GUIDE

NO. 6.14

6 NEVADA RANGES

BRIDGE MOUNTAIN 7003 FEET CLASS 3

MILEAGE: 290 miles of paved road, 1.5 miles of poor dirt, 1.5 miles of rough 4WD dirt

road.

DRIVE: From the state line at Primm, Nevada, drive 33 miles north on 1-15 to the Blue

Diamond / Pahrump exit. Turn left (W) onto State Route 160. Follow this route over

Mountain Springs Pass for 24 miles (passing the Potosi Mtn turnoff en route) to the signed,

paved, Lovell Canyon road. (If coming from the Death Valley area, this turnoff is roughly

29 miles S of Pahrump on NV 160). Turn right (N) and follow this narrow road 7.5 miles

to a dirt road turnoff on the right. There is a large camping area immediately across the road

on the left; all low-clearance cars should park here. High clearance vehicles may turn right

on the dirt road, marked by a small sign “549” just off the pavement. Ignore two left-

branching roads in the first 1/4 mile. Pass through a gate (generally open) and ignore a faint

road on the right shortly afterwards. About 1.5 miles after leaving the pavement, the road

drops into the bottom of the wash for the first time. All 2WD vehicles should park here;

there is room for a few cars in the wash. 4WD vehicles may continue up the extremely

rough road for another 1.5 miles to the trailhead at Red Rock Summit. Park. There is room

for about 10 cars.

CLIMB:The peak is not visible from the trailhead. Follow the maintained trail from the SE

side of the parking area for 1 mile through piñon and juniper to the crest of the main N-S

ridge. The trail proceeds S along the ridge and the summit becomes visible to the E. The

trail passes an abandoned use trail on the left, rounds a bump to the S and descends the E-W

ridge connecting the peak to the main ridge. The trail ends shortly after reaching an area of

reddish slickrock (1 more mile), but the route continues and is marked by frequent ducks and

parallel lines or arrows marked on the rock. Descend (several possibilities here) to the saddle

on the ridge, then up and a bit left into the bottom of the obvious crack ascending the peak.

Ascend (3

class) either the crack itself or the slickrock face to the right, which is somewhat

exposed but has plentiful holds. Most will find it easiest to ascend the face and descend the

crack. Exit at the first easy ledge leading left into another crack/corner, which you ascend to

the namesake natural bridge. Either ascend the steep rock in the alcove behind the bridge

(using a dead tree for aid), or cross over the top of the bridge right-to-left to the area behind

the bridge. Move to the right (5) of the “hidden forest” between you and the summit, and

descend a bit to a saddle at its right end. Ascend the final few hundred feet of the summit

mass by climbing up and left from the saddle using one of several ledge and crack systems

on the slabs, which are somewhat exposed in spots but the rock surface provides excellent

friction. The final rocks at the top are easy. There is a fine view of Las Vegas and Lake Mead

from the summit.

ROUND TRIP STATS/4WD: 2700 feet elevation gain (incl. 850’ on the return), 6.5 miles,

6-7 hours

SIDELINES

1. The summit is the unnamed point at UTM 349994 on the La Madre Spring quadrangle,

not the much lower point (6460’) labeled Bridge Mountain on adjacent maps.

2. The dirt road to the trailhead is suitable only for experienced drivers with capable

vehicles. This road continues over the summit and joins the Scenic Loop road in Red

Rock Canyon to the E. The eastern side is 4WD-only and just as long as from the west,

but is much easier driving. Access to the trailhead from the E is subject to a $15 fee

charged for driving the Scenic Loop, and is only available during daylight hours, but

many will prefer this approach due to the easier road conditions. The road from the

Willow Springs picnic area is very rough for the first few miles. There are two areas to

park along the way which may be used to avoid the even worse road above. From the

first pull out one may walk up the road, looking for a use trail on the left at approximately

a mile. Follow this to the crest over a saddle, then follow a cairned route to the right,

eventually meeting up with the route described above. Distance for the hike is closer

to 9 miles from the first pull out. See maps below.

3. There are no wood fires allowed in the area between April 15 and November 15.

4. Camping may be found at the parking area for the Lovell Canyon starting point.

Camping may also be found at the Red Rock Canyon Campground, located east of the

park on the south side of Charleston Blvd., just west of the shooting range.

Revised 4/1/18