
Dry Wash Trailhead.

A short ascent on the trail leads to this nice view. Little Nelson Mountain seen top right.

Heading through an old fence. The Dry Wash Trail leads to the saddle in the center separating Nelson Mountain (left) from Little Nelson Mountain (right).

View back toward Millsite Reservoir.

After a bit of hiking, the trail dips into the drainage below.

The trail follows the drainage for a bit.

Pretty greenery and some flowing water down here.

Then the trail ascends out of the drainage on the right, leading up to the saddle seen center.

Ascending along the Dry Wash Trail.

Nelson Mountain seen top left.

I left the Dry Wash Trail and ascended north up the steep ridge leading to Little Nelson Mountain.

View back toward the saddle.

A little brushy and rocky, but not bad. The crest is seen ahead, much more cliffy/rocky.

Steep and loose sometimes, Class 2/2+.

A short open section along the ridge crest clear of cliffs.

View back along the crest, Nelson Mountain seen center.

I stuck to the base of some more cliffs. It's easiest to just follow their base until a Class 2/2+ option presents itself, or you can use a more difficult Class 3/4 option, like what's seen here.

View back along the base of one of the cliffy obstacles to overcome.

Steep Class 2.


Another opening along the crest before reaching another cliff to overcome.

A Class 3 option, if you'd prefer.

An easier Class 2 weakness to overcome the second cliff.

The final cliff seen ahead.

A neat scramble weakness to gain the summit ridge.

View back along the summit rim, Nelson Mountain seen center.

Millsite Reservoir seen below.

Along the mostly flat summit to gain the high point.

Just past the high point, a view northeast.

Close-up toward Millsite Reservoir.
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