South Bowl of Fire - 2/28/23

Colors of the South Bowl of Fire

Overlook to Lake Mead

Mike takes a closer look at the Twisty Deep Slot

Fifteen Hikers crossing the Desert

Nestled between the Bitter Spring Valley, the Muddy Mountains and the Hamblin Bay Fault is the Bowl of Fire. The Bowl is divided into two large sections of Aztec Sandstone fun, the North Bowl and the South Bowl. The North Bowl of Fire is ruled by the Raven's Balcony hiking destination. There are various other places to visit there that include the North Bowl rabbit hole, Skeleton Hand, Kissing Aliens, Goblin Face and another Elephant Arch. The South Bowl of Fire is easier to hike and lower in elevation. Therefore, we imagine that the South Bowl is submissive to the grandeur of North Bowl. However, as fifteen hikers found out today, the South Bowl is a beautiful, colorful place with plenty of scrambles of its own. ... So many photos!

Dropping into the First Wash

Trail into the First Wash

After watching the Two Bighorns

Climbing up through the First Wash

View up the First Wash

We parked at the Northshore Road MM 18 trailhead. This trailhead is a very popular jumping off point at Lake Mead NRA. From here, people hike to Mt. Hamblin, Pinto Valley, North Bowl and South Bowl. Although sometimes the trailhead can get crowded, there was plenty of space this morning. We started out the trail to the west, a trail that was very vague when I started hiking here in 2008. Now, the trail is very clear and takes you around a small independent ridge and over to the cluster of redstone behind it. As we hiked, we could see the North Bowl of Fire in the distance to the north. Square-topped Murphy Peak rose high to the southwest when we dropped down to the South Bowl wash. Crossing the wash, we started up a trail that would take us across the desert terrain to the first wash inside South Bowl leading to the southwest.

Scrambling in the First Wash

View back in the First Wash

Climbing up the Hillside to the Right

Fun stuff!

At the top of the Hillside

As soon as we dipped over the edge of the berm, someone shouted that there were bighorns down below to the right. We stopped and admired them for a minute. Onward, we started climbing up the colorful wash. This wash has a few very nice scrambles and we all enjoyed the efforts as we headed up to the lizard / lion / turtle - headed rock at the top of the canyon. After we passed the wash scrambles, the route curved around to the right and up the hillside. We passed Heart Rock, and climbed all the way up to the top of the hill to view one canyon we could use as a descent. Deciding to not bypass the overlook area, we circled around to the left and were met with the view shown in the first photo.

Hiking around to the Overlook

Approaching the Overlook

Dropping into the Descent Canyon

Brenda leads down the Descent Canyon

Anniversary Narrow Peak above Dog Rock Wash

At the overlook, we talked about what landmarks were nearby. Next, we followed the trail down and around to the right to drop through a nice narrow canyon. At the bottom, we passed a really thick low arch and strolled into one of the South Bowl's main washes that flows parallel to the first wash. A turn to the left put us in a wash heading up toward Lovell Ridge. There used to be worn trails in this area, however, with so much recent rain, the cryptobiotic soil has grown well and we were hard up for finding where to hike among the little micro-tiny critters! Our next point of interest was Dogface. I think it looks like a dog but others in the group saw a Baboon. okay. Anyway, next we hiked on over to the famous South Bowl Elephant Arch where we took our break. While sitting there, John W. spied a bighorn way up on the Lovell Ridge. Good eyes!

The Animals we Saw!

Up onto Embankment

Heading into the Boulder Turn

Heading out of the Boulder Turn

Dropping into the next Colorful Wash

We crossed over to the north and travelled down a large main wash, curved around a boulder-filled corner to the outside area of South Bowl and dropped into the next shallow wash with a lot of colorful bedrock. Reaching a beautiful slot-fall, we turned up to the left. A trail crossed the desert terrain and we arrived at the second, and more gorgeous, slot-fall. Many photos later, we continued down to the bottom of the slot-fall and found that a water hole prevented us from seeing the slot-fall up close. We followed this wash out to the "main" entrance of the South Bowl and scrambled down the rocks. All that remained was the hike out that desert trail to the cars. What a great day! And, thanks to everyone for contributing more photos!

Stats: 5 miles; 760' gain; 4 hours

Curvy Slot in Colorful Wash

Hiking out from Twisty Deep Slot

Grand Entrance / Exit of South Bowl

Enjoying the Trail between South Bowl and Trailhead