Hike Mummy Mountain Traverse Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, NV

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Jun 6, 2026 — As all peakbaggers know, once you’ve climbed just about everything in your backyard, the routes start getting increasingly creative. The Mummy Mountain Traverse is one of those delightfully contrived objectives in Nevada’s Spring Mountains that I originally had no intention of completing. With a little nudge from Alec and a growing sense of boredom after exploring this range extensively, I was coaxed into giving it a go.

The Spring Mountains outside of Las Vegas create an alpine island and an escape from the scorching desert temperatures. The range is dominated by Charleston Peak, but just to its north stands Mummy Mountain, the range’s second-highest summit. Its long, layered ridgeline resembles a person lying on their back, giving rise to the mountain’s fitting name. The broad central high point is affectionately known by local hikers as “Mummy’s Tummy.”

Mummy Mountain is most often climbed from either the North Loop Trail or the Raintree route, both of which I cover in my Mummy Mountain trip report. This traverse takes a different approach, following the entire rugged ridgeline over each of the mountain’s subpeaks. The route features sustained exposure and several scrambling sections, with a handful of fixed ropes in place to assist through the more difficult obstacles. While the ropes make a few moves less intimidating, the traverse is still a Class 4 endeavor. The majority of this outing is very steep, loose, and slow-moving.

We parked our shuttle car at the North Loop Trailhead (36.30887, -115.61132), and continued to our start point (36.33217, -115.62874), just a pull-off from the highway. A short walk along a dirt road was followed by off-trail hiking up a steep slope to gain the north ridge of Mummy Mountain. First up was Mummys Nose, a summit normally approached from the north. We reached a prominent rock rib, keeping to its right, before grinding up loose Class 2 terrain to the summit of Mummys Nose.

The descent from Mummys Nose required a little care, weaving down a couple of ledges to avoid the cliffs before dropping to the saddle. From there, we found the route to Mummys Forehead, which uses a steep 20-foot face to start, across an airy ledge into a cliffy grotto. A fun mix of Class 3 brought us onto easier terrain and soon to the summit.

Next came a steep, loose descent off the east side of Mummys Forehead before yet more steep Class 2/3 up to Mummys Chin. Looking ahead, the route to Mummys Tummy wasn’t nearly as straightforward. We dropped to another saddle and traversed to the right beneath imposing cliffs. Along the way was a steep Class 3/4 slab I was happy to use a fixed line for. We eventually reached a weakness that would permit us access to Mummys Tummy. A few more Class 3 moves led through the cliff band and onto the upper slopes, where the high point of Mummy Mountain, Mummys Tummy, was finally within easy reach.

We descended via the standard north route, following a broad ledge above cliffs before some controlled slipping down the mountain’s famously steep and loose gully. Once below the cliffs, a social trail made for easier travel beneath cliffs toward Mummys Toe.

The final summit of the traverse was Mummys Toe, reached by a pleasant walk through the forest followed by one last short, steep climb. To return, we followed a faint social trail down, harder to stick to than we expected, and soon joined the official Mummy Spring Trail.

The remainder of the hike was an easy cruise along the Mummy Spring and North Loop Trails. We passed the well-known Raintree, enjoyed one last look back at the entire Mummy traverse, and strolled out of the Mount Charleston Wilderness to our shuttle car.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)

Peaks on hike

Elevation

Prominence

Mummys Nose

10782 ft

415 rise

Mummys Forehead

11066 ft

317 rise

Mummys Chin

11064 ft

166 rise

Mummy Mountain

11532 ft

815 rise

Mummys Toe

10946 ft

227 rise

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We started up a dirt road. Mummys Nose ahead.

Some cross-country and a steep slope ascent brought us up to the north ridge of Mummy Mountain, seen center.

Along the ridgeline, Mummys Nose seen ahead.

View back down along the steep ridge ascent.

We reached this rock rib, keeping to the right of it.

Loose terrain with some light Class 2 brought us to the summit.

Mummys Nose summit, view north.

Mummys Nose summit, view south toward the traverse to come.

Class 2 descent from Mummys Nose. Mummys Forehead seen top right. To reach it, we dropped to the saddle and then took a right. A route leads up through the trees on the right, above the sheer cliff.

Class 2 down from Mummys Nose, which takes a couple of ledges to avoid cliffs.

Just below the saddle, we located the route up to Mummys Forehead. Without the rope, with is some unexposed Class 4.

After a walkable ledge with some exposure, we reached this cliffy-looking grotto. We ascended up and to the left.

Class 3/4 move up a cliff band.

A short walk up to the summit of Mummys Forehead. Mummys Tummy seen center. Mummys Chin is directly ahead of us.

Wider shot, Charleston Peak on the right.

View west toward The Sisters, Macks Peak, and McFarland Peak.

View back toward Mummys Nose.

A steep, loose drop on the left (east) from Mummys Forehead. Mummys Chin seen top center.

Class 2/3 up to Mummys Chin.

Mummys Chin summit, view back toward Mummys Forehead.

Close-up toward Mummys Tummy. We dropped south from here and down to the saddle below, near the cliff center. The route then hugs that cliff, side-hilling on the right and continues right of center to the weakness currently holding some snow. that weakness permits access through the cliffs to Mummys Tummy.

Side-hilling beneath the cliff after the saddle.

Close-up of the route to come. A Class 3 move is located where the snow is held, center of this photo.

A steep Class 3/4 slabby section. I opted to use a fixed line that was in place for stability.

View back up at the Class 3/4 slab.

Approaching the Class 3 weakness that permits access to Mummys Tummy.

View back toward Mummys Chin at the traverse beneath the cliff.

Class 3.

View back down the slope, Mummys Chin seen center.

Mummys Tummy (Mummy Mountain high point) ahead.

After the summit, we dropped down using the standard northern route. Just below Alec, the route curves to the right and follows a wide ledge above a severe cliff.

And then a steep, loose gully leads down to the safer terrain below.

View back up at the standard steep, loose gully.

A social trail leads along the slopes beneath the serious cliffs.

View back along the standard northern route to Mummy Mountain. Mummys Nose seen on the right.

Descending to Mummys Toe, center.

Forested walk from the saddle to the summit of Mummys Toe.

Steep bit to the summit of Mummys Toe.

Mummys Toe summit, view toward Mummy Mountain.

We took a social trail down, which at times was hard to follow. It was a pretty straightforward slope except for one cliff that needed to be avoided.

We joined the Mummy Spring Trail and took it to the North Loop Trail.

Joining the North Loop Trail at a large named tree called "Raintree", a view up toward Mummys Toe (left).

View back toward Mummy Mountain.

Exiting Mount Charleston Wilderness as we approach the North Loop Trailhead.

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