Northshore Peak Loop

Lake Mead National Recreation Area, NV Northern Lake Mead + Valley of Fire + Gold Butte

Trip stats

Distance
4.4 mi
Net Gain
1,900 ft
Time
2-4 hrs
YDS Rating
Class 3
Route
Loop
Peaks
3

Ratings out of 10

Effort
4/10
Personality
6/10
Beauty
7/10
Solitude
3.8/10
What do these mean? →

Peaks on this hike

Summits listed in route order

Ridgeline of the 3 summits in route order 01 02 03
  1. Northshore Peak - Southwest
    2,874′ elevation · 315′ prominence
  2. Northshore Peak - South
    3,123′ elevation · 236′ prominence
  3. Northshore Peak
    3,330′ elevation · 1,132′ prominence

Route map + Trailhead

Trailhead Coordinates

36.220040, -114.631760

The directions link below drops a pin on the trailhead coordinates and lets Google Maps pick the route. If the drive has rough roads or access issues that GPS nav might get wrong, I cover that in my trip report.

Get directions (opens Google Maps in a new tab)

Trip report

Mar 15, 2023 — One of the more popular peaks in Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Northshore Peak has some of the best views of the colorful surroundings, and is located just off the road. Generally this peak is reached from the Northshore Summit parking lot, the standard route using the descent route I took. However, I was more interested in forming a loop with the sub-peaks of Northshore Peak since I've already done the standard route as an out-and-back and wanted to do a more unique hike. I parked off Northshore Road at a pull-off, deciding I wanted to do this loop counter-clockwise since there were many unknown elements in this direction and it felt prudent to do that stuff first.

After hiking a short time along Northshore Road, I entered a drainage and followed it around to the south side of Northshore Peak – Southwest. This peak has a bad reputation since its northern side is loose, steep, and dangerous. Clearly, hikers haven't found the southern Class 2 slope approach. While still steep, it wasn't anything atypical for the area.

I backtracked from the summit and continued south, hoping to find a way up the cliff bands surrounding my next peak, Northshore Peak – South. This peak is really just an extension of the ridgeline from the primary Northshore Peak, but my intent was to traverse the whole thing and this bump was along the way. Class 2 brought me up a gully and to the southern side of the peak, where I located a Class 3 series of moves on solid rock to gain the crest. You might be able to locate an easier option, but there's more dangerous stuff ahead and this could serve as a nice warm-up.

Once along the crest, I scrambled on fun Class 2/3 slanted slabs to reach the high point, where the views of the colorful badlands to the south were pretty excellent. I started down along the ridgeline and was quickly stopped by what appeared to be a serious cliff. I took my time crawling down on Class 3 terrain, a near-vertical knife of rock. The scramble was on solid limestone, but the drops on either side severe. There were two notable moves, the first a lip that I lowered myself down, the second a wrap-around to the left of an outcropping using a ledge. The going past here was easier to the saddle below.

Class 2/3 led me up the southwest ridge of Northshore Peak, a pleasant scramble on nice rock. From the summit of Northshore Peak I could spot the numerous peaks I've come to know and love in this part of Lake Mead, a fun comparison to the first time I was up here years ago when I hadn't yet hiked as extensively. I continued along the well-cairned standard route. A couple of Class 2 minor cliff bands popped in shortly after starting, and one taller outcropping veered me off the crest for a short time. The slope descended from here, hints of a social trail and an occasional cairn marking the way. I dropped down off the crest using the first slope I could after the cliffs abated, Class 2. Once down to the desert floor, I took a trail for a short time until it faded, and then wandered through the desert to the Northshore Summit Trailhead, where I then hiked down along the road back to my car.

Hire me or show some love!

Hire or refer me as a web developer, or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I'm not sponsored, so it's funded by yours truly. It also takes a ton of work to edit photos and write these reports. I really appreciate it!

Hire me PayPal Venmo Cash App

Photos

32 photos

  1. Along Northshore Road, beneath Northshore Peak - Southwest, seen ahead.
  2. Up a wash that wraps around my first peak.
  3. View back down the wash.
  4. View of the Class 2 route up Northshore Peak - Southwest's south slope.
  5. Class 2.
  6. Summit of Northshore Peak - Southwest. Northshore Peak seen top right.
  7. Summit of Northshore Peak - Southwest, view toward the next peak. To reach it, I headed to the gully on the right in this photo.
  8. An animal trail led me along the slope.
  9. Class 2 up the gully to the base of the cliff above.
  10. View back, Northshore Peak - Southwest seen right of center.
  11. Approaching the base of the cliff.
  12. View down my Class 3 choice.
  13. Slanted Class 2/3 slabs to the summit of Northshore Peak - South.
  14. Progress up to Northshore Peak - South.
  15. Northshore Peak - South, view back along the crest. You can see Hamblin Mountain in the center.
  16. Northshore Peak - South, view along the crest toward Northshore Peak.
  17. Exposed Class 3 on the way down from Northshore Peak - South.
  18. View back at the first Class 3 crux.
  19. View back at the second Class 3 crux (wraps around the ledge on the right).
  20. Onward to Northshore Peak.
  21. View back toward Northshore Peak - South (left) and Northshore Peak - Southwest (right).
  22. Class 2/3 up to Northshore Peak.
  23. Close-up back at the Class 2/3 up to Northshore Peak.
  24. Close-up toward Northshore Peak - Southwest, Northshore Road also visible.
  25. View toward the Muddy Mountains and Bowl of Fire. My car seen below.
  26. View toward Pyramid Peak and Booths Pinnacle (right of center), The Sentinel (left of center), and the Redstone Peaks (left).
  27. View back toward my previous two peaks.
  28. Onward along the ridgeline. You can see the Northshore Summit Trailhead on the left.
  29. View back toward the summit after some Class 2 cliff bands and wrapping around a small outcropping along the crest.
  30. Another shot back, farther along.
  31. Standard route down from Northshore Peak. I left the crest when the cliffs faded.
  32. View back up at my Class 2 descent. I headed through the desert to reach Northshore Road.

Photo 1 of 1

Hire me or show some love!

Hire or refer me as a web developer, or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I'm not sponsored, so it's funded by yours truly. It also takes a ton of work to edit photos and write these reports. I really appreciate it!

Hire me PayPal Venmo Cash App
GPX track

Northshore Peak Loop GPX route and driving track

The complete GPX track is available to download, so you can load the route straight into your navigation app or device. The trip report, route info, photos and planning details stay free.

Add to cart View cart