Around, Up & Over - 4/6/26

Landmine Loop (Black Velvet Canyon in Distance)

Climbing up from Landmine Loop to Hurl (Mt. Potosi in Distance)

Hurl Trail (Sandstone Bluffs in Distance)

Two burros going through fence to Oliver Ranch

Here's an oldie but goodie from my own repertoire. We began from the Wheeler Camp Springs Trailhead and hiked through the opening in the back of the parking lot. Passing the cottonwood growth and springs to the left, we turned through another opening to the right. Immediately to the left, there is a rocky hill to climb to reach the Landmine Loop trail connector. Turn right and continue up and on around to the right. Always watch for bikers. This trail is a favorite for them. Today, we turned to the left and went up and over to the other side of the little ridge opposite to the fenced in Oliver Ranch property but you can also stay on the Landmine Loop until you see the Dave's Driveway sign. Here, you would turn left and start a beautiful hike along the base of the ridge to your left. There are a lot of big boulders that once were part of the Keystone Thrust escarpment across Cottonwood Valley to the right. The views of the escarpment, valley and Calico Hills in the distance, are what Red Rock Canyon NCA boasts on a daily basis.

Blooming Desert Sage (Mt. Wilson in Distance)

Dave's Driveway view Back

Large Keystone Thrust boulders near Dave's Driveway

Three Lady Hikers

Dave's Driveway continues around to the left and when we reached the intersection with a trail that heads left up the hill to the ridge, we were momentarily confused. After a little exploration, we learned that Dave's Driveway continues if you turn to the left here, then turn to the right just a little ways up. Dave's Driveway becomes less worn here but is still interesting and fun to hike. There are a few roly poly hills but the bikers love those! And, eventually, we intersected with the Landmine Loop again. Turning left on this well-worn trail took us around the hills to our left and into a small canyon. We took a break on some rocks and then found the small trail that turns to the left on the left side of the wash. We had to search because the trail seems to have been obliterated in the beginning ... but it IS there. The trail crosses the wash and begins a vague switchy path up the hillside to the right. There are choices here but, at the top, we ended up junctioning with the Hurl Trail