Cave Canyon / Echo Canyon - 12/9/24

Cave Canyon Entrance

Echo Canyon

Waiting above the 3rd Class Pour-over

Sun rises through Cave Canyon on the Approach

Climb up to the wash Trail

There were thirteen strong hikers on this 5.5 mile trip up and down the North Blue Diamond Hill. It was the coldest morning of the year so far and we got out of our cars at the Cowboy Trails Trailhead at the last minute to sign the sheet and get moving. (Our blood is generally not very thick here in Las Vegas!) But, that just means that when we started our hike, we were all moving quickly to warm up. The horses had a day off so there were none standing around to be saddled up. We hiked up past the upper hitching post and dropped into the mouth of the Cave and Echo Canyons just beyond. The trail up to the beginning of Cave Canyon warmed us up. No one had a problem keeping up!

Climb up to the Cave Canyon Trail

Dealing with the pour-over sans ladder like Pros

Mike shows newbies the large Cave

Zigzagging through the Cave Canyon Trail

So the ladder is gone! We had to resort to the 3rd class climb as we had done it many times before with only our strength, spotters and several instructions by onlookers. Most of us didn't need too much help but it certainly was nice to have it! The next point of interest was a short visit to the main cave entrance. There were only three takers to this side trip as everyone else was already familiar with the cave. From there, it was scramble after scramble in the form of class 2. Again, no problems. At the fork near the top of the canyon, we decided to veer to the left just adding a little more interest making the hike 0.75 mile longer than the right fork would have been. We climbed up the last 3rd class pour-over and finished the trail up the canyon.

The trail continues.

Navigating the brush in the Left Fork

Deborah above the last Pour-over.

High Point on Detour

When the canyon trail was about to intersect the SARS Trail, we started a bushwhack up the side of the hill on the right. There is a vague trail on top of this ridge and a nice gradual slope on the other side to descend down to the Cave Canyon right fork / SARS Trail junction. Connecting with the SARS Trail, we continued over to the top of Echo Canyon passing Second Finger and First Finger before reaching the Echo Canyon Trail junction. There is a picnic area built out of rock at this junction where we took our short break. Next, our route started down the Echo Canyon / Fossil Ridge Trail. Reaching the junction of the wash, we left the trail and started down the wash. Here, it helps to know a little about the Echo Canyon Trail ascent.

Sloping down to the SARS Trail and Right Fork Junction

The SARS Trail

Zigging down into Echo Canyon

Scrambling in Echo Canyon

The descent scramble in Echo Canyon is not always obvious but if you know the scrambles from the other direction, you have an idea how to get down in our direction. One thing about scrambling and leading hikes, you are constantly thinking about your next move ... be it the next step or the next route. (That's what keeps me, and a lot of other hikers, coming back! ... Brain activity!) So, we made it down Echo Canyon with its finale being the large Shell Fossil Drop and its following steep slides. The trail led us past the bouldered completion of the canyon. Passing the hitching post again, there were still no horses milling about. Ours was a workout, to be sure. Could have done without the left fork detour but we all survived to hike another day maybe a little bit stronger! Great group of hikers!

Stats: 5.6 miles; 1200' gain; 4 hours

More Scrambling

Big drop near bottom of Echo Canyon

Connecting with the Echo Canyon approach Trail

Exiting Echo Canyon

Green line shows alternate detour of this hike adding 0.75 miles