Snake Range Traverse (Pyramid, Washington, Lincoln, Granite) in Great Basin National Park, NV

Hike Snake Range Traverse (Pyramid, Washington, Lincoln, Granite) Great Basin National Park, NV

Class 2 24.2 miles 9700 gain 11-15 hrs Shuttle Oct 8, 2020
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Snake Range Traverse (Pyramid, Washington, Lincoln, Granite) GPX Track

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I've found a new appreciation for Great Basin National Park after this year's silly amount of exploring the overwhelmingly large Great Basin Desert. The park itself has a bunch of Nevada 11ers and these peaks are mostly free of foliage, which seems to be not the standard for most out here. After an embarassing amount of research and planning, I formulated a route that could potentially hike the more obscure peaks of the Snake Range: False Pyramid, Pyramid Peak, Johnson Peak, Mount Washington, Lincoln Peak, Peak 11040, and Granite Peak. Nothing else really seemed efficient, requiring multiple days from different trailheads to get to all these peaks. Alternatively, people seem to like driving to basically the summit of Mount Washington, but that removes most of the uphill hiking and force out-and-backs. I toyed with the idea of somehow making a loop somehow, but that would have orphaned a a peak here or there. So, a traverse it would be. There was the added bonus of being able to also see Lexingon Arch, too. I got in touch with Sam Grant, a prolific and impressive peakbagger/runner from SLC who, despite already hiking a few of the peaks on the traverse, immediately agreed to shuttling the route with me. We were both excited. I would soon be humbled by his speed, but he didn't make me feel badly about likely slowing him down a bit, and what a great day.

To get to where we would leave our end car, we left the pavement here: 38.8744134,-114.0038117 and followed signs to Lexington Arch. The dirt road is accesible by any car, with maybe a couple of trickier humps toward the end for anything less than mid-clearance. We parked the end car here: 38.85156, -114.17764, where the road became inaccessible for my Subaru. Better cars could make it to the 4WD parking spot here: 38.84651, -114.18598. We then drove to the Baker Creek Trailhead within the National Park ("Trailhead" button above).

We set out as the sun was rising along the Baker Creek Trail, following the lovely trail for a few miles. Sam had done False Pyramid before, and was happy to try to find a less-bushwhacky route than what he had taken. So, we continued along the trail until we spotted a significant gully on the left that seemed to lead directly to the summit of False Pyramid, avoiding mostly all the trees/brush. I recommend scoping out your route up this gully to avoid some of the aspens that could add bushwhacking. We left the trail, crossed the North Fork of Baker Creek, and headed up the talus slope. The slope slowly narrowed into Class 2 and quicky became quite steep. We were able to avoid excessive scree-hiking by staying on solid ground when possible, and while the gully wasn't necessarily fun, it also wasn't miserable. The last few hundred feet below the summit, the rock became more solid and turned into some true Class 2 fun. From False Pyramid, we continued along the talus ridgeline to Pyramid Peak, where we took in the views, tracing our route to come. We were moving pretty quickly, but seeing Granite Peak's silhouette (our last peak of the day) so far away made me laugh.

Pyramid Peak to the Pyramid-Johnson Saddle included more talus, and we crossed the unofficial Baker-Johnson Lakes Loop Trail. Johnson Lake to the left was looking a bit sad since the year was so dry. The ridge to Johnson included lots of Class 2, and was easily the longest and only stretch of anything resembling technical ridgeline for the route. We passed over a minor bump called Quartzite Peak along the way. The ridgeline from Johnson Peak to Mount Washington was likely the prettiest section of the hike, in my opinion. We passed over land colored brown, yellow, purple, and white. We were mesmerized by the interesting white eroded hoodoos on Washington's north face. Mount Washington took a small Class 2 move to reach, but otherwise was just a nice stroll on nutty-colored terrain with some steepness thrown in.

We briefly followed the dirt road from Mount Washington's summit, but realized it turned away from the most direct route and instead continued along the rim, heading south. Lincoln Peak was visible ahead and still seemed very far away. We rejoined a forest road at a certain point, which led us to the saddle of Mount Washington and Lincoln Peak. The route from here required walking through the forest, where we were surprised to find there was no trail of any sort. We hopped over a few downed trees, but overall it was a nice shady walk in the woods. As we neared treeline below Lincoln Peak, the ridge became quite steep, ending with a small talus field (Class 2). Lincoln Peak became visible again at the top of the talus field, a beautiful grassy approach leading to its base. Lincoln Peak from this direction included a Class 2+ (maybeee Class 3) move, but with some route-finding, you could keep it Class 2 if you wrapped around. It certainly wasn't serious enough to call the whole route Class 3. The views from Lincoln Peak were outstanding, the colorful ridgeline we'd traversed visible to the north ending with Wheeler Peak, and the remote and canyon-riddled landscape to the south still to come.

