Nevada: Boundary Peak

13,147 ft (4,007 m)

Tucked in a quiet corner of western Nevada, Boundary Peak is the state’s highest point—but just barely. It rises from the northern tip of the rugged White Mountains, its summit perched near the California line and overshadowed, quite literally, by neighboring Montgomery Peak just across the border. While it may not be the most celebrated summit in the West, Boundary has a rugged charm all its own: dry, windswept, and remote in a way that makes you feel far from everything.

The most common route begins from Trail Canyon, a steep and scrappy ascent that gains nearly 4,000 feet in just four miles. The trail starts in low piñon and juniper but quickly gives way to open, sunbaked slopes and a ridgeline that, in places, feels more like a pile of broken rock than a trail. With no water along the route and virtually no shade, conditions can be harsh—especially in summer—but the solitude is striking, and the views into both Nevada and California are vast and raw.

Technically, Boundary is just a sub-peak of the taller Montgomery, but it still earns its place on the highpointer list. It may not offer lush meadows or dramatic switchbacks, but for those drawn to sparse beauty and state-line trivia, this desert summit delivers something uniquely satisfying.

More to come…

In the meantime, this was the first of 3 Peaks in 3 Days.