Pilot Cone and Pilot Mesa Loop in Lake Mead National Recreation Area, NV

Hike Pilot Cone and Pilot Mesa Loop Lake Mead National Recreation Area, NV

Class 2 13.3 miles 4600 gain 6-8 hrs Loop Feb 26, 2021
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Pilot Cone and Pilot Mesa Loop GPX Track

I need to offset my substantial website costs somehow! You can download a hike/drive GPX to assist you here. Before sharing my GPX tracks with others, please remember my site is otherwise a free resource.

These humps on the west side of the Black Canyon make for a nice loop on mostly pleasant terrain, quite different from the character of the other peaks in the rugged Lake Mead region. This made for a fun outing to roam around the sweeping landscape, even though the scenery is overall not particularly impressive. The drive out to the trailhead was fine for mid-clearance vehicles, only a couple of humps likely giving low clearance some trouble. To reach it, navigate here (35.91391, -114.91852) and follow the south/southeast-leading road (Route E) to here (Route F, 35.88844, -114.90824) and follow this southeast to the trailhead.

From our trailhead, we started east across the desert and entered a wash, trending northeast on our way up a ridge to Pilot Cone. The last few hundred feet to its summit included Class 2 massive black volcanic boulders, and was quite fun. The descent of Pilot Cone's east ridge was a bit loose, but the stroll that proceeded past this and up to Peak 3200 was nice, with some very light Class 2 sporadically along the way. While we opted to head directly down the east face of Peak 3200, it might be less steep if you keep to the ridge. Either way, we ended up in a wash and continued along our way up to Peak 3161. Here we encountered one section of Class 2+, the only climbing of the day, and it was short-lived on massive, fun boulders. You can also likely avoid it by finding a Class 2 option along the rim farther to the right, if you prefer.

The views became more interesting as we traversed from Peak 3161 and past Peak 3125. The dropoff to the east toward the Colorado River was really pretty, and the views to the west of the mesas and hilly landscape felt very freeing. There was a big dip between Peak 3125 and Peak 3160, nothing exceeding easy Class 2. From the summit of Peak 3160, we backtracked a bit before heading off the ridge and ascending to the mesatop of Pilot Mesa. A long walk across this very gradually slope brought us to Pilot Mesa's summit. We located a Class 2 chute to get down from the mesatop's cliff band, but there were plenty of Class 3 options that would have also worked had we left the rim sooner. This section of descending was the longest bit of Class 2 we had for the day, introducing some loose rock. At the base of Pilot Mesa we followed a wash all the way back to the trailhead.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Pilot Cone
3081 ft
441 rise
2
Peak 3200
3200 ft
320 rise
3
Peak 3161
3161 ft
401 rise
4
Peak 3125
3125 ft
305 rise
5
Peak 3160
3160 ft
440 rise
6
Pilot Mesa
3360 ft
600 rise

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!

