Fortification Hill is the pronounced volcanic black plateau east of Lake Mead overlooking Hoover Dam. With sheer cliffs seemingly around its perimeter, it truly appears to be a fortified hill. I have stared at this hill a thousand times every time I went to Lake Mead or drove through the south or Las Vegas. It has called to me as has every peak around the valley. I have research how to conquer this hill and found this out. To get there from Las Vegas you will travel southeast through Boulder City to the Hoover Dam area. I took the Pat Tillman bridge that spans the I 93 across the impressive canyon that hugs the great Colorado River. Only 2 miles is the turn off to get to the trail head. This is only 2 miles into Arizona thus far. You will travel along this dirt road for a couple miles. This part of the trip takes you through many different variations of dirt, minerals, and element sculpted rock formations. You will come to a parking area with a restroom. I paused here and took in the visual evidence of where Lake Mead used to be. Here you can truly see how far down the lake has gone since the late 80's. The road acutely turns right away from the lake. You will travel a couple miles along this fairly rough dirt road until you come to the trail head which is not really marked. Fortification Hill towers in the short distance as you get closer. There is a wide spot in the road due south of the Hill. This is the trail head.
You can take one of two routes. One takes you through the wash and the other takes you along a ridge line that cascades off the hill to the road. Booth routes are up hill. The trail appears to go up the back of a dragon or ancient dinosaur. Up and up you go until you get to the "funny rocks". These are large volcanic rocks located right in the middle of the trail on the ridge line. These rocks seem as if someone placed them there however there is no way anyone could have gotten the necessary machinery there to do that. The trail is one at this point and takes a steep turn upward, zig zaging up what appears to be chiseled scraps from a huge sculpture. You rise quickly and the view gets more impressive with every step. You then make it to the rock face. At this point I scratched my head and wondered how I got to the top. The trail levels out and heads east around the hill. You will then come to a rock wall that is said to be a short class 2 scramble. once you navigate up this 20 foot obstacle the trail continues up through rocks. A few steep switch backs and you are done with the vertical for the most part. the the trail is well pronounced at this point. Follow it to the top of the rock pile with the American flag on top.
Once on top you realize this hill held tightly to the amazing view until the very end. To the west is the entire Las Vegas valley, spring mountains, and Charleston Peak. Just below you to the west is an amazing view of Hoover Dam and the Pat Tillman Bridge. To the northeast is Utah's mountains over St George (on a clear day). East holds the views of the magic and jagged terrain of Arizona.
This is a 4 mile round trip with the first mile going straight up pretty much. The second mile is easy walking. I would not recommend this hike for children or if you haven't been out and about in while. I also would not recommend doing this in the heart of the summer. Bring lots of water and keep a watch out for rattle snakes. The views at the top are extremely impressive and worth the lactic pain you encounter in the first mile. read more