After arriving in Las Vegas the day before we had much to do, but we had time for a quick peak so we climbed Windy Peak. From the Rio Hotel it was less than an hour's drive to the back roads. We started down the longer, narrower road but became concerned about getting stuck in the soft tracks. Also the encroaching thorny bushes scratched the sides of our vehicle. So we drove down the shorter, more rugged jeep trail as far as we could and then hiked 1.7 km to the trailhead.

We had little route information save for a map showing the route. But it was enough as we soon hit upon a trail after leaving the road. The trail swung around the left side of the mountain before ascending to a level section called the “Football Field.” Past that, the trail climbed then abruptly disappeared about 250 m below the summit. Clearly we had to keep climbing in a rugged, vegetated ravine, but the best way wasn't apparent. We kept right, trying to avoid the bushes while skirting steep slabs.

Shrubbery eventually gave way to bare rock where the occasional cairn indicated that we were on track. The top flattened out and we made our way to the cairn holding a register.

Our route was rather easy and it was only later that we learned there was an east route that required much more scrambling. Nonetheless, we were happy to have summited this little desert peak.