Pink Goblin Pass - 4/1/26

Pink Goblin Pass (aka Kraft Saddle)

Fortress built on top of ridge in front of Dragon Peak

View of Guardian Angel Pass

Morning clouds over Calico Basin

Sometimes, we return to an old hike and are reminded why we fell in love with hiking in Red Rock Canyon NCA in the first place. Over the years, we have referred to the saddle between Kraft Mountain and Dragon Peak as simply Kraft Saddle. Somewhere along the way someone renamed this colorful saddle to Pink Goblin Pass. It is found in the peaks surrounding Calico Basin. A couple of years ago, I devised an interesting trail that looped up to this saddle and around through Ash Meadows to encompass the beautiful colors of Calico Basin. There are only a few homes that still retain the right to say they live there. We all envy them. Three Lady Hikers parked at Red Springs picnic area and started up the trail placed on the north side of the parking lot. Staying more or less parallel to Calico Basin Road below to the right, we made our way over to the dry bed of a large wash avoiding homes by staying in the wash. We had to deviate here and there from the original track since the wilderness people have been reestablishing the desert terrain in this area where the trail once lay.

Dragon Peak (survey marker of low ridge in front of peak)

5 Stop Hill from ridge Fortress (Pink Goblin Pass at Top)

Colors leading over to Ash Canyon

North Blue Diamond Hill in Distance

An old horse trail led across a small paved road and up to the small ridge that leads toward Dragon Peak. We knew we were on the right ridge when we saw the survey marker. At the top of the ridge, someone has built a rock "fortress" that suggests that we should descend off the end of the hill on a particular steep trail. We chose a less steep trail and turned right to hike down and up to Pink Goblin Pass. As we sat for our break at the top, we spoke to a couple of friends who hiked by. Afterwards, we descended the way we came until we reached the bottom of the small ridge. Here, the trail made its way straight across the upper elevations of Calico Basin. On the way, Amora was surprised by a small non-poisoness snake who was trying to find its way home with a large lizard in its mouth. (see second to last photo). From here, we hiked through Ash Meadows and along the base of the Calico Hills. There were a lot of visitors today and the weather was optimal!

Stats: 3.6 miles; 850' gain; 2.5 hours

View from half-way up 5 Stop Hill

Gray Fox Canyon in Distance

Some sort of Garter snake with its lizard dinner Catch (photo by Susan)

Calico Basin

Colorful Twilight - 3/23/26

Snow-Covered Spring Mountains (Charleston Peak)
with Blooming Joshua Trees

Amora near Goodwater Canyon 

Small peak at break Point

Forest Road at Red Rock NCA Boundary

Still looking for a cooler spot to hike, we went up Kyle Canyon Road to the Colorful Twilight Trailhead, a spot on the side of the road that grows a lone juniper tree on the right side. Wading through the grasses that have grown up between the road and the escarpment, we made our way to the burro trail that climbs up the escarpment diagonally to the right. The burros don't seem to have started their residence in Kyle Canyon yet so the trail up was a little hard to pick out. After we reached the top of the escarpment, the trail was clear and we descended to the forest road below. The trail continues across the road and through the desert making its way to the Lucky Strike Canyon Road where we joined the trail leading to Grapevine Springs. This trail crosses the dirt road again and leads up above the springs and around the neighboring peak to the left. For lack of finding a better way yet, we climbed up to our left after reaching a wash. The bike trail continues to the right but our messy trail also goes up through the wash and on up the hill. We chose to bushwhack up the hill to the left.

Pointy Peak Target

Susan finds something Interesting

Trail above Grapevine Springs Valley

Amora above Grapevine Springs

There isn't much of a trail up to the ridge's saddle and it is quite a struggle but we made it up to the ridge with little left to spare. (The altitude needs a little getting used to!) We arrived on the ridge where a burro trail starts down the other side on a long diagonal (to the left) to a trailing ridge and on down to the canyon wash below. We arrived at the burro bone that kinda marks that we were at the right spot. From here, the trail continues up the other side of the canyon in the red dirt on a diagonal to the right. At the top of the red ridge, we turned to the left and climbed the ridge to a rocky place to sit for a break. The trail that we just left, appears again, here, passing by right to left. After the break, we joined the trail again by taking a left turn. This trail leaves the red terrain and goes into the limestone terrain. The view of the canyon to the left is one of the best views of the hike. See the two photos below.

Canyon that flows into Goodwater Canyon

Sheep Mountain Range Beyond

Climbing up to West Saddle

Hiking and Talking

Next, we found ourselves climbing up to a saddle I'll dub the West Saddle. If you look at the maps below, you might figure out why! The best burro trail continues straight down the other side of the small ridge and the following wash. When a good trail leads down to the wash, we followed it. (One time we stayed up on the hillside and missed the trail at the bottom.) This trail finally spit us out into the canyon wash at the bottom. Turning left (if you are in the right place), takes you very shortly to a cairned turn to the right. We followed this trail up to the top of the ridge above. On the ridge, our route (without a trail) ran diagonally down to the left where we eventually junctioned with the trail we had used to get to this area in the beginning. A couple of times here, we had to make our diagonal less sharp to finally find the original trail. Nevertheless, it is there and we used it to return to the car. All three of us were beat after this hike due to a little warmth and new altitude heights. But, it was beautiful and quiet.

