Cottonwood Overlook - 11/6/25

Meditation Point from Cottonwood Overlook

Hollow Rock Peak from trail to Cottonwood Overlook (R)

Potosi Mountain Road from Cottonwood Overlook
Pasrump and Bluebird Peaks on range Beyond

Scariest scramble near Beginning

I parked with the two newbies in the car at the junction of SR 160 and Potosi Mountain Road. Looking at the rock wall across the road from our cubby next to the fence, I waited for their first question. "Where do we go from here?" they asked. Still looking at the rock wall that seemingly offered a rock-climb and nothing else, I gestured to the wall and said, "Up there." Their quiet disposition said it all so I put them out of their misery. "It's not as bad as it looks. There's a trail, a little bit of scrambling and a lot of zigzags." The Wanderers know me by now and those few words were enough to quell any fears that might have popped up and, off we went.

      The trail began straight across from our parking space through the bushes. Immediately, we started up. Our first "scramble" was deemed "the scariest!" It was a shuffle along a rock ledge with a small step up at the other end. They took it on like pros, without blinking. Perhaps they were looking at me like I was the wuss. Hmm. Maybe I am. Nevertheless, everyone made it across the ledge and began an 800' climb over the course of 0.7 mile. The trail is very interesting having been placed there by actual rock climbers to enable themselves to reach the various walls.

Scrambling up the side of the Hill

Waking up on the Rocks

Getting into the rhythm of the Trail

Movin' on Up

The trail has been recently maintained and was easier to follow than any of the previous 4-5 times I have been there. There were only two exceptions. Since this is primarily a rock climbers trail, it is understandable that the trail directs hikers to their walls. This is fine. However, two places in particular are misleading. One is a trail fork. If you go straight, you are led on a long search for a beautiful wall when, in fact, you should have read the cairns a little more carefully and turned up to the left. At another place, the trail leads you right around a corner by a tree instead of suggesting to hikers to turn left at the tree and proceed with a trail that climbs up past a cliff band and around to the right.

After left turn at Tree

Spring Mountains View

Climbing the trail to the big Sign

Group photo at the Big Sign

Taking this trail up past the cliff band and on around the mountain to the right puts hikers at the first large sign. When you see this sign made by the BSA, you are "home free!" We took the left up fork at the sign switchback and followed the much improved trail up to a second sign turning us to the left. It isn't much further on this section before you are climbing up onto Cottonwood Overlook. The overlook is a plateau of sorts where the trail circles around and up to end at a collection of rocks to sit on. While we enjoyed the log book entries, we took in the panoramic views. Since the overlook rises at the south end of the Red Rock escarpment, we could see several of its peaks going north. In the other direction, we saw Meditation Point and Mt. Potosi and the next range to the west toward Pahrump. Within this last range, the two tallest peaks are Pahsrump and Bluebird Peaks. If we hiked further on the plateau, an open view of Cottonwood Valley would unfold before us.

Pahsrump Peak from Overlook Trail

Sue at second Sign

Cottonwood Overlook from Approach

Spring Mountains view from top of Plateau

After our break on top, we hiked down the same way until we came to the first large sign. Here, we continued around the switchback and began a gorgeous hike along the rock wall going south. Below us, we could see Potosi Mountain Road. We passed through free-standing pinnacle-like outcrops and crossed a "mother of all rock slides." Watching the pond down to our right, we knew our descent ridge was coming up. The descent ridge ran easily next to the pond falling in a northwest direction. After wading through some brush, we found the clear path on the ridge. This ridge was used to string telephone or electric lines. We peered overhead and followed underneath the lines all the way down to Potosi Mountain Road.

Climbing to high Point

Climbing to high Point

Cottonwood Valley from high point of Cottonwood Overlook

Return Trail

At the dirt road, we turned to the right. All that remained was a 3/4 mile trek down the middle of the road. It is very important that during this part of your hike, you are on your best behavior! No trespassing into the brush to the right or left and appear as innocent as you are able! Can't be that hard, right? This is a very impressive hike due to its interesting terrain and beautiful reward of views. 

Stats: 4.6 miles; 1200' gain; 4.25 hours

Crossing rock fall on return Trail

BSA pond from Descent

Plateau of Cottonwood Overlook above from return on Potosi Mountain Road