Santa Rosa Peak

Mountain/Rock

Santa Rosa Peak

Page Type: Mountain/Rock

Location: Nevada, United States, North America

Elevation: 9701 ft / 2957 m

Page By: SummitSpirit

Created/Edited: Apr 25, 2003 / Apr 25, 2003

Object ID: 151582

Hits: 2434

Page Score: 69.9% - 7 Votes

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Table of Contents

Overview

Santa Rosa Peak is a picturesque peak located about 45 miles north of Winnemucca, NV. Lonely, rarely visited, and subtle, this area is quintessential basin and range country: no lakes, no alpine meadows, no large coniferous forests. It encompasses the south end of the Santa Rosa Mountains, with 9,701-foot Santa Rosa Peak in the northern section as its highest point. The United States Congress designated the Santa Rosa - Paradise Peak Wilderness Area in 1989 and it now has a total of 31,000 acres.
Over the generations only a few people have climbed it. I climbed it in 1978 and it was my first real mountain. It is snow covered most years through July and the best time to climb it is early fall. It is approximately a four mile climb from the 4500 ft valley floor.
We started from McDermitt, NV on the Oregon-Nevada border and exited highway 95 just past the small town of Orevada and approached the peak through the canyon directly below it. The initial climb moderates considerably when you overcome the lower foothills. As you progress toward the peak the grade increases slowly to about 40 degrees as you make the summit climb. It takes about 4 to 5 hours going up and considerably less descending.

Getting There

Trailheads & Trails

Several roads provide access to the west and east sides of the Wilderness. All are gravel and dirt. Although four-wheel drive isn't necessary for most, a high-clearance vehicle is advisable. Westside roads are flat, soft, sandy tracks with high centers; eastside roads are rocky clay that is very slick when wet. There is one developed trail head at Singas Creek with a horse unloading ramp, hitching rails, a large circular parking area and informational bulletin board. Similar facilities are scheduled for installation at other locations in the near future.

The Summit Trail runs north-south along the east side of the range almost the entire length of the wilderness, crossing through several drainages before dropping over the west side of the ridge to end at Buffalo Canyon Trail head. Approximately half the trail is actually in the wilderness; the rest runs parallel a few hundred feet below the boundary. The most accessible section, from Lamance Creek to Buffalo Canyon, is about 10 miles long.

EASTERN ACCESS: All of the eastside trails are accessed of f of state route 290. The main trail head for the Summit Trail is at Singas Creek. Hidden from view by foothills, the Singas Creek basin is filled with aspen, peaks with vertical granite faces, and streams fed by the spring snowmelt.

Other access points for the Summit Trail include: Abel Creek, Hanson Creek and Lamance Creek; all with similar topography and scenic vistas. The Summit Trail continues north into Big Cottonwood Canyon, private land with a locked gate currently blocks vehicle access to the northern trail head.

WESTERN ACCESS: All of the westside trails are accessed from Highway 95 north of Winnemucca. The trail in Andorno Creek is accessed through private land. Permission should be requested from the owner of the Andorno Ranch before crossing private land. The Buffalo Canyon Trail is a 4.5-mile climb through phyllite outcrops and the headwaters basin to the summit of the range. It ties into the Summit Trail at the head of Abel Creek.

The trail in Falls Canyon passes a small waterfall about ½ mile into the 1.5 mile trek. The trail in Horse Canyon is two miles long with dramatic views of mudslide scars remnants of mother nature's strength. The two mile hike up McConnell Creek rewards you with a spectacular view of Santa Rosa Peak which can be scaled by only the hardiest of hikers. The rebel Creek Trail is a gradual climb of about three miles. From this vantage point, one can see the near vertical rim of Santa Rosa Peak which is crescent shaped with windswept limber pine growing at the tree line before dropping into the headwaters of Cottonwood Creek.

Red Tape

The trail in Andorno Creek on the Western route is accessed through private land. Permission should be requested from the owner of the Andorno Ranch before crossing private land. The overall wilderness area is highly primative and there are no fees for accessing the Mountain.

When To Climb

The Peak is easiest climbed during the fall due to moderate weather and clear days. If you prefer climbing in snow, which obviously is more dangerous then anytime from January through early June would be best. It could be easily climbed during mid to late summer but the heat is a factor to consider during these months.

Camping

The geography of this area is very primative and unestablished for convient camping depending on the direction you approach the mountain. The Paradise Valley side offers the best camping and is considerably more scenic during most of the year.

Mountain Conditions

A few websites offering information on this mountain are as listed.

http://www.fs.fed.us/htnf/paradpeak.htm

National Wilderness Preservation System, Santa Rosa - Paradise Peak Wilderness

Mountain Zone.com