Stats: 4.5 miles; 1150' gain; ~4 hours

View to south on West Saddle

Approaching West Saddle

Charleston Peak's south Ridge

Upper Showgirl Loop - 3/21/26

Wooden Sculpture at Spring Mountain Resort Hotel

Starting down the Upper Showgirl Trail (Mummy Mountain)

Starting down from original Showgirl Junction

Two Lady Hikers drove up to the Spring Mountains and reached the Juniper Trailhead where there were about fifteen bicyclists preparing for their ride. We waited for them to take off and started down the trail. Our minimal purpose for today was to get out of the heat and to see how far down the snow line reached. As we hiked, there were small patches of icy snow just off the trail but the trail, itself, was clear. The temperatures were scrumptious! Our route led out the Original Showgirl Trail until we reached the junction near the Trough Trail. We explored part of an old trail (more on that later!) and connected with the Trough Trail to hike up to the Camp Trail crossing the Hike a Bike Trail. Circling around to the Camp /Showgirl Connector, we hiked back down to the Showgirl to turn to the left and returned to the car. There were a lot of bikers politely passing by, but only a few hikers. It was a small hike but we enjoyed the short return to the mountains.

Stats: 4.5 miles; ~700' gain; 2 hours (The maps below do not reflect today's route exactly.)

Harris Peak in Distance

Mummy's Nose on Return

White Domes / Fire Wave Loop (Valley of Fire State Park) - 3/13/26

Wave Wall and Gibraltar formation in Valley of Fire

Fire Wave in Valley of Fire

Tall Slot

Top of sand dune at White Domes TH

An oldie but goodie, this loop in Valley of Fire State Park that begins and ends at the White Domes Trailhead covers several geological attractions that people enjoy experiencing at the park. We drove the White Domes Road and parked near the end of the road at the White Domes Trailhead. Climbing the hill up past the restrooms and over the big sand dune, we found the steep downhill afterwards. The downhill has been constructed with sand covered rock steps. Be careful here. At the bottom of the hill, there is an old movie set for The Professionals. Just past the set, we dropped into the Kaolin wash or slot canyon. Kaolin, or China clay, is a soft, white, earthy industrial mineral primarily composed of the mineral kaolinite, a hydrous aluminum silicate formed through the chemical weathering of aluminum silicate minerals like feldspar, it is used in ceramics, paper coating, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and rubber production. ~AI Overview

Debbie entering Kaolin Wash

Amora eyeing the Kaolin Wash

Small slot in Kaolin Wash

Debbie with the camera at Fire Wave

We turned left in the wash but, keep in mind, the actual White Domes Loop Trail turns to the right. Our left turn takes us through the beautiful pastel-colored small slots of the wash. There was minimal scrambling as we made our way over to where the small canyon crossed the White Domes Road. After the road, the wash continued on the other side with another beautiful slot. The colors in this area, right and left, are worth many photos so bring your camera ... especially in the morning as the sun is rising. Approximately 0.15 miles after crossing the road, the terrain on the left side turns to a darker red. The second cut into the red is a good place to turn up to your left and climb up to view the Fire Wave. There will be other hikers around. Many of them have come down the Fire Wave Trail from above right. This is a good place to sit and take a break, however, try not to sit in the way of other hikers that are trying to take their photos. We took a couple of photos and headed up towards the left. There is a huge white rock wall that has red "waves" on the "canvas." Next, we continued hiking toward the "Wave Wall" and down to the small wash at its base. Turning left in the wash and circling around to the left side of the rock, we turned to climb up to a view point on the left. Our route continued down the other side of the view point and back into the Kaolin Wash where we had been before. We turned to the right and found a shady spot for a break up on the left. (There aren't too many shady spots for sitting on this hike!)

Taking a Break

Climbing up for a place in the Shade

Scenery on the White Domes Loop Trail

Kay and Amora on the Trail

After the break, we returned to the movie set junction through the Kaolin Wash and continued straight to connect with the White Domes Trail. The tall slot is next. (Sometimes these slots have water in them if there has been rain recently.) Just after the slot, there is a trail junction where we turned to the right to continue following the trail. On this section of the White Domes Trail, we saw beautiful desert plants and the back side of the White Domes. Sometimes, there are bighorns up in the rocks but not today. The trail took us to a cut in the big rocks to the right and carried us up to the White Domes Trailhead to complete our hike. Gorgeous day!

Stats: 3 miles; 300' gain; 2.5 hours

P.S. For recent morning photos of Valley of Fire go to:

https://aroundthebendfriends2.blogspot.com/2025/11/little-zebra-loop-valley-of-fire-state.html

Interesting rock formation on the loop Trail

Colorful Sands

Window found on the White Domes Loop Trail