Story:
This is a strenuous, unmaintained trail that is only for the experienced hiker. To get to the trailhead, drive from Nevada across the new O'Callaghan-Tillman Memorial Bridge and take the first exit in Arizona, Exit 2 for Kingman Wash. Turn left at the end of the ramp and go straight up the dirt road toward Kingman Wash. In about 3 miles, you get to two pit toilets - now closed because Lake Mead has receded so much. At the bathrooms, make a right and follow the dirt road for about 3 more miles. The trailhead is on the left and is only marked with a small sign that says Travel At Your Own Risk - Trail Is Not Maintained. Park anywhere so as to not block the road. You should have a high clearance vehicle. Four wheel drive is not needed.
This is a strenuous, unmaintained trail that is only for the experienced hiker. To get to the trailhead, drive from Nevada across the new O'Callaghan-Tillman Memorial Bridge and take the first exit in Arizona, Exit 2 for Kingman Wash. Turn left at the end of the ramp and go straight up the dirt road toward Kingman Wash. In about 3 miles, you get to two pit toilets - now closed because Lake Mead has receded so much. At the bathrooms, make a right and follow the dirt road for about 3 more miles. The trailhead is on the left and is only marked with a small sign that says Travel At Your Own Risk - Trail Is Not Maintained. Park anywhere so as to not block the road. You should have a high clearance vehicle. Four wheel drive is not needed.
Hike up the wash. After about 1/10 of a mile, the trail in the gravel takes a right turn into a side wash. Hike up this wash until you see some cairns that mark the way out of the wash and up to the trail that runs along the ridge. Once on the ridge, the trial is evident. Eventually, you get to a saddle that has some large boulders that look like people placed them there.
From the boulders, follow the trail up toward the "corner" of the mesa. The trail turns right, north, and goes along the ridge. In a short time, you'll come to an area where you have to do some 3rd class climbing to get to the next level of the ridge. Take care with this climb up. It's not difficult, but there is some exposure.
After the short climb, turn right, north, and follow this upper ridge for another short distance. The trail turns southwest and you ascend a slippery route to make it to the level mesa. There is large cairn on the top of the mesa.
From here, the trip is easy. You'll walk just about 1/2 mile along the mesa, mostly flat, along the edge of the mesa. Near the end of the trail, you have to climb up some boulders to get to the summit cairn. The view from the summit for this difficult hike makes all your work worth it. Spend time at the summit enjoying the view. Return the way you came. Take special care in going down the areas of loose rock to the 3rd class climb area and to the saddle where the large boulders are.
Tips:
1) Do not follow the beginning of my track. Take the end track. We went up the wrong wash and had to come across a ridge to get to the correct trail.
1) Do not follow the beginning of my track. Take the end track. We went up the wrong wash and had to come across a ridge to get to the correct trail.
2) There is another way to do the hike. From the parking area, instead of going up the wash, you can climb a ridge on your right, east, side and follow the trail up the steep ridge. I like this route but my friends tend to like the wash route as the elevation gain is more gradual.
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Fortification Hill, Lake Mead, Las Vegas
Fortification Hill, Lake Mead, Las Vegas
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