Overview

North McCullough is a medium-sized (14,763 acres) wilderness area located on the northwest side of the Northern McCullough Range*. The wilderness area essentially includes the entire drainage system on this side of the range. The highest elevations are on the northern end of the main ridge (about 5,100 feet) and on a ridge that runs northwest from the main ridge (about 4,200 feet). The lowest elevations are where the main wash flows north and crosses the wilderness area boundary (about 2,900 feet). Unlike most mountain ranges around Las Vegas, the Northern McCulloughs are volcanic with extensive basalt and ash-flow tuffs. The area supports black gramma grass, which is not known to occur elsewhere in Nevada. This wilderness area is entirely contained within the Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area, which is administered by the BLM.

If you hike in wilderness areas, help protect them by learning about and reporting noxious and invasive weeds.

* Although the McCullough Range is considered a single mountain range, the northern and southern ends of the range differ and are not one geologic feature. The Northern McCulloughs were formed from recent volcanic activity, while the Southern McCulloughs are ancient mountains formed from metamorphic rock.

Link to map of the wilderness area.

Location

Approximately 20 air-miles south of downtown Las Vegas, along the southern edge of the metropolitan area.

Boundaries

This wilderness area is triangle-shaped with corners at the northeastern, southern, and northwestern points. The southeastern boundary is the crest of the Northern McCulloughs. The southwestern boundary is the south side of the base of the ridge that runs northwest from the main ridge. The northern boundary basically connects the end of the northwest ridge with the crest of the main ridge.

Access

The easiest access is to the northern edge of the wilderness area, which can be reached from a rough dirt road that runs under powerlines on the south edge of town. Another dirt road runs up the wash along the southwest edge of the wilderness area.

To reach the northern edge of the wilderness area, drive south on Interstate-15 to the Sloan exit. Exit the highway, turn east (left), and cross under the interstate to a T-intersection, which is Las Vegas Blvd. Turn north (left) and drive 0.4 miles to the northern (far) edge of a gravel pit and a line of high-tension powerlines. The poles are unusual in that each is a single-pole made of rusted plate metal (rather than the usual 4-legged, steel girder structure). The powerpoles are numbered; the pole closest to the pavement is #X12116. Turn east (right) onto a rough dirt road that runs under the powerlines. The line of poles runs more-or-less straight for 1.1 miles, passing around a fenced gravel pit, then bends to the left (more to the east) at pole #X12106.

Alternatively, just a few yards north of the T-intersection at Las Vegas Blvd, turn east (right) onto a wide, graded dirt road that runs along the southern edge of the gravel pit. Follow this road for 1.2 miles, generally staying to the north (left) at forks in the road, gently angling back towards the powerlines, and passing around the fenced gravel pit. This road touches the powerline road where the line of poles bends to the left (more to the east) at pole #X12106; turn east (right) onto the powerline road at that point.

From the bend (pole #X12106), drive east for about 2.7 miles to pole #X12084. Between that pole and the next, a smaller dirt road crosses the powerline road. Turn south (right) onto the narrow road and drive south for about 0.6 miles to where the road bends to the east (left) and drops into a wash.

From this point, which is just inside the Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area, either continue up the road into the canyon or hike to the southeast into the broad valley towards the main ridge of the Northern McCullough Mountains or hike southwest into the closer mountain range.

Without a 4-WD vehicle, you might consider parking before getting into the wash (there are several places where people park). Otherwise, continue up the wash for another 0.5 miles to the end of the road, which is marked by a line of boulders across the wash; this is the edge of the North McCullough Wilderness Area.

The wilderness can also be accessed from dirt roads that run up to the southern boundary.

Terrain

The general landscape is defined by the two long ridges that intersect at the southern end of the wilderness area. Between the ridges, a broad, shallow valley gradually slopes up to the ridges. The main ridge, to the east, is the narrow and well-defined crest of the Northern McCullough Range, while the western ridge is more of a scattered collection of smaller peaks and hills.

The main ridge is a series of peaks with rounded to flat-tops, a steep east-facing escarpment (outside the wilderness area), and a gradual western slope. The western slope is cut by many small washes and canyons. The highest peaks are along the crest, with Hanna Peak (at the southern apex) rising to 4,240 feet, and Peak 5058 (at the northeast corner) rising to 5,058 feet.

The western ridge is formed by a wide cluster of peaks dominated by Sutor Peak at 4,186 feet. The peaks facing town are soft and rounded, but behind and somewhat hidden are steep, rugged, and craggy peaks. Between the two sets of peaks is a broad, flat valley where boulder piles and odd-shaped rocks outcrop across the landscape.

In the triangle between the two main ridges, the broad, gently sloping drainage system rises from about 2,900 feet at the northern edge of the wilderness area to about 4,000 feet on the slopes of Hanna Peak.

Habitat Type

The habitat type primarily is Mojave Desert Scrub, with a mix of species that depends on elevation and annual rainfall amounts.

On the uplands of the bajadas along the northern boundary, the dominant vegetation is Mojave Desert Scrub, composed primarily of widely scattered creosote bush and white bursage, with little else but a few Mojave yucca scattered about. In the washes on the bajada, the vegetation is more diverse, with a variety of shrubby species including creosote bush, desert globemallow, paperbag bush, broom snakeweed, and bunch grasses.

On the higher slopes and in the higher canyons, the density and diversity of shrubby species is higher. Additional species found here include indigo bush, desert almond, Nevada jointfir, catclaw acacia, various buckwheats, pencil cholla, teddybear cholla, prickly pear cactus, and lots of barrel cactus on the rocky hillsides.

Wildlife

Mammals include desert bighorn sheep, black-tailed jackrabbits, white-tailed antelope squirrels, desert woodrats, and a variety of smaller rodents. Reptiles include desert tortoise and several species of lizards (e.g., side-blotched lizards) and snakes. Birds include resident species such as Verdin, Black-throated Sparrow, Rock Wren, and Red-tailed Hawk, plus winter visitors such as Ruby-crowned Kinglet and White-crowned Sparrow. Invertebrates include scorpions and tarantulas.

Archaeology

Archaeological artifacts include some astounding prehistoric rock art, plus campsites, pine nut caches, rock shelters, and lithic scatters.

Geology

North McCullough Mountains are formed almost entirely of Quaternary andesite and basalt flows that date from 6 to 17 million years ago. Black basalt flows are exposed on the ridges, peaks, and western slopes. The eastern escarpment consists of reddish-brown andesite breccia.