Frenchman Mountain (Las Vegas, NV)

I am starting to realize how little time I have left in Vegas so I have been trying to cram in some fun stuff! Last month, on my way home from the temple, I noticed the beauty of the city lights and wondered to myself what the view must be like from the top of the mountain just east of the temple. When I got home I learned it is called Frenchman Mountain and I decided I would climb it one evening for a couple of pictures.


It turns out the trailhead for the hike is in a vacant lot popular for illegal dumping. I kept my fingers crossed for a vandalism free adventure and took off. The hike is 2 miles each way with a 160oft gain. What the trail guides don't tell you is that you have to gain at least a third of that twice!!

I started at 7:30 and reached the first crest in time to get a snapshot of the colors in the sky from the setting sun. The trail ahead can be seen in this next picture. A steep climb with a dozen or so steep switchbacks at the top. This "top" is the highpoint of the trail on the North peak. The true summit is on the South peak and the saddle between the two drops at least 500 ft. By the time I was dropping into the saddle, it was dark.


I rarely ever night hike but tonight was fantastic. The dark meant cooler temperatures and a strong desert breeze was blowing. I opted to not use my headlamp and instead was guided by a combination of the ambient city lights and my adjusted vision.

Although the true summit is gated off with communication towers and all other kinds of man made stuff, the view of the valley below was not spoiled in the least. I just wish I had the skill and equipment to take a decent night picture! Here is one of the better photos.....


Vegas may get kind of a bad rap but scenes like this are hard to beat. The astute observer will notice that the brightest section of the photo is the "strip" on Las Vegas Blvd.