Hike South Schell Mountains Loop Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, NV

Sep 12, 2020 — After visiting the high point of the Schell range, North Schell Peak, a couple of months ago, I wanted to return to see the southern section of the range's lesser-visited peaks that felt unique for Nevada. Additionally, I could hike a few Nevada 11ers using this route, a list of peaks that has me pretty excited lately.

I parked just past a point where the forest road forks at a good turn-off accessible by pretty much any vehicle, right before a stream crossing at an information kiosk. I did this route clockwise on my attached map, my thought process being that the most unknown stuff would be better on the ascent. However, I would actually recommend you do my route counter-clockwise so most of the unpleasant ascending would be done as a descent instead. Alternatively, if you are more excited about efficiently bagging the peaks in this section of the Schell range, you can forego my lovely loop and make this an out-and-back. Doing it this alternative way requires you have 4WD (or are more confident than I am with a mid-clearance vehicle), so you can park here: 39.3187, -114.62153 at some rancher buildings. Parking here enables you to ascend the slopes up to the ridgeline and to Peak 11368, traverse to South Schell Peak and Peak 11768, and then return. My route combines forest roads, a trail, and the ridgeline to make a nice loop. I quite liked my route, but it's probably not the most efficient way to hike these peaks.

Assuming you do want to take my loop, I'll describe it as I did it. The northern fork of the dirt road ended shortly after the junction, where I started on a pretty nice road-converted-trail along the North Fork of Berry Creek. After a few miles along the trail and toward the head of the drainage, the trail continues left and up the slopes. Here, I left the trail and continued up the drainage until it opened into a wide basin to the west of South Schell Peak. There was some tree-dodging and steeper forested terrain, but no bushwhacking. The trees slowly cleared and I could see South Schell Peak ahead at the other end of a big basin, but the slopes looked very steep and talus-filled. I figured my best bet for success would be to ascend the ridge that reached northwest from the peak's summit (on my right) since it appeared to be the least steep option. I'm not sure that my route to gain this ridge was the best, but it certainly wasn't the worst. For the most part, it was a steep chute with minimal scree and only became Class 2 just below the ridge crest. Once on this ridge, it was a straight shot to South Schell Peak, but it was quite unpleasant for the last few hundred feet. The talus became small and deep, and made ascending a slow and tedious process. It's this section of the route that makes me kind of recommend you do my route counter-clockwise so that this would be your descent instead of ascent.

Once on South Schell Peak, I laughed from a deflated sense of accomplishment toward Peak 11768 to the east, a coveted Nevada 11er that I knew would make me upset if I didn't go bag it. Set aside from the primary Schell ridgeline, this peak requires dropping down about 1000 feet from South Schell Peak before reascending to Peak 11768, which required gaining almost 1000 vertical. Of course, I had to then return to get back to the main ridge. It's inconveneint, but the views toward Mount Moriah and Wheeler Peak were nice. It's also mostly just a grassy slope, with some boulder-hoppy talus. Also, I was able to skip reascending the last few hundred feet to South Schell Peak by side-hilling its southern slopes to get back to the ridge crest, a small victory.

I continued south along the ridge all the way to Peak 11368 where I took in some views before scoping out what I thought would be my best descent option to the dirt road below. I couldn't see the rancher buildings that marked the end of the dirt road, but I knew they were down there. I decided on a steep, grassy slope to the northwest. It passed through a small forested section, but required no bushwhacking the whole way down. Animal trails aided in getting down to the South Fork of Berry Creek drainage, where I located the dirt road. It was a steep descent, but probably not even Class 2. From the road, I passed the rancher buildings that may or may not be in use and continued for a few miles along the road until I got back to my car.