Redstone / Jean's Canyon Loop - 12/28/24

Redstone Window to Pinto Valley

Jean's Canyon at Slip'n'Slide Area

From Redstone to Bittersprings Valley

Petrified Wood

The red sandstone of Lake Mead NRA creates colorful scenery all along Northshore Road. Within those miles of the road, you can find features like North and South Bowls of Fire, Rainbow Canyon and Redstone Picnic Area. Further up the road, the Valley of Fire State Park rises out of the desert. This hike begins at mile marker 26. Looking out into the desert toward the lake, there are large mounds of redstone rising in the distance. These are the hike's beginning target.

Group Photo

Hiking the wash to Redstone

Climbing out of the Wash

Redstone

We found the right wash to hike out to the redstone a couple of ridges over to the left from the parking trailhead. On the way out, there is a small grouping of petrified wood that we visited. The wash beyond continued our progress and we arrived at the mounds, arches and windows created by the iron flavored hardened sand. To our left, in a short distance, we noted Eagle Rock. To our right, we found a game trail that headed straight over to the next ridges. We followed the trail and obvious route down, up, down, up, down and up. Finally, we ended up on the highest ridge. It had a trail running perpendicularly to our route. This trail runs the length of the ridge and can be used to make a shorter hike loop.

Up and over the trailed ridge in the Redstone

Dropping down to the Narrow Slot

Navigating the narrow Slot

Redstone Petroglyphs

We found a good way to descend over the ridge as we headed for a narrow slot in the high redstone walls in front of us. The terrain funneled us down into a small canyon and we came upon a freshly eaten bighorn head and skeletal components. There were even large bird feathers around the area likely from at least one raptor who was performing the clean-up. Next, we continued down into the narrow long slot. Our large group of hikers made their way down through the slot handling all the small scrambles that were presented. At the end of the slot, we noted a couple of petroglyphs that had been written on the wall to the left. We followed the wall on down where we found several more nice petroglyphs. These are only a few of the petroglyphs that the area of redstone has to offer. But, these are the only petroglyphs that this hike would pass by. We sat in the canyon area for our break ... talking non-stop. Afterwards, we found our way up the hill behind us and came to the plateau. Turning to the right and hiking to the end of the plateau, there is a place where you can scramble down to the next canyon. After exploring the plateau in the past, we found that this is the best way to get down! We all made it with no mishaps.

Big drop off a Plateau

Redstone window to Pinto Valley

Hall of Windows

Crossing a plateau to the Cut Ridge

We turned to the left and poked our head through a large window around the corner for a look-see. Continuing our progress out of the canyon, we dropped down to another, lower, plateau with washes on both sides. In the near distance, there is a rock fin-like ridge with a cut place in the middle of it. We headed for the cut and finished out the wash beyond coming to the Old Arrowhead Highway to turn left. Following the old road and wash combined for about .65 mile, we came to the bottom of Jean's Canyon marked by a cairn on the right. Our trip up Jean's Canyon passed the Slip 'n' Slide and the dryfall that helps you pass larger dryfalls. Next, the wash became steeper until we found ourselves on the high point of the canyon. From there, we began our trip down the other end of the canyon.

Passing through the Cut Ridge

Bighorn remains, Tortoise remains and Ripple Rocks

Starting up the bottom of Jean's Canyon

Up and around the Slip'n'Slide

The other side of Jean's Canyon has its own personality. There are several steep drops down the underlying "fins." A trail that veers off to the right is obvious. This trail climbs up to a saddle high on the ridge. The view at the top is tremendous! It is difficult to find the trail down the other side because, I believe, there is more than one. At any rate, we found an exciting trail and finally ended up on the Old Arrowhead Highway at a place after its Heartbreak Hill. Taking a left on the road, we dipped into a small wash and followed the road until it climbed up the bank on the right side. From there, we followed the old road all the way back to a spot on Northshore Road near where we had parked.

Climbing the wash after a dryfall Climb

Almost to the top of Jean's Canyon (Bear Paw Poppy Saddle)

Descending Jean's Canyon

Jean's Saddle trail Junction

This hike was born from a few of many wonderful hikes that Chuck and Joan Hawkins had shown our club in the past. This recently put-together route has been used for the club in the last four years. It is a good workout in the course of 5.7 miles with 1000' gain. 

Stats: 5.7 miles; 1000' gain; 4.25 hours

Climbing to the saddle above Jean's Canyon

Saddle View

Trail down from saddle to Old Arrowhead Hwy