Stanley B Loop v Cockscomb Peak Trail - 7/21/25

Three Lady Hikers at Cockscomb Peak Trail Junction

Mummy Mountain from ascent Ridge

Stanley B Wash

Stanley B Wash

Before this hike, my go-to route for the Stanley B Loop led in a straight line from the Break Saddle over to the Cockscomb Peak Trail ridge. It was a little messy but it got the job done. Some time in the previous 3 or 4 years, a couple of friends showed us how the wonderful descent trail we used on the next ridge led all the way up to the trailing ridge from Cockscomb Peak on its east side. That day, I arrived at the ridge and decided to wait for some others to return from Cockscomb Peak. While I was there, I took note of the junction area and decided that, someday, I would connect the Stanley B Saddle with the Cockscomb Peak Trail. Today was the perfect day for the adventure!

Kay steps past the lower spring Flow

Signed tree at Fork

View down approach Trail

Trail continuing past Mines

Three Lady Hikers parked at the Stanley B Trailhead and started up the beautiful rock and forest wash. This part of the hike is very photogenic. After about 1/3 mile, the wash crossed the old mining road that has narrowed down to about 3 feet in some places. We turned right although it is also possible to stay in the wash and veer up to the right later. At the top of the first little hill, there is a trail that turns off to the left. This is affectionately called the "Shortcut." You can continue on the old mining road but it is a longer route. The little trail took us up to intersect with the road and after about a mile, we reached a major fork. Susan and I turned off to the left and roamed through the tiny waterfalls from the lower pipe spring just above. At the trail fork, (containing a sign up on a broken tree) we veered to the right through the Mt. Charleston angelicas. The trail climbs through the spring water up to the first barricaded mine adit. The spring water flows out of this adit. We continued up the wash pushing aside brush and climbing over small tree trunks. But the trail was there and it also passed the second mine adit where Susan climbed up to take a look and a photo. We passed through another bunch of brush but finally made it out into a clear wash.

Mines 1&2 Area

Starting wash Scramble

Climbing the Stanley B Wash

Another Scramble

There is a trail up through the wash. We met up with three cliff band scrambles plus a left fork in a small meadow and ducking under a tree trunk at the last fork where we went right. After the big tree, there is a trail up on the right side. It is a good trail to find and follow up next to the wash. It will take you to a nice saddle with a large tree trunk to sit on for a break. Right now, there are yellow flowers covering a large area on the saddle. Everywhere you look, there are mountain peaks whose homes are in or near Kyle Canyon. Can you name them all? I bet you can! We sat for our break, took a few photos and made the final decision to climb up the ridge to the Cockscomb Peak Trail junction.

Climbing up the Trail after third wash Fork

Mountain views from break Saddle

Mountain Mahogany (L), Harris Peak (R) and Lower Kyle Canyon

Interesting rock formation
on descent Ridge

It was a steep climb, but it was short. Only about a quarter mile. It turned out to be the third "lump" on the ridge where the trail came in from the left. (The lumps were either tree stumps or small rock outcrops.) We noted that the Cockscomb Peak Trail left the rock lump and proceeded straight up the ridge towards the peak above. Our trail continued straight over the ridge. We took the time to take our group photo and a few more shots as the mountains rose all around us. Then, we followed the trail down the other side of the ridge beginning very steeply for a short stint. There were outcrop views on both sides of us, some sitting behind small islands of small trees. It was a beautiful part of the hike. We carefully side-stepped down the trail until we made our way through a rising outcrop down to a more horizontal trail path. Not far past that, we came to the area where we normally entered the trail from the Break Saddle in a short distance to the left. We know the Cockscomb Peak Trail fairly well past this point. However, as we descended the ridge and the following scree hill, we noted that the trail has been slightly washed down in a couple of places. Close observation is necessary.

Harris Peak from ascent Ridge

Major ascent to Cockscomb Peak Trail Junction

Yes, it is steep!

Susan arrives at Junction

The trail down the scree hill brought us to the top of the Left Fork Wash. Here, the trail was in goodish condition and there were no more questions as to which way to go. For some reason, this canyon trail is one of my favorite hikes. Weird. Anyway, we followed the trail over large deadfall and down small steep hills passing the top pipe spring, the old campsite that isn't there anymore, under the tree where I always seem to forget there are TWO "ducks. Next came the sharp rock scramble that no longer has to be used anymore. It is a lot easier to drop into the small wash below and climb out in a few more feet. Then you are traipsing into the airhole and bottom pipe spring area. This leads to the Major Fork!

Starting down the Cockscomb Peak Trail

Descent Trail

Arriving at old Loop Junction

Making our way down to top of Stanley B
Left Fork Wash

As usual, we completed the loop by use of the old mining road. BTW, there is a large tree that fell across the road at the old road campsite area. We descended to the wash junction and turned left. Talking all the while, we descended through the beautiful rocks. What a fun day! Another new route under our belts!

Stats: 4.25 miles; 1740' gain; 5 hours (and no one fell!)

Descending Stanley B Left Fork Wash

Shooting Stars at top pipe Spring

Highlights of Left Fork Wash include:
Deadfall, Scramble, Bottom Pipe Spring, Airhole, and Wooded Trail