We continued south off Lincoln Peak along a sweeping tundra. This massive next stretch was impressively gorgeous and fast-moving. We made our way down the light grade, taking in the views of the canyons to the east. Peak 11040 (our next objective) and Granite Peak (our last objective) were both visible. Peak 11040 is set off from the main ridgeline, and it's this peak that caused so much difficulty in trying to plan an efficient route of the southern Snake Range. It's seldom-visited due to not being along the primary ridge and from being so far away from any trailhead. Plus it's unnamed and forested, and therefore not very interesting. However, being a Nevada 11er, Sam and I both wanted it badly. The ridgeline leading to Peak 11040 included two bumps that added some vertical gain and annoyance, but the peak itself was overall just straightforward forest/slope walking. The views were surprisingly nice from the summit, an interesting perspective of basically the entirety of Great Basin National Park. We were able to avoid one of the bumps on the way back to the primary ridgeline, side-hilling on an animal trail.

Next up was Granite Peak, which required more forest walking along the ridgeline, progressively getting steeper toward the summit. The true summit is set just south from the ridgeline, some minor Class 2 to reach it. We weren't done yet, though! Along the ridgeline was another bump not prominent enough to be ranked, but we'd need to ascend most of it in order to continue along the ridgeline and ultimately start our descent. In fact, there were two more minor bumps to the east of Granite Peak, but our route would lead down to the saddle between the two of them, avoiding both of the minor summits. From this minor saddle, we started down a steep, pinecone-filled forested slope, extremely happy we had to deal with no bushwhacking most of the way. There was some low brush that scraped my ankles, but definitely nothing to complain about.

As we descended, we noted a low ridge we'd have to ascend to in order to drop down into the correct canyon where Lexington Arch lives. After dropping over 2,000 feet from Granite Peak, we headed into the trees where deadfall from an old fire and from thick aspens slowed us significantly. We eventually made it to the low ridge where some more steep slope hiking brought us down into the Lexington Arch Canyon. We could see Lexington Arch now, and took an animal trail to the official Lexington Arch Trail. It was nice to be on a trail again. We took the minor detour up to see the large and impressive limestone arch before continuing along the trail. We felt silly switchbacking on an official trail after such an aggressive day on rarely-traveled terrain. The official Lexington Arch Trailhead isn't clear since Google marks part of it as a "road" that is definitely more trail than road. It was easy getting back to the car.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
False Pyramid
11456 ft
406 rise
2
Pyramid Peak
11926 ft
764 rise
3
Quartzite Peak
11772 ft
132 rise
4
Johnson Peak
11775 ft
481 rise
5
Mount Washington
11658 ft
498 rise
6
Lincoln Peak
11560 ft
880 rise
7
Granite Peak
11218 ft
822 rise

