Colorful Twilight - 9/26/25

Colorful Canyon in the Twilight Area

Bike trail above Grapevine Spring

Diagonal burro trail and Bushy Juniper Trailhead

Sunrise on the Spring Mountains

Have you ever wondered what that area behind Kyle Canyon's Grapevine Spring really looks like? Well, if you are a bicyclist or off-roader, you might already know. Two Wanderers have developed a hike out there using hiking/burro trails. There are still a couple of adjustments to be made but the 5.3 mile loop hike is pretty good as it is now. Using a new trailhead off of Kyle Canyon Road 11.65 miles up from I-11, we parked next to a big bushy juniper tree on the right side of the road off the pavement. Hiking straight out to the embankment, we found the burro trail that leads up the steep escarpment on a diagonal. Just doing this trail is pretty fun! It also affords great views of this area of Kyle Canyon.

Lucky Strike Road nearing Grapevine Spring

Following burro trails beside Lucky Strike Road

Grapevine Spring from bike trail Above

Kay stands in front of Lucky Strike Road View

At the top of the embankment, there is a rim trail and a trail that leads down. We crossed the rim trail and followed the trail straight ahead. This trail joins another trail and both trails lead down to a dirt road below in the vicinity of a sign indicating a boundary for the Spring Mountains NRA. Pass the sign for just a short distance and find the main cross-desert hiking/burro trail switchbacking up to the right. This trail offers gorgeous views in the sunrise hours. In 1.25 miles, the main trail, with no turns, takes you to Lucky Strike Road where we crossed and joined the trail we were familiar with that descends to Grapevine Spring. We stayed near the dirt road and eventually crossed the road again. This should put you on a nice bike trail to continue the same heading. The trail took us up above Grapevine Spring where the grapevine was sporting big bright green leaves. Caveat: We haven't yet found the exact spot to cross the dirt road for the second time. So far, we have had to wander on changing burro trails until we found the heavily worn bike trail. But, believe us, there are burro trails aplenty that go along this side of the dirt road among the ridges and arroyos. Susan and I were each finding our own trails when we finally met up at the main one.

Closer view of the old corral at Grapevine Spring

Bike trail through yellow Rock

West Hill

Our descent slope into Colorful Canyon

After we enjoyed the view down to the spring, we followed the bike trail until it switchbacked to the right. Here, we continued up through the wash and then up the hill to the left. Our goal was to reach the rim at the top where we looked over and into a colorful canyon. Red dirt with green plants and yellow autumn panache stared at us from below and all around. The next challenge was to hike down this side of the valley on numerous choices of burro trails. I believe there is a main trail that we have not yet located the beginning of.

View down into Colorful Canyon from descent Slope

Colorful Canyon Wash

Bones du Jour

Climbing up out of Colorful Canyon Wash

In the wash, we found bones that were long ago parts of, perhaps, an elk. Add these to the small mule deer skull and antlers we found earlier and we had our skeletons du jour. A nice trail led up the other side of the valley through the red dirt and we arrived on a saddle. The trail continued down the other side but we turned to the left and climbed up to the top of a small rise with more fabulous views. Here, we took a break among the "summit" rocks. Just over the other side of the rise, a trail ran crosswise and we turned to the left. This well worn trail would lead us to the saddle at the other end of the Colorful Canyon. There are, of course, many burro trails leading up but we tried to find good trails on the right side of the wash.

Small rise above Colorful Canyon

Susan takes a break on the small Rise

Following another burro trail around to the saddle seen Beyond

One more ridge before the Saddle

We had been on this saddle on one of our previous trips and were very happy to follow the good burro trail on the left side of the wash. Near the bottom of the hill, the trail dips down into the wash and levels out. The wash flows into the next valley's wash and the trail continues across. We left a cairn at this one place. The trail begins a gentle climb to reach the top of the next ridge. It is another colorful area. At the top of the ridge, we bushwhacked through the desert blackbrush on a diagonal to the left. It wasn't long before we junctioned with the main cross-desert hiking/burro trail. Turning right, we retraced our steps back to the trailhead. 

Burro shady Spot

Susan on the Saddle

Descending past the Saddle

Kay descending the Wash

We really like this new route! And, right now, is the best time to be hiking in the Twilight area of Red Rock Canyon NCA. Like I said in the beginning, this is still somewhat a "work in progress." However, the bones (pun intended) are there and it is an area of Twilight that few have yet to explore. Another caveat: We did see a few small signs that this area has seen hikers before. Widespread small cairn or two, mainly. We plan to return before the weather turns colder.

