Hollow Rock Peak v Bike Trail O&B - 3/10/25

Hollow Rock Peak

South Peak ridge from Hollow Rock Peak Ridge

South Peak ridge from climb to Hollow Rock Peak Ridge

Starting out on the service Road

Hollow Rock Peak is the second southernmost peak in the Red Rock escarpment. It is topped by a large boulder that hikers say is hollow. But, this can only be proven by climbing up the rock and looking down through the top of it. This is no easy task ....  And, the most difficult part of the task is to descend back down off the boulder. Sometimes, someone has left a rope to help with the descent but, for this hike, there was no rope. No worries. We had no hikers who were so inclined to do the dangerous deed. In fact, about half of our large group of twelve had never been on this hike before. We proceeded out of the Mountain Springs Pass Trailhead on SR 160 on the service road that runs parallel to the highway, heading toward the South Canyon of the escarpment. About 1/3 mile from the trailhead parking lot, the South Canyon Bike Trail veers off to the left. This bike trail wiggles its way on a slowly ascending traverse along the foothills of the Hollow Rock Peak bench. At the 1.20 mile mark, we turned left up a small shortcut trail that takes hikers to a switchback corner of an old abandoned road.

Taking the south canyon bike trail to the Hollow Rock Peak Climb

Overlook rock and wildlife watering hole at end of abandoned Road

Overlook rock (L) and trail from abandoned Road

Scrambling up to Hollow Rock Ridge

The ascent becomes steeper as you climb up the road to an overlook rock and on up to where the road turns into a trail. The trail takes you around the next hill where the limestone and sandstone of the Keystone Thrust collide. You have the option of continuing up to the bench ridge or to continue circling up through the sandstone. Whichever way you choose, you will eventually connect with the bench trail where the terrain changes to certain sandstone with beautiful colors of purple, pink and yellow. Here, we began the hike along the top of the ridge. There is a trail much of the way. Otherwise, look for the ever present cairns and use your best judgement. Essentially, the route goes along the ridge until it drops down to the right just before reaching an obvious road block of sandstone outcrop.

Slab Descent

Scramble Descent

Fun Ascent

Watching the fun Ascent

Here, the route drops down to the right and over to a saddle of a sort. On the left end of the saddle, there is a slab descent to the bottom of the first of 2 dips. Follow the trail from there up to the next saddle. On the right end of this saddle, you have a choice of dropping straight down through the rubble or scrambling the ledges to the left. By using the ledge scrambles, hikers can avoid descending all the way to the bottom of the second drop by circling around to the left. Your choice. We did both. Now, at the 3rd saddle, Hollow Rock Peak comes into view. A large round peak rises on the right end of the saddle. This peak can be climbed as an "extra." Otherwise, follow the trail around to the left and up to the slab next to the peak. We arrived! Oohs and aahs all around! It is a very beautiful spot to sit and overlook high above Cottonwood Valley. Windy Peak rises next door and the Calico Hills can be seen peaking around the corner. Far below, Late Night Trailhead can also be seen.

Windy Peak from Hollow Rock Peak

Reaching Hollow Rock Peak

Taking a break on Hollow Rock Peak (Mt. Potosi in background)

Tiny critter trackway Fossil

The return was made on the same route. As we hiked back along the ridge, we passed by the slab of rock with a small creature's fossilized trackway. Down to the trail and old abandoned road and, finally, down to the bike trail. The 5 miles plus the scrambling, this hike is a decent workout for most of our club hikers. It was a good day!

Stats: 5 miles; 1100' gain; 4 hours

Descent back to abandoned Road

South Canyon Bike Trail

Snowy Mt. Potosi