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Starting along the Baker Creek Trail.
Starting along the Baker Creek Trail.
Image 1 from gallery
After a few miles along the trail, we headed left across Baker Creek and up the talus slope visible on the left.
After a few miles along the trail, we headed left across Baker Creek and up the talus slope visible on the left.
Crossing Baker Creek, heading to the gully visible center. The gully led straight up to False Pyramid.
Crossing Baker Creek, heading to the gully visible center. The gully led straight up to False Pyramid.
Class 2 gully.
Class 2 gully.
Looking back, Doso Doyabi (Jeff Davis Peak) visible up top.
Looking back, Doso Doyabi (Jeff Davis Peak) visible up top.
Sam navigating the scree/talus.
Sam navigating the scree/talus.
Class 2 below the summit of False Pyramid.
Class 2 below the summit of False Pyramid.
Just below the summit of False Pyramid, view back down toward Baker Creek. Doso Doyabi visible top left.
Just below the summit of False Pyramid, view back down toward Baker Creek. Doso Doyabi visible top left.
False Pyramid summit, view toward Baker Peak (top right) and Baker Lake (center).
False Pyramid summit, view toward Baker Peak (top right) and Baker Lake (center).
Heading to Pyramid Peak.
Heading to Pyramid Peak.
Just below Pyramid Peak summit, view back toward False Pyramid (right) and Wheeler/Doso Doyabi (left).
Just below Pyramid Peak summit, view back toward False Pyramid (right) and Wheeler/Doso Doyabi (left).
Continuing down to the Baker-Johnson Saddle.
Continuing down to the Baker-Johnson Saddle.
Johnson Lake on the left. Johnson Peak visible top center.
Johnson Lake on the left. Johnson Peak visible top center.
Looking back, Pyramid Peak top right and the trail down to Baker Lake visible left.
Looking back, Pyramid Peak top right and the trail down to Baker Lake visible left.
Continuing up to Johnson Peak on Class 2.
Continuing up to Johnson Peak on Class 2.
Looking back from near the top of Quartzite Peak toward Pyramid Peak (top right), Johnson Lake (bottom right), and Wheeler Peak (top left).
Looking back from near the top of Quartzite Peak toward Pyramid Peak (top right), Johnson Lake (bottom right), and Wheeler Peak (top left).
Quartzite Peak summit, view toward Johnson Peak.
Quartzite Peak summit, view toward Johnson Peak.
Johnson Peak, view back at our progress.
Johnson Peak, view back at our progress.
Mount Washington ahead on the right. Lincoln Peak visible center. Granite Peak left of center. Peak 11040 far left.
Mount Washington ahead on the right. Lincoln Peak visible center. Granite Peak left of center. Peak 11040 far left.
Along the ridge to Mount Washington.
Along the ridge to Mount Washington.
Incredibly cool colors.
Incredibly cool colors.
Interesting eroded cliffs of Mount Washington. The route goes up the ridge on the left.
Interesting eroded cliffs of Mount Washington. The route goes up the ridge on the left.
Looking back at the crazy-colored ridgeline.
Looking back at the crazy-colored ridgeline.
Push to Mount Washington summit.
Push to Mount Washington summit.
Mount Washington, view toward our traverse so far. Wheeler Peak visible top left.
Mount Washington, view toward our traverse so far. Wheeler Peak visible top left.
Heading south from Mount Washington, first on a dirt road and then leaving it to just follow the rim.
Heading south from Mount Washington, first on a dirt road and then leaving it to just follow the rim.
Looking back toward Mount Washington.
Looking back toward Mount Washington.
Continuing down along the rim. Lincoln Peak is visible top right. Peak 11040 visible far left.
Continuing down along the rim. Lincoln Peak is visible top right. Peak 11040 visible far left.
We rejoined a forest road that brought us to the Washington-Lincoln saddle.
We rejoined a forest road that brought us to the Washington-Lincoln saddle.
And then we continued though the forest for a while, avoiding a couple of minor bumps along the ridge.
And then we continued though the forest for a while, avoiding a couple of minor bumps along the ridge.
Just past treeline, we encountered some Class 2 talus. This is a view looking back the way we came, Mount Washington visible top left.
Just past treeline, we encountered some Class 2 talus. This is a view looking back the way we came, Mount Washington visible top left.
Just past the Class 2 talus, a pretty tundra section leads to Lincoln Peak, visible on the left.
Just past the Class 2 talus, a pretty tundra section leads to Lincoln Peak, visible on the left.
Just a nice view to the east, lots of really interesting canyons. That's Peak 11040 on the right.
Just a nice view to the east, lots of really interesting canyons. That's Peak 11040 on the right.
Push to Lincoln Peak.
Push to Lincoln Peak.
Lincoln Peak ahead.
Lincoln Peak ahead.
Along the ridge to Lincoln Peak (Class 2/3). View looking back at our route so far.
Along the ridge to Lincoln Peak (Class 2/3). View looking back at our route so far.
The Class 2+ (maybe 3) move. Avoidable by wrapping around Lincoln Peak.
The Class 2+ (maybe 3) move. Avoidable by wrapping around Lincoln Peak.
Final push along the ridgeline to the summit of Lincoln Peak.
Final push along the ridgeline to the summit of Lincoln Peak.
Lincoln Peak summit, view back the way we came.
Lincoln Peak summit, view back the way we came.
We headed off Lincoln Peak onto a sweeping tundra.
We headed off Lincoln Peak onto a sweeping tundra.
Image 41 from gallery
We followed the rim.
We followed the rim.
Gorgeous!
Gorgeous!
Looking back along the tundra, Lincoln Peak now out of view. Wheeler Peak visible top right.
Looking back along the tundra, Lincoln Peak now out of view. Wheeler Peak visible top right.
Peak 11040 (left) and Granite Peak (right) came into view.
Peak 11040 (left) and Granite Peak (right) came into view.
Wide show of Sam heading down the quick-moving sloping ridgeline.
