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Fortification Hill
Hiking Around Las Vegas, Lake Mead National Recreation Area
Fortification Hill
Fortification Hill
Hiker at summit cairn with grand views (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 summit views. For a complete description of the route, including maps and GPS coordinates, see Fortification Hill.

Fortification Hill
Hiker at summit cairn with grand views (view NW)
Fortification Hill
Summit register at base of cairn
Hiker traversing below headwall (view N)
Hikers on the summit with grand views north
Fortification Hill
Hiker at summit cairn and grand views south
Fortification Hill
Benchmark on summit (set in 1935)
Fortification Hill
Benchmark pointer No. 1 on summit (set in 1935)
Fortification Hill
Summit view (W towards Hoover Dam and Boulder City)
Fortification Hill
Summit view (NW towards Las Vegas and Mt. Charleston)
Fortification Hill
Summit view (W to Hemenway Harbor and Boulder Beach)
Fortification Hill
Summit view (W to Las Vegas and Mt. Charleston)
Fortification Hill
Summit view (N towards Muddy Mountains
Fortification Hill
Summit view (N to Callville Bay Marina)
Fortification Hill
Summit view (NE to Mormon Mountains)
Fortification Hill
Summit view (NE towards mountains in Utah)
Fortification Hill
Summit view (SE towards Mt. Wilson)
Fortification Hill
Summit view (SE to Mt. Wilson)
Fortification Hill
Summit view (SW to Dam and Boulder City)
Fortification Hill
Summit view (SW to Bridge and Dam)
Fortification Hill
Summit view (SW to Paint Pockets (end of Kingman Wash Rd)
Fortification Hill
Summit view (W to Mt. Potosi)

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

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