Discover Just How Tall Mount Hope in Nevada Really Is

Nevada plays host to a wide number of mountain ranges in the United States. In fact, this western state has 2,101 named mountains inside its borders. The state is home to some impressively high mountains, from the state’s highest elevation peak – Boundary Peak (13,130 feet) – to its most prominent peak – Charleston Peak (11,916 feet). Many avid hikers and climbers flock to Nevada during all months of the year to see these breathtaking peaks and the valleys that rest below them. Today, we will focus on one peak in particular. Mount Hope, a mountain in the northern central region of Nevada, is a towering giant of a mountain. In this article, we will figuratively climb it – exploring its highest elevation and prominence while learning more about the area around it.

Where is Mount Hope on a Map?

The first thing we have to do is find Mount Hope, and we’ll do that using a helpful interactive map. This map shows the location of Mount Hope in relation to the rest of the fine state of Nevada.

The nearest towns to Mount Hope are Alpha (a ghost town) to the north, Eureka (population 411) to the south, and Austin (population 101) to the southwest. There are only just over three million people in all of Nevada, and most of them aren’t at the base of this particular mountain.

Mount Hope is a 261-mile drive from Reno and a 344-mile drive from Las Vegas. It’s only an hour and a half from Elko, Nevada, which is one of the top 20 most populated cities in the state.

How Tall is Mount Hope?

Mount Hope has a maximum elevation of 8,411 feet. The mountain has a prominence of 1,256 feet. Elevation refers to the height above sea level while prominence refers to how a mountain stands out from the terrain around it. For example, let’s make up a pretend mountain range. This mountain range has 15 mountains that all have an elevation of close to 5,000 feet. It has two more mountains with elevations of about 6,000 feet. The final mountain has an elevation of 11,500 feet. The mountain would be at least 5,500 feet taller than any mountain around it. That means its prominence would be 5,500 feet if the next tallest mountain in the area only rose to 6,000 feet.

Mount Hope is definitely not the tallest or most prominent mountain in Nevada, but it is beautiful. Many other mountains are similar in size, and we’ve chosen to add a table of other similarly tall mountains in Nevada.

As you can see, there are plenty of other mountains with a similar elevation to Mount Hope in Nevada, but many of them are much more prominent.

Can I Hike Mount Hope?

We couldn’t find any good hiking trails to share with you for Mount Hope. It seems that Mount Hope is more of a potential mining interest than a climbing peak. However, locals might have some better information if you visit. If you’d like a more straightforward and beautiful mountain hike in Nevada, we can recommend a few.

Just west of Eureka, Nevada near Highway 50, you can find the Hickison Petroglyphs Recreation Area. This is a family-friendly area that offers history, hiking, wildlife viewing, and camping. The hikes here generally range from easy to moderate, so it’s a great stop for the whole family. It’s a great chance to take a deep breath of clean air and appreciate the world around you.

You might also enjoy the more moderate Kingston Mine Trail. This trail combines a more challenging hike with old mining history. Be sure to bring plenty of water, as there is no water access along this trail. For an incredibly long and challenging hike, try out the Ruby Crest Trail. This absolutely incredible trail in the Humbolt-Toiyabe National Forest stretches 36.6 miles point-to-point and takes nearly 20 hours to complete. If you hike the whole trail, you’ll gain close to 10,000 feet in elevation on your long, arduous walk. The trail is absolutely stunning and best visited in the summer months. This trail does take you by water, but it is still advisable to pack plenty of your own, as well as nutrient-dense snacks and sunscreen.

Wildlife Around Mount Hope

You’re sure to run into all sorts of wildlife no matter where you are in Nevada. Scorpions, eagles, hawks, spiders, wolves, ravens, rabbits, and ground squirrels all inhabit the area. You might run across pronghorns, geckos, owls, or a variety of snakes while out on your hikes and nature walks.

Worries about venom? Nevada is home to 32 different venomous critters, so we understand your hesitation. However, most of these animals don’t want to hurt you. Most animal attacks happen when an animal is harmed or feels threatened or protective of its young. Keep your eyes open and your steps soft as you traverse the Nevada wilderness. You might still run into a venomous creature, like the Western Diamondback Rattlesnake or a sidewinder, but most of these animals are pretty private creatures. The majority of Nevada’s venomous animals are spiders. Five venomous snake species inhabit the state and one venomous lizard.

The Gila Monster is a lizard that lives in southwestern states like Nevada. It’s very private and spends most of its life underground. Even if you are bitten by one, the bite is rarely life-threatening. Rest assured, Nevada is full enough of wonder that the exploration is worth the relatively low risk.

Mines on Mount Hope

Mount Hope is, for the most part, a mining prospect. The Bureau of Land Management is working with local project mines to ensure that the air and water quality in the area stays regulated. Mount Hope boasts a very rich mine – The Mount Hope Project is the world’s largest and highest grade molybdenum deposits on the face of the earth. This mine has been open for over half a century. The mine has faced challenges in the last few years to remain open and permitted. Many environmental groups have been speaking out against the mine, especially as it works to increase its productivity and create a larger open pit mine than what stands today.

A Note on the Photos in this Article

We were unable to source any photos of Mount Hope or the Mount Hope Mining Project. Most of the photos we use in this article are well-described, so you know what they are actually of. We do not wish to mislead or deceive anyone with our use of photos, which is why it is important to add this note at the end. Other more prominent and well-known mountains have better documentation due to being explored more. Perhaps, one day, Mount Hope will get a little more recognition. For now, we will continue with what we know and hope to catch a glimpse of her prominence if we are ever driving through her part of rural Nevada.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Bureau of Land Management / Flickr – License / Original

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