Class 2 6.8 miles 3000 gain 3-5 hrs Out + Back May 22, 2022
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Parsnip Peak GPX Track

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Parsnip Peak is the high point of the Parsnip Peak Wilderness Area in the Wilson Creek Mountains. It's a remote mountain in central Nevada that requires a fair amount of bushwhacking. The standard way to reach the peak seems to be from Blue Rock Spring on the southwest side of the peak. To get there take one of many excellent dirt roads from the highway to reach here (38.11643, -114.37382). Veer left on this significantly less good road where high clearance and good tires are required, though not 4WD. If you have a sedan, expect to add about 5 miles of hiking round trip from this spot. The road continues past where I parked, but it gets quite narrow and has high brush in the center so I decided to park at a destroyed old fence and hike from there. If you have an ATV or don't care about your paint job, you can get closer and cut about 2 miles off this hike's stats.

I followed Eric Kassan's route, which had some sparsely placed cairns during my visit. While it might be tempting to try a more direct route to Parsnip Peak, the bush on the southside slope is dense and horrible. At least along the ridge crest there's a fair amount of open space and a pretty excellent animal trail if you manage to stick to it, while the slope looked like a sufferfest.

After hiking along the ATV road for a mile or so I reached a little fire pit at where Blue Rock Spring was marked on a map. I found no spring, but plenty of dense foliage within the drainage, which thwarted my initial plan to hike this drainage to get up to the ridgeline. Instead I passed over the drainage and started ascending steeply to the north where there were plenty of options for gaining the first few hundred feet. On the way up I stuck to solid Class 2 rock, and on the way down later there was a steep and dirty slope that made descending a mindless endeavor. At around 7800' there is a rock outcrop that I avoided by keeping to its right (south) and made an ascending traverse to a minor saddle to the north.

Once at this minor saddle, the long-term route-finding was trivial since I'd be more or less on the ridge crest all the way to Parsnip Peak. The issue is with the short-term route-finding, since going the wrong way could result in significant bushwhacking. Somehow on my way back I was able to stay on animal trails for pretty much the entire way, but on the way to the peak I messed up constantly. I sort of noticed a pattern for brush avoidance: keep mostly to the northern (left) side of the crest where the growth isn't as fierce, and pay attention to the ample sheep poop along the way.

There are two significant humps along the way to Parsnip Peak, both pretty much identical, and they add lots of vertical gain to the hike. The east ridge of both humps had a significant animal trail off the crest on the north side, very helpful since the brush was particularly bad elsewhere in these portions. The final ascent to the summit of Parsnip Peak introduced some light Class 2 and was overall actually pleasant, a nice ending to an otherwise not particularly memorable hike. I also enjoyed the green meadows that popped in and out along the duration of the ridgeline.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Parsnip Peak
8916 ft
1516 rise

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I parked at this destroyed fence since past here the road got quite narrow.
I parked at this destroyed fence since past here the road got quite narrow.
Definitely some pinstriping if you choose to drive to Blue Rock Spring.
Definitely some pinstriping if you choose to drive to Blue Rock Spring.
Blue Rock Spring, the drainage hugged by rocky outcroppings. I passed over the drainage on the left and ascended.
Blue Rock Spring, the drainage hugged by rocky outcroppings. I passed over the drainage on the left and ascended.
Class 2 up solid rock.
Class 2 up solid rock.
View down toward Blue Rock Spring (center).
View down toward Blue Rock Spring (center).
Side-hill traverse to get to the ridge crest.
Side-hill traverse to get to the ridge crest.
Along the ridge crest. I'm first heading up to the big lump on the right.
Along the ridge crest. I'm first heading up to the big lump on the right.
It's a bit brushy, but look for animal trails.
It's a bit brushy, but look for animal trails.
View back. The side-hill I did a bit ago to gain the crest is on the little hump on the left.
View back. The side-hill I did a bit ago to gain the crest is on the little hump on the left.
Approaching the base of the first lump.
Approaching the base of the first lump.
Starting up the first lump.
Starting up the first lump.
View back along the ridge crest.
View back along the ridge crest.
More brush, and it's a bit steep up to the first lump.
More brush, and it's a bit steep up to the first lump.
View back at my progress along the crest.
View back at my progress along the crest.
A nice clearing for the last bit to the top of the first lump.
A nice clearing for the last bit to the top of the first lump.
It's kinda pretty if you can ignore the brush.
It's kinda pretty if you can ignore the brush.
Nice and clear for the last bit to the top of the first lump.
Nice and clear for the last bit to the top of the first lump.
View back as I near the top of the first lump. Mount Wilson (the high point of the range) is visible top right.
View back as I near the top of the first lump. Mount Wilson (the high point of the range) is visible top right.
Top of the first lump. You can see the second lump and Parsnip Peak in the distance on the right.
Top of the first lump. You can see the second lump and Parsnip Peak in the distance on the right.
View back along the extended top of the first lump.
View back along the extended top of the first lump.
On my way down from the first lump, view toward the second lump. As you can see, the right (south) side is significantly more brushy than the crest or the left (north) side.
On my way down from the first lump, view toward the second lump. As you can see, the right (south) side is significantly more brushy than the crest or the left (north) side.
Bah, brush. Making my way up to the second lump.
Bah, brush. Making my way up to the second lump.
View back toward the first lump as I near the top of the second lump.
View back toward the first lump as I near the top of the second lump.
Top of the second lump.
Top of the second lump.
View toward Parsnip Peak from the second lump.
View toward Parsnip Peak from the second lump.
The final ascent to Parsnip Peak.
The final ascent to Parsnip Peak.
On my way up to the summit, view back at the second lump.
On my way up to the summit, view back at the second lump.
Light Class 2 to the summit.
Light Class 2 to the summit.
Parsnip Peak summit, view east.
Parsnip Peak summit, view east.
Parsnip Peak summit, view west, back the way I came.
Parsnip Peak summit, view west, back the way I came.

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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!