Juniper Peak, Gunsight Notch Peak, and Rainbow Wall

Oct 10, 2026Rainbow Mountain Wilderness (BLM/USFS), NV

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Juniper Peak, Gunsight Notch Peak, and Rainbow Wall

10.5 mi: Distance
4,000 ft: Elevation gain
6 hr: Duration
Class 5: Crux
Loop: Route type
8/10: Quality

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Peaks bagged

1

Juniper Peak6,107 ft / Rise 155 ft

2

Gunsight Notch Peak6,186 ft / Rise 197 ft

3

LVMC

6,923 ft / Rise 651 ft

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Amber clouds over White Rock Hills, as seen from the parking lot at the end of the Red Rock Canyon Scenic Drive.

Along the connector trail to Oak Creek Trailhead.

Alpenglow on Mount Wilson.

Joining the Arnight Trail.

Leaving the Arnight Trail for a climber's trail leading into Juniper Canyon.

Keeping right at the mouth of the canyon.

View back.

Class 2.

View back.

Ascending a talus slope at the headwall of the canyon.

View back.

Continuing along slickrock ramp to Juniper Peak's east ridge.

View back toward Rainbow Wall.

Veering right to gain the ridge.

Ascending a notch in the ridge.

Interesting rock formation inside the notch.

View back.

From the top of the notch, the route continues left, avoiding the Class 4/5 cliffs ahead.

Navigating an exposed ledge below Juniper Peak's summit.

Class 3 move, right.

Juniper Peak summit. View north toward Bridge Mountain.

Continuing along the ridge to Gunsight Notch Peak.

Squeezing through a crack. Gunsight Notch Peak is visible ahead.

Approaching the saddle between Juniper Peak and Gunsight Notch Peak.

View back toward the saddle from exposed Class 3 ledges on the north side of the ridge.

A 6-foot crack, requiring a mantle to ascend. May be difficult for a short person.

Class 5 pitch with solid holds. It's divided into two roughly equal-height sections by a platform. The second, more difficult section may be bypassed via an exposed Class 4 move around the left edge of the platform.

View back from the top of the pitch. Note the lower platform. The Class 4 move is on the right, out of frame.

Continuing along the ridge.

View toward Rainbow Wall.

View back toward Juniper Peak (right) and Bridge Mountain (left).

Gunsight Notch Peak. View norteast toward Juniper Peak.

View north across Pine Creek Canyon toward Bridge Mountain.

View south toward Rainbow Wall.

Descending to Gunsight Notch.

After passing the notch, continuing along a ledge system on the north face of Rainbow Wall. Plenty of cairns mark the way.

View back toward Gunsight Notch Peak.

Ascending a gully.

From the top of the gully, the route zags right, continuing along an obvious shelf.

Avoidable Class 3 crack.

Gaining a western spur. The route continues up the crack, right.

Class 3 crack.

Above the crack, Class 2.

View back.

Rainbow Wall summit comes into view, left.

Rainbow Wall summit. View east toward Las Vegas.

View north toward Bridge Mountain. Charleston Peak is in the distance, left.

Descending Rainbow Wall, straying left toward Oak Creek Canyon.

Contouring an intervening lump toward a Class 3 weakness, right. A couple of subpeaks of Rainbow Wall are visible ahead, Mount Wilson on the right.

Traversing a slickrock slope.

Joining a use trail that follows a southwestern spur before descending into Oak Creek Canyon.

Skirting the base of a large cliff.

View back along the spur.

Leaving the ridge, starting the descent into Oak Creek Canyon.

View back.

Descending a southern slope.

View back.

Entering Oak Creek Canyon.

Descending the watercourse.

One of many Class 3 obstacles.

Somewhat brushy lower section of Oak Creek Canyon.

View back toward Oak Creek Canyon.

Following the Oak Creek Canyon Trail back to the trailhead.