Liberty Loop - 2/14/26

Colorado River Overlook above Liberty Bell Arch

Liberty Bell Arch with heart-shaped rock for Valentine's Day

Bristlebush in White Rock Canyon

Trail Signs

Before we were inundated with the bad weather of late, three Lady Hikers hiked the Liberty Loop out in the Lake Mead NRA just below Hoover Dam and the Tillman-O'Callahan Bridge. Most hikers see the Liberty Bell Arch as an out-and-back hike starting at the White Rock Canyon Trailhead (MM 4 on SR 93). This is a popular trailhead because it serves White Rock Canyon, Ringbolt Hot Springs, Spooky Canyon, Horse Thief Canyon and Liberty Bell Arch. It is also used for various other exploratory hikes in the area. We dropped down into the wide wash that flows under the highway bridge and began our walk down. Staying to the right when the wash starting narrowing, we came to an intersection with a small sign on the right side (see photo to the left). We turned to the right here and began a small climb up through the desert hills passing some old mining equipment. If you look up to the right, you will see the old Liberty Bell Arch Trail coming down a hill. 

Liberty Bell Arch Trail

Manganese Mine Skiff

Lady Hikers

Remnants from Manganese Mine

The mine was used back during the World War II days when manganese was needed. The mine is found at the bottom of a hill and around a corner to the right. After viewing the mine, we returned to the small valley wash there and continued our easy descent through the blooming suncups and brittlebushes, a sea of yellow. At the bottom of the wash, the trail turns up to the right where it reaches an intersection. You can see a side of the arch from here. (This intersection will be important later.) We switchbacked up the trail and continued up to reach the area below a steep hill to the arch. Some hikers use this hill to climb up and around to the other side of the arch. This is not an easy task and we chose not to do it while we watched two other hikers try it. After taking several photos, we continued up the trail moving away from the huge arch climbing to a plateau lying above the Colorado River. There are some wonderful views from this vantage point. We sat here and took our break.

Liberty Bell Arch and Lady Hikers

Susan at Colorado River Overlook

Fortification Hill from Liberty Bell Arch Trail

Starting out the return Loop

After the break, we returned past the arch and on down to that important intersection. However, this time, we stepped over the barrier of lined rocks and continued straight on a slightly vague trail. This trail led us up past a hill on its left side, around to the right, up and over a small rock ridge (look for a cairn with huge rocks!), around to the left and, finally, to a V-shaped drop and a more gentle slope to the big wash below. This is the return wash. Slowly, we descended to the wash and started up. The wash is very pretty where you drop in. Look for three tall verticle cairns as you climb. A few easy to moderate scrambles will appear. Take the left at a large fork because the right is a dead end. Then keep right after that. You will eventually reach the last curve before the highway above. This is where you should climb up to the right to reach the old mining road that was part of the old Liberty Bell Arch Trail that began at the highway. This highway, SR 93, was rebuilt around 2010. The new road eliminated the old trailhead.

Susan and Sue descending to the return Wash

Gradual climb in the ascending Wash

Vertical cairn beyond the Brittlebushes

Sue climbs a dry Waterslide

After climbing up the hill to the right, we reached the old mining road and turned right. This road wiggles around where you can see the trailhead and highway bridge where we started. Shortcuts across the wiggles have been worn by bighorns and hikers. Happy with our adventure, we hiked under the bridge and up into the trailhead passing many other hikers coming and going.

Stats: 6 miles; 1300' gain; 4.5 hours

Reaching SR 93 inside the return Wash

The old Liberty Bell Arch Trail and Mine Road

Return to the Trailhead