La Madre Wash Loop (with Cactus Hill) - 4/22/25

Small Slot in La Madre Wash

Prickly Pear Cactus on Cactus Hill

White Sandstone in White Rock Wash

Keystone Thrust escarpment from near Cactus Hill

A few weeks ago, some club members set out to do the Keystone Wash / La Madre Wash Loop. However, not too long into the hike, the wind whipped up and we made the decision to abort the complete loop by returning to the cars from the thrust fault area. On the hike written up in this entry, we completed the loop and added a couple of interesting spurs. First, we drove up to the White Mountain Road Upper Trailhead reducing the hike by almost a mile. Then, we began the hike by going back down the dirt road to a vague trail that turned left. This "trail" crossed over to an old road that is barely there among the blackbrush anymore. Turning to the left again, we followed it up a desert ridge, intersected with the official Keystone Thrust Trail, turned right and climbed up to the agave roasting pit that sits on a curve to the right.

Joining the Keystone Thrust Trail

Susan and Rita on Cactus Hill

Red Rock escarpment with White Rock Hills

Cacti on Cactus Hill

The familiar trail climbed up toward the junction with a descent trail that takes hikers down to the above ground thrust fault. Just before the junction, we turned right onto a short trail that ascends Cactus Hill, a small hill that rises above the thrust fault area. This hill affords fabulous views of the Red Rock Canyon area. We took a few photos and returned to the main trail where we stepped over some rocks and continued climbing an old trail up a long ridge that heads toward the La Madre Mountains and a double arch. Our climb was very slow but we enjoyed it!

Thrust Fault below and Turtlehead Peak Above

The long ridge climb on La Madre Double Arch Trail

Agave Roasting Pit Junction

Dipping into the La Madre Wash (view up wash)

It seems that every time I do the transition to the left where we cross down to the La Madre Wash, I choose a different route. This time was no different. The problem comes when it is time to drop into the wash from the embankment. Finally, we found a decent place to drop in and we found rocks on which to sit and have a break. The view up wash gave the La Madre Mountains. Down wash was a beautiful limestone gravel wash with the Red Rock escarpment in the distance. The fun La Madre Wash has a few easy scrambles and small narrow sections so it "keeps you on your toes!" The first challenge is a seven foot dry fall that requires hikers to go up and around to the right. After a couple more small challenges, hikers reach a very nice narrows slot.

La Madre Wash (view down Wash)

Some narrows in La Madre Wash

Rita on the Precipice

Kay looking for Handholds

This challenge is also a drop of about seven feet which you can choose to do a couple of different ways. If you wish to go around the scramble, try the left side. All three of us made it down the drop in one way or another. A little further on, the La Madre Wash deltas into the White Rock Wash at the base of White Rock Hills. Curving to the left, the white sandstone wash offers a few beautiful scrambles. We took many photos of the wash and, finally reached the old trail junction. This junction has now been changed. Instead of climbing up the rocky area, hikers must continue down wash a little further and turn right. It is clearly marked. Most likely, the old trail was becoming too eroded. No worries. The new one is a little easier! The three lady hikers had a great and beautiful day!

Stats: 4 miles; 1075' gain; 3.75 hours

Susan and Rita checking out the scramble Down

Rita enjoying the white sandstone Wash

White Rock Wash