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