La Madre Mountains Traverse in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, NV

Hike La Madre Mountains Traverse Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, NV

Class 2 7.4 miles 3600 gain 5-7 hrs Loop Apr 30, 2019
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

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Although not a traverse of the entire range, this route hits some high points in the La Madre Mountains Wilderness: La Madre Mountain, El Padre Mountain, Burnt Peak, and El Bastardo. Overall, the ridgeline is a bit uneventful, but the views down toward Red Rocks and Las Vegas are pretty incredible.

I was able to get my car out to the La Madre Mountains Wilderness sign without a hassle. The left turn for the dirt road to the trailhead is located here (36.26003, -115.48967). I parked in a pullout and started up the dirt road, leaving it shortly to the east in order to follow the ridge leading to La Madre Mountain. Forested and not heavy on annoying brush, the ridgeline went pretty quickly with some Class 2 limestone ramps toward the top. There's an optional Class 3 ridge to gain La Madre's summit, but an easier option exists just left of the ridge. There's an incredibly cooling-looking limestone slab on La Madre's north face – maybe I'll come back one day to scramble it, if it's possible. If you go up the slab, let me know how it is!

I reluctantly left the La Madre Mountain's gorgeous summit views to head southwest along the ridge to El Padre Peak. It's a steep downhill to a notch between the two, then a steep slope back up to gain the summit. A forested ridge leads from El Padre to Burnt Peak, and then onward to El Bastardo. There are some short Class 2+ sections, and Class 3 obstacles that can be easily avoided along the ridge. From the summit of El Bastardo, I headed down its north ridge and bushwhacked back to the dirt road. I encountered only a couple of short sections of denser brush, but it's overall just an easygoing slope on the descent.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
La Madre Mountain
8154 ft
1248 rise
2
El Padre Mountain
8093 ft
468 rise
3
Burnt Peak
7900 ft
160 rise
4
El Bastardo
7986 ft
386 rise

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I parked just before the widlerness sign. I left the road shortly after it, on the left.
I parked just before the widlerness sign. I left the road shortly after it, on the left.
The four peaks I traverse visible as I head up the ridge leading to La Madre Mountain. La Madre itself is hidden by a sub-peak on the left.
The four peaks I traverse visible as I head up the ridge leading to La Madre Mountain. La Madre itself is hidden by a sub-peak on the left.
Some Class 2 obstacles along the ridge. La Madre is peeking out up there.
Some Class 2 obstacles along the ridge. La Madre is peeking out up there.
Image 3 from gallery
Class 2 limsetone slabs on the ridge.
Class 2 limsetone slabs on the ridge.
La Madre visible on the left.
La Madre visible on the left.
Close-up of the interesting limestone slab on La Madre's face.
Close-up of the interesting limestone slab on La Madre's face.
La Madre on the left, the notch between La Madre and El Padre visible on the right.
La Madre on the left, the notch between La Madre and El Padre visible on the right.
Class 2/3 ridge to the summit of La Madre Mountain.
Class 2/3 ridge to the summit of La Madre Mountain.
Image 9 from gallery
La Madre Mountain summit ahead.
La Madre Mountain summit ahead.
La Madre Mountain, view back the way I came, northwest.
La Madre Mountain, view back the way I came, northwest.
La Madre Mountain, view south toward Damsel Peak and Las Vegas.
La Madre Mountain, view south toward Damsel Peak and Las Vegas.
La Madre Mountain, close-up of Calico Hills and Turtlehead Mountain.
La Madre Mountain, close-up of Calico Hills and Turtlehead Mountain.
La Madre Mountain, view southwest toward El Padre.
La Madre Mountain, view southwest toward El Padre.
Close-up of the traverse to El Padre.
Close-up of the traverse to El Padre.
At the notch between La Madre and El Padre.
At the notch between La Madre and El Padre.
Steep slope up to El Padre.
Steep slope up to El Padre.
El Padre Mountain, view toward La Madre.
El Padre Mountain, view toward La Madre.
El Padre Mountain, view toward the rest of my traverse - Burnt Peak is next.
El Padre Mountain, view toward the rest of my traverse - Burnt Peak is next.
Close-up of the gorgeous Red Rock Canyon NCA.
Close-up of the gorgeous Red Rock Canyon NCA.
Working toward Burnt Peak.
Working toward Burnt Peak.
Forested section on the way up.
Forested section on the way up.
Looking back toward El Padre (center) and La Madre (left).
Looking back toward El Padre (center) and La Madre (left).
Working down from Burnt Peak, El Bastardo visible on the left. Mt. Charleston visible in the distance.
Working down from Burnt Peak, El Bastardo visible on the left. Mt. Charleston visible in the distance.
Image 25 from gallery
Looking back on the way to El Bastardo.
Looking back on the way to El Bastardo.
Class 2 section along the traverse.
Class 2 section along the traverse.
Short limestone ridge before the summit.
Short limestone ridge before the summit.
Looking back toward Burnt Peak along the ridge, just below El Bastardo.
Looking back toward Burnt Peak along the ridge, just below El Bastardo.
El Bastardo summit, looking south.
El Bastardo summit, looking south.
El Bastardo summit, looking east, back the way I came.
El Bastardo summit, looking east, back the way I came.
El Bastardo summit, looking southeast toward Calico Hills and Las Vegas.
El Bastardo summit, looking southeast toward Calico Hills and Las Vegas.
Ridgeline I chose to head down from El Bastardo (seen left).
Ridgeline I chose to head down from El Bastardo (seen left).
Heading down from El Bastardo, view east toward Burnt Peak
Heading down from El Bastardo, view east toward Burnt Peak
Image 35 from gallery
Looking back up toward the ridge I came down.
Looking back up toward the ridge I came down.

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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!