Hike Horse Benchmark and Spring Peak Loop Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, NV

May 11, 2021 — After wrapping up Wheeler Benchmark a few days ago, I was looking forward to checking out more of theis remote area of the Spring Mountains. I was initially planning to hike Horse Benchmark and Spring Peak both as out-and-backs, but decided to risk bushwhacking across the ridgeline separating the two in order to create a loop. I am so happy I did! I saw wild horses, a bald and pretty ridgeline, and the bushwhacking was minimal. In fact, the routes leading to and from the peaks were far less cool that the ridgeline itself, so I'm especially happy I completed this route instead.

I started with Horse Benchmark, if only because the drive in was closer than going all the way up to the start point of Spring Peak. I began up an ATV road that quickly becomes too bad for probably any vehicle, taking this until it eroded into a gravel wash. With only a few downed trees as obstacles and otherwise no bushwhacking, I was starting off in good spirits. Eventually the wash began to narrow into a forest detritus-filled drainage and at a junction, I decided to leave the lowland and head west up a slope instead. Although I did encounter likely more zig-zagging on this ascent than if I had stayed in the drainage, I was happy to start getting some views. I also encountered a couple of short Class 2 sections as I got closer to the ridgeline above. I can't imagine there's a "best" way to make it to the ridgeline, but my way was fine. Once at the saddle south of Horse Benchmark, the views became really nice. Class 2 brought me to the summit of Horse Benchmark, where I took in to ridgeline to come to the north, ending at Spring Peak. It sure did seem far away, but fortunately didn't seem to have too many bumps along the way. I also could see a really nice-looking clear section halfway across that I was looking forward to getting to.

The initial descent from Horse Benchmark is the least pleasant part of the day. It's loose Class 2 on the steep east slope (typical limestone slabs and small talus blocks), but the ridgeline is slow and loose Class 2/3. I don't know what's a better option, but it's fairly short-lived and soon I found myself descending quickly on pleasant and steep dirt. The ridgeline continued to be really nice, with minimal trees to dodge and bsaically no brush. Eventually I made it to the aforementioned clearing, which was an old burn area. It was really nice. Wide open views and a clearing that reminded me somewhat of the traverse from Griffith Peak to Charleston Peak, but of course without a trail. I saw some trees that had been clearly chopped by humans at some point, and a few wild horses which I admired for a few minutes until they scurried away.

This clear section lasted a half mile or so until I started to ascend again through light trees toward a rocky-looking outcrop above. A few hundred feet of steep ascent led me to the base of this outcrop. I chose to keep left and had to navigate Class 2/2+ limestone pinnacles and loose terrain for a few hundred feet. It added some thought to this otherwise straightforward route, but I'm sure if you keep to the right around the outcrop, you can ascend to its apex and descend on easier terrain. Past the rock outcrop, the going got slightly more brushy as I ascended to Spring Peak. All was pretty easily avoidable, but it wasn't the same sort of typical ridge walking I had been enjoying so far. The last quarter mile to Spring Peak introcued a lot of nice big trees and some light Class 2 scrambling. It will be tempting to get all the way to the ridgeline, but I recommend keeping just right of the crest to stay within the trees until just before the summit. Spring Peak had basically no views, so I continued along the ridge to its lower, northern neighbor. I labeled this North Spring Peak.

I highly recommend continuing to North Spring Peak. The views were among the best of the day, and it served as a great sunset viewing point. To reach its summit, I headed up its steep south slope and then kept to the right of its limestone rock outcrop. A Class 2 option presented itself at its eastern side.

I descended basically back to the saddle of Spring Peak and North Spring Peak and then headed down the drainage separating the two. The first half of the route down was a quick descent with some downed trees to hop over or wrap around, but eventually the drainage started require a bit more thought. A fair amount of brush and low-growing plants required some effort, and the drainage faded away into just being a wide open gentle slope. I just headed generally east. As you'll see on the attached map, I sort of wandered all over the place, basically just picking my way through drainages and flattish terrain in order to avoid the majority of the forest crap. I came across a dirt road and followed it back to Wheeler Pass Road. I took Wheeler Pass Road back to my car, stopping only for a minute to snap a picture of the Charcoal Kilns, a historical landmark along the way.