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

4 Mile Loop at Blue Diamond - 10/23/26

View of Blue Diamond, NV and the Red Rock Escarpment

Amora on the Blue Diamond Trails

Susan and Amora at the Wash Wall

Wow! Two hikes in one week! I'm on a roll. And, this time, Susan joined us. We drove out just past Blue Diamond and stopped at the Arroyo Street Trailhead. As Rita says, the Blue Diamond bike trails are so nice to hike and there is a plethora of directions from which to choose. 

   We walked down the road and found the trail that leads through a small canyon wash. The mouth of the wash was in such disarray that we almost didn't recognize it. Regardless, we figured it out and started our hike with Amora leading the way.

   This trail is a class 2 climb up to the top of the small ridge to the right and over. Down past the circle of rocks junction and across the Old Spanish Trail. This route was a small part of one of the paths for the gold miners ("49ers") to reach California.

     The Old Spanish Trail and its later wagon-road iteration, the Old Mormon Road, go through the Blue Diamond, Nevada area (historically known as Cottonwood Springs).
     Cottonwood Springs: The site of modern-day Blue Diamond originally served as Cottonwood Springs, a vital watering stop for travelers.
     Old Spanish Trail (1830–1848): Discovered by Antonio Armijo in January 1830, the route functioned as a trade caravan path linking Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Los Angeles, California. 

Old Mormon Road: The path later transitioned into a wagon road used by Mormon pioneers and the "49ers" during the California Gold Rush until the railroad was completed in 1905.        AI Overview

Kay and Amora with a view of Blue Diamond

There are a couple of Spanish Trail markers in this immediate area. We chose a trail that climbed up to the right onto a small hill overlook located above one of these markers. The continuance of the trail dropped down the south side of the hill. We turned to the right and headed toward the direction of the houses in Blue Diamond. Reaching a gulley, we turned to the left and crossed another gulley atop a rock wall. Following the trail to the right, we slowly climbed along the center of the wide canyon we were in. The "top" of this canyon junctioned with the trail leading down the other side. I think they call this the Inner Hurl Trail. I really like this trail whether it is hiked toward the west or east. Usually, we see the local wild burro herd along this area but, not today. The beautiful trail led up and down toward the east and ended back at the Old Spanish Trail. We crossed the wagon road and climbed back up the little ridge where the circle of rocks indicated, and dropped back into the small canyon wash to return to our cars. Although short, this little hike provides a lot of climbing to help Susan and I (and probably Amora) get back into some sort of condition. Great hike and great company!

Stats: 4.25 miles; 900' gain; 3 hours.

It's tarantula mating season!!

Small Canyon Wash

Moenkopi Short Loop - 10/17/26

Amora at Red Rock Canyon NCA

Wow!

My husband can drive now!!! So, I can get out to hike a little. Today, Amora and I drove out to the Moenkopi Trailhead found turning off of SR 159 onto Moenkopi Road where the Red Rock Canyon NCA campground and a BLM Fire Station is located. As I drove out 159, I saw that the new Legacy Trail is in full swing with runners and bikers. Although the trail is not finished around to Blue Diamond, the small part that is finished is a very nice paved path.

    Amora and I parked at the trailhead about 1/2 mile up the little road and found that the parking lot was pretty full with a hiking group that was preparing to head out toward Fire Station Hill. We decided to go across the road in the direction of the Moenkopi Arch. Not wanting to go for the full 5.5 miles, we made it a 3.3 mile loop by using the same track. The original track is a figure 8 of sorts. We just did the first loop.

    We saw about 4 bikers, 4 hikers, and 3 dogs. It was a beautiful day with thin cloud cover and perfect temperatures. No wind! We also did not run across any cockleburs. This is a big concern of mine with Amora. Cockleburs are poisonous to dogs and we have run into them before over in the north Cottonwood Valley vicinity. Another good reason to just stay on the trails!

Stats: 3.3 miles; 300' gain.

Sun shining on White Rock Peak

Maps for the full Moenkopi Arch Loop Hike

Short Loop in Foreground

Shady Hollow Loop - 10/06/26

It's Amora! 🎵

A trail Fork

Starting down Telephone Canyon Road

"Mom! The sun is in my eyes! Hurry up!

