North McFarland Peak and Macks Peak in Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, NV

Hike North McFarland Peak and Macks Peak Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, NV

Class 2 9.3 miles 4400 gain 5-7 hrs Loop Sep 5, 2021
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

North McFarland Peak and Macks Peak GPX Track

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North McFarland Peak (also known to some as Mount Everest) sits deep in the Spring Mountains and isn't easily accessible. It also doesn't get much visitation, but it's a pleasant enough hike to warrant more attention. Some seem to choose to access the peak from the north, but Yossi, Jon, and I decided to skip the potential for bad roads and came in via Macks Canyon, accessible by any vehicle. To increase the day's fun, we included Macks Peak on the way back. A couple of years ago I did the sketchy Macks Traverse with Austin, which descended from Macks Peak, but this route visits the high point and skips the traverse, keeping the whole day Class 2.

From the end of the busy Macks Canyon Campground, we headed along a surprisingly well-traveled trail. While it may appear to be a road on some maps, it's not accessible via car. The trail hugs a lush creek for a while, which somehow held water this late in the year. We left the trail as it continued south, instead ascending to a saddle to the west. This saddle gave us a nice viewpoint of Macks Peak and the route to come to reach North McFarland Peak. We could also see McFarland Peak, which dwarfed North McFarland Peak. From the saddle we descended into a northwest-draining canyon. Of course we'd have to regain all this vertical on the way back, but it was easy walking through sparsely-vegetated terrain, not a single bush requiring whacking.

As we descended the drainage, we kept an eye out for a good spot to wrap around the slope on our left to get into a side-drainage that would lead to the base of North McFarland Peak. You could follow the drainage until you see the side-drainage come in, but we left prematurely to knock off an additional big of vertical gain. The slope was easy enough to side-hill, and we found ourselves within the previously mentioned side drainage. This ascended pretty steeply, heading west. I recommend keeping to the south side as long as possible becaue the drainage itself has lots of big boulders and brush to contend with. The sheer face of North McFarland Peak was impressive when views from below, but a nice weakness would allow access to the ridgeline. This was achieved by scrambling on loose Class 2 talus/scree to the north when the weakness came into view. Once on the ridge, we continued to the summit. Along the way was a optional Class 3/4 section, avoidable on the left via a Class 2 loose gully. A couple more Class 2/2+ moves led to the summit, where the views were great.

We backtracked to the canyon we descended from, and rather than re-ascend to the saddle we started from, we diverged from that route and headed east up a different drainage, our goal to efficiently get to the south ridge of Macks Peak, our next peak for the day. The drainage becomes steeper and had some downed trees to navigate around, but overall it was easy enough. The drainage seemed to sort of open up a bit and we decided to simply ascend a very steep Class 2 slope to reach the south ridge of Macks. From here we wrapped around to its southeast side where we picked up the fairly well-worn Macks Peak approach trail. We followed the trail to the base of Macks' eastern cliff and located the key Class 2+ ramp that would serve as a way to get around the cliffs. The ramp ends with a somewhat miserable and eroded Class 2 slope that leads a hundred feet or so into sunlight on the south ridge of Macks peak. The Class 2 south ridge got us to the summit.

On our way down from Macks Peak, we descended along the standard Macks route, a spur ridge on the peak's east side. Howevere, there are many social trails leading all over the ridgeline and I'm not sure we were on the "standard" route. We got down fine using a somewhat steep slope and a nice drainage, and ended up back in Macks Canyon, completing the loop.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
North McFarland Peak (Mount Everest)
9869 ft
355 rise
2
Macks Peak
10036 ft
1129 rise

