Spirit Mountain North and Newberry Mountains Loop in Lake Mead National Recreation Area, NV

Hike Spirit Mountain North and Newberry Mountains Loop Lake Mead National Recreation Area, NV

Class 2 10.4 miles 5300 gain 6-8 hrs Loop Mar 14, 2021
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Spirit Mountain North and Newberry Mountains Loop GPX Track

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The Newberry Mountains are a small range at the southern end of Lake Mead National Recreation Area, an area mostly known for Spirit Mountain. This route takes the higher ground surrounding Pipe Spring Canyon, which I hiked a couple of years ago. Head to that trip report instead if you prefer canyons of obscure desert peaks. To access the trailhead, turn here (35.26335, -114.68546), accessible by any car.

I started northwest through a very wide wash which slowly narrowed as it neared the base of Spirit Mountain North. I reached a junction, where each option would lead to the saddle on either side of my first peak. I chose to stay right, but I don't have a good reason why. This drainage to the saddle was steep and a bit loose, but not unpleasant. I recommend staying just below the ridgeline after reaching the saddle above since the ridge crest is riddled with difficult rock outcroppings, and you can keep this section Class 2 if you avoid them. The summit of Spirit Mountain North is rarely visited and the view toward Spirit Mountain is unique from this angle. Side note about the naming of this peak: locals say this peak is mislabeled as "Devils Thumb" on some maps, but that peak is actually farther north, so it's more accurate to call this one the uninspired "Spirit Mountain North".

I headed back down to the saddle and intended to follow the ridge all the way to Peak 4391, but had to side-hill past a rock outcrop since I wasn't sure if there was just a cliff on its opposite side. I located an easy Class 3 through a small notch to get back onto the ridgeline, which I followed all the way to the base of Peak 4391 on mellow terrain. You can access the peak directly using a Class 3 series of fun bouldery moves, but it's easier to just stay beneath the summit and wrap around to its east side, ascending on Class 2.

The slope leading down from Peak 4391 was pretty long since I descended to roughly the same elevation as the trailhead. The ridge began with some easy Class 2, followed by a long section of mostly rock-free terrain, and slowly introduced more and more granite boulders as I reached the saddle (Class 2). The ridge to Mount Newberry was mostly uneventful, save for a cliff band with a Class 2+ option just to the right of the ridge crest, and a false summit you can avoid by side-hilling on the left. Mount Newberry had some minor Class 2 toward its summit. I dropped back down to the base of Mount Newberry and descended a pleasant spur ridge into a drainage below, which ultimately brought me to Pipe Spring Canyon. I only crossed over the canyon though since I'd already checked it out in the past, and began a Class 2 and slightly brushy ascent to Peak 3153 to the south. You can reduce the elevation by just ascending Pipe Spring Canyon and heading back to the trailhead, of course, but I wanted to add this extra peak to the hike. Following the ridgeline was straightforward enough, and after passing over the summit, I descended on the peak's southern side on a sandy slope, where I saw my car below.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Spirit Mountain North
5189 ft
629 rise
2
Peak 4391
4391 ft
511 rise
3
Mount Newberry
3624 ft
944 rise
4
Peak 3153
3153 ft
353 rise

