peak visible ahead.
Headed back through the desert to my car, Knife Peak visible ahead.

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!