Stonewall Mountain in Stonewall Mountain BLM, NV

Hike Stonewall Mountain Stonewall Mountain BLM, NV

Class 2 7.2 miles 2700 gain 4-6 hrs Out + Back Apr 6, 2022
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Stonewall Mountain GPX Track

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Stonewall Mountain is a big lump in the desert just off NV-95. The summit is located just over the border into military property within the Nellis Air Force Base, but there is no signage anywhere reading that it isn't permitted to hike to the summit. That being said, I won't claim to have hiked to the peak. For those who want to get up there, all route information here and the attached map is hypothetical.

To reach the trailhead, head east from NV-95 on a good dirt road here (37.50621, -117.1858). Turn right here (37.51017, -117.18047) onto another dirt road, much more difficult to locate than you'd expect. This road is still great, suitable for crossovers or better and continues to be so until where I parked. This road heads southeast, then bends east and heads through a junction here (37.49544, -117.16634), then continues east to here (37.49555, -117.16452) where it curves north for 300 feet before heading east again. Keep right at this junction (37.4975, -117.15158) and follow this road to the trailhead. Thanks to Dean Gaudet, who provided these very helpful driving directions.

I hiked the last quarter mile of this deteriorated dirt road until its end, then dropped into the obvious wash. This wash led northeast, all easy hiking. At roughly the 6600' contour, a cairn and stick blockage marked where to keep right, the route leaving the main drainage and continuing up a slightly more brushy side-drainage. I continued along this steepening gully until it seemed to make more sense to leave the watercourse and instead ascend the steep, somewhat rocky slope leading to the ridge above.

Once on the ridge, Stonewall Mountain comes into view to the east. The remainder of the route to the summit (mostly) follows the ridgeline as it leads northeast before curving back southeast. First the route leads to the base of an avoidable lump on the ridgeline. To wrpa round it I recommend staying low. Class 2/3 stuff is required for about a couple hundred feet, but higher up is steeper with more rockiness/brush/scrambling. Side-hilling here isn't particularly fun, but it's also short-lived.

After the dumb side-hilling section, the ridgeline tames out substatntially and undulates over a few brushless lumps with nice views and up to a false summit of Stonewall Mountain, where some sort of radio contraption is located. It's a quick jaunt to the high point from there.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Stonewall Mountain
8318 ft
2918 rise

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A short walk along a bad dirt road.
A short walk along a bad dirt road.
At the end of the road, looking back to the desert floor. Some old mining ruins in the foreground.
At the end of the road, looking back to the desert floor. Some old mining ruins in the foreground.
A wash just past the ruins.
A wash just past the ruins.
I followed the wash. A stick pile blocks the main watercourse, pointing to the right as the preferred route.
I followed the wash. A stick pile blocks the main watercourse, pointing to the right as the preferred route.
Class 2 within the drainage.
Class 2 within the drainage.
After following the drainage until it got brushy, I left it to ascend a slope. This is a shot back down into the drainage I came up, center.
After following the drainage until it got brushy, I left it to ascend a slope. This is a shot back down into the drainage I came up, center.
At the ridgeline. The hump ahead is a false summit. I side-hilled around it, keeping low. It might be better to just go up and over, but there also some rock outcroppings that become apparent higher up along the ridge that could pose difficulties.
At the ridgeline. The hump ahead is a false summit. I side-hilled around it, keeping low. It might be better to just go up and over, but there also some rock outcroppings that become apparent higher up along the ridge that could pose difficulties.
Approaching the hump along the ridge. I kept along its right side in this photo, staying low.
Approaching the hump along the ridge. I kept along its right side in this photo, staying low.
Starting up the Class 2 ridge, but leaving it shortly to start side-hilling instead.
Starting up the Class 2 ridge, but leaving it shortly to start side-hilling instead.
View back along the ridge. The drainage I hiked up earlier is seen on the right.
View back along the ridge. The drainage I hiked up earlier is seen on the right.
Side-hilling. Stonewall Mountain visible on the right.
Side-hilling. Stonewall Mountain visible on the right.
View back at my side-hill around the annoying bump along the ridge.
View back at my side-hill around the annoying bump along the ridge.
View back toward the route I came, the hump I avoided visible on the right.
View back toward the route I came, the hump I avoided visible on the right.
Along the ridge, Stonewall Mountain visible on the right.
Along the ridge, Stonewall Mountain visible on the right.
Very pretty ridgeline.
Very pretty ridgeline.
View back.
View back.
False summit seen ahead.
False summit seen ahead.
Close-up toward the false summit.
Close-up toward the false summit.
View back toward the way I came along the ridge.
View back toward the way I came along the ridge.
A lump on the way to the false summit, which is seen ahead.
A lump on the way to the false summit, which is seen ahead.
View back. The ridgeline I came up earlier from the initial drainage I followed is visible on the left.
View back. The ridgeline I came up earlier from the initial drainage I followed is visible on the left.
At the false summit, view back.
At the false summit, view back.
False summit, view toward Stonewall Mountain.
False summit, view toward Stonewall Mountain.
Approaching Stonewall Mountain.
Approaching Stonewall Mountain.
Stonewall Mountain, view back.
Stonewall Mountain, view back.
Close-up to the southwest.
Close-up to the southwest.

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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!