To quote Mrs. Doubtfire, "Well, hello there!"

I know it has been a while. My husband's leg is still healing. After surgery (shout out to the wonderful Dr. Randa Basharon), lots of physical therapy, and a stem cell injection, the quad is slowly healing. Lots of pain to endure. Lots of limping still being done. I was there every step of the way. After all, he can't drive!! 😉😇

So, I finally escaped for a morning with Amora in tow. She loooved it! We drove up Kyle Canyon Road to the Stepladder TH and started out Shady Hollow Trail. She and I were both a little out of conditioning so we didn't try to do too much. The temps were good. We climbed around and up next to Stepladder Peak and finally came to Onyx Point (a place where, once upon a time, John and I waited for our lost goldendoodle to return.) Telephone Canyon Road kisses the trail here and Amora and I scooched over to the road to start back. A right turn on the road took us down to the large campsite where we sat to share a fig bar. From there we took the Orange/Green Trail, down to a Telephone Canyon Road junction and continued down. After passing the Tin Can Alley Trail junction and had the "Big Road Dip" in our sights, we found the connector trail doing a sharp turn to the right. This trail brought us back over to the Shady Hollow Trail and back to the car. It was so great to get back on the trail even though I have a lot of catching up to do. But, I am thankful that I am able to help my husband through this difficult time. Love to everyone! See you on the trail sometime!

Stats: 3.6 miles; 650' gain.

View down TC Rd to La Madre Mountain Range

View up road toward Robbers' Roost

Charleston Peak peeks on left of Photo
Amora is happy to be heading back!

Cabin / Camp 84 Exploratory - 9/7/26

View to desert foothills from Camp 84

Slue at Ada & Edith Mine

Hiking up through Elks Club Wash

Mummy Mountain & Lee Peak from Nutans Road

I know it has been a while since I last wrote. Due to a serious injury to my husband's leg, (torn right quadriceps - a real oucher and looong recovery), I am exercising in a different way taking care of him and the house. However, we have come to a point where I can sneak out for a small hike once in a while. 

My brother visited last week. He is a big hiker in a club back east. He brought his club hikers to an ambitious week in Bishop and was able to stay with us for a few days. 

So, being Labor Day, he and I did an exploratory hike in an area I have been working on for several years. (One day, I hope to have this area understood! ... Or, not.) We parked at the Cattle Grate Trailhead on Lee Canyon Road just up from the Deer Creek Road junction. Crossing the road, we dropped into the bottom of Elks Club Wash and climbed up to where a small mine road (Nutans Road) crossed the wash. Turning right onto the mine road, we climbed up to investigate the remains of part of the Ada & Edith Mine. I tried continuing along the hill to see if there was a good way to get to the cabin from there and I managed to drop down to Nutans Road that leads to the cabin. After showing Tim the cabin, we continued along the mine road and passed another adit of the mine and climbed up to the ridge above. Here, is where I tried ... again ... to find a decent way to get to Camp 84. Following all kinds of game trails, we eventually ended up on the Camp to Spring Trail and climbed on up to Camp 84.

Tim on road to Cabin (Settle down girls! He's taken!)

Inside Ada & Edith Cabin (Careful! Rotted planks!)

Terrain with many game trails at Ridge

Migrating Pelicans (I promise!)

After taking our break at the old camp, we returned down the Camp to Spring Trail and took a left fork up to the ridge. It wasn't a straight shot. Again, we ended up on various game trails and had to climb steeply up in the end. Finally, on familiar territory, we hiked on over to Horse Peak then took a dive down the long scree descent to Elks Club Wash. Down the wash, we found the connector to Nutans Road and finished our descent to the car. It was a great workout and I really enjoyed hiking with my brother, as usual.

Stats: 4.8 miles; 1725' gain; 5 hours

View from Camp 84 to Horse Canyon and Onyx Peak

Mummy Mountain from ridge above Cabin

Descending Nutans Road from Elks Club Wash Connection

Disregard the lighter blue Track