Oak Creek Canyon Loop - 11/7/26

Oak Creek and Mt. Wilson in Background

Colorful Oak Creek Boulders

Scrambling down to the red Vein

(L-R) Monument Peak, Indecision Peak
and base of Wilson Peak on Approach to
Oak Creek Canyon

Susan and I started at the Scenic Loop exit trailhead and headed straight out toward Oak Creek Canyon. This is the canyon located between Wilson Peak (the highest peak of the Red Rock escarpment) and Rainbow Peak (the most colorful peak of the escarpment). The colors of Rainbow Peak flow down through the canyon area making the large boulders of Oak Creek a beautiful area for some more difficult scrambling. (There are trails to the side of the canyon that enable rock climbers and hikers to navigate the scrambles on up the creek bed.) The trail that we took from the parking lot led to the old rocky abandoned road where we turned right. (There is also a trailhead for this road at SR 159.)

Wilson Peak and Rainbow Peak with Oak Creek Canyon Between

Potato Knoll (L) from canyon Trail

View down scramble up to Rainbow Peak climbing Wall

Rock climber starting up Rainbow

We followed the road toward the canyon between Wilson Peak and Rainbow Peak until it changed to a trail and passed a large trail sign. After the trail sign and continuing toward the canyon, we crossed a section of a geological red vein in the form of red dirt. The trail continued into rocky terrain. Rock climbers use this trail to reach the base of walls on Rainbow Peak. Soon, we had to turn up to the right and scramble up to a large pine. The trail, then, goes to the left and up some more. A fork is offered after a small climb and we took the left where the trail started down toward the creek bed in the middle of the canyon. Finally in the dry canyon, we turned to the left and began our scramble over very large boulders as we descended through the red vein as seen in a few of these photos. We enjoyed the scramble and finally came to a very large drop that was navigated on our left side. Immediately after the drop, a trail climbs out of the boulders on our right. Here, the trail has to be interpreted. Suffice it to say, whatever trail you use, it is best to head straight toward Potato Knoll. We only made one turn to the left followed by a turn to the right and reached the optimal location at the base of Potato Knoll. Here is where there are so many trails that your best choice is the right choice! We decided to not cross over the creek to the left and continued around the base of the knoll on its left side. This led us to a nice wet creek crossing. The water was higher than normal and our shoes got wet! 😱😎 Lots of photos!

Huge boulder near canyon creek with old tree growing from under It

Rainbow Peak shadow on Wilson Peak from Oak Creek Canyon

Colorful boulders in Oak Creek Canyon

Susan in Oak Creek Canyon

On the other side of the creek, the trail led to the right. At the next creek crossing, we decided to keep hiking straight staying on that side of the creek. (When I have tried crossing here, the trail gets a little convoluted and exits the trees only to leave you trying to find your way back to the creek! The maps below do not reflect this change.) So, we stayed on this side and continued along the beautiful creek that was making that "bubbling brook" sound. Soon, the trail started a climb up the embankment to the left. We followed the most worn trail up onto the desert floor and over to the old road we had been on before. A right turn led us back to the white rock intersection and onto the trail we had taken from the parking lot. We passed several high school students who were on a field trip. They were playing music as they hiked. We didn't tell them that it is illegal to do so but simply danced on by. They enjoyed the performance! What were we gonna do? We were outnumbered!!!

Stats: 5 miles; 700' gain

Kay in shallow water of Oak Creek

Oak Creek yellow trees in front of Potato Knoll and Wilson Peak

Yellow trees line Oak Creek as it flows toward SR 159

Cairn Trails Loop - 11/5/26

Snowy Spring Mountains beyond Upper Cairn Trail Ridge

View down through Black Velvet Canyon from Mountain Springs Peak Trail Ridge

View behind escarpment ridge from Upper Cairn Trail

A dog, a smile and our desert mountain Foliage
What more could you want?

