Northshore Summit Trail, Lake Mead NRA, NV

Hiked October 12, 2025. I was scrolling through pictures on my phone a few weeks ago, and saw photos of a hike I hadn't yet posted. I hiked the trail prior to one of my comet shooting trips in Lake Mead NRA. I've also hiked it on numerous prior occasions.

It's a nice little hike, only about two miles roundtrip, but with pretty views over parts of the Bowl of Fire, and also with Northshore Peak, in the other direction.

To kill additional time, I also walked some along the area west of the parking area, trying to get my three-mile minimum, and also waiting for the sky to get dark enough to try to photograph comets.

Because it was late afternoon, the lighting was shadows were great.

Despite the many previous times up this way, I hadn't really noticed what kind of looks like a segment of lava tube near one of high points along the way. That's in the second- and third-to-the last photos of this post.

I don't know that this is what I'm seeing, but I have seen similar "wave" structures all around the Bowl of Fire.

This is one of the relatively few "official" trails listed in Lake Mead National Recreation Area publications and website. Nonetheless, it's not that heavily visited, and/or, because it's a short hike, it's not uncommon that I have the place to myself.

There's a vault toilet at the trailhead.

In addition to being the start of the trail to Northshore Summit, the trailhead can also be used as a jumping off point to head to Northshore Peak, on the other side of the highway, or into the Bowl of Fire.

Both are definitely worth checking out if time permits. But even if you only have time for Northshore Summit, espcially near sunset or sunrise, the view is outstanding.

Last shot was on the way down, after sunset. The dark band then lighter band along the horizon is called "The Belt of Venus." You get that after sunset or before sunrise, when the sunlight hits the sky well above the horizon, but you and the lower part of the atmosphere at a distance are still in shadow. Dark area is in shadow, lighter part is illuminted by the low sun.