Class 2 4.9 miles 2400 gain 2-4 hrs Loop Dec 3, 2022
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Windy Peak GPX Track

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I first hiked Windy Peak March 8, 2017, but I made a lot of errors in that route, especially during my descent choice. At the time, I intended to make this hike into a loop by descending one of the canyons to the north, but I spent hours finding out the hard way that the canyons all ended up being technical. I don't recommend casually trying to descend any canyons in Red Rock Canyon without first knowing if they require ropes and gear, so lesson learned back then. Today I returned with a new friend Alec to repeat the route.

Windy Peak is probably best done as an out-and-back using the route described here, or by looping in Hollow Rock Peak just to the south by using a social trail that follows the ridgeline. Either way, it's a nice hike in the southern region of Red Rock Canyon that doesn't require entering the scenic drive. Many hikers seem to prefer accessing Windy Peak from the west near the small town of Mountain Springs, but that's an easier route that doesn't scrambling through the gorgeous sandstone like we did when coming from the east. The only issue with this eastern approach is that the road requires decent clearance (Crossover or better) due to a couple of notable ruts. Leave pavement here (36.007689, -115.4367441) and head northwest. We parked where we did because the road only deteriorated further.

We walked along the dirt road until reaching a somewhat clear social trail on the right. This trail led through the desert toward the base of Windy Peak, and was overall pretty easy to follow with a few small exceptions where it's more faint, though we were chatting and not giving the route our full attention at times. The trail begins to ascend more steeply onto a hump on the south side of Windy Peak. Nothing exceeds Class 2, but there are some loose boulders to pay attention to. The top of this hump has a short, flat section before the trail ascends steeply again toward the southern cliff of Windy Peak. A wide notch above becomes the goal, some slickrock and light Class 2 along the way. The route was well-marked by cairns.

Once at the wide notch, we continued along the base of the cliff toward a brushy-looking drainage, still on a well-defined social trail. Fortunately all the brush can be avoided and we found ourselves on the western slope of Windy Peak. From here, you can reach the summit by heading directly up the slope, but we chose to take a cairned route that follows a wide, slabby Class 2 ledge that zig-zags once up the face. It's not exposed, but the views are great, though the dropoff could be unnerving for some. Class 2 led to less-steep slickrock sandstone above, and ultimately the summit.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Windy Peak
6240 ft
120 rise

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From where we parked along the road, Windy Peak is seen right of center.
From where we parked along the road, Windy Peak is seen right of center.
A social trail leads through the desert into the drainage on the south side of Windy Peak.
A social trail leads through the desert into the drainage on the south side of Windy Peak.
Ascending some light Class 2 along the social trail.
Ascending some light Class 2 along the social trail.
Steeper terrain as we ascend the slope on Windy Peak's south side.
Steeper terrain as we ascend the slope on Windy Peak's south side.
View back down the drainage we came up from.
View back down the drainage we came up from.
More steep hiking on a social trail.
More steep hiking on a social trail.
Approaching the base of Windy Peak's southern cliffs.
Approaching the base of Windy Peak's southern cliffs.
The social trail continues through a wide notch, seen above.
The social trail continues through a wide notch, seen above.
Along the base of the cliffs, wrapping around toward Windy Peak's western slope toward the brushy-looking drainage ahead (right of center).
Along the base of the cliffs, wrapping around toward Windy Peak's western slope toward the brushy-looking drainage ahead (right of center).
Continuing up the drainage to gain the western slope of Windy Peak.
Continuing up the drainage to gain the western slope of Windy Peak.
Windy Peak just above. I believe there's an option to ascend directly from here, but the way we went follows a cairned route that starts up and then curves to the right, leading to a wide ledge/slab.
Windy Peak just above. I believe there's an option to ascend directly from here, but the way we went follows a cairned route that starts up and then curves to the right, leading to a wide ledge/slab.
Looking back the way we came.
Looking back the way we came.
Cairns marked the way up some Class 2 slabs. It's less exposed here than it looks in the photo.
Cairns marked the way up some Class 2 slabs. It's less exposed here than it looks in the photo.
Curving to the left here away from the slab/ledge.
Curving to the left here away from the slab/ledge.
Class 2 up to higher ground.
Class 2 up to higher ground.
The hike levels out a bit on this slickrock section. We continued east toward the summit.
The hike levels out a bit on this slickrock section. We continued east toward the summit.
View back the way we came.
View back the way we came.
Windy Peak summit, view toward Las Vegas.
Windy Peak summit, view toward Las Vegas.
Windy Peak summit, view toward Potosi Mountain.
Windy Peak summit, view toward Potosi Mountain.
Looking northwest toward the Keystone Thrust.
Looking northwest toward the Keystone Thrust.
A shot of Windy Peak from the west (photo from 2017).
A shot of Windy Peak from the west (photo from 2017).
Just a shot of Mud Spring Canyon much farther north after my mishap in 2017 when attempting to make Windy Peak into a loop. Just keeping this here as a memory for myself ;)
Just a shot of Mud Spring Canyon much farther north after my mishap in 2017 when attempting to make Windy Peak into a loop. Just keeping this here as a memory for myself ;)

Hire me or show me some love!

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!