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Billy Goat Peak - Descending the North Face
Hiking Around Las Vegas, Gold Butte National Monument
Billy Goat Peak
Billy Goat Peak
Hikers atop Billy Goat Peak (view W)

Overview

Billy Goat Peak (5,701 ft) is a tough hike to a minor peak in the middle of some of the wildest country in southern Nevada. Why bother to go so far to climb a minor peak? Spectacular views. Enough said.

The route runs south through a burn area to contour around a forested false summit (Pinyon-Juniper Woodland life zone) and drop into a deep saddle on the north side of Billy Goat Peak.

From the saddle, the route splits. Hikers can traverses onto the North Face and climb steep slopes to the summit. Alternatively, hikers can stay on the North Ridge, which is more difficult, until forced into the steep North Face.

Presented here are photos of the descent down the North Face route. For a detailed description of the route, including directions, maps, GPS coordinates, and photos, see Billy Goat Peak.

Billy Goat Peak
Starting down the Summit Ridge (view NW)
Billy Goat Peak
Saddle on Summit Ridge; route jumps off here (view SW)
Billy Goat Peak
Hikers getting ready to jump off the Summit Ridge (view NW)
Billy Goat Peak
The first steps are big ones (view N)
Billy Goat Peak
Stay left of dead tree and rock outcrop (view N)
Billy Goat Peak
Descending across steep slopes (view N)
Billy Goat Peak
Descending across steep slopes (view N)
Billy Goat Peak
Descending across steep slopes (view N)
Billy Goat Peak
Keep an eye on the Main Saddle: don't go too low (view N)
Billy Goat Peak
There are was around all of the oak thickets (view N)
Billy Goat Peak
Descending across steep slopes (view N)
Billy Goat Peak
This deep gully is the last serious obstacle (view N)
Billy Goat Peak
Except for this minor obstacle (view N)
Billy Goat Peak
Traversing below the band of cliffs (view N)
Billy Goat Peak
Traversing below the band of cliffs (view N)
Billy Goat Peak
Traversing below the band of cliffs (view N)
Billy Goat Peak
Traversing below the band of cliffs (view N)
Billy Goat Peak
Traversing below the band of cliffs (view N)
Billy Goat Peak
Arriving back on the saddle (the Yucca is below the camera; view N)
Billy Goat Peak
The route follows the ridgeline towards the oblong boulder (view N)
Billy Goat Peak
Looking for that animal trail (view N)
Billy Goat Peak
Approaching the oblong boulder (view N)
Billy Goat Peak
Passing the pink rock outcrop (view E)
 Approaching the first shoulder (view SW)
Pink rock outcrop (view SE)
Billy Goat Peak
Passing below the oblong boulder (view N)
Billy Goat Peak
Animal trail contours across slope to the next shoulder (view NE)
Billy Goat Peak
Approaching the next shoulder (view NE)
Billy Goat Peak
On the shoulder (view NE into Arizona)
Billy Goat Peak
Animal trail traverses the hillsides (view N)
Billy Goat Peak
Animal trail traverses the hillsides (view NE)
Billy Goat Peak
Animal trail traverses the hillsides (view NE)
Billy Goat Peak
Animal trail traverses the hillsides (view N)
Billy Goat Peak
Animal trail disappears after the dead tree (view N)
Billy Goat Peak
Approaching the barbed-wire fence on the final ridgeline (view NE)
Billy Goat Peak
Traversing onto the final high ridgeline (view N)
Billy Goat Peak
Trailhead comes into view (view N)
Billy Goat Peak
Trees for a shaded rest and an animal trail to follow out (view NE)
Billy Goat Peak
After traversing the slope, route turns down the ridgeline (view N)
Billy Goat Peak
Hikers descending towards the burn zone (view NE; 2005)
Billy Goat Peak
Back in the burn zone and a lucky tree (view N)
Billy Goat Peak
A Pancake Cactus in the rocks survived the fire (view N)
Billy Goat Peak
Hiker taking a break in the burn zone (view N; 2005)
Billy Goat Peak
Returning towards the last of the pinyon pines (view N)
Billy Goat Peak
Looking over the slope below the last of the pinyon pines (view N)
Billy Goat Peak
A curious rounded boulder on the hillside (view N)
Billy Goat Peak
Descending into the last shallow saddle (view N)
Billy Goat Peak
The route follows along the west side of the low ridge (view N)
Billy Goat Peak
The route follows along the low ridge (view N)
Billy Goat Peak
The route follows along the low ridge (view N)
Billy Goat Peak
Returning to the trailhead (view N)

Note: All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate.
copyright; Last updated 190726

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