OverviewLying just to the north/northwest of Bonanza Peak in the far northern end of the Spring Mountains of southern Nevada, Willow Peak is seldom thought about or visited.
During the summer months, its steep northeastern face, visible from US95 as one travels north from Las Vegas, appears as a nothing sort of mountain a few hundred feet shorter than its aforementioned and beautifully forested neighbor. During the winter months, however, Willow Peak steals the show. After suffering a large fire some years back, most of the mountain is treeless, giving the snow-laden desert peak a very white, alpine appearance.
Having little interest in visiting Willow Peak in summer, I made a point to hit it once in January. I found it to be an easy, but terrific, winter climb.
There are a couple of easy ways to reach the summit of Willow Peak. They are discussed in detail below and on the route page.
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Getting ThereTake Highway 95 north from Las Vegas past both the Kyle Canyon Road and the Lee Canyon Road turn-offs on the left. Your turn-off, the Cold Creek turn-off, will be the third turn-off on the left and about an hour north of downtown Las Vegas. You can't miss it - there are huge prison facilities on both sides of the Cold Creek road, immediately off the highway.
Turn onto the signed Cold Creek road and follow it for 15-20 miles to the small community of Cold Creek (no services).
Here's where the options open:
1) Although I haven't traveled this route all the way to Willow Peak's summit, I am aware of a use trail that heads to Willow Peak from the Bonanza/Willow saddle. I won't put up a route page on this option, but here's the basic info -
Once Cold Creek is reached, stay on the main road until it turns into a dirt road near the base of Bonanza Peak (the large heavily-forested peak above the community; Willow Peak is also looming over the community to the north of Bonanza Peak, but you won't be confused by which peak is which since Willow Peak is, as I said earlier, essentially treeless).
Follow the dirt road for a couple of miles (the road deteriorates but is still passable to passenger cars) to an obvious parking area and a Bonanza Trail trailhead sign.
Keep your eyes peeled for wild horses around the trailhead - they are everywhere. I think I saw 7 when I was there.
From the Bonanza Peak trailhead at Cold Creek, follow the well-worn and easily followed trail for 4 miles or so as it winds its way up the mountain.
Eventually, you will reach the crest of the ridge above at a saddle. Bonanza Peak is to the south and Willow Peak is to the north/northeast. This saddle is a nice place for a break.
From the saddle, ignore the Bonanza Trail as it meanders off to the south toward Bonanza Peak, and follow a use trail heading north/northeast toward Willow Peak.
That's all the information I have on that route - It doesn't appear to be very long (maybe a mile) or that difficult (I can't imagine it being more than class 3 at its mightiest).
This route would involve about 10 miles (RT) with about 2100 feet of gain.
2) Just as the outskirts of Cold Creek are reached on the Cold Creek road, look for a dirt road leaving the paved road and heading off to the north (right). There are several dirt roads in the area heading off to the north, but this one is well-traveled, in the vicinity of the Cold Creek Picnic Area, and has a small pond and some ruins of old buildings next to the junction with the paved road.
This dirt road leads to Wheeler Pass, an obvious pass visible to the west and just north of Willow Peak. Although the dirt road branches off occasionally, it's not too difficult, with a little trial and error, to stay on the correct road leading to the pass.
The pass is perhaps 6 miles from the paved road and the road deteriorates quickly and extensively. I've taken my Corolla to places no passenger car should ever go and I made it to within 2 miles of the pass. Any high clearance vehicle will pass this test without difficulty. 4WD is not necessary.
The route for option 2, which is discussed in the route section of this page, starts from Wheeler Pass (or the dirt road if you can't make it that far in your vehicle).
Red TapeThere really isn't any red tape.
No permits are required to climb the mountain.
Leave bristlecone wood alone should you encounter the occasional piece. Don't steal it and don't burn it. From a scientific standpoint, fallen bristlecone wood is beneficial, nay, crucial in dating the trees and helping to identify geological/biological events having historically and prehistorically occurred. You never know if that neat-looking piece of bristlecone wood you're throwing on your backcountry campfire or lugging back to your garage is 4000 years old.
When To ClimbWillow Peak can be climbed year-round, though the route from the Bonanza Trail trailhead will be very snowy in winter and early spring because of its shady, eastern exposure. The route from Wheeler Pass, however, is very accessible all year. This route makes for a fine (though easy) winter climb.
The snow first starts to fall around the middle of October and tends to linger until May on northern exposures.
CampingBackcountry camping is allowed without a permit, although wood fires are not.
Willow Creek Campground is in the Cold Creek area, but I know nothing about it.
Mountain ConditionsYou can contact the Kyle Canyon Visitor's Center at 702-872-5486 to obtain current conditions for the Spring Mountains.
External Links Summit Portraits Images
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Spring Mountains
