The Fortress and Rattlesnake Mountain in Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area, NV

Hike The Fortress and Rattlesnake Mountain Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area, NV

Class 3 10.4 miles 2600 gain 4-6 hrs Out + Back Jan 15, 2020
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

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I set out with Austin and Bethany to The Fortress, a surprisingly fun little scramble conveniently located just south of Las Vegas. Rattlesnake Mountain would serve as some additional vertical gain to top out the day.

We began at the Anthem East Trailhead. The start of the trail was paved for accessibility, and soon turned to dirt. The long trail section that followed led east and was a bit of a mostly flat slog, the scenery not particularly interesting. Additionally, these trails form a bit of a confusing web, making navigating a little difficult. My general advice would be to stick left of any major hills, though even that might be confusing since the hills all kind of blend together and and nondescript. After a couple of missteps ourselves, which I've fixed on the attached map, we wound up just south of Rattlesnake Mountain. We left the trail and continued south through a wash with no trail. This wash led southeast to the base of The Fortress, where the wash forks. You can take the Class 2 right fork (which we used as our descent, and was just a lot of Class 2 boulder-hopping), or the much more fun and interesting Class 3 left fork (our ascent, slightly less annoying terrain and with some good scrambling moves). A couple of fun moves lead through a narrow section of conglomerate rock and up a steep Class 2 slope. Both route options lead to a small saddle just west of The Fortress, where a headwall that appears really sketchy from below ends up being far less daunting as we started the scramble.  A short ramp leads up the steepest section (Class 3). The rock felt quite solid, but there are lots of little boulders and pebbles that make footing dubious. Just above this crux, a couple of zig-zags took us up Class 2+ ledges and onto a wide, steep slope. The slope continued around to the north side of The Fortress, where we were able to access the peak's summit.

Back at the trail system at the base of Rattlesnake Mountain, Austin and Bethany decided to sit out the second peak, and I don't blame them. It's kind of just a desert lump with comparable views to The Fortress. I headed up a heavily eroded road on the southwest side of Rattlesnake Mountain. Once the road ended, I continued north on Class 2 terrain to the ridge and followed the ridge to the summit of Rattlesnake Mountain. On the way down, I just continued along the ridge back to the trail system. Both options for ascending the peak were fine, though I'd say if you're just getting Rattlesnake Mountain, going up and down the west ridge would likely be more pleasant.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
The Fortress
4163 ft
403 rise
2
Rattlesnake Mountain
3916 ft
516 rise

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From the Anthem East Trailhead.
From the Anthem East Trailhead.
A long trail through mostly flat desert leads to The Fortress. Rattlesnake Mountain is visible on the left, The Fortress is the hump in the center.
A long trail through mostly flat desert leads to The Fortress. Rattlesnake Mountain is visible on the left, The Fortress is the hump in the center.
Approaching the base of Rattlesnake Mountain.
Approaching the base of Rattlesnake Mountain.
We left the trail just past the base of Rattlesnake Mountain and headed into the wash on the right.
We left the trail just past the base of Rattlesnake Mountain and headed into the wash on the right.
Within the wash, view back toward Rattlesnake Mountain.
Within the wash, view back toward Rattlesnake Mountain.
Ascending the wash to the base of The Fortress, visible center.
Ascending the wash to the base of The Fortress, visible center.
A split in the wash. Left leads up a Class 3 route (more fun, less dumb terrain), right leads up a Class 2 boulder-filled slope. We ascended to the left and came back later on the right.
A split in the wash. Left leads up a Class 3 route (more fun, less dumb terrain), right leads up a Class 2 boulder-filled slope. We ascended to the left and came back later on the right.
Approaching a narrow conglomerate section.
Approaching a narrow conglomerate section.
View back into the wash as we ascend to the Class 3 stuff.
View back into the wash as we ascend to the Class 3 stuff.
Class 3 up a narrow conglomerate section.
Class 3 up a narrow conglomerate section.
More fun Class 3 as we exit the conglomerate narrow section.
More fun Class 3 as we exit the conglomerate narrow section.
Steep slope to a small saddle on the west side of The Fortress.
Steep slope to a small saddle on the west side of The Fortress.
At the small saddle, view toward the crux of The Fortress. Austin is seen starting up a Class 2 ramp before the crux. This is where either route option mentioned before would lead.
At the small saddle, view toward the crux of The Fortress. Austin is seen starting up a Class 2 ramp before the crux. This is where either route option mentioned before would lead.
Class 3 move. Saddle we were just at visible up top.
Class 3 move. Saddle we were just at visible up top.
Above the crux, a view toward Black Mountain. A couple of zig-zags lead up on Class 2 terrain.
Above the crux, a view toward Black Mountain. A couple of zig-zags lead up on Class 2 terrain.
A slope brings us to the north side of The Fortress.
A slope brings us to the north side of The Fortress.
Summit area of The Fortress.
Summit area of The Fortress.
The Fortress summit, view toward King/Queen/Jack and Railroad Peaks.
The Fortress summit, view toward King/Queen/Jack and Railroad Peaks.
The Fortress summit, view toward Black Mountain to the south.
The Fortress summit, view toward Black Mountain to the south.
Class 2 rocky slope descent option, if you'd rather not descend the Class 3 conglomerate chute from earlier.
Class 2 rocky slope descent option, if you'd rather not descend the Class 3 conglomerate chute from earlier.
At the base of Rattlesnake Mountain. I took the diagonal eroded road visible in the center of this photo for my ascent, then headed up the slope to the ridge. I descended the ridgeline on the left on my way down after getting the summit.
At the base of Rattlesnake Mountain. I took the diagonal eroded road visible in the center of this photo for my ascent, then headed up the slope to the ridge. I descended the ridgeline on the left on my way down after getting the summit.
Along the ridgeline to the summit of Rattlesnake Mountain.
Along the ridgeline to the summit of Rattlesnake Mountain.
Rattlesnake Mountain, view toward The Fortress.
Rattlesnake Mountain, view toward The Fortress.
Rattlesnake Mountain, view down the west ridgeline that I'd hike to get back to the trail system.
Rattlesnake Mountain, view down the west ridgeline that I'd hike to get back to the trail system.
Almost at the bottom of the west ridge where I rejoined the trail.
Almost at the bottom of the west ridge where I rejoined the trail.

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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!