What would a November in Las Vegas be without a trip up to Mountain Springs Peak? So, Susan, Amora and I almost did just that! Still fascinated with the Upper and Lower Cairned Trails, we parked at the Mountain Springs Pass Trailhead and started up the 4x4 road toward the antenna. After climbing the first hill, we turned to the left onto the shortcut trail. This trail ends at another road and we turned left. (Take note of the cairn here.) We followed this road up and around a corner until we came to a trail that crossed the gulley to the left. This led to another trail (right) and ended up at an old dirt road roundabout. (Begin looking for cairns.) The trail continues across the circle. Further up, there is a fork. Go left for the Upper Cairn Trail and continue straight for the Lower Cairn Trail. We forked to the left and began a beautiful climb up a ridge filled with desert foliage and rocky sections. The trail is cairned but if you stay atop the ridge, you're "gold!"As we neared the main ridge above, the trail became steeper. We tried, as we had before, to go right and traverse over to the main ridge where the Mountain Springs Peak Trail resides. It didn't work so well this time. Anyway, we found the trail and began following it to the right. 

Amora

Susan and Mt. Potosi

Here, there are magnificent views of the sandstone bluffs from above. Reaching the trail, we found ourselves not far above Black Velvet Canyon and we could see Windy Peak rising up from the sandstone bluffs to the right. We took our break and continued until we passed the Windy Peak Trail fork to the left.  Not much further, we found the junction to the Lower Cairn Trail on the right. The trail begins with a short zigzag down and heads out to a rock outcrop at a point on the ridge. After passing the outcrop, the trail begins to drop a bit steeper. At the bottom, we crossed the gulley again and hiked on down to the Cairned Trails Fork. 

Reaching Mountain Springs Trail from Upper Cairn Trail

Resting with Susan and Amora

Continuing straight, we retraced our steps back to the car. It was a cool day in the mountains and we saw a few other hikers ... each with dogs! Amora was a great sport and is becoming quite the scrambler! We took our time and enjoyed every minute.

Stats: 3.5 miles; 1100' gain

A cairn on Upper Cairn Trail - Mountain Springs, NV Beyond

Windy Peak as we descend the Lower Cairn Trail

Outcrop on Lower Cairn Trail

Blue Diamond Canyon 5 Loop 2 - 11/2/26

Amora at Blue Diamond Canyon 5

Hiking bike trail above Canyon 5

Amora's introduction to Scrambling

Sponge fossil in a chert Bubble

Susan, Sue, Amora and I parked at the Wheeler Camp Springs Trailhead near Blue Diamond, NV, on SR 159. The trailhead is difficult to see as you come down the road from the Red Rock Scenic Loop area. Suffice it to say, after you pass the old Oliver Ranch gate and a blue info sign, the trailhead turns to the right. There is a yellow and black striped sign at the entrance indicating a cattle grate. Amora, my standard poodle, won't cross the cattle grate but neither would a biker's dogs that started across the road at the same time we did. Amora and I crossed the fence to the right and then crossed the road to enter into Canyon 5. The bike trail leads you in and out of the canyon wash until it climbs up to the left side of the canyon. If you are a scrambler extraordinaire, keep going up the canyon and find a challenging dryfall climb of about 5-6 feet. Instead, we took the trail that continues along the side of the canyon above on the left. After passing the deepest part of the canyon, the trail drops back in and we began scrambling up between the walls. This was Amora's first scramble! And, she was very good at it! We weaved and dodged through the rocks and small drops until we reached the fork where a big boulder sits. Here, we stopped for water, snacks and dog treats. In this area, there were some interesting sponge fossils as seen in the photo to the left and below.

Rest at Big Boulder Fork

Sponge fossil in a chert Bubble

We returned to the big wash junction where the trail came down into the canyon wash. In this area, there is a continuation of the bike trail that climbs out of the wash and up onto the surface above. Finding the Lower Goatroper Trail, we turned to the left and followed the trail as it wiggled its way up the hill. Reaching a small ridge, we found the double cairn marker and turned left onto Flow Job. This trail led us down the small ridge and back over to the trail we started out on. Back through the lower part of Canyon 5, we crossed SR 159 again and found the cars. A short but sweet hike with the super-scrambler poodle.         Stats: 4 miles; and 700' gain.