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Spirit Mountain North visible right of center. Spirit Mountain on the left.
Spirit Mountain North visible right of center. Spirit Mountain on the left.
View back toward the amazing granite surrounding Grapevine Canyon.
View back toward the amazing granite surrounding Grapevine Canyon.
Drainage leading to Spirit Mountain North. I chose to head to the right saddle rather than the left, not sure why.
Drainage leading to Spirit Mountain North. I chose to head to the right saddle rather than the left, not sure why.
Class 2 up to the saddle.
Class 2 up to the saddle.
View back at my progress, Spirit Mountain visible top right.
View back at my progress, Spirit Mountain visible top right.
Avoid the ridgeline to Spirit Mountain North, where there are lots of rock outcrops. I kept to the left and was able to keep the route Class 2.
Avoid the ridgeline to Spirit Mountain North, where there are lots of rock outcrops. I kept to the left and was able to keep the route Class 2.
View back, the wash I ascended from visible on the right.
View back, the wash I ascended from visible on the right.
Spirit Mountain North ahead.
Spirit Mountain North ahead.
Class 2 talus on the way up to Spirit Mountain North.
Class 2 talus on the way up to Spirit Mountain North.
Spirit Mountain North summit, view toward Spirit Mountain.
Spirit Mountain North summit, view toward Spirit Mountain.
Spirit Mountain North, view toward Mount Newberry. Peak 4391 visible center.
Spirit Mountain North, view toward Mount Newberry. Peak 4391 visible center.
Back at the saddle, I intended to just follow the ridge, but this rock outcrop was in the way. I side-hilled beneath its cliffs and located a Class 3 notch to get back to the ridgeline.
Back at the saddle, I intended to just follow the ridge, but this rock outcrop was in the way. I side-hilled beneath its cliffs and located a Class 3 notch to get back to the ridgeline.
Class 3 notch.
Class 3 notch.
Back on the ridgeline, headed to Peak 4391.
Back on the ridgeline, headed to Peak 4391.
Looking back toward Spirit Mountain North, center.
Looking back toward Spirit Mountain North, center.
Along the ridge to Peak 4391.
Along the ridge to Peak 4391.
Spirit Mountain North top right, Spirit Mountain top left.
Spirit Mountain North top right, Spirit Mountain top left.
Class 2 to the base of Peak 4391.
Class 2 to the base of Peak 4391.
Class 3 if you ascend to Peak 4391 directly. Class 2 if you wrap around to the right and ascend from the opposite side.
Class 3 if you ascend to Peak 4391 directly. Class 2 if you wrap around to the right and ascend from the opposite side.
Peak 4391 on the top right, this view is looking back along the Class 2 bypass (left in this photo.
Peak 4391 on the top right, this view is looking back along the Class 2 bypass (left in this photo.
Peak 4391 summit, view toward Spirit Mountain.
Peak 4391 summit, view toward Spirit Mountain.
Descending along the ridge from Peak 4391. Mount Newberry visible center.
Descending along the ridge from Peak 4391. Mount Newberry visible center.
View back toward Peak 4391.
View back toward Peak 4391.
Looking back again along the descent slopes as it became a bit more rocky.
Looking back again along the descent slopes as it became a bit more rocky.
Mount Newberry ahead.
Mount Newberry ahead.
Looking back toward the steepest section with some granite boulders.
Looking back toward the steepest section with some granite boulders.
Along the low ridge/saddle on my way to Mount Newberry.
Along the low ridge/saddle on my way to Mount Newberry.
Ridgeline to Mount Newberry, the peak visible top left.
Ridgeline to Mount Newberry, the peak visible top left.
A Class 2 cliff band along the ridge crest (avoidable on the right).
A Class 2 cliff band along the ridge crest (avoidable on the right).
Mount Newberry ahead.
Mount Newberry ahead.
Class 2 to Mount Newberry's summit.
Class 2 to Mount Newberry's summit.
Mount Newberry summit, view toward Laughlin. Pipe Spring Canyon runs though the center of this photo.
Mount Newberry summit, view toward Laughlin. Pipe Spring Canyon runs though the center of this photo.
I headed down Mount Newberry and descended a spur ridge to get down into Pipe Spring Canyon, visible center. Peak 3153 is visible in the center of this photo, my next objective.
I headed down Mount Newberry and descended a spur ridge to get down into Pipe Spring Canyon, visible center. Peak 3153 is visible in the center of this photo, my next objective.
Class 2 up Peak 3153, a view back toward Mount Newberry.
Class 2 up Peak 3153, a view back toward Mount Newberry.
Heading up to Peak 3153.
Heading up to Peak 3153.
Peak 3153 ahead.
Peak 3153 ahead.
Peak 3153 summit, view back toward Mount Newberry. Pipe Spring Canyon is visible on the left.
Peak 3153 summit, view back toward Mount Newberry. Pipe Spring Canyon is visible on the left.
I headed along the ridge of Peak 3153 (pictured here) and dropped down on the right when I saw my car below, an easy descent slope.
I headed along the ridge of Peak 3153 (pictured here) and dropped down on the right when I saw my car below, an easy descent slope.

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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!