White Domes, The Orphan, and Boneyard Peak in Valley of Fire State Park, NV

Hike White Domes, The Orphan, and Boneyard Peak Valley of Fire State Park, NV

Class 3 6.8 miles 1900 gain 3-5 hrs Loop Apr 9, 2019
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

White Domes, The Orphan, and Boneyard Peak GPX Track

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Valley of Fire is a great place to find some interesting scramble routes. I've been to this State Park a few times before to do some of the trails, and returned to bag a few peaklets in the White Domes area with Austin, forming the trip report here. I returned a couple of years later to get another minor summit with my friend Sam, but I've slipped this in as if it were part of a cohesive trip report. The peaks described below include White Dome, West White Dome, Peak 2431, The Orphan, and Boneyard Peak. Although I don't know how useful the attached map will be since a topo doesn't show the intricacies of these Valley of Fire peaklets, it should hopefully give you an idea. I've edited the map significantly to remove the typical GPS jitter you get from going through tight spaces, so use it more as a reference and have fun route-finding on this excursion.

Starting from the White Domes Trailhead, we first hopped up the single Class 3 squeeze-move to White Dome. We continued to West White Dome, with its slightly exposed Class 3 section near the top, where high winds made it more thoughtful than it normally would have been. Both peaklets had nice views of the colorful Valley of Fire State Park below. I recommend doing the one mile White Domes Trail if you haven't. It's popular, but still very pretty.

After the two White Domes, we followed the White Domes Trail north along the road, then left the trail and worked our way west to the eastern cliff of The Orphan. A wash led clockwise around the peak. Before going for The Orphan, it made sense to take a quick excursion over to Peak 2431. To reach this minor summit, a drainage leads northwest, and a Class 2 scramble leads west and up to higher terrain above. At the southern side of Peak 2431, a nice wide Class 2 gully leads up to the north side of the summit. From a notch at the top of the gully, head to the right where two short Class 3 moves in sequence continue to the summit.

We attempted Peak 2395 to the west, but there was certainly no way up without gear. We tried every angle and possible gully. I left our track out for our attempt at this guy.

Back at the southern side of The Orphan, head north through a boulder-choked gully on The Orphan's west side. We passed an interested grass-filled bowl to the north of The Orphan before locating a ramp that led into the maze of rocks that had us zig-zag to the summit. A couple of Class 3 moves serve as obstacles, and for the most part I'd recommend sticking to the grassy gullies between rock walls when possible, rather than on the appealing rock ribs. I thought this route was particularly interesting.

After bagging The Orphan, we dropped back into the gully north of The Orphan at a four-way intersection, and continued north into another gully onward to Boneyard Peak. A few big boulder obstacles slowed us, and an interesting Class 3 move got us onto the slickrock higher up. A Class 2 slab leads to Boneyard Peak's summit. After Boneyard Peak, we continued northeast to get out of the rock maze and traversed the desert to get back.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
White Dome
2234 ft
265 rise
2
West White Dome
2116 ft
99 rise
3
Peak 2431
2431 ft
298 rise
4
The Orphan
2280 ft
328 rise
5
Boneyard Peak
2312 ft
295 rise

