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Tikaboo Peak -- The Descent
Hiking Around Las Vegas, Other Areas
Tikaboo Peak
Tikaboo Peak
Departing the summit (view SE)

Overview

Tikaboo Peak is a short, but fairly tough 1.1-mile hike leads to one of the quintessential Las Vegas hiking experiences: a view into Groom Lake and the secret military base at Area 51. The government still claims that Area 51 doesn't exist and that they don't fly captured alien spacecraft from there, but hike up and take a look for yourself. The facilities are 26 air-miles to the west, so bring high-powered optical equipment and get an early start to ensure that the sun is low and at your back for optimal viewing. Even if you don't see any UFOs, the views are spectacular and give the impression of being on top of the world.

Presented here are photos of the descent. For a detailed description of the route, including directions, maps, GPS coordinates, and photos, see Tikaboo Peak.

Tikaboo Peak
The route starts down right of the weather station (view E)
Tikaboo Peak
Descending past the weather station (view E)
Tikaboo PeakThe route descends towards the campsites below (view SE) Tikaboo Peak
Approaching the campsites below (view SE)
Tikaboo Peak
The route negotiates obstacles past the campsites (view SE)
Tikaboo Peak
Finally, a bit of trail leads through the bushes (view S)
Tikaboo Peak
Route arrives at large cairn; turns left (view S)
Tikaboo Peak
At large cairn, route turns left towards crest of ridge (view E)
Tikaboo Peak
Crest of ridge (view E)
Tikaboo Peak
Atop crest of ridge, route heads down rocky slope (view E)
Tikaboo Peak
Parts of the trail are easy to follow (view NE)
Tikaboo Peak
Parts of the trail are obscure with cairns (view NE)
Tikaboo Peak Tikaboo Peak
Tikaboo Peak Tikaboo Peak
Tikaboo Peak
Trail arrives atop rocky face above the saddle (view NE)
Tikaboo Peak
Below the rocky face, trail drops past campsites into saddle (view E)
Tikaboo Peak
Route crosses fire-ring, goes under tree, crosses another fire-ring
Tikaboo Peak
Under tree, then crosses another fire-ring and heads up slope
Tikaboo Peak
Trail winds through tree to head up ridge (view SE)
Tikaboo Peak
Route heads up ridge (view E)
Tikaboo Peak
At cairn, trail turns right to traverse slope (view SE)
Tikaboo Peak
Route traverses the slope (view SE)
Tikaboo Peak
Approaching the rocky knob (view E)
Tikaboo Peak
Route begins to climb steeply towards the rocky knob (view E)
Tikaboo Peak
Traversing rocky slope (view E)
Tikaboo Peak
Steep, loose gravel and rocks on trail (view NE)
Tikaboo Peak
Trail steeply returning to the crest of the ridge (view NE)
Tikaboo Peak
Trail arrives at crest of the ridge (view NE)
Tikaboo Peak
At the crest, route starts up north side of ridge (view NE)
Tikaboo Peak
Route runs onto south side of the ridge (view E)
Tikaboo Peak
Route runs onto south side of the ridge (view E)
Tikaboo Peak
Trail returns to crest of the ridge (view NE)
Tikaboo Peak
Trail descends across north-facing slope (view E)
Tikaboo Peak
Trail descends across north-facing slope (view E)
Tikaboo Peak
Trail descends across north-facing slope (view E)
Tikaboo Peak
Trail approaching the end of the traverse (view E)
Tikaboo Peak
Trail turns steeply down rocky, loose slope (view NE)
Tikaboo Peak
Trail descends steep, loose slope (view NE)
Tikaboo Peak
Eventually the grades moderate (view NE)
Tikaboo Peak
Descending the steep hillside (view NE)
Tikaboo Peak
In general, the trail is easier to follow heading downhill (view SE)
Tikaboo Peak
Descending moderate grades (view NE)
Tikaboo Peak Tikaboo Peak
Tikaboo Peak Tikaboo Peak
Tikaboo Peak Tikaboo Peak
Tikaboo PeakDescending moderate grades (view NE) Tikaboo Peak
Descending moderate grades into the trees (view NE)
Tikaboo Peak
In the trees, trail approaches end of old road (view E)
Tikaboo Peak
Trail arrives at end of old road and turns left (view E)
Tikaboo Peak
Easy walking on the old road (view N)
Tikaboo Peak
Easy walking on the old road (view N)
Tikaboo Peak
Easy walking on the old road (view N)
Tikaboo Peak
Top of the steep section of the old road (view N)
Tikaboo Peak
Descending the steep old road (view N)
Tikaboo Peak
Descending the steep old road (view N)
Tikaboo Peak
Steep old road approaching the original trailhead (view N)
Tikaboo Peak
Old road arrives at the original trailhead (view N)
Tikaboo Peak
At the original trailhead, the route turns right to run downhill (view N)
Tikaboo Peak
Route follows old road down the gully (view E)
Tikaboo Peak
Route follows old road down the gully (view E)
Tikaboo Peak
Route follows old road down the rocky gully (view E)
Tikaboo Peak
Route follows old road down the rocky gully (view E)
Tikaboo Peak
Route arriving at the trailhead (view E)

Happy Hiking! All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate.
copyright; Last updated 240324

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