A looming fixture of the Lake Mead landscape, Fortification Hill presents an impervious face toward the water. Due to this the angle of attack requires an over the bridge trip to the Arizona side of Lake Mead National Recreation Area. Although not of great duration, there are perilous portions to be conquered in order to gain the reward – a panorama of the area. With views of the dam and bridge overpass, Boulder Beach and Callville areas of the Lake Mead waters, and on a clear day – the true prize – a view of the Strip framed by the Rainbow Mountains of Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area and (if you’re lucky) the snow-capped peak of Mount Charleston.
At 4 miles long, the hike up Fortification Hill should only take 2 to 3 hours. However, due to the trailhead’s backcountry road location, a vehicle with All-Wheel-Drive is strongly suggested.
To get to the trailhead take Exit 2 (Kingman Wash Access Road) off of US Highway 93, 0.8 miles after passing over the Mike O'Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge and turn left under the freeway. Once on the dirt road drive 3.4 miles, passing a sign for Kingman Wash South Mine Road (70A) and arriving at the Painters Cove turnoff. Take the right past the outhouses, there will be a sign for Fortification Hill Road (70C). Another 2.7 miles and you will reach the trailhead marked on the left with a “TRAVEL AT YOUR OWN RISK” sign.
From the trailhead follow the gravel path, just a few yards into the journey there are options to choose from. The ridgeline trail begins to the right – it includes a couple steeper sections to climb up and is well delineated. Hiking poles for stability and added support during the more vertical sections would come in handy. The wash trail continues along the gravel path, following the ridgeline trail as a handrail always on the right (east) with a consistent incline for about 0.6 miles. Then it joins up with the ridgeline trail in a short steep climb up a hill. Another quarter of a mile and the trail meets a cluster of boulders that signify the start of the abrupt vertical gain that is about to begin.
About 700 feet of continuous severe elevation gain - painful on the way up but fun on the way down - and then the trail levels off, following along the base of the plateau for about a hundred yards. Then comes some scrambling, but don’t worry it is not technically difficult, only mentally if you take a glance at how high up you already are. A short climb later the path begins to traverse the plateau and gradually gains elevation over three-quarters of a mile to the mesa peak on top of the plateau.
Here there is a sign-in book and a 360-degree panorama of the wonders of Lake Mead National Recreation Area – Hoover Dam, the bridge bypass, Las Vegas Bay, Anniversary Peak, fragments of the Bowl of Fire, Mount Wilson, Frenchman Mountain – and with a far-off glimpse of the Las Vegas Strip, Red Rock, and Mount Charleston.
For more information contact Lake Mead NRA
Be prepared for the dangers different weather extremes can bring, always check the weather forecast before heading out to a hike.
