Magruder Mountain in Magruder Mountain BLM, NV

Hike Magruder Mountain Magruder Mountain BLM, NV

Class 2 6.1 miles 1800 gain 2-4 hrs Out + Back Apr 6, 2022
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

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Magruder Mountain is a surprisingly nice summit with expansive views from its bald summit ridge. I parked at a pull-off at Lida Summit, a pass along NV-266. This pass separates Magruder Mountain from Palmetto Mountain to the north and I felt it would work well as a nice starting point.

I started along an ATV road from the pass, which led east for a couple hundred feet before a lesser-traveled ATV road popped in and led south. This road is in poor shape and I don't even know if it's legal to drive it. It continues for a quarter mile or so along the wide lump of a ridgeline extending from Lida Summit and eventually ends at the base of a steep slope on the northwest side of Magruder Mountain. Here I headed up the steep terrain for 500 or so vertical feet, an occasional animal trail helping slightly. While quite an angle, there wasn't much brush to contend with, making it just a good quad-killer for a short time. At the top of this slope was a short section of more mellow terrain before the slope got steep again for another couple hundred feet. Toward the top of this second slope the trees faded out and introduced a lightly rocky slope with a cairned social trail leading through a negligible talus field. Short-lived, I was now hiking along the wide open country of the west ridge of Magruder Mountain.

I was surprised to find a well-traveled trail that led me east. It wrapped around a couple of small humps along the way and brought me to just west of the summit. Here I headed up the lightly brushy west slope of the summit hump and continued on more easy terrain to the high point. The views were really incredible to the south into Death Valley.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Magruder Mountain
9044 ft
1644 rise

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At Lida Summit, view toward Magruder Mountain, center.
At Lida Summit, view toward Magruder Mountain, center.
Along an old ATV road that heads south toward the slope ahead.
Along an old ATV road that heads south toward the slope ahead.
View back along the road.
View back along the road.
After the road ends, the grade steepens dramatically.
After the road ends, the grade steepens dramatically.
At the top of the first steep slope, a short section of flatter hiking. You can see the next slope ahead, followed by the pleasant bald ridgeline of Magruder Mountain.
At the top of the first steep slope, a short section of flatter hiking. You can see the next slope ahead, followed by the pleasant bald ridgeline of Magruder Mountain.
Ascending the second steep slope.
Ascending the second steep slope.
View back toward Lida Summit (center) as I near the ridgeline.
View back toward Lida Summit (center) as I near the ridgeline.
Out of the trees and nearing the ridgeline.
Out of the trees and nearing the ridgeline.
Onward to Magruder Mountain.
Onward to Magruder Mountain.
View back.
View back.
A pretty nice trail materialized.
A pretty nice trail materialized.
View back. Palmetto Mountain visible on the right.
View back. Palmetto Mountain visible on the right.
Magruder Mountain visible ahead.
Magruder Mountain visible ahead.
Close-up toward Magruder Mountain.
Close-up toward Magruder Mountain.
Following the trail as it wraps around a couple of inconvenient humps along the ridgeline.
Following the trail as it wraps around a couple of inconvenient humps along the ridgeline.
View back.
View back.
The trail sort of fades away below the summit. This easy slope leads up the east slope of Magruder Mountain.
The trail sort of fades away below the summit. This easy slope leads up the east slope of Magruder Mountain.
I came from the ridgeline lumps on the top left in this photo.
I came from the ridgeline lumps on the top left in this photo.
Magruder Mountain just ahead.
Magruder Mountain just ahead.
Close-up toward the ridgeline I came along (left) and Lida Summit (right).
Close-up toward the ridgeline I came along (left) and Lida Summit (right).
A shot south into Death Valley.
A shot south into Death Valley.

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!