Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Puglia Italy - Matera
Italy • 8 days, 7 nights
Southern Italy: Castles, Caves & Coastal Treasures in Puglia
from
Turkmenistan Gates of Hell Darvaza crater
Turkmenistan • 10 days, 9 nights
Turkmenistan & the Gates of Hell
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Pinal Airpark
Note the chrysanthemum crests.
Hachiman Bridge
Clarendon War Memorial.
Clarendon War Memorial
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
Order a flight of infused ya dong shots.
Tep Bar
Thai-Chinese makes up Bangkok’s largest diaspora.
Nai Ek Roll Noodle
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Chefs Aruss Lerlerstkull and Atcharaporn Kiatthanawat lean into regional traditions.
Charmgang
The khao soi at Gedhawa comes with a rich, coconutty broth.
Gedhawa
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Haleakalā National Park’s summit region, shrouded in the pre-dawn fog.
Beware the Legends Behind These National Park Souvenirs
6 days ago
For Aguilar-Carrasco, nature is a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of all life.
How Can National Parks Be Made Accessible to All? AO Wants to Know.
7 days ago
Podcast: Finding ‘The Great Gatsby’ in Louisville
8 days ago
Here’s which treats you can safely lug home without risking a fine.
Dear Atlas: What International Food Can I Legally Bring Into the U.S.?
9 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Nevada Dyer Boundary Peak

Boundary Peak

The highest point in Nevada had to be decided by court order after California tried to claim it as their own.

Dyer, Nevada

Added By
Thomas Harper
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
The left peak is Boundary Peak   Wikipedia
Add Photos
The left peak is Boundary Peak   Wikipedia
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

It took the Supreme Court to determine that this peak in Nevada is the state's highest point, thanks to 19th century surveying margins of error.

The Von Schmidt Line, the diagonal line that starts at Lake Tahoe and ends at the Fort Mojave Indian Reservation named after its surveyor, cuts across a saddle on a mountain with two peaks. The eastern peak is Boundary Peak, the highest point in Nevada at 13,147 feet above sea level. The western peak is Montgomery Peak at 294 feet higher. However, the imprecise nature of the original survey and later resurveys led to disagreement over where the line really is on the ground. The now ghost town of Aurora elected two sets of officials in 1863, one for California and one for Nevada Territory because it was uncertain which side of the line they were on.

There were continuing disputes between California and Nevada  until 1977 when California filed a lawsuit against Nevada to firmly establish the line on the ground. California v. Nevada had far ranging implications for the municipalities along the line as well as the casinos near Lake Tahoe, which might find themselves in California and thus be suddenly illegal. The Supreme Court ruled that the Von Schmidt Line was the official boundary in 1980, settling all disputes, and putting Boundary Peak and Aurora in Nevada. If the line was moved a bit eastward as per California v. Nevada, Wheeler Peak in the Great Basin National Park would be Nevada's highest point.

Boundary Peak is in the deserts near Death Valley, so climbers should come prepared with plenty of water and maps and a compass to stay on trail. Going off trail in this area could mean extremely hot days or extremely cold nights while waiting for a very expensive rescue. The Queen Mine Route starts near two abandoned mine shafts and winds for three miles up the mountain, with scrambles up scree fields along the way.

Related Tags

State High Points Geographic Markers Mountains

Know Before You Go

From Route 6 near Bishop, CA, go south on Route 264 towards Dyer, NV, and turn west on Trail Canyon Road. This road may be only suitable for 4WD in parts, and weather may cause washes to flood. Park at the Queen Mine Route trailhead and hike 3 miles to the summit. Be prepared with more than adequate water, maps, and compass or GPS. Check with the White Mountain Ranger District in Bishop for trail and road conditions.

Community Contributors

Added By

thomasharper

Edited By

WhiskeyBristles

  • WhiskeyBristles

Published

July 28, 2014

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boundary_Peak_(Nevada)
Boundary Peak
Dyer, Nevada, 89010
United States
37.847283, -118.351354

Nearby Places

White Mountain Peak

Swall Meadows, California

miles away

Candelaria

Columbus, Nevada

miles away

Crowley Lake Columns

Mono County, California

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Nevada

Nevada

United States

Places 265
Stories 24

Nearby Places

White Mountain Peak

Swall Meadows, California

miles away

Candelaria

Columbus, Nevada

miles away

Crowley Lake Columns

Mono County, California

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Nevada

Nevada

United States

Places 265
Stories 24

Related Stories and Lists

The Highest Places in America

List

By Meg Neal

Related Places

  • Mount Denali

    Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska

    Denali

    The king of U.S. high points towers over every other peak on the continent.

  • Mount Rainier

    Ashford, Washington

    Mount Rainier

    The highest point in Washington state is a volcano covered in glaciers.

  • Mount Hood

    Government Camp, Oregon

    Mount Hood

    Despite a legend that says this highest peak in Oregon was climbed in high heels, scores of people have died on its slopes.

  • Gannett Peak

    Cora, Wyoming

    Gannett Peak

    The easiest way to the highest point in Wyoming is only accessible via one hefty fee.

  • Granite Peak

    Granite Peak

    The highest point in Montana is as rugged and singular as the state itself.

  • Borah Peak

    Mackay, Idaho

    Borah Peak

    This highest peak in Idaho can only be reached by traversing a formation known as "Chicken-Out Ridge."

  • Kings Peak

    Duchesne County, Utah

    Kings Peak

    The highest peak in Utah is the hardest to reach, but only if explorers choose the hard way.

  • Wheeler Peak

    Taos Ski Valley, New Mexico

    Wheeler Peak

    This highest peak in New Mexico is named after an explorer who had a habit of lending his moniker to peaks.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.