Starting from the trailhead, we headed along the road and then traversed the desert, finding a wash. Pilot Cone visible top left, our first peak, Pilot Mesa top right.
Starting from the trailhead, we headed along the road and then traversed the desert, finding a wash. Pilot Cone visible top left, our first peak, Pilot Mesa top right.
After walking through the wash, we ascended the ridge toward Pilot Cone.
After walking through the wash, we ascended the ridge toward Pilot Cone.
Pilot Cone.
Pilot Cone.
Class 2 fun up Pilot Cone.
Class 2 fun up Pilot Cone.
Pilot Cone summit, view toward Boulder City.
Pilot Cone summit, view toward Boulder City.
Pilot Cone summit, view toward Peak 3200 (left) and Pilot Mesa (right). We descended to the low and sloping ridge in the center of this photo.
Pilot Cone summit, view toward Peak 3200 (left) and Pilot Mesa (right). We descended to the low and sloping ridge in the center of this photo.
Heading along the ridge toward Peak 3200.
Heading along the ridge toward Peak 3200.
Almost up Peak 3200, view back toward Pilot Mesa.
Almost up Peak 3200, view back toward Pilot Mesa.
Peak 3200 ahead.
Peak 3200 ahead.
Peak 3200 summit, view toward Pilot Mesa. Our trailhead is somewhere on the left in the open desert.
Peak 3200 summit, view toward Pilot Mesa. Our trailhead is somewhere on the left in the open desert.
Peak 3200 summit, heading down its northeast face on the way to peak 3161.
Peak 3200 summit, heading down its northeast face on the way to peak 3161.
Looking back toward our descent from Peak 3200.
Looking back toward our descent from Peak 3200.
Peak 3161 ahead.
Peak 3161 ahead.
Easy Class 3 up to Peak 3161. You could likely keep it Class 2 by finding an easier way through the cliff bands, but it's a fun and short little section.
Easy Class 3 up to Peak 3161. You could likely keep it Class 2 by finding an easier way through the cliff bands, but it's a fun and short little section.
View back toward the way we came, Peak 3200 center top. We came up the wash in the center of the photo.
View back toward the way we came, Peak 3200 center top. We came up the wash in the center of the photo.
Shot of Austin coming up the Class 2 start of Peak 3161.
Shot of Austin coming up the Class 2 start of Peak 3161.
Class 2+ up Peak 3161.
Class 2+ up Peak 3161.
Peak 3161 summit, view along the pretty ridgeline.
Peak 3161 summit, view along the pretty ridgeline.
Continuing to Peak 3125.
Continuing to Peak 3125.
View back toward Peak 3161, above Austin's head.
View back toward Peak 3161, above Austin's head.
Along the ridge to Peak 3125.
Along the ridge to Peak 3125.
View back.
View back.
View back.
View back.
Almost at the false, wide summit of Peak 3125.
Almost at the false, wide summit of Peak 3125.
Peak 3125, view toward Peak 3160, center left. That's our next goal.
Peak 3125, view toward Peak 3160, center left. That's our next goal.
Looking back from Peak 3125.
Looking back from Peak 3125.
Peak 3160 center, Colorado River and the Black Canyon visible on the left.
Peak 3160 center, Colorado River and the Black Canyon visible on the left.
Class 2 to get down to the saddle of Peak 3125 and Peak 3160.
Class 2 to get down to the saddle of Peak 3125 and Peak 3160.
On our way up Peak 3160, view back to Peak 3125.
On our way up Peak 3160, view back to Peak 3125.
Peak 3160 summit, view toward Peak 3125.
Peak 3160 summit, view toward Peak 3125.
Peak 3160 summit, view south.
Peak 3160 summit, view south.
Peak 3160 summit, view west toward Pilot Mesa. Our route would lead up the slope in the center of this photo.
Peak 3160 summit, view west toward Pilot Mesa. Our route would lead up the slope in the center of this photo.
Heading up to Pilot Mesa.
Heading up to Pilot Mesa.
View back toward Peak 3160 as we ascend Pilot Mesa.
View back toward Peak 3160 as we ascend Pilot Mesa.
Pilot Mesa's long walk.
Pilot Mesa's long walk.
Looking back as we continue along Pilot Mesa.
Looking back as we continue along Pilot Mesa.
Pilot Mesa summit ahead on the right.
Pilot Mesa summit ahead on the right.
Pilot Mesa summit, view toward Pilot Cone (center).
Pilot Mesa summit, view toward Pilot Cone (center).
A Class 2 gully we managed to find to get down from Pilot Mesa's rim. Likely other Class 2 options exist, as do some Class 3 ones.
A Class 2 gully we managed to find to get down from Pilot Mesa's rim. Likely other Class 2 options exist, as do some Class 3 ones.
View back toward Pilot Mesa.
View back toward Pilot Mesa.
Austin found a turtle shell!
Austin found a turtle shell!

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!