Trail Canyon Route

Approach

From the trail head it is 2.3 mile hike along a stream up Trail Canyon. The trail is fairly easy to follow most of the time. There are two boggy areas (one with a spring) where there are many cow paths through the willows and scrub trying to confuse you . Try to keep headed west until you break out of this mess.

Route Description

Once out of the willows there are two routes to follow. One is straight up the canyon through a lot of scree to a large saddle. Once the saddle is gained turn left and follow the ridge to the summit.

You can also go left to a large bowl with what looks like many paths. Follow the main trail that curves around to the right and up through a large bowl of scree to a small saddle. The two routes meet up here. From here the summit can be seen to the left, south. The travel is now much easier. Follow the ridge south and around a false summit. The rocks are larger but the footing is much more stable.

Essential Gear

The most essential gear is plenty of water. This is a desert and the only water along the entire route is the stream and spring that is pretty fouled by the cattle. You may want gaitors to keep the gravel out of your boots.

If doing a winter/snow climb, crampons and ice axe may be needed.

Miscellaneous Info

If you have information about this route that doesn't pertain to any of the other sections, please add it here.

Additions and CorrectionsPost an Addition or Correction

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jhculbert - Sep 7, 2019 5:39 am - Hasn't voted

Boundary Peak, NV - Trail Canyon Route Notes - 26 Aug 2019

From the paved highway the dirt road is in good shape - 2WD passable - abt. 14.3 miles to the trailhead. However, there were two minor stream crossings that I suspect would be difficult to cross during Spring runoff. At about 13.5 miles the road splits, and one should take the left fork on road number 1S61 rather than to the right to the Queen Canyon trailhead. Camping overnight near the trailhead would be a good option. We started hiking from the trailhead at 7:30am and followed a distinct trail until the last of the willows were passed. Then the trail became indistinct, making it necessary to bushwack west through the sagebrush and into the bristlecone pines until the saddle was reached. We reached this first large saddle at the head of Trail Canyon (at abt. 10,800 ft.) about 10:30am where this now non-trail route meets the obvious trail from the Queen Mine. This is a good place for backpackers to camp overnight. From here the trail turns south and begins a steep climb in loose rock and scree to a small second saddle located to the west of an unnamed peak. From here the trail levels off around that unnamed peak to a third saddle (at abt. 12,080 ft., where a return trail descends east down the scree slope into Trail Canyon). We reached this third saddle at 1:30pm and decided we had run out of time to reach the top and still return to the trailhead before dark at 8pm. However, going down the scree slope trail route at this point enabled us to return to the trailhead by 4:30pm. But, it was difficult to find the trail again in the sagebrush below, and it took some time walking along the south side of the willows before we found the return trail to the trailhead.

Bruce H - Jul 24, 2022 9:03 pm - Hasn't voted

Getting to Boundary Peak Trailhead

As of July 2022, the signage on the way to this trailhead is very poor. I thought I’d try to help explain the best way to get there. From Hwy 264, take Chiatovich CREEK Road. (Not Chiatovich Road). Google Maps and other apps might tell you to take Trail Canyon Drive, but having driven both, I can tell you that Chiatovich Creek Road is much smoother and easier. It has its bumpy sections but not nearly as many. At about the 6.5 mile mark you should see a large metal barn. At 7.2 miles take a right. At 7.9, take another right onto Forest Road 2N07. At 10.8 miles take a left onto Forest Road 1S61. At 11.6 miles you should see a little reservoir on the left. Keep going. At 12.4 miles you’ll see a fork in the road. CRUCIAL: Take the LEFT fork!!! As of July 2022 it was marked simply as “1S61 Dead End” with the word “Trail” at the bottom in tiny letters. Thete should really be a larger sign that says something like “Boundary Peak Trailhead, this way”. Last year i didn’t see the tiny letters and I guessed wrong and took a right. This leads you to a steeper, sandier road where my FWD vehicle got stuck. I’ve heard that even 4WD vehicles can have trouble with it. (I think it leads to Queen Mine Trail? Not sure.) But again, take the left fork if you want the main Boundary Peak trailhead. To try to help, I put up a makeshift sign made of a cedar plank, but who knows how long it will stay up. Anyway, after taking the left fork, you’ll drive a little less than a mile and arrive at the Boundary Peak Trailhead. One final note on directions: there are three or four places along the forest road where it will split and go off in slightly different directions without any signage. In these cases, the roads rejoin themselves a little further up. Good luck. It’s a challenging hike for sure, but worth it.

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