Wide show of Sam heading down the quick-moving sloping ridgeline.
Peak 11040 ahead, but the rim was interesting and jagged and I needed a photo of it.
Peak 11040 ahead, but the rim was interesting and jagged and I needed a photo of it.
Peak 11040 ahead.
Peak 11040 ahead.
Peak 11040 on the left. First we'd have to go over this major bump, followed by another minor one.
Peak 11040 on the left. First we'd have to go over this major bump, followed by another minor one.
Looking back from the top of the first major bump, Lincoln Peak up there somewhere.
Looking back from the top of the first major bump, Lincoln Peak up there somewhere.
Peak 11040 ahead, seen as we come down from the major bump.
Peak 11040 ahead, seen as we come down from the major bump.
Some super-light Class 2 on some short sections on our way up to Peak 11040.
Some super-light Class 2 on some short sections on our way up to Peak 11040.
Just below the Peak 11040 summit, view back. Lincoln Peak visible top right, the major hump we had to go over visible on the left.
Just below the Peak 11040 summit, view back. Lincoln Peak visible top right, the major hump we had to go over visible on the left.
Final push to Peak 11040.
Final push to Peak 11040.
Peak 11040 summit, interesting perspective toward the primary Snake Range ridgeline.
Peak 11040 summit, interesting perspective toward the primary Snake Range ridgeline.
Peak 11040 summit, view east into Utah.
Peak 11040 summit, view east into Utah.
Back on the primary ridgeline, heading to Granite Peak. You can see the three humps of Granite Peak - the true summit is just left of center. The two bumps on the far left are nothing, but our route would lead to the saddle of those two bumps before we would descend from the ridgeline.
Back on the primary ridgeline, heading to Granite Peak. You can see the three humps of Granite Peak - the true summit is just left of center. The two bumps on the far left are nothing, but our route would lead to the saddle of those two bumps before we would descend from the ridgeline.
Looking back toward Peak 11040 (right).
Looking back toward Peak 11040 (right).
Granite Peak ahead on the right, the two minor bumps also visible on the left.
Granite Peak ahead on the right, the two minor bumps also visible on the left.
Sam about to start up the steep ridge to the summit.
Sam about to start up the steep ridge to the summit.
Looking back along the ridgeline to Granite Peak. Peak 11040 visible off the primary ridgeline on the right. Lincoln Peak sort of visible top left. Wheeler Peak visible top center.
Looking back along the ridgeline to Granite Peak. Peak 11040 visible off the primary ridgeline on the right. Lincoln Peak sort of visible top left. Wheeler Peak visible top center.
Granite Peak is located just off the ridgeline, ahead.
Granite Peak is located just off the ridgeline, ahead.
Granite Peak summit, somewhat obscured by trees.
Granite Peak summit, somewhat obscured by trees.
We dropped off Granite Peak, heading to the saddle in the center of this photo. We would ascend the bump just right of center, then drop to the saddle between the bumps, and then descend from the ridgeline from there.
We dropped off Granite Peak, heading to the saddle in the center of this photo. We would ascend the bump just right of center, then drop to the saddle between the bumps, and then descend from the ridgeline from there.
After ascending the first minor bump, dropping down on an animal trail to the saddle between the two bumps.
After ascending the first minor bump, dropping down on an animal trail to the saddle between the two bumps.
Dropping down on steep, pleasant terrain.
Dropping down on steep, pleasant terrain.
Lots of dropping, some ankle-high brush, but it was a great descent. Our goal is to go to the ridgeline in the center of this photo, just right of the brush-capped minor peak.
Lots of dropping, some ankle-high brush, but it was a great descent. Our goal is to go to the ridgeline in the center of this photo, just right of the brush-capped minor peak.
Almost at the bottom of the descent from Granite Peak. Our goal is the ridge just to the right of the brush-capped peak in the center of this photo. First, we'd have to bushwhack through some nonsense.
Almost at the bottom of the descent from Granite Peak. Our goal is the ridge just to the right of the brush-capped peak in the center of this photo. First, we'd have to bushwhack through some nonsense.
Starting into the forest.
Starting into the forest.
Sam bushwhacking.
Sam bushwhacking.
View back the way we came. The descent route we took is the drainage on the top left. This was past the worst of the bushwhacking.
View back the way we came. The descent route we took is the drainage on the top left. This was past the worst of the bushwhacking.
Brush-covered peak marking the ridgeline we needed to get to.
Brush-covered peak marking the ridgeline we needed to get to.
After getting over the ridge, we dropped down into Lexington Arch Canyon.
After getting over the ridge, we dropped down into Lexington Arch Canyon.
Lexington Arch ahead!
Lexington Arch ahead!
Lexington Arch.
Lexington Arch.
Along the official Lexington Arch Trail, looking back toward Lexington Arch.
Along the official Lexington Arch Trail, looking back toward Lexington Arch.
Along the official trail, which switchbacks a bunch down the slope. Our end car is somewhere in the valley left of center.
Along the official trail, which switchbacks a bunch down the slope. Our end car is somewhere in the valley left of center.
Looking back the way we came toward Lexington Arch Canyon (right). The trail ended shortly after this and became an old road that we followed back to the car.
Looking back the way we came toward Lexington Arch Canyon (right). The trail ended shortly after this and became an old road that we followed back to the car.

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