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At the White Domes parking lot. You can see White Dome on the left and West White Dome on the right.
At the White Domes parking lot. You can see White Dome on the left and West White Dome on the right.
Heading up White Dome's slabs at its base. The crux is visible ahead on the left.
Heading up White Dome's slabs at its base. The crux is visible ahead on the left.
Looking down at the crux.
Looking down at the crux.
Approaching the high point of White Dome, looking back toward the parking lot.
Approaching the high point of White Dome, looking back toward the parking lot.
White Dome high point, looking south into the Valley of Fire.
White Dome high point, looking south into the Valley of Fire.
Back at the parking lot, heading up to West White Dome.
Back at the parking lot, heading up to West White Dome.
Class 2 stuff up the gully.
Class 2 stuff up the gully.
Looking back toward the parking lot on the way up to West White Dome.
Looking back toward the parking lot on the way up to West White Dome.
A somewhat exposed Class 3 section just below the high point of West White Dome.
A somewhat exposed Class 3 section just below the high point of West White Dome.
West White Dome high point, ahead.
West White Dome high point, ahead.
West White Dome high point, looking south into Valley of Fire.
West White Dome high point, looking south into Valley of Fire.
West White Dome high point, looking east toward White Dome.
West White Dome high point, looking east toward White Dome.
After White Domes, we went north along the White Domes trail, entering the desert. You can see the trail ahead here, which we left, heading toward the base of The Orphan (on the right).
After White Domes, we went north along the White Domes trail, entering the desert. You can see the trail ahead here, which we left, heading toward the base of The Orphan (on the right).
Heading toward the base of The Orphan, visible right of center.
Heading toward the base of The Orphan, visible right of center.
At the base of The Orphan (on the right out of frame), working our way clockwise around it. Before heading to The Orphan, a quick sojourn over to Peak 2431.
At the base of The Orphan (on the right out of frame), working our way clockwise around it. Before heading to The Orphan, a quick sojourn over to Peak 2431.
Side-drainage on the way to Peak 2431. Full disclosure, this sojourn was done a couple of years later with Sam Grant. The next few photos document that little addition.
Side-drainage on the way to Peak 2431. Full disclosure, this sojourn was done a couple of years later with Sam Grant. The next few photos document that little addition.
Leaving the drainage and ascending Class 2 to higher ground.
Leaving the drainage and ascending Class 2 to higher ground.
On the south side of Peak 2431. We took the gully on the right in this photo.
On the south side of Peak 2431. We took the gully on the right in this photo.
View back down the Class 2 gully.
View back down the Class 2 gully.
Keep right at the top of the gully, and wrap around.
Keep right at the top of the gully, and wrap around.
Class 3.
Class 3.
Class 3.
Class 3.
Summit of Peak 2431.
Summit of Peak 2431.
Close-up toward the White Domes area on the summit of Peak 2431.
Close-up toward the White Domes area on the summit of Peak 2431.
Back to the route for The Orphan, now entering the gully on The Orphan's west side.
Back to the route for The Orphan, now entering the gully on The Orphan's west side.
Looking back down the gully on The Orphan's west side.
Looking back down the gully on The Orphan's west side.
One of many big boulders to maneuver within the drainage.
One of many big boulders to maneuver within the drainage.
Continuing north in The Orphan's west gully.
Continuing north in The Orphan's west gully.
Almost at the four-way junction of gullies. Straight leads north into the open desert (the way we'd go later). Left leads up to Boneyard Peak, and to the right (out of site) leads to The Orphan, our first goal.
Almost at the four-way junction of gullies. Straight leads north into the open desert (the way we'd go later). Left leads up to Boneyard Peak, and to the right (out of site) leads to The Orphan, our first goal.
We noted this large grassy-filled bowl. We'd be hiking above it shortly as part of the route.
We noted this large grassy-filled bowl. We'd be hiking above it shortly as part of the route.
Some eye candy. Yes, this time I am talking about Austin ;) Okay I'm done.
Some eye candy. Yes, this time I am talking about Austin ;) Okay I'm done.
Working south through a weakness toward The Orphan.
Working south through a weakness toward The Orphan.
The Orphan obscured on the top right behind the big rock.
The Orphan obscured on the top right behind the big rock.
Some small gullies keep the route Class 2/3 so far.
Some small gullies keep the route Class 2/3 so far.
One of the zig-zags required to safely get to higher ground. Austin is coming up from a grassy area and heading to the ridge out of viewon the right.
One of the zig-zags required to safely get to higher ground. Austin is coming up from a grassy area and heading to the ridge out of viewon the right.
Looking down at the grassy bowl mentioned before.
Looking down at the grassy bowl mentioned before.
Along the ridge mentioned a couple photos ago. Alternatively, stay in the gully on the left to keep the going easier.
Along the ridge mentioned a couple photos ago. Alternatively, stay in the gully on the left to keep the going easier.
Along the same ridge. Like I said, you might consider staying in the gully on the right. We had to drop into it regardless.
Along the same ridge. Like I said, you might consider staying in the gully on the right. We had to drop into it regardless.
Heading out of the gully.
Heading out of the gully.
Working around serendipitous weaknesses south, wrapping around a couple of large rock outcroppings.
Working around serendipitous weaknesses south, wrapping around a couple of large rock outcroppings.
Class 3 section to the summit.
Class 3 section to the summit.
The Orphan summit, looking south toward White Domes.
The Orphan summit, looking south toward White Domes.
Back at the four-way intersection, now heading north toward Boneyard Peak.
Back at the four-way intersection, now heading north toward Boneyard Peak.
Lots of boulder obstacles as we headed north. You can see some of the rock outcroppings fortifying The Orphan in the background.
Lots of boulder obstacles as we headed north. You can see some of the rock outcroppings fortifying The Orphan in the background.
The boulders mellow out, and we worked east out of the gully.
The boulders mellow out, and we worked east out of the gully.
A Class 3 move to get out of the gully and up to the slickrock.
A Class 3 move to get out of the gully and up to the slickrock.
Austin pulling the Class 3 move.
Austin pulling the Class 3 move.
Heading north along the slickrock. Boneyard Peak visible top left.
Heading north along the slickrock. Boneyard Peak visible top left.
Approach Boneyard Peak.
Approach Boneyard Peak.
Class 2 slab up to Boneyard Peak summit.
Class 2 slab up to Boneyard Peak summit.
Boneyard Peak summit, looking east-ish.
Boneyard Peak summit, looking east-ish.
Boneyard Peak summit, looking south-ish toward The Orphan and White Domes.
Boneyard Peak summit, looking south-ish toward The Orphan and White Domes.

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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!