If you approach from Pine Creek you will eventually contour around from the west to get to the start of the arete, at the same elevation as the start of the arete (it's pretty obvious, if a little devious). When you reach the tiny forest below the east face, scramble up the front of this little buttress, then traverse about 200 feet right to the base of the first pitch. In this image, the NE Arete is basically the right skyline.

All Locations > Nevada > Southern Nevada > Red Rocks > (09) Icebox Canyon > Bridge Mountain > Northeast Arete (5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a)

If you approach from Pine Creek you will eventually contour around from the west to get to the start of the arete, at the same elevation as the start of the arete (it's pretty obvious, if a little devious). When you reach the tiny forest below the east face, scramble up the front of this little buttress, then traverse about 200 feet right to the base of the first pitch. In this image, the NE Arete is basically the right skyline.

ID 108335122 ·

Flag This Photo

· Copyright Violation?

Looking back at the approach from Rocky Gap. The standard route follows the neck of rock.

Composite image taken from near the top of the Frigid Air Buttress, showing "The Maze" and Bridge Mountain on the skyline.

Rate Photo

3.3 from 4 votes

Peter Lewis

Sep 12, 2013

“If you approach from Pine Creek you will eventually contour around from the west to get to the start of the arete, at the same elevation as the start of the arete (it's pretty obvious, if a little devious). When you reach the tiny forest below the east face, scramble up the front of this little buttress, then traverse about 200 feet right to the base of the first pitch. In this image, the NE Arete is basically the right skyline.”

0 Comments

Nearby Photos

The bridge

For added adventure we approached through Pine Creek the afternoon before and bivied about 300 yards west of the start of the route on a ledge with a stunning view. Somebody wasn't all the excited to see 5:00 a.m. roll around!

Approach as seen from flight. Follows the bridge of rock, up the crack in the slab, then to the arch by the two big pools. After this over to hidden forest and down to the left through a smallish slot canyon to the base. www.mattkuehlphoto.com

Bridge Mt. NE Arete

Rocky Gap 4x4 Road from Willow Springs on the bottom left to Bridge Mtn Trailhead near about where the road goes out of view. Bridge Mtn can be seen as the white formation in front of the Rainbow Wall and Mt. Wilson from this view. www.mattkuehlphoto.com

Looking down the first pitch just as the sun comes up. Nowhere in the world we'd rather be. The Maze is in the shadowed canyon below the route--looks like a place orcs would live.

The bridge on our decent!

Bridge Mountain from the loop road showing some possible approaches. Photo taken by Jeff McCoy.

Bridge Mountain NE Arete

Bridge Mountain from the Rocky Gap approach. The Hidden Forest lies in the gap on the north side of the peak.

Willow Springs to Bridge Mtn and Back

Approaching the top of NE Arete pitch 3.

Josh Owen leading on the Northeast Arete.

Looking back at the approach from Rocky Gap. The standard route follows the neck of rock.

If you approach from Pine Creek you will eventually contour around from the west to get to the start of the arete, at the same elevation as the start of the arete (it's pretty obvious, if a little devious). When you reach the tiny forest below the east face, scramble up the front of this little buttress, then traverse about 200 feet right to the base of the first pitch. In this image, the NE Arete is basically the right skyline.

Composite image taken from near the top of the Frigid Air Buttress, showing "The Maze" and Bridge Mountain on the skyline.

Richard Baugh on the Second Pitch of the Northeast Arete. Photo by Josh Owen.

Josh Owen on the Northeast Arete.

This is the view into the Hidden Forest from somewhere on the third pitch of the NE Arete. This is just a magical place...

This photo shows how low angle the northeast arete is in the top center.

Bridge Mountain from the north. The route is just out of view on the left hand side. This is not on the standard approach.

NE Arete via Pine Creek Canyon. Long hike in and out with lots of vertical and highs in the 90s. First water on the way down, at the very head of the canyon: ahhhhh.....

For those who haven't been here before, this is taken from the approach trail, the left red arrow is the bridge and the right arrow is the hidden forrest.

The correct approach path is marked in green, my mini epic is marked in red, and while possible, definitely not advised.

Can anyone clarify whether the pine creek approach is the red line or green line in this photo, or something else?

Bridge Mountain Trailhead. The parking lot is behind me in the picture. Not your usual BLM trail marker but you'll pass a few farther up the trail.

Welcome

Join the Community! It's FREE

Already have an account? Login to close this notice.

Get Started

onX products are built by adventurers, for adventurers. We believe that every adventurer needs to know where to go, to know where they stand, and to be able to share their experiences.
About onX
Careers

iOS App Store

Android App Store

© 2025 onX Maps, Inc. Terms·Privacy