Lonely Pinon Mountain Loop in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, NV

Hike Lonely Pinon Mountain Loop Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, NV

Class 2 7.4 miles 2700 gain 3-5 hrs Loop Dec 13, 2020
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Lonely Pinon Mountain Loop GPX Track

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Lonely Pinon Mountain is a minor summit in the northeastern section of Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, an area very few visit because there's just so much better stuff to see around here. Local legend Paula Raimondi and I met up to get this little peak since it was on both of our mutual shrinking to-do lists. Otherwise I probably would have just written this peak off as "scraping the barrel". We'd been following each other's progress over the last year and finally got a chance to get together and chat and play in the mountains. Paula is super-driven and capable and knows the Vegas area probably better than almost anyone. I was thilled to go hiking with her – thanks for making time for me, Paula! 😉

The route we ended up taking was quite nice, lots of flat running space and some nice views of the area. Any car could make it to our parking area, but development in this area may change the roads around at some point. We headed along a dirt road and entered the major east-draining canyon coming down from Lonely Pinon Mountain. I should note that topo maps seem to misinterpret this canyon as being a hump or a sheer cliff, which I noted on my attached map. Some Class 2 brought us to the ridge and we got the best views of the day from the summit.

We jogged north along the ridge, enjoying the desert and the mostly brush-free soft ground. We ended up in a minor drainage which led us to the base of Roger Peak. Class 2 took us to its summit, then along the north slopes of Roger Peak over to Marie Peak. The north ridge from Marie Peak had some Class 3 options, but this can be avoided by keeping just to the right or left of the ridge crest. We descended along Class 2 to the east and dropped down t the desert below when the cliffs became less intense and we could see a slope that wouldn't cliff us out. We headed south through the desert on a dirt road over to the west ridge of Kids Peak, ascended the ridge on Class 2 terrain to the summit, and followed the ridge east back to the cars.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Lonely Pinon Mountain
4897 ft
417 rise
2
Roger Peak
4090 ft
130 rise
3
Marie Peak
3990 ft
190 rise
4
Kids Peak
3640 ft
140 rise

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We headed along a dirt road to Lonely Pinon Mountain, left of center.
We headed along a dirt road to Lonely Pinon Mountain, left of center.
Looking back toward Las Vegas, Kids Peak on the left (our final peak later).
Looking back toward Las Vegas, Kids Peak on the left (our final peak later).
Ascending the drainage.
Ascending the drainage.
Class 2 within the drainage.
Class 2 within the drainage.
Looking back as we ascend.
Looking back as we ascend.
Image 5 from gallery
Toward the top of the drainage on some Class 2.
Toward the top of the drainage on some Class 2.
Along the ridge to the summit of Lonely Pinon Mountain.
Along the ridge to the summit of Lonely Pinon Mountain.
Looking north as we ascend to Lonely Pinon Mountain.
Looking north as we ascend to Lonely Pinon Mountain.
Lonely Pinon Mountain, view south toward the La Madre Mountains.
Lonely Pinon Mountain, view south toward the La Madre Mountains.
Heading north along the ridge.
Heading north along the ridge.
We dropped into a minor drainage, Roger Peak visible ahead.
We dropped into a minor drainage, Roger Peak visible ahead.
At the base of Roger Peak.
At the base of Roger Peak.
Looking back toward Lonely Pinon Mountain  (center).
Looking back toward Lonely Pinon Mountain (center).
Class 2 to Roger Peak.
Class 2 to Roger Peak.
Roger Peak summit, view toward Marie Peak (left).
Roger Peak summit, view toward Marie Peak (left).
Saddle of Roger/Marie.
Saddle of Roger/Marie.
Class 2 up to Marie Peak. You could make it Class 3/4 if you wanted.
Class 2 up to Marie Peak. You could make it Class 3/4 if you wanted.
Looking back toward the summit of Marie Peak. You can see the crest is difficult, but most difficulties are avoidable and you can keep the ridge Class 2.
Looking back toward the summit of Marie Peak. You can see the crest is difficult, but most difficulties are avoidable and you can keep the ridge Class 2.
Down the ridge from Marie Peak, Kids Peak visible center. That's next.
Down the ridge from Marie Peak, Kids Peak visible center. That's next.
Along a dirt road to the west ridge of Kids Peak.
Along a dirt road to the west ridge of Kids Peak.
View back toward the ridgeline we traversed as we ascend to Kids Peak.
View back toward the ridgeline we traversed as we ascend to Kids Peak.
Class 2 to Kids Peak.
Class 2 to Kids Peak.
Kids Peak summit. Our cars are just on the other side.
Kids Peak summit. Our cars are just on the other side.
View back toward Paul as as ascend to Kids Peak. Lonely Pinon Mountain visible above her.
View back toward Paul as as ascend to Kids Peak. Lonely Pinon Mountain visible above her.

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!