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.

This route is entirely within the Upper Sonoran (Mojave Desert Scrub) life zone with lots of low-growing Creosote Bush, White Bursage, Broom Snakeweed, and Burrobrush.

Link to map or elevation profile.

Watch Out

Other than the standard warnings about hiking in the desert, ...there is about 10 feet of 3rd-class climbing at the base of the basalt headwall. The climbing is airy, but not hard, and if someone can get to that point, the climbing shouldn't dissuade them from reaching the summit. However, some hikers might want a safety rope just to be safe on the way down. One hiker died here a few years ago, so be extra careful.

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 fairly long hike in a remote area, so be sure to bring the 10 Essentials.

Getting to the Trailhead

This hike is located in Lake Mead National Recreation Area on the Arizona side of Hoover Dam, about 1 hour southeast of Las Vegas.

From town, drive out towards Hoover Dam, then continue south on Highway 93 over the bridge into Arizona. Take Exit #2 off the highway, turn left, and drive out into the desert using dirt roads (Kingman Wash Road and Fortification Hill Road) to the Fortification Hill Trailhead.

The Hike

From the trailhead (Table 1, Waypoint 01), the east edge of Fortification Hill is visible to the north; this is the immediate goal. Also visible is a use-trail running steeply up a ridge in the right direction. This is an alternative route that is slightly more tiring than is starting the hike by walking up the wash just left (west) of the use-trail. The use-trail on the ridge make a good alternative for the descent.

Starting in the wash, the routes split in about 100 feet (Wpt. 02). The Ridges Route angles to the right across the wash and onto the toe of the ridge (Wpt. 02A).

The Washes Route stays in the wash (Wpt. 03) following along the base of the ridge.

The route runs up the wash for about 0.7 miles, always staying to the right against the base of the ridge with the use-trail (Wpt. 04). There are many cairns along the way, but given a choice, always stay to the right. At about 0.70 miles out (Wpt. 05), a use-trail cuts steeply up and out of the wash, climbing to a low point on the ridge (Wpt. 06) (vertical change of only about 40 feet). At this point, the use-trail from the wash joins the use-trail on the ridge, and together they run up the ridgeline to the north.

The ridge joins the summit ridge (Wpt. 07) at a point where there is a group of oddly placed volcanic rocks. They look as if humans placed them there, but they probably are natural, and I refer to them as the "funny rocks."

From the funny rocks, the use-trail turns west and climbs the summit ridge to the base of the basalt headwall. Traversing under the headwall to the north for a few minutes brings hikers to a short section (Wpt. 08) requiring 3rd-class scrambling. Climb this section carefully, and pay particular attention to the loose gravel at the top.

Atop the 3rd-class section (Wpt. 09), the use-trail continues north on ledges that lead to the base of a steep gully (Wpt. 10). The gully leads quickly to the top of the mesa (Wpt. 11). It takes about 5-8 minutes to ascend the entire headwall.

From the top of the cliffs, the now-gentle use-trail wanders westward along the south edge of the mesa. A short detour leads to a nice overlook (Wpt. 12) with grand views to the south, including almost all of the route.

The use-trail continues westward, eventually veering away from the cliff edge and climbing gradually onto the summit (Wpt. 13), although the trail is mostly lost in the summit boulders.

There are great views in all direction, and the views of Lake Mead and Las Vegas from the summit are spectacular. Link to great views in all directions.

Return to the trailhead by retracing your footsteps, taking extra care descending the cliffs. Link to photos of the descent.