Scrambling between the Walls

Canyon 5 with the red rock escarpment Beyond

Cottonwoods at Wheeler Camp Spring in Distance

Cottonwood Overlook - 10/25/26

Shortcut / Climbers Trail

View from Cottonwood Overlook

Starting up from the Trailhead

View down shortly after Starting

What a beautiful day for a hike! Susan, Sue and I drove up to Potosi Mountain Road and parked right there at the junction with SR 160. This used to be the Boy Scouts of America summer camp road but that camp has since been closed. There are a few residents and some kind of car facility along the road now. The hike we were about to do is mostly located within the Red Rock Canyon NCA boundary. The other part of the hike is within the Humboldt Toiyabe National Forest boundary as far as we have been able to decipher. There are still a few signs along Potosi Mountain Road that demand "No Trespassing" but, again, as far as we can decipher, these boundaries are protecting the sides of the road in the wash on the south side and on the hillside on the north side. For the hike described here, we do not encroach on either of those boundaries as the last leg of the hike is on Potosi Mountain Road. This dirt road is graded very well and when hiking the wide road, we usually meet a handful of cars. It is open to off-roading through traffic. 

    The hike starts near the steep wall of the hill on the south side of the parking area. Use trails have been made. We picked the trail closest to SR 160 on the right side of the wash and followed it to a steep climb that looks similar to the photo above. This makes a switchback onto a ledge of sorts and the trail begins a fun scramble up the rocks. The trail, itself, is in very good condition right now and is easy to follow with a few cairns.

Working our way into the cliff Bases

Making our way to the large trail Sign

We found the sign ... again!

Heading up shortcut Trail

It is my belief that the rock climbers who visit this area have made improvements in the trail but when you get further up the hillside and past the large sign in the photo above, be careful not to wander off to a dead end climbing wall. If you haven't done this hike before, it will take some experimenting to find the correct route and know which forks to take. The cairns and lined rocks are for the rock climbers, not hikers! Just keep that in mind. So, a few things have changed and we did the best we could but got off track anyway. I have always known about a shortcut up to the overlook that passes a climbing area. But always managed to walk right past it. Now, the shortcut right turn is a lot more worn than the hiking route and it gobbled me in! We turned and, after some exploration, realized something was wrong. But, hey, we learned something! After retracing our steps, we finally found the "Fortress Trail" sign and turned left. The trail from here to the overlook is fun and we climbed on up to take our break. On our way back, we decided to take the shortcut trail down. We recognized where we had been before down the hill. Next time, we will know much more about this section. Woohoo!

Potosi Mountain Road

Turn at the smaller trail Sign

Overlook fire ring beyond this Outcrop

The sun arrives on the Carabiners Trail

After retracing our steps for a second time down the shortcut and back to the large sign, we made the switchback turn down the "Carabiners Trail." Although this part of the hike has not been touched, yet, by the rock climbers, it has not been hiked much either. The grasses and bushes are beginning to take over. Hikers need to learn this hike and make the trail appear more worn or we will lose it. Next time, we shall bring some small clippers.

    Most of the trail from this point is easily followed and we made our way to the descent ridge which is also an old telephone pole road. The higher ridge leads down next to the man made basin or pond (down below) that was used by the Boy Scouts. Above our heads, we followed the telephone line. This took us down to Potosi Mountain Road where we turned to the right. From here, there is about a mile of walking on the road to get back to the car and trailhead.

    Of course, it is possible to make this hike an out and back but you would lose a few interesting spots that are seen along the Carabiners Trail. And, steep downhill hiking isn't always fun! And, that's what would be awaiting you on a return hike down the hillside.

    Anyway, we love this hike and hope to do it again and again!

Stats: 4.8 miles; 1500' gain; 4.5 hours (with the wrong turn)

The Carabiners Trail

Power line road to Potosi Mountain Road

Potosi Mountain Road