Apr 27, 2019 — Virgin Peak is visible from Interstate 15, and I've passed it countless times while traveling around the desert. It stands out only because its height, but it never felt super appealing because it just looked like a big green lump on the horizon. Finally, I made the effort out into Gold Butte National Monument and to the southern base of Virgin Peak. I turned left off Whitney Pass Road and this less-maintained dirt road (Black Mountain Road / Virgin Peak Road) became too tricky for my taste. I ended up parking very close to Whitney Pass Road, adding about 2 miles to my round-trip, but my stats and map in this trip report assume you can make it to the abandoned truck and an old corral. Some could go farther then even here, but it seemed unwise.
From the corral, I curved east into the major drainage, following the wash for a couple of miles until a a spur of the main south ridge of Virgin Peak protruded east. I took this to the main ridge, where there were some outstanding views of the area. Additionally, springtime made the whole area bright with colorful grasses and occasional wildflowers. The ridge slowly gained elevation and trees began to appear. The social trail was difficult to follow, but the route didn't involve any serious bushwhacking, and was overall pleasant if not a little straightforward for my taste. As you can see from the map, it's basically a straight walk up to the summit along the ridge. I encountered some simple Class 2 stuff toward the summit.
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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!
