Hike Diamond Peak Diamond Range BLM, NV

Jul 31, 2022 — Diamond Peak is a big lump outside of Eureka, Nevada. It has a decent trail much of the way and served as a shorter outing during my drive back through middle of nowhere Nevada. Any vehicle can make it to Newark Summit here (39.52341, -115.83887), and Google will get you there without issue when coming from either east or west. Heading north from Newark Summit will stop sedans, but Crossover vehicles could make it to just past Poison Spring, around here (39.53431, -115.83508). The road then becomes overgrown and has a dangerously deep eroded rut on the left. If a tire were to slip in, you'd be in a lot of trouble. The road then gets narrower and steeper and I had to engage 4WD to reach the pass where I parked. So, if you have only 2WD I recommend parking just before the aforementioned big ditch comes in. Continuing north along this road is doable for only the most serious vehicles, as the ascent road becomes obnoxiously steep and loose. I was happy with where I parked since I wanted to ascend to the east on a steep old roadbed and gain the ridge where the morning light was really nice. On my way back on foot I decided to scope the road that I'd opted to not drive and was relieved I'd parked earlier. I left both options on my map for reference. However, if you can make it to the end of the road, you can cut about a mile and 600 vertical gain round-trip from my stats. If you had to park back toward Poison Spring add about 2 miles and 600 vertical.

Someone had left an ATV at the saddle at the end of the road. I later found the owner huddled up on the summit with some crazy-looking binoculars, the hunting sort. He wasn't particularly friendly. I bet likely because I spooked an animal or two on my way up. I started north from the saddle and had to take a second to locate the trail, a nicely carved line in the otherwise relatively thick brush. I happily followed it along Diamond Peak's south ridge, enjoying the morning and the views toward the summit ahead. The trail stuck mostly to the ridge crest, dropping a few feet off to the left or right when the terrain got rocky. Once the trail becomes a little bit too difficult to follow, I recommend keeping just left since I had the best luck there. If you make good choices with social trails you choose to follow you can avoid all brush, though even without the best choice the brush is very minimal. Animal trails also lead away from the crest, so pay attention and just try to stay high, since the path of least resistance isn't always correct.

A bit less than halfway up I noted a rocky hump along the ridge at around 9100'. On my ascent I stuck below and to the right, side-hilling on awful terrain. I recommend just sticking to the crest and eating the additional vertical gain. It has some Class 2 and embedded limestone, but it's certainly better than leaving the ridgeline. Past this, the trail continues more steeply up a mostly clear slope for a short time, but then disappears at the base of a brushy-looking slope with a minor rock outcrop at its top. I followed the trail until it was clear it wasn't going to ascend anymore and then just headed through a short section of brush, where I soon picked up another social trail and it wrapped just to the left of the outcrop.

After this outcrop, the trail becomes somewhat visible again, but really it's just a straightforward ascent to the summit from here, no more brush to contend with. At first the slope is steep and has hints of scree, but later it becomes grassy along the final ridge traverse.