Pahrump Point in Nopah Range Wilderness Area, CA

Hike Pahrump Point Nopah Range Wilderness Area, CA

Class 2 7.6 miles 3400 gain 4-6 hrs Out + Back Feb 8, 2020
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Pahrump Point GPX Track

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Pahrump Point ended up being a really nice route that somehow manages to work around the many cliffs and canyons riddling the face of the peak. A not insignificant distance of old road led us to the mouth of a canyon that drains from just north of Pahrump Point. We followed this rocky drainage, boulders making the going fairly slow, but with the occassional social trail on either side of the canyon creating small sections of respite from the Class 2.

Looking up, it was hard to discern which of the sheer cliffs above was Pahrump Point, and the poor lighting made it even more so. We continued on, reaching a major fork in the canyon and taking the right fork. A social trail continued up out of the drainage and onto a loose slope. This slope led to the crest of Pahrump Point's southwest ridge. The route-finding was straightforward from here, but we thought it was interesting nonetheless. Cairns marked a route leading to the left of some rock outcroppings, and then we found ourselves at the base of Pahrump Point, a sheer cliff separating us from the summit. The route continued at the base of the cliff up to a small Class 2 gully. This gully topped out just south of Pahrump Point, where some more Class 2/2+ fun stuff brought us up to the gorgeous final ridgeline leading to the summit.

I think there's some confusion as to which peak is higher, Pahrump Point or the provisionally named Rumppah Point to the north. We toyed with the idea of attempting a traverse from Pahrump Point to the other peak, but the ridge looked pretty scary. If anyone has done it, I'd be curious to know how it went.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Pahrump Point
5741 ft
345 rise

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Hiking along an old road to the base of Pahrump Point.
Hiking along an old road to the base of Pahrump Point.
Nearing the end of the dirt road, where we headed into the canyon ahead.
Nearing the end of the dirt road, where we headed into the canyon ahead.
Class 2 for a while within the canyon.
Class 2 for a while within the canyon.
View back at our progress up the canyon, quite rocky.
View back at our progress up the canyon, quite rocky.
Class 2/2+ obstacles as we ascended. Ahead you can see a split in the canyon, where we kept to the right.
Class 2/2+ obstacles as we ascended. Ahead you can see a split in the canyon, where we kept to the right.
Image 5 from gallery
Pahrump Point is somewhat visible on the top left of this photo.
Pahrump Point is somewhat visible on the top left of this photo.
After leaving the drainage, we ascended the steep slope to the southwest ridge of Pahrump Point.
After leaving the drainage, we ascended the steep slope to the southwest ridge of Pahrump Point.
Class 2 up the slope.
Class 2 up the slope.
Along the southwest ridge, Pahrump Point is visible center.
Along the southwest ridge, Pahrump Point is visible center.
View back down the ridge. We ascended from the right in this photo.
View back down the ridge. We ascended from the right in this photo.
Keeping left around some rock outcrops as we make our way to the base of the sheer cliff ahead, the base of Pahrump Point.
Keeping left around some rock outcrops as we make our way to the base of the sheer cliff ahead, the base of Pahrump Point.
View back along the ridge as we side-hill around some rock outcrops.
View back along the ridge as we side-hill around some rock outcrops.
At the base of the sheer cliff, we ascended this gully.
At the base of the sheer cliff, we ascended this gully.
Just past the gully, fun Class 2/2+ leads to the summit, visible ahead.
Just past the gully, fun Class 2/2+ leads to the summit, visible ahead.
On the final ridge to Pahrump Point.
On the final ridge to Pahrump Point.
Almost at the summit, view east.
Almost at the summit, view east.
Pahrump Point summit ahead.
Pahrump Point summit ahead.
Pahrump Point, view west toward Rumppah Point and the Resting Spring Range behind it.
Pahrump Point, view west toward Rumppah Point and the Resting Spring Range behind it.

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!