From 1995 until now, Tikaboo Peak – 26 miles from Groom Lake – offered the closest and best public vantage point with a complete view of Area 51.
A notification by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) indicates that the closure of approximately 22,987 acres of formerly accessible land took effect from Mar. 25, 2026, although the several mile hike to the 7,915 feet peak is known to have still been undertaken by members of the public as recently as Apr. 17.
Presently, the closure is listed as temporary, remaining in effect “for a minimum of one year or until conditions are reassessed and determined safe for public use.”
The land grab is almost certain to be legally contested. Unlike when the base’s restricted zone was expanded in 1995 to encompass the then closest view points, known as Freedom Ridge and White Sides, any closure at Tikaboo Peak would not be contiguous with Area 51’s boundaries. Instead, it would form an island of restricted space many miles from any other.
With Tikaboo Peak inaccessible, the closest known point to gain a full view of the base is now at Reveille Peak, which, at 45 miles from the base, adds another 19 miles of distance between the facility and the public’s eyes.
Tonopah Test Range (KTNX) is currently closed per NOTAM until July 18th. There were x2 F-117s (callsign NIGHT) spotted at Groom Lake the other day from Tikaboo Peak. You can see one jettison it’s chute on the runway. They’re returning back to the womb. 😎
🎥 n01_b4_flash pic.twitter.com/LCZFr3BiI5
— Thenewarea51 (@thenewarea51) April 26, 2025
News of Tikaboo’s closure comes little over a week following the news that a non-U.S. citizen aviation enthusiast who we have previously featured on a number of occasions was arrested and charged by the U.S. Government after one of his many visits to the mountain. Michał Rokita plead guilty to one count of photographing defense installations without authorization and one count of publication of photographs of defense installations without authorization, for which he received a time served sentence. We understand Michał is now safely home in Poland.
The law used to prosecute Rokita is the same law cited in the case of an aviation enthusiast being arrested by the FBI after a trip to Offutt Air Force Base, which we reported on in April.
Joerg Arnu, who heads the excellent Dreamland Resort website, had written in recent weeks that he expected a seizure of Tikaboo to take place in the near future.
