Overview

This moderate off-trail route runs for about 1.5 miles from the Northshore Summit parking area to the top of Northshore Peak. The route follows the east ridge, which is fairly easy except for a few, short 3rd-class sections. Despite the relatively low elevation of the summit, the lay of the land is such that the views from the peak are spectacular. This is a great hike.

Link to map.

Watch Out

Other than the standard warnings about hiking in the desert, ...this hike is fairly safe, but there are a few spots where a slip would result in sudden death, so be careful and watch your kids. The 3rd-class sections require some care, as a fall would result in injury, but they are not difficult.

While hiking, please respect the land and the other people out there, and try to Leave No Trace of your passage. Also, this is a moderate hike in a remote area, so be sure to bring the 10 Essentials.

Getting to the Trailhead

This hike is located along Northshore Road in Lake Mead National Recreation Area, about 1 hour northeast of Las Vegas.

From town, drive out to Lake Mead. From the intersection of Northshore Road and Lakeshore Road (Table 1, Site 654), drive north on Northshore Road for about 20.6 miles (0.6 miles east of Mile Marker 20) to the Northshore Summit parking area (Site 539), which is on the north side of the road. Park here; this is the trailhead.

The Hike

Follow the path of least resistance across the desert to the toe of the ridge. Before you get too close to the toe, however, decide on a route up through the rocky outcrops. You might consider hiking up and across the toe, from west to east, as you move through the outcrops (see overview photo). From the toe of the ridge, weave up among the rocky outcrops to gain the top of the ridge (Wpt. 4). From there, just head uphill along the crest of the ridge to the summit.

Near the summit, there are a couple of short, 3rd-class downclimbs. It is a little easier to pass these by moving a few yards off the south (left) side of the ridge, but use your own good judgment. The first third-class section can be bypassed entirely by following faint sheep trails along the south side of the ridgetop. Because of the lay of the land, however, you will be on top of a knob and looking down a third-class section before you realize that you could have passed it to the south, but you will see the sheep trail on the way down. After passing the 3-class sections, continue up the ridgeline to the summit (Wpt. 5).

The views from the summit are spectacular. On a clear day, you can see west to the Spring Mountains (Mt. Charleston), east to the Virgin Mountains and the Grand Wash Cliffs, north to the Sheep Range and the Muddy Mountains, and south across Lake Mead to Mount Wilson. There are many fossils along the summit ridge, and parts of the summit block are carpeted in fossil corals.