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Fortification Hill -- The Descent
Hiking Around Las Vegas, Lake Mead National Recreation Area
Fortification Hill
Fortification Hill
Hiker on the summit (view NW)

Overview

This is a moderately difficult, 4-mile round-trip hike that follows a use-trail to the summit. The route starts in a wash southeast of Fortification Hill and follows washes and ridges to a basalt headwall, which is passed with a few feet of 3rd-class climbing and a steep, rocky gully. From the top of the gully, the relatively flat trail runs west along the southern edge of the mesa for about 0.6 miles to the summit. The route climbs about 1,400 feet, but most of the elevation gain is in the middle-third of the hike. The views from the top of the mesa are spectacular and include much of Lake Mead, Hoover Dam, and all of the surrounding mountains.

Presented here are photos of the descent. For a complete description of the route, including maps and GPS coordinates, see Fortification Hill.

Fortification Hill
Edge of flats; approaching top of rocky gully (view NE)
Fortification Hill
Hiker starting over the edge into the rocky gully (view NE)
Fortification Hill
Hiker descending the rocky gully (view NE)
Fortification Hill
Hiker descending the rocky gully (view NE)
Fortification Hill
Hiker descending the rocky gully (view NE)
Fortification Hill
Hiker at the base of the rocky gully (view NE)
Fortification Hill
Hiker at the base of the rocky gully
Fortification Hill
Approaching the top of the 3rd-class scramble
Fortification Hill
Hiker at the top of the 3rd-class scramble
Fortification Hill
Hiker at the top of the 3rd-class scramble
Fortification Hill
Hiker starting down the 3rd-class scramble
Fortification Hill
Hiker on the 3rd-class scramble
Fortification Hill
Hiker on the 3rd-class scramble
Fortification Hill
Hiker below the 3rd-class scramble
Fortification Hill
Hiker below the headwall (view S)
Fortification Hill
Hiker starting down summit ridge
Fortification Hill
Hiker arriving at the funny rocks (view SE)
Fortification Hill
Hiker beyond the funny rocks
Fortification Hill
Hiker descending the ridge (view S)
Fortification Hill
Hiker approaching trail junction on the ridge (view S)
Fortification Hill
Hiker at trail junction (view S)
Fortification Hill
Hiker descending the ridge (view S)
Fortification Hill
Continuing down the ridgeline (view S)
Fortification Hill
Hiker below a steep section (view SW)
Fortification Hill
View across the slope towards Boulder City (view W)
Fortification Hill
Hiker continuing out the ridge (view S)
Fortification Hill
Hiker descending a rocky section (view SW)
Fortification Hill
Hiker descending the ridge (view SW)
Fortification Hill
Hiker descending the ridge (view SW)
Fortification Hill
Hiker approaching the trailhead (view SW)

Happy Hiking! All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate.
copyright; Last updated 240326

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