North / Black Loop (with Horse Trail Descent) - 8/22/22

Sisters Arch and Black Sister

North Sister from Sisters Ridge

Top of Deadwood Wash (Mummy Mountain in Background)

Starting up Gallium Road

There are a handful of four mile hikes in the Spring Mountains that are worth every step! (Mack's Peak and Mummy's Nose come to mind.) The North / Black Loop can be considered one of them. Brian D. is working on making a better route for the loop and we put our two cents in for this hike. We began at the Lee Canyon Chain-Up Trailhead and went up to connect with the old dirt road, Gallium Road. There is a gate across the road to keep motorized vehicles out. We hiked around the gate and started up the very washed out road as we paralleled a horse trail. The wild horses use the spring located up the road a short way. We visited the spring area noting that the pipes used to take water somewhere were exposed and broken. (More water for the horses!)

Gallium Spring

Starting Ridge Trail

South (L) and North (R) Sisters from Ascent Ridge Saddle

Climbing the Ascent Ridge

Just after the spring, there is a trail that switchbacks up to the top of the ridge on the left. We gained the ridge and began following horse / human trails along the ridge above the wash. This ridge can be followed all the way up to the Sisters Ridge. On the way, there is an open saddle area where views of South and North Sister reign ahead and Mummy Mountain rises like a ghost behind. The trail gets steadily steeper. But, it is easily followed since it never leaves the ridge top. As you near the final and steepest ascent section, you clearly see a huge arch on the right side with Black Sister in the distance. Here, is where we saw the uninvited gray cloud looming over the big black rock. Mike and Ralyn took a side trip over to the arch and through. The climb up on the other side is very difficult but they made it by barely escaping a large falling rock. Be careful here.

A Visit to the Arch

Ralyn inside the Arch

White (L) and Black (R) Sisters from Ascent

Final Ascent

A little more steep stuff and we junctioned with the main Sisters Ridge. To our left, the imposing North Sister rose pointedly. Scrambling up this peak was not planned so we turned to the right and following a ridge trail over to White Sister. The Sisters Ridge is very narrow with an excellent view of Macks Peak on one side and Mummy Mountain on the other. At White Sister, we paused for a group photo. That gray cloud was spitting at us a little and we didn't want to stick around too long. We circled around the back side of Black Sister, posed for a couple more photos, and hiked down the ridge. First we tried to go a little further out the ridge than usual but the terrain is way too steep even for a descent. Use the usual descent route on the left until you see your way over to the right and Deadwood Wash's saddle. Here, we felt safer to stop and take our break. The gray cloud was passing.

Macks Peak from Sisters Ridge

On Sisters Ridge (North Sister in Background)

Two Oranges and a Blue at Black and White Sisters

Rounding Black Sister

At this point, we were in exploratory mode. We took the trail that runs down the right embankment of the drainage. This time, we followed the clear and imagined trail straight toward a saddle that rose across from us on the opposite ridge. The trail appeared very old and unkempt. There was a section of deadfall to find your way through and a swath of dead standing trees as well. A good machete would do the trick! We stayed the course toward the saddle and, as we neared, the trail became much clearer. The climb to the saddle was easy. We took in an interesting view of Lee Canyon and began following another trail diagonally down. This trail zigged and zagged down the hill in small scree, bushes and trees. It was also somewhat washed out in places.

Posing on Black Sister Ridge

A very steep Descent

Following the Horse Trail

Horse Trail nearing the Saddle

Eventually, we found our way into the pine glade at the bottom. The wash that cut in front of us led down to the trailhead but we knew it fell into the parking lot steeply and slippery. So, we followed an old dirt road around to the left to the lower end of the trailhead and Lee Canyon Road. This is where we dropped into the parking lot much easier. Short and very sweet with fantastic views all around. However, we do need to enhance that old trail so that it can be used again. 

Stats: 3.4 miles; 1675' gain; 4 hours

The Saddle

Lee Canyon view from the Saddle

Entering the Pine Glade