Turtlehead Peak
Location: Nevada, Red Rock Area
Elevation : 6,285 ft
Overview...
Turtlehead Peak is located about 15 miles West of Las Vegas and in the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. (RRCNCA)
This limestone peak can be found easily on the right (North) side of Red Rock Canyon from the city.
Route...
* From Red Rock Canyon *
You can start from Sandstone Quarry Parking Lot in Red Rock Canyon. Its the 3rd parking Lot on the Scenic Loop.
For the first mile is an easy dry wash hike. Trail leave the wash and follow the ridge leads to the saddle. Trail folks when it getting close to the saddle. The most easiest way is follow the top of ridge line that is one of the most LEFT trail on the way up. Steep and loose. But all class 2. There are some class 3 spot near the saddle if you take right (close to the peak) trail.
From the saddle, its an easy class 2 hike up to the peak.
Stats:
Distance: 5 miles
Total Elevation gain: about 2,000 feet
Time: 3 hours
Difficulty: 2
Class: 2
My hike Album....
2009/02/22
2009/02/01
2009/01/17
2008/10/12
2008/06/07 (via Calico Basin / Calico Tank Peak, Turtle Jr.) 2008/05/24
* From Calico Basin *
Trail Head is Kraft Mtn. Trail Head. Its located at the end of Calico Basin.
Hike up and over the west of Kraft Mtn. then down into Gateway Canyon. Follow the canyon. There are couple of class 3 spot at dry fall.
When you get the sand stone area (under the Grey cap), leave the wash to the left toward the Turtlehead.
The route is getting steeper and lots of loose rocks.
Cross over the several redge to the saddle. There are several class 3 spots. From the Saddle its class 2 scramble to the peak.
There are no trail on this route and hard to follow if you are not experienced.
This route is not a good route for descent. I recommend descend ordinary trail then take a ash canyon (between Calico hills and New Peak) to the Calico Basin.
Stats:
Distance: 7.5 miles
Total Elevation gain: about 3,000 feet
Time: 5 - 6 hours
Difficulty: 4 - 5
Class: 2 - 3
My hike Album....
2009/01/24
2008/12/12
