Reverence Heights - 12/28/21

Bighorn Peak (L) and Reverence Heights Saddle from Approach

Reverence Community from Big Junction Overlook

Upper Trail toward Summerlin Peak

Toque Trail to Summerlin Peak

It was a cold and gray/brown day with threatening clouds coming in after the noon hour. Just two days prior, Ralyn and I had scoped out this six mile hike with clear glorious skies and no smog over the city. This time Rita and I visited the same trail to put the hike on the blog ... and it was a great workout. The forecast predicted some kind of precipitation starting around noon but, in the end, we were not moistened with anything. From the Buckskin Cliff Shadows Trailhead, we headed toward Summerlin Peak on the Toque Trail and through the wide wash curving this way and that. At the next trail intersection, we curved around to the left to pass above the beautiful housing community of Reverence. This trail leads just outside of the Red Rock Canyon NCA boundary. After passing the houses, the trail curved around to the left and began to climb a long incline up and around a small mountain. The trail afforded us views of the entrance to Reverence, the constructing of the next nice housing community and Damsel Peaks.

Crossing the Wide Wash between Cheyenne & Summerlin Peaks

Star Carlton Bluff behind Rita on the Lower Trail

Summerlin Peak Ridge (L) from "Around the Mountain"

Damsel Peaks from "Around the Mountain"

 Completing the mountain loop on the main trail, we climbed all the way up to a junction where the bikers have built two large cairns. Here, there are six trails coming into the saddle, including the one we were on. We chose the trail that continues climbing up and around the small peak ahead. At the next saddle, Big Junction, we had a great view of Reverence, northern Las Vegas, and a lot of mountains! (See the second photo of the entry.) Our route continued on the highest trail at this junction. It runs along a rock crest that we will call the Fault Trail. The steep trail tops out at Reverence Heights Saddle; a nice place to take a break. At this point, hikers and bikers are playing below the Summerlin & Bighorn Peaks Ridge. The trail continues up to another saddle that would add 1.5 miles (O&B) to the hike distance. However, here, we continued a tad down to a fork and took a left. This trail takes you around a small peak, Yikes Peak, on a narrow cliffy trail and down a few long switchbacks. 

Fault Trail climbs to Reverence Heights Saddle (Yikes Peak to Left)

Rita climbs the Fault Trail

Circling around Yikes Peak

Descending Switchbacks from Yikes Peak

 Depending on your ability, a couple of the corners will need to be circumvented. This trail comes back to the Big Junction where we followed the same trail back to the large cairns. On the other side of the saddle, the Upper Trail begins by switchbacking once down and around above the houses. This is a great trail that travels among the ridge rocks. (I hope you have some energy reserves!) It ends up across from the large cave below Summerlin Peak where you will turn right onto an old road, then turn right again onto the trail that we turned off of for the Lower Trail earlier. This trail will take hikers and bikers back across the wide wash and onto the Toque Trail ... and back to the trailhead. Half of this route is not seen yet on Google Earth. In fact, it appears that some of these area trails were in the making when the last satellite photo was taken. The trails from this route are some of the best that I have seen in the Cliff Shadows Trailhead area. Have fun!

Stats: 6 miles; 1100' gain; 3.5 hours

Double Trouble on Descent

Challenging Upper Trail

Sun makes an appearance on the Upper Trail (Cheyenne Mountain to Right)