Virgin Peak is the highest summit in southern Nevada’s Virgin Mountains, rising 8,074 feet within Gold Butte National Monument northeast of Lake Mead, Las Vegas, and Mesquite. Its 3,182 feet of prominence make it a strikingly independent summit above the surrounding desert. Set in rugged, rocky country with relatively few hikers, it is most often climbed by the south ridge. The peak is also notable for its varied landscape: red rock scenery, carbonate ridges, and cooler east-facing slopes that support tall conifers such as yellow pine. As the topographic high point of its range, it stands out for combining desert terrain with unexpectedly wooded upper slopes.