Mount Ferguson in Gabbs Valley Range BLM, NV

Hike Mount Ferguson Gabbs Valley Range BLM, NV

Class 2 5.9 miles 2000 gain 2-4 hrs Out + Back Apr 7, 2022
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Mount Ferguson GPX Track

I need to offset my substantial website costs somehow! You can download a hike/drive GPX to assist you here. Before sharing my GPX tracks with others, please remember my site is otherwise a free resource.

Mount Ferguson is yet another big lump in the western Great Basin Desert. It's got some cool colors and expansive views. Most people seem to approach the peak from the southeast via some combination of ridges and drainages, and this seemed like a good option to me, too. I took two slightly different routes, but included only information about my preferred option. The summit register had a few entries of people mentioning "The Desert Trail", a route I had never heard of. Later research revealed it's a cairned route stretching from Mexico to Canada, and I guess it came close enough to Mount Ferguson for people to bag the summit. Perhaps coming from the west via this "trail/route" is better somehow? Regardless, I overall enjoyed the way I came. To get to where I started, head northwest here (38.61062, -118.09191) on a road suitable for Crossover vehicles. Keep left at this junction (38.63213, -118.11562), and then take a right (north) here (38.61759, -118.1368).

I headed north along an animal trail which dropped me into a significant drainage. This drainage ascended gradually to the northwest. Its banks were colorful, and looking back while farther along revealed generally pretty colorful terrain. I left this drainage when it started getting choked with brush, taking a lightly-colored slope north. Animals seem to like this option as well, since there was ample cow poo and a notable trail. This slope was pretty tame and had no brush, so I followed it to the 7200' contour where the terrain leveled out briefly. The last hundred feet or so became a bit rockier and introduced some tree-dodging, but it wasn't unpleasant.

I continued north along a flat section until the next slope, this one a bit steeper than the previous one. The slope would lead to the east ridge of Mount Ferguson. I don't think there's one "best" way to ascend this slope to gain the ridge, all options seeming a teeny bit brushy and with some embedded boulders that are slightly annoying. Once on the ridgeline, the hiking was mostly straightforward and at a very gradual angle. Along the way is some light talus-hopping and more tree-dodging, but nothing too bad. Fortunately the summit was free of trees, so I stuck around for the excellent views for a bit.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Mount Ferguson
8353 ft
2099 rise

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!

From my parking spot, a view toward Mount Ferguson (left). I first headed toward the right to reach a drainage.
From my parking spot, a view toward Mount Ferguson (left). I first headed toward the right to reach a drainage.
Within the drainage.
Within the drainage.
Mount Ferguson seen ahead.
Mount Ferguson seen ahead.
The drainage narrows a bit and I left it on the right to ascend a colorful slope.
The drainage narrows a bit and I left it on the right to ascend a colorful slope.
View back toward the drainage, center.
View back toward the drainage, center.
Ascending. Mount Ferguson seen top left.
Ascending. Mount Ferguson seen top left.
View back along the animal trail along a colorful slope.
View back along the animal trail along a colorful slope.
Approaching the first steep section, Class 2.
Approaching the first steep section, Class 2.
View back as I near the top of the steeper section. My car is somewhere in the center.
View back as I near the top of the steeper section. My car is somewhere in the center.
Past the first steep section, a view toward a flat portion followed by a second steep section to gain the ridgeline.
Past the first steep section, a view toward a flat portion followed by a second steep section to gain the ridgeline.
Class 2 up this section.
Class 2 up this section.
View back toward the flat part as I ascend the second steep slope.
View back toward the flat part as I ascend the second steep slope.
Along the east ridge of Mount Ferguson.
Along the east ridge of Mount Ferguson.
Some light bushwhacking and short Class 2 section. Mount Ferguson visible on the left.
Some light bushwhacking and short Class 2 section. Mount Ferguson visible on the left.
View back along the ridgeline. I came from the top right in this photo.
View back along the ridgeline. I came from the top right in this photo.
Continuing along the ridgeline.
Continuing along the ridgeline.
Mount Ferguson summit, view back the way I came.
Mount Ferguson summit, view back the way I came.
Mount Ferguson summit, view west.
Mount Ferguson summit, view west.
Mount Ferguson summit, view north.
Mount Ferguson summit, view north.
Mount Ferguson summit, close-up northwest.
Mount Ferguson summit, close-up northwest.

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!