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Great views can be had throughout this long trail.


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Map Key

14.1

Miles

22.6

KM

78%

Runnable

10,271' 3,131 m

High

7,540' 2,298 m

Low

2,552' 778 m

Up

4,305' 1,312 m

Down

9%

Avg Grade (5°)

60%

Max Grade (31°)

Dogs Unknown

Features Views

Make sure you don't park on the Emergency helipad at the Upper Bristlecone Trailhead...park about 100ft or so down the road. I received a citation from the state of Nevada because I wasn't aware of this fact. Also, during the ski season, the ski resort charges $5 if you arrive 8am-4pm. I recommend driving to the trailhead prior to 8am to avoid this fee.

Description

It is a 22-mile out-and-back if you start from the Upper Bristlecone Trailhead and work your way out to Bonanza Peak. If you begin here, note that you'll have to run for a bit on the Upper Bristlecone Trail before you even reach the start of this trail. The total elevation gain is approximately 6,000 ft. If you decide to start from the Lower Bristlcone Trailhead, you'll add 4 miles to your run (about 26 miles out and back to Bonanza Peak).

The first 6 miles or so are mostly uphill. The grades will be steep, but this is the most strenuous portion of the trail.

Mile 0-2.5: Stay on the Upper Bristlecone Trail until you see the sign for the Bonanza Trailhead.

Mile 3.5-4: Mt Charleston Wilderness sign. At this fork, the trail veers to the right up some wooden steps.

Mile 6.5: Trail splits: Bonanza Trail continues on to left and up McFarland Peak to the right. If you find yourself doing some class 2 scrabbling, you have probably bit off on the McFarland Peak Trail.

Miles 7-9: Downhill...enjoy it because you'll be climbing the next 2-3 miles on switchbacks to Bonanza Peak.

Mile 9: Wood Spring. A metal box, which is now rusted, acts as a seasonal water source. Don't rely on it during the summer months. About 40 yards after it, the trail forks. If you follow the left fork, it will lead across a small gully and into an area with few campsites. The right fork continues onto the trail.

Mile 10.5: Keep a close eye out for the Bonanza Peak Summit Spur. There is a large kairn constructed where the peak use-trail begins. Kairns mark the way towards the summit, but there are many scrambling routes to reach the summit. At this point you can choose your own adventure. You'll see a green tin can at the peak.

Mile 10.5 to the end: If your goal isn't Bonanza Peak, you'll stay on the trail as it meanders around the foot of the mountain. The trail here is mostly rolling, though much flatter than the beginning. The trail ends at the Northern Bonanza Peak Trailhead.

This route is a bit more remote than say the Mt Charleston South/North Loop. I didn't run into any fellow hikers on my Sunday outing. When I made this trip in December, about 1/3 of the trail was snow covered (average 3-4 inches of snow). I had to go off trail for about a total of 1 mile or so to avoid the pockets of deeper (6-12 in) of snow.

Contacts

Shared By:

Dave JM with improvements by Alexe Hagen

Trail Ratings

  4.3 from 4 votes

#10670

Overall
  4.3 from 4 votes
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Trail Rankings

#84

in Nevada

#10,670

Overall
7 Views Last Month
3,144 Since Sep 29, 2016
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult

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Photos

Spring wildflowers
Jun 17, 2022 near Pahrump, NV
Views from the ridgeline of Cold Creek Canyon.
Sep 17, 2016 near Pahrump, NV
Fall colors on the way up.
Sep 17, 2016 near Pahrump, NV
Bristlecone and Bonanza trail junction.
Sep 3, 2016 near Pahrump, NV
View right before Wood Spring
Jul 9, 2018 near Pahrump, NV
Wild horses at the trailhead.
Sep 17, 2016 near Pahrump, NV

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