Distance: 2 mile loop for Round Top and Davis
Distance: Dugway View is a drive-up
Elevation Gain: 1,054 for Round Top + 332 for Davis Mountain
Summit Elevation: 6,434 for Round Top, 6,252 for Davis Mountain
Kids difficulty rating: Moderate
Access: Rough road
Access:
The Route:
Round Top, Davis Mountain and Dugway View Peak
www.WillhiteWeb.com: Hiking, climbing and travel
View of Davis and Round Top on the way in
Wildlife in the area
The route goes up the ridge behind the kids
Looking down on Davis Mountain with Indian Peaks in the distance
Red Pine Mountain and Black Crook Peak
Round Top from Davis Mountain
Looking over the south end of the Dugway Proving Grounds toward Granite Peak
Dozer on the top of Davis Mountain
Peak 5330 "Dugway View Peak" from the east
Looking northwest, everything in the distance is inside Dugway Proving Grounds
There it is....the town of Dugway
Looking at Round Top from Dugway View Peak
Kids on top of Davis Mountain
See Second Map from here to Dugway View Peak
Roads from Round Top/Davis Mountain Area
I climbed a lot of peaks looking at Round Top in the far distance. It has good prominence although the elevation of Round Top is quite low. It sits on the edge of the Dugway Proving Grounds, a possible interesting vantage since it is reported that is where they stashed the UFOs from Area 51. But since I do not believe in aliens, I kept my focus on the mountain. Davis Mountain is the other peak in the range with enough prominence to be considered a summit. Both can be easily combined to make a loop trip.
From the end of the road, hike up the East Ridge on open slopes until it turns into the north ridge. The slopes stay open but a bit steeper until you are on top of Round Top. To reach Davis, drop down the southeast ridge (which was a bit steep on the ankles carrying two kids but I placed each step carefully). Reach the saddle and climb easily up to the rocky top of Davis. On the return, drop back toward the saddle but traverse the minor bump on the southeast side. Take the northeast ridge of Davis back to the car (see map).
Dugway View Peak
If you have time and a 4WD vehicle, this is a really interesting place that feels like nowhere, yet you are probably being watched by the military. It is also an area I drove right beside wild horses. The roads on the map are generally there but some have changed. One section of roadway to get to the top was completely gone requiring some interesting cross-country driving. Near the summit the road re-appeared but the final 100 feet was off road again. The summit benchmark was labeled MISTAKE so the actual summit may have been another nearby point that looks the same elevation.
Take the Pony Express Road west from Highway 36, over Lookout Pass until it starts its southwest voyage. Look for a dirt road to the right going straight toward Round Top. Follow this road (through a 4 way with a north-south road) until you reach the north side of Round Top/Davis Mountain. Look for a spur road heading southwest to the mountain. The first spur road on the map I did not see. I do not have mileages at this time but it is fairly obvious when you are there.