Hike Arc Dome via Toiyabe Crest Trail Toiyabe National Forest, NV

Sep 21, 2020 — I finally made it to Arc Dome, a super-cool name for a super-prominent peak in central Nevada. I took the standard route for this one, starting from the Columbine Campground. Accessing the campground took some work due to long dirt roads and Google doing a poor job navigating. I recommend setting the coordinates to here (38.9604372,-117.4398648) and then continuing on that road to reach the campground. The road was fine except for one massive rut toward the end that can be avoided on the right using an illegally-formed makeshift road. I would still recommend at least mid-clearance. I couldn't find any officially-designated trailhead parking within Columbine Campground, so I pulled into one of the free campsites and started up the Stewart Creek Trail, marked with a "Crest Trail" sign.

The trail began really nice and forested and shortly after starting, reached a trail junction. Apparently going right would lead up Stewart Creek and join with the Toiyabe Crest Trail above, but I wanted to stick to what I understand to be the standard route, unsure if the Stewart Creek Trail was in good condition. The trail (marked on maps as 096) headed through meadows and forest and soon began climbing more steeply along the left side of a major drainage. Toward the top of this drainage, Trail 096 ended when it bisected the Toiyabe Crest Trail. I continued along the TCT up to a pass between two unnamed points. At this pass, I could see the wide slope leading up to the Arc Dome ridgeline ahead. First, the trail dropped down a couple hundred feet before crossing some minor talus (not even Class 2) and then ascending the wide slope. At the top of the slope, the TCT continues up to the right on a small rocky section to gain the ridge above.

Once on Arc Dome ridgeline I was expecting to see Arc Dome, but it was still too far away. I followed the Toiyabe Crest Trail away from the ridge, where it got a little faint until I met up with a junction. Here, the TCT continues to the right. I headed left, away from the TCT on a well-traveled spur trail that will ultiamtely lead to Arc Dome and end. The trail headed south. I made a quick detour to North Arc Dome on the left, which had maybe a tiny Class 2 move on its summit, but not enough to call the route Class 2. The views from North Arc Dome were lovely, and I could finally see Arc Dome in full view ahead. I got back to the trail and headed south. Unfortuantely, the route requires you drop 600+ feet to a saddle between North Arc Dome and Arc Dome, which would of course need to be reascended later. Once at the saddle, I headed up tight switchbacks on the steep northern ridge to the summit of Arc Dome. Through the wildfire smoke haze, I took in the weird Nevada landscape, as well as Mount Jefferson to the east.