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This page last updated on 02/10/2019
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Destination: Mount Potosi at Mountain Springs Pass
Distance from Point of Origin: 36 miles.
Estimated (One Way) Travel Time: 55 minutes.
Directions: From the Stratosphere Casino, head southwest on South Las Vegas Blvd go 1.7 miles and turn right onto Spring Mountain Rd. Go .7 miles and turn left to merge onto I-15 South. Travel 5.5 miles and take exit 33 to merge onto NV-160 W/Blue Diamond Rd/SR-160 (aka Pahrump Highway) west toward Pahrump. Heading west on NV-160 go past SR-159 (West Charleston Blvd) the turn to Red Rock Canyon. Continue following highway 160 toward the mountains and Mountain Pass for abut 10 miles. As the road starts to ascend toward the Pass on the northern flanks of Potosi Mountain, look for a dirt road on the left (south) side of NV-160 that is signed for the Boy Scout camp located within. Follow the graded dirt road south for a couple of miles, past the Boy Scout camp and a few houses here and there, ignoring the smaller dirt roads branching off. This two mile stretch of property is owned by the Boy Scout Camp and there are no trespassing signs on every other tree on both sides of the road as well as two large signs at their property lines. It has been reported that there is a very good chance that you could be or will be chased away. Stay on the main dirt road until you see a small parking area (maybe 2 cars) on the right.
General Description: With an elevation of around 8,500 feet above sea level, Potosi Mountain, or Mount Potosi as it's generally referred to, is the last large mountain stemming from the southern end of Nevada’s Spring Mountain range. When viewed from Las Vegas, its presence to the southwest is striking. Its northeast face is a maze of complex ridges and rugged cliffs. Once one reaches the parking area, the rugged west-side cliffs of Potosi Mountain are to the east. There is another impressive unnamed peak is to the west. Climbing up to the west in this area you are presented with a variety of views in every direction.
Special Attraction or Points of Interest: Near the top of Potosi Mountain (on the eastern ridge) you will find what’s left of the remains of the TWA plane that crashed on January 16th, 1942, that killed 22 people including Carole Lombard. At the very top are a series of broadcast transmitters. Today the mountain is a major FM broadcast transmitter site for Las Vegas. It is home to 7 full power FM stations, along with 1 FM Translator. The stations are KNPR 88.9, KCNV 89.7, KOMP 92.3, KPLV 93.1, and KXPT 97.1 all licensed to Las Vegas, KFRH 104.3 licensed to North Las Vegas, and KXTE 107.5, licensed to Pahrump, Nevada. A translator, K276BL, also operates from up here on 103.1, simulcasting KSOS 90.5 from Las Vegas. KXTE was the first tenant to broadcast from the top of the mountain and the first station in the United States to transmit in HD Digital.
Primary Activity: Hiking.
Secondary Activities: Rock-hounding, Photographing and Birding.
Elevation: 8,500 feet at the top of the mountain.
Best Time To Visit: Available for hiking year round, the best time to make this hike would be in the cooler months of the Fall, Winter and Spring. Though there is some snow in the winter months, it is usually not very deep.
Difficulty: Moderate to difficult. Hiking to the top of Potosi Mountain can be quite grueling.
Facilities: None.
Estimated Round-trip Time: 3-4 hours for just walking around and taking pictures. To actually im the mountain would be and all day affair. |
01/08/2014 Trip Notes: I visited this area again with two of my hiking friends, Harvey Smith and Robert Croke, in search of the Potosi Mine site. Click here to view pictures and read information about this hike ... Potosi Mine - Mt. Potosi Canyon Road.
04/21/2011 Trip Notes: I first visited the Spring Mountain Pass and the west side of Potosi Mountain on with the rock hounds from the Heritage Park Senior Facility. We did not attempt to climb the mountain on our visit, but rather just hiked the general area looking for rocks and taking scenic pictures. I'm not really sure if there are any 'trails' up the mountain from this side. When attempting to climb the mountain, most people climb it from trails on its eastern ridges. We were afforded some beautiful scenic views though.
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Heading west and upward from the parking area, you are presented with a relatively easy climb up some wash-like, rocky terrain similar to that above. However, reaching the top provides you with the some lovely southerly views like the ones above and below.
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The shot above is the view looking toward of the northwest side of the Mt. Potosi range. Below are some more pictures of members of our group. The reflection in the middle is a self portrait of myself taken in one of the windows of our van.
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