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Starting from the trailhead at the end of Macks Canyon Campground.
Starting from the trailhead at the end of Macks Canyon Campground.
Ascending Macks Canyon on a nice trail.
Ascending Macks Canyon on a nice trail.
Lush sections of the trail.
Lush sections of the trail.
We left the trail and ascended a drainage leading east to reach a saddle.
We left the trail and ascended a drainage leading east to reach a saddle.
At the saddle, view of Macks Peak (right) and McFarland Peak (left). North McFarland (our goal) is hidden by the tree in the center. It's just a little bump.
At the saddle, view of Macks Peak (right) and McFarland Peak (left). North McFarland (our goal) is hidden by the tree in the center. It's just a little bump.
Descending a canyon.
Descending a canyon.
North McFarland in view right of center. Our goal is to head to the saddle in the center, which separates McFarland (left) from North McFarland.
North McFarland in view right of center. Our goal is to head to the saddle in the center, which separates McFarland (left) from North McFarland.
We left our descent canyon and side-hilled into a side-drainage that would take us west.
We left our descent canyon and side-hilled into a side-drainage that would take us west.
Ascending the side-drainage. Note we aren't in the drainage, it's rocky and brushy for the first bit. North McFarland visible above, top right.
Ascending the side-drainage. Note we aren't in the drainage, it's rocky and brushy for the first bit. North McFarland visible above, top right.
Eventually we got pushed into the drainage an continued ascending.
Eventually we got pushed into the drainage an continued ascending.
View back toward Macks Peak as we progress up the drainage.
View back toward Macks Peak as we progress up the drainage.
Progress up the drainage.
Progress up the drainage.
Close-up of the cool face of North McFarland Peak.
Close-up of the cool face of North McFarland Peak.
The weakness we'd use to gain the ridge is up there in the center of this photo.
The weakness we'd use to gain the ridge is up there in the center of this photo.
Hugging the cliff on the right as we make our way up to the weakness.
Hugging the cliff on the right as we make our way up to the weakness.
View back as we ascend out of drainage. Macks Peak visible in the distance. Yossi is seen scrambling loose Class 2 to get to the weakness.
View back as we ascend out of drainage. Macks Peak visible in the distance. Yossi is seen scrambling loose Class 2 to get to the weakness.
We came up from the right bottom in this photo, and used the side-hilling weakness on the left to reach the ridge.
We came up from the right bottom in this photo, and used the side-hilling weakness on the left to reach the ridge.
Jon ascending to the weakness in the ridge. It leads to the saddle separating McFarland and North McFarland.
Jon ascending to the weakness in the ridge. It leads to the saddle separating McFarland and North McFarland.
View back down the weakness once we made it to the ridge.
View back down the weakness once we made it to the ridge.
Ascending to North McFarland Peak.
Ascending to North McFarland Peak.
View back along the ridgeline. The weakness we came up is obscured, but located on the right in the center somewhere.
View back along the ridgeline. The weakness we came up is obscured, but located on the right in the center somewhere.
Class 2 up to North McFarland Peak.
Class 2 up to North McFarland Peak.
Nearing the summit.
Nearing the summit.
Jon pulled some Class 3/4 moves along the crest. Avoidable by keeping left.
Jon pulled some Class 3/4 moves along the crest. Avoidable by keeping left.
Class 2 alternative to the ridge crest. It's a short walk to the summit from here.
Class 2 alternative to the ridge crest. It's a short walk to the summit from here.
North McFarland Peak, view toward McFarland Peak.
North McFarland Peak, view toward McFarland Peak.
North McFarland Peak, view toward Bonanza Peak.
North McFarland Peak, view toward Bonanza Peak.
North McFarland Peak, view toward Macks Peak (left). To reach North McFarland, we descended the drainage in the center of this photo. To get to Macks, we'll re-ascend that drainage half way and take one of the gullies in the center of this photo to reach Macks' south ridge, also visible center.
North McFarland Peak, view toward Macks Peak (left). To reach North McFarland, we descended the drainage in the center of this photo. To get to Macks, we'll re-ascend that drainage half way and take one of the gullies in the center of this photo to reach Macks' south ridge, also visible center.
North McFarland Peak, view east into the desert.
North McFarland Peak, view east into the desert.
Starting back. You can see Jon and Yossi on the rim.
Starting back. You can see Jon and Yossi on the rim.
After backtracking, we located this side-drainage which we'd use to get to Macks Peak's south ridge. You can see Macks in the center.
After backtracking, we located this side-drainage which we'd use to get to Macks Peak's south ridge. You can see Macks in the center.
Ascending the drainage. It was fine overall.
Ascending the drainage. It was fine overall.
The drainage widened, and we left it to ascend this steep slope.
The drainage widened, and we left it to ascend this steep slope.
View back down the loose, steep slope we used to reach Macks Peak's south ridge.
View back down the loose, steep slope we used to reach Macks Peak's south ridge.
Another shot back as we near the ridge. McFarland visible center, North McFarland next to it on the right.
Another shot back as we near the ridge. McFarland visible center, North McFarland next to it on the right.
On the south ridge, view north toward Macks Peak. We headed along the ridge and then wrapped to the right.
On the south ridge, view north toward Macks Peak. We headed along the ridge and then wrapped to the right.
We located the Macks Peak social trail and followed it.
We located the Macks Peak social trail and followed it.
View back along the social trail.
View back along the social trail.
At the base of Macks Peak's cliffs.
At the base of Macks Peak's cliffs.
At the base of the cliffs. Minor Class 2 leads to the slabs, where Yossi is currently standing.
At the base of the cliffs. Minor Class 2 leads to the slabs, where Yossi is currently standing.
Ascending the Class 2+ slab. Past the slab is a short section of unpleasant, eroded slope.
Ascending the Class 2+ slab. Past the slab is a short section of unpleasant, eroded slope.
Looking back at the slab.
Looking back at the slab.
View back down the unpleasant slope. North Macks Peak visible in the center.
View back down the unpleasant slope. North Macks Peak visible in the center.
Last bit of Class 2 to get off the dumb, steep slope.
Last bit of Class 2 to get off the dumb, steep slope.
A hairpin turn on the south side of Macks Peak. You can see Yossi emerging from the ugly slope. Class 2 to the summit.
A hairpin turn on the south side of Macks Peak. You can see Yossi emerging from the ugly slope. Class 2 to the summit.
View back down toward the south ridge (we were just down there).
View back down toward the south ridge (we were just down there).
Macks Peak summit, view toward the traverse to North Macks Peak. Not today, thanks.
Macks Peak summit, view toward the traverse to North Macks Peak. Not today, thanks.
Macks Peak summit, view toward Mummy Mountain (distance) and The Sisters (center).
Macks Peak summit, view toward Mummy Mountain (distance) and The Sisters (center).
Macks Peak summit, view toward McFarland (left), Bonanza (top right), and North McFarland (right center).
Macks Peak summit, view toward McFarland (left), Bonanza (top right), and North McFarland (right center).
On the way down from Macks Peak using the convoluted social trail options. View back toward the peak.
On the way down from Macks Peak using the convoluted social trail options. View back toward the peak.

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