Hiking Cathedral Peak and South Cove Peak Loop in Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Nevada

Directions Route Map Download GPX

Feb 25, 2019 — What an incredibly fun route in one of the most remote areas I've been in the Lake Mead region. Cathedral Peak High Point has been on my to-do list for a really long time, but the traverse through the desert to get there deterred me for a while, so I finally sat down to plan a trip to cover more ground than just an out-and-back to that peak. There were a few spots that were hard to decide would work or not based on the topo, but I figured I'd start early and give this a go and hope for the best. Ultimately, the entire route goes at Class 2+ except for a couple of very short moves, Class 3. This route covers West Cathedral Peak, Cathedral Peak, Peak 2395, South Cove Peak, and Red Barrel Peak (Peak 2674), five small high points in this gorgeous desert landscape with Lake Mead as its backdrop.

Starting from Boathouse Cove Road, I can't really illustrate with photos or words how to get to West Cathedral Peak, but it's not too hard: there are just lots of desert bumps and many potential routes to get up there. West Cathedral is just a hump on the way to Cathedral, and the summit block of Cathedral is Class 3. Getting down from Cathedral and into a south-draining wash was the first obstacle I was unsure of, but a series of short drops and otherwise very little resistance got me down to the sheer cliffs of the Cathedral Peaks.

I took a few minutes to explore an east-draining canyon that appealed to me due to a delicate-looking arch above and the 1000+ foot face, but the canyon seemed to widen rather than narrow out and I turned around rather than follow it farther.

Peak 2395 ended up being a bonus that I spontaneously went for because of its crazy cliff faces. The route I took to get up surprisingly was harder than the route down (which looked dubious on a topo), but both routes worked and made this peak a fun addition.

Before heading up to the gorgeous South Cove Peak, I explored yet another east-draining canyon that also had an arch at the entrance and seemed to become more narrow. However, the time zone on my phone changed to AZ time (ugh, technology) and I got concerned about how long I had left, so I didn't get far in that canyon. From the summit of South Cove Peak, I could see that it didn't look like a particularly interesting drainage anyway.

After South Cove Peak, I followed a wash with a couple of manageable obstacles and then headed into open desert to scout a route up to Red Barrel Peak (Peak 2674). This extra peak wasn't particularly interesting, but it was a nice viewpoint to look at the day's adventure from above.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)

Peaks on hike

Elevation

Prominence

West Cathedral Peak

2818 ft

226 rise

Cathedral Peak

2851 ft

587 rise

Peak 2395

2395+ ft

525 rise

South Cove Peak

2136 ft

n/a rise

Red Barrel Peak

2657+ ft

295 rise

Hire me or show me some love!

Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I'm not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!

After leaving Boathouse Cove Road, head through open desert. You can see the Cathedral Peaks cluster in the center here.

Cathedral Peaks cluster close-up.

Following one of many potential options to get to West Cathedral Peak.

The route to West Cathedral Peak that I chose just heads up a series of slopes ahead.

Class 2 slopes leading to West Cathedral Peak.

West Cathedral Peak summit, looking southwest toward the way I came.

West Cathedral Peak summit looking east toward Cathedral Peak.

West Cathedral Peak, looking south toward Peak 2395 and South Cove Peak.

Along the way toward Cathedral Peak.

Cathedral Peak ahead. I wrapped around to the east of the peak just below the summit.

Class 3 move to the summit block of Cathedral Peak.

Cathedral Peak summit, looking south toward the terrain I'll be traversing shortly.

Cathedral Peak summit, looking toward Lake Mead.

Cathedral Peak summit, close up of some interesting formations.

Headed down a dubious gully that went really well to get to the wash below Cathedral Peak.

Some running water within the drainage I chose.

Close-up of some flowing water.

Approaching the northern end of Peak 2395.

The draining starts to get more narrow.

Looking back up the narrow section of the drainage leading down from Cathedral Peak.

A natural arch above at the head of the canyon just north of Peak 2395. I didn't go too far into this canyon.

Starting down the canyon north of Peak 2395.

I turned around at this view point down the canyon. It seemed to just get really wide, but the cliff face on the left (north) was ridiculously impressive. It's the southern end of the Cathedral Peaks cluster.

Heading along the drainage just out of the canyon. This photo is looking back toward the southern end of the Cathedral Peaks, and you can see the canyon I was just exploring on the right.

Peak 2395 ahead. A couple of easy Class 3 moves leads you up this slope to the ridge.

On the ridgeline leading to Peak 2395. Really pretty spot.

Peak 2395 summit looking south toward South Cove Peak (center).

Peak 2395 looking west toward Manganese Peak and the terrain I'd be walking through later.

Looking back up an unlikely gully (left) that I came down off the summit of Peak 2395.

Back in a drainage headed south toward South Cove Peak (center).

Narrow section along the way.

South Cove Peak ahead. The route takes you just left of that pointy peak in the middle.

A Class 3 move to get down this dryfall. Alternatively, I think I could have avoided it by staying to the left, but whatever.

Close-up of some running water, the Class 3 dryfall just behind me.

Narrow section after the dryfall.

South Cove Peak center, but first I wanted to explore the canyon to the left.

Headed down the canyon.

Another cool natural arch at the head of the canyon just north of South Cove Peak.

Heading down on interesting rock into the canyon. I turned around shortly after entering.

Approaching the base of South Cove Peak. Head toward the left of that pointy peak pictured on the right. There's a short Class 3 move to gain the ridge.

After the Class 3 move, looking back toward the ridge. You can see the backside of that pointy peak on the right.

South Cove Peak summit, looking west.

South Cove Peak summit, looking north toward Peak 2395 and the Cathedral Peaks in the distance. You can see the draining I used to get here from the Cathedral Peaks in the center.

South Cove Peak summit, looking east toward Lake Mead.

Close-up of the canyon I'll be using to get back.

After getting down from South Cove Peak, I headed up the canyon pictured previously.

Looking back toward South Cove Peak.

A single easy Class 3 move in this canyon. Otherwise just your normal Class 2 boulder obstacles.

Eventually, the canyon opens up and you have to traverse open desert to get to the base of Red Barrel Peak (Peak 2674).

Heading east through the desert toward Red Barrel Peak.

Red Barrel Peak ahead. I chose to head left and go up the Class 2 slope.

Along the ridgeline to the summit.

Red Barrel Peak summit, looking toward South Cove Peak (center) and Peak 2395 (left).

Red Barrel Peak looking west. My car is parked just behind that conical peak.

Hike Cathedral Peak and South Cove Peak Loop Lake Mead National Recreation Area, NV

Hire me or show me some love!

Hire me or show me some love!