This otherwise undistinguished peak offers the only public view of Groom Lake and the secret military base known as Area 51. The base is still very distant -- about 26 miles away -- but on a clear morning with good binoculars, you can make out most of the buildings and any aircraft (or flying saucers) taking off from the tarmac. (sample telescope view)

Tikaboo Peak is essentially a side peak of Badger Mountain, which is part of the Pahranagat Range, one of the seemingly endless series of north-south ranges in the Great Basin desert. The surrounding terrain is barren scrub, but the approach to the summit passes through a thin evergreen forest that can be cool and pleasant in the summer.

The most popular hike takes less than an hour each way, trailhead-to-summit, but the full expedition from Las Vegas usually ends up taking all day.

History

Tikaboo Peak was "discovered" in 1994 by the Groom Lake Interceptors, a loose group of military watchers. At the time, the Groom Lake airbase could be seen from two much closer hills -- Freedom Ridge and White Sides. When the Air Force threatened to withdraw this land, the group felt challenged to find another viewpoint to replace it.

The Interceptors Trail was first blazed by Tom Mahood in the Spring of 1994. Since then, there have been hundreds expeditions to the summit, especially after the closer viewpoints were finally closed in April 1995. Visitors have included several large public outings (photo) and dozens of TV crews. Lately, interest has waned, and the peak is probably visited only a couple of times per month in the summer.

Other potential viewpoints, including Badger Mountain and Mt. Irish, have been pretty well surveyed, and none seem to offer a satisfying view of the base. Short of chartering a plane and flying along the edge of the restricted airspace, Tikaboo offers the best legal view of the base.

Getting There

The most popular trail, the Interceptors Trail is accessible by a 25-mile dirt road off of US-93, south of Alamo. The drive from Las Vegas takes about 90 miles on the paved highway, followed by an hour on the dirt road. Details are found in the description of trail.

Any car can get you close enough to the trailhead for the hike. (One unnamed journalist arrived in an $80,000 sports car -- loaned by the manufacturer who was unaware of its off-road capabilities. photo) However, a high-clearance 4WD can push further up the access road and might cut the hike in half.

Red Tape

The summit and complete access route are on public (BLM) land, so you are free to visit and camp anytime. The land you pass through is used to graze cattle, which are the only other visitors you are likely to see.

Campfires may be restricted due to current drought conditions.

The nearest military land is over three miles away, so the chances of running into military border patrols are very slim. In hundreds of expeditions to the summit, there have never been any incidents of cameras or film being seized (which was a problem on the nearer viewpoints that have now been closed). (Beware, however, of United Nations troops.)

When To Climb

The peak is snow-free May through November. In the other months, snowfall varies greatly from year to year, and the peak could be free of snow in any month, but it is difficult to tell without visiting. Snow, when it comes, is usually no more than a foot deep. The chief problem with snow is that the last five miles of the dirt access road could become impassible. The road can also be impassible when the snow melts in April and is replaced by mud.

The best time to hike is the summer months. At 8,000 feet, the air is relatively cool compared to the deserts around Las Vegas.

The best time to arrive on the peak is very early in the morning, since the sun will be behind you when looking west toward the base. Evening is the worst, since you are looking into the sun, and the base tends to disappear in the glare.

Camping

Camping is allowed anywhere on BLM land (that is, almost anywhere in the outback of Nevada) without any fees or permits. There is a reasonable limit of 10 days in the same location.

According to Nevada law, you cannot camp or park within 300 yards of any spring or watering trough used by cattle, because it scares them away. The main impact of this restriction is that you cannot camp or park at Badger Spring at the base of the mountain, but you can camp anyplace else.

The most popular place to camp is at the saddle described along the Interceptors Trail.

Mountain Conditions

The chief form of bad weather is high winds, which could happen any time of year. This wind forecast might help you find a calm day. In the summer, high winds will only be an annoyance, but they could be painful the rest of the year.

Liquid precipitation is rare, but lightning is more common and could be a hazard at the summit.

The closest weather station is Alamo, Nevada, about 3000 feet lower than the trailhead.

The winter snow could surprise you on the last five miles of the road, since the trailhead is in a valley that is partially protected from the sun. (There could be significant snow at the trailhead even if you see none on the approach.)

Hazards

The chief danger in climbing this mountain is your car breaking down on the dirt access road. In the worst case, you would have to hike 25 miles back to the paved highway before anyone is likely to find you. Since this would probably involve spending at least one night in your car, it is advisable to bring a sleeping bag.

The danger of breaking down is greater in the winter or early spring when snow or mud might trap you on final five miles of the access road and nighttime temperatures fall well below freezing. Breaking down in the summer is less threatening. There are plenty of cattle water troughs in the area, so you won't die of thirst, and the temperatures aren't too extreme.

Services

There are no services whatsoever along the 100 miles of paved and dirt road between Las Vegas and the trailhead, so you should stock up with fuel and food before you leave. (As you head out of Las Vegas on I-15, the Speedway exit is the last one with gas.)

Maps and Information Sources

Tikaboo peak is shown on the Badger Spring, NV topographic map.

The peak was first described in the Area 51 Viewer's Guide by Glenn Campbell.

External Links

Website of the UK heavy metal band "Tikaboo Peak"
Includes a photo of the base.
Tikaboo Peak - the comic strip
Obviously named after the peak, but mostly irrelevant.
Dave Bethke's report and photos
Frank Maloney's report & photos
Area 51 panorama taken from Tikaboo Peak
B+W Area 51 Panorama from Tikaboo
A very wide photo.
Google Search for Tikaboo Peak
Google image search
Several good photos.
Dreamland 51's report
Dreamland Guide trip report
Tom Mahood's Area 51 Photo Gallary
Includes several shots of Tikaboo peak. On photo is marked, "The first reconnaissance hike up Tikaboo Peak, on March 12, 1994."
Tikaboo First Ascent, by Tom Mahood

Images