On our maiden voyage to Colorful Twilight, we came upon a rattlesnake on the main cross-desert trail. It was coiled up between two blackbrush bushes. I was leading and stopped cold about ten feet away. Sue ran into me from behind! I immediately started slowly backing away and Sue followed suit. I took a photo (see below) but my feathers were a little ruffled and I didn't get a clear shot. Not the kind of excitement that you really want to experience. That little bugger was ready to strike!!!

Stats: 5.3 miles; 1125' gain; 5 hours

Trail up to ridge Crest

Do burros do this?

Main hiking/burro trail across Desert

Sign near the beginning of the cross-desert Trail

We found this little guy on the trail on our first trip. We saw him in time and backed away slowly!

Stepladder & Odie - 9/22/25

Northwest view from Stepladder Peak

Fall color in Kyle Canyon near Griffith Peak

View of Kyle Canyon from Stepladder Peak

Heading up Roly Poly Wash Trail

There are multiple routes you can track in the Telephone Canyon Road area of the Spring Mountains NRA. Last year, we learned a route using a minor peak just below Stepladder Peak. We named it Odie Peak because of Ralyn's little dog Odie being the first to reach the top that day. With the use of Odie Peak, we were able to add two particular routes, a 4.3 mile and a 5.3 mile, that are both good workouts. On this hike entry, we explored the longer of the two by beginning at the Stepladder Trailhead, or the Kyle Canyon traffic circle. Rather than climbing up to the regular Stepladder Trail to ascend to the Stepladder Saddle, we started directly from the parking lot up the trail that begins exactly where the pavement and the gravel parking meets. 

Kyle Canyon view from wash Trail

Your choice on Descent

Almost at the Top

Old pincushion cactus on Peak Trail

This is a fun undulating trail that the bikers love to ride down. It is a great trail to climb as it is gentle. I call it the Roly Poly Wash. At the top, a right turn takes you shortly up to the Stepladder Saddle where about 6 trails come together. We turned right onto the trail that led up hill to Stepladder Peak. This climb starts easy as it rides the ridge over a small hill. Next, the trail starts up a small series of scrambles. There are great overlooks along the way. We reached the top and signed into the book then began our drop over and to the left. The descent to Odie Peak stays right between the cliffs on the left and the wash on the right.

Old tree near Stepladder Peak

Susan's first trip up Stepladder Peak

A little scrambling nearing the Peak

View into Telephone Canyon from Peak

There is an easy saddle dip then you climb a short and gentle slope up to the top of Odie Peak where we took our break. The views were beautiful. We could see inside Kyle Canyon where the aspen leaves were already yellow and red. After the break, we started down Odie's long slope to the south. Although there isn't really a trail, the breaks in the trees and a few hoof tracks give away the game route. I've done this descent four times without a GPS and it seems that the route is logical. It feels somewhat like a spiral down to the wash at the bottom even though the map does not appear that way. Refrain from entering the messy wash but continue along above the wash and you will junction with the Shady Hollow Trail to take a left.

Kay and Sue enjoying the Peak

Group photo on Stepladder Peak Outcrop

Descending to Odie Saddle and Peak

Sue and Susan making the Descent

Follow Shady Hollow and take a sharp turn to the left at the junction near the Telephone Canyon Road. Either left turn will work. The Shady Hollow Trail melds into Tin Can Alley. Watch for fast oncoming bikes here but continue up the trail taking left forks when offered. This is the longest and most tedious part of the hike. This being said, we turned early to go back up to Stepladder Saddle onto a very steep trail at just under 4 miles into the hike. The alternative is to hike on up to the Atomic Duck junction and use this trail to gain the saddle above. Using the Atomic Duck increases the mileage by about 0.75 mile but it saves having to do that steep stuff.

A rotting log on Odie Peak

Descending next to a rocky ridge off Odie Peak

Following game trail off Odie Peak

Nearing wash at bottom of Odie Peak

The last leg of the hike descends on the tried and true (and beautiful) Stepladder Trail with views of Kyle Canyon and La Madre Range. A small approach trail must be taken to return to the trailhead as you round the bottom of the hill. This longer route using Odie Peak is a challenge. If you aren't up to the challenge, do the shorter hike that eliminates the Roly Poly Wash and the Stepladder Trail by parking at the top trailhead on Deer Creek Road. Fun was had by all!

Stats: 5.3 miles; 1600' gain; 4.75 hours

Shady Hollow Trail

Tin Can Alley

Descending Stepladder Trail