Ram Skull Peak and Guardian Peak in Lake Mead National Recreation Area, NV

Hike Ram Skull Peak and Guardian Peak Lake Mead National Recreation Area, NV

Class 3 18.4 miles 4200 gain 7-10 hrs Out + Back Jan 8, 2023
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

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Guardian Peak is a tedious summit to reach on Lake Mead’s northern shore. We figured the easiest route would be to approach the peak via Pinto Valley and then through Boulder Wash. You could also get there by boat and ascend through Boulder Wash to cut off a bunch of hiking miles, but that would still leave the 1.5-ish mile ridgeline scramble ascent required to gain the summit. Along the ridgeline you also need to summit Ram Skull Peak and then of course go back over it on the way back. So the hike is a bit of an endeavor, but definitely a fun one. Interestingly, the Hoover Dam was originally supposed to be built beneath Guardian Peak in a narrow section called Boulder Canyon. It’s wild to think about what the Lake Mead region would look like if that had happened.

Whiley and I had just driven from SoCal the night before so the lack of sleep, an absurdly spicy and bad dinner burning my insides, and my wiggly legs the result of the last few hiking days had me hesitant to do 18+ miles today. With predetermined plans to meet up with ever-psyched and super-fast Luke urging me to not bail, I committed to hiking to Guardian Peak with them and just returning the same way while they would later run off and do some nonsensically big loop. We started out from a pull-off on Northshore Road and followed an old wilderness road that enters Pinto Valley. We’d hiked to nearby Booths Pinnacle and The Sentinel a few years ago, a hike that required a similar approach and exit through Pinto Valley, so I was prepared for many miles of boring walking today. Fortunately I had friends to giggle with to make the time pass much more quickly. Plus, I particularly love the colorful desert terrain in this area so I shouldn’t have been too concerned about the slog.

After a couple of miles hiking along the old wilderness road it entered a major wash and became eroded enough that it made sense to stop worrying about following the road and just hike within the wash proper. From here it was a straightforward, low-angle downhill walk until the head of Boulder Wash popped in to the south. This we took to nearly its end. Now over 7 miles into our hike and with nearly zero elevation gain, we all felt pretty warmed up and were ready to start getting some peaks. Before starting up to Guardian Peak, Whiley and I decided we couldn’t orphan brutal-looking Peak 2041, located on the east side of Boulder Wash. It seemed awfully steep and loose on all sides, but with enough prominence to be a ranked peak we decided to go for it. You’ll notice two lines on my attached map: we ascended using the northern line and descended on the more direct, southern line.

We made our way up a minor, dark drainage that gained elevation quickly and ended at a Class 2/2+ slope with some loose rock that can be mostly avoided by sticking to slabbier solid stuff. We chose this option because the northern slopes of Peak 2041 were clearly riddled in cryptobiotic soil and we decided it best to attempt a route that avoids it all. Once above the initial ascent we were awarded with a view toward really colorful badlands and Lake Mead itself. Fortunately there were sheep trails leading all over and we followed one through the cryptobiotic soil in order to reach the northern face of our peak. Class 2 on loose rock (I dislodged a boulder which almost squished Whiley, sorry friend!) took us up to the summit.

I was feeling adventurous and wanted to find another route option for this peak. I proposed we try taking the steep west ridge of Peak 2041 back down into Bouder Wash since we had noted earlier from below that it looked like it might go except for a cliff band toward the top. Whiley acquiesced since if we got cliffed out it wouldn’t be too much of a backtrack. I’m sure she was mostly just excited that she could have her turn trying to squish me with a boulder. The cliff band was an inconvenience, forcing us south a bit before we found a Class 3 weakness that permitted us to make a hairpin turn beneath the cliff in order to get back to the main slope. From here it was loose Class 2 down. I personally liked this route more (Whiley didn’t), but it is steeper and more dangerous so I would recommend ascending this way and going down using our ascent.

We met back up with Luke, who had run off to do some other peak, at the base of Ram Skull Peak and Guardian Peak. We started up the northern ridge together. This ridge is really the only rational way to reach the summits, a unique route since it’s an extended stretch of Class 2 and Class 3 lasting for a bit under two miles. It was heaps of fun. The first few hundred feet are just steep enough to be a solid workout, but low enough angle that the terrain wasn’t loose and annoying. Not long after, we reached the first obstacle, probably the only tricky one on the whole ridge, a rock outcropping preventing easy access along the crest and requiring us to wrap around it on either side. Aside from this small puzzle I won’t describe any more in words and instead just provide some sample photos below of what to expect. It’s just a lot of good scrambling on surprisingly solid rock, and mostly straightforward. The route sticks to the ridge or within about 20 feet below it. Much of the scrambly bits can be avoided by staying just off the ridge, but this results in loose terrain and we never found any of the scramble moves to be sketchy and warranting us to skip.

Eventually we reached Ram Skull Peak, where we got our first exceptional view into Boulder Canyon and Lake Mead below. A Class 2 dip led down from the peak as we made our way to Guardian Peak. A hump separated us from Guardian Peak, adding some extra vertical gain. All Class 2 and a short spurt of Class 2+ up Guardian Peak led us to this more majestic summit. The views were superb, and I was immediately thrilled I’d saved this summit as one of my last peaks I want to hike to in Lake Mead National Recreation Area. It was a good one indeed.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Peak 2041
2041 ft
335 rise
2
Ram Skull Peak
2822 ft
722 rise
3
Guardian Peak
2811 ft
219 rise

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Along the wilderness road through Pinto Valley. The sentinel is seen in the center.
Along the wilderness road through Pinto Valley. The sentinel is seen in the center.
Still on the wilderness road through Pinto Valley, which stretches for a few miles ahead.
Still on the wilderness road through Pinto Valley, which stretches for a few miles ahead.
The road became too eroded to follow so we just stuck to the main wash.
The road became too eroded to follow so we just stuck to the main wash.
Wrapping beneath The Sentinel.
Wrapping beneath The Sentinel.
View back up at The Sentinel's cool sandstone face.
View back up at The Sentinel's cool sandstone face.
Approaching the junction with Boulder Wash.
Approaching the junction with Boulder Wash.
Heading down Boulder Wash. Ram Skull Peak (Guardian Peak behind it) seen right of center, Land's End on the left.
Heading down Boulder Wash. Ram Skull Peak (Guardian Peak behind it) seen right of center, Land's End on the left.
Getting closer to Ram Skull Peak.
Getting closer to Ram Skull Peak.
View back up Boulder Wash. You can see Pinto Ridge in the center.
View back up Boulder Wash. You can see Pinto Ridge in the center.
Before going up to Guardian Peak, we first hit up Peak 2041, seen ahead. Our descent came off the west ridge seen center. The ascent wrapped around the brighter-colored stuff at its base.
Before going up to Guardian Peak, we first hit up Peak 2041, seen ahead. Our descent came off the west ridge seen center. The ascent wrapped around the brighter-colored stuff at its base.
Approaching the base of Peak 2041.
Approaching the base of Peak 2041.
Ascending a dark, minor gully.
Ascending a dark, minor gully.
Looking back, Ram Skull Peak seen above.
Looking back, Ram Skull Peak seen above.
The little drainage ended and we ascended this Class 2 slope.
The little drainage ended and we ascended this Class 2 slope.
View toward Peak 2041. Crpytobiotic soil was everywhere, so we stuck to sheep trails to reach the peak's base, the ascent route visible left of center, next to the camera smudge.
View toward Peak 2041. Crpytobiotic soil was everywhere, so we stuck to sheep trails to reach the peak's base, the ascent route visible left of center, next to the camera smudge.
Class 2 on loose talus/scree. Summit of Ram Skull Peak just ahead.
Class 2 on loose talus/scree. Summit of Ram Skull Peak just ahead.
Close-up at the colorful badlands to the north.
Close-up at the colorful badlands to the north.
View into the mouth of Boulder Wash.
View into the mouth of Boulder Wash.
View up Boulder Wash, which we came down.
View up Boulder Wash, which we came down.
We descended the west ridge, view back up at the summit of Peak 2041.
We descended the west ridge, view back up at the summit of Peak 2041.
Class 3 move to get down a cliff band.
Class 3 move to get down a cliff band.
Class 2 descent back into Boulder Wash.
Class 2 descent back into Boulder Wash.
We started up Ram Skull Peak/Guardian Peak via its north ridge. It's a steep, tame ridge for the first few hundred feet.
We started up Ram Skull Peak/Guardian Peak via its north ridge. It's a steep, tame ridge for the first few hundred feet.
View back, Peak 2041 seen on the right.
View back, Peak 2041 seen on the right.
A trickier section lower down before all the fun scrambling begins.
A trickier section lower down before all the fun scrambling begins.
Close-up at our progress up the ridge.
Close-up at our progress up the ridge.
Wider shot at our progress. Pyramid Peak seen top center.
Wider shot at our progress. Pyramid Peak seen top center.
Fun Class 3 moves along the crest.
Fun Class 3 moves along the crest.
Another shot back toward Boulder Wash below.
Another shot back toward Boulder Wash below.
Image 29 from gallery
A Class 3 chimney.
A Class 3 chimney.
Making progress!
Making progress!
Image 32 from gallery
Close-up at the ridgeline so far.
Close-up at the ridgeline so far.
Another shot back, much higher up now.
Another shot back, much higher up now.
Onward to Ram Skull Peak! You can see Boulder Canyon below, the original site where they planned to build the Hoover Dam.
Onward to Ram Skull Peak! You can see Boulder Canyon below, the original site where they planned to build the Hoover Dam.
Ram Skull Peak summit, view east.
Ram Skull Peak summit, view east.
Onward to Guardian Peak, seen on the left. We had to drop a bit.
Onward to Guardian Peak, seen on the left. We had to drop a bit.
Close-up into a canyon to the north as we descend Class 2 from Ram Skull Peak.
Close-up into a canyon to the north as we descend Class 2 from Ram Skull Peak.
View back toward Ram Skull Peak.
View back toward Ram Skull Peak.
Approaching Guardian Peak.
Approaching Guardian Peak.
Class 2/2+ up to the summit.
Class 2/2+ up to the summit.
Guardian Peak summit view!
Guardian Peak summit view!
Guardian Peak summit, view into Boulder Canyon.
Guardian Peak summit, view into Boulder Canyon.
Arch Mountain on the opposite side of the Colorado River.
Arch Mountain on the opposite side of the Colorado River.
Close-up toward Pyramid Peak.
Close-up toward Pyramid Peak.
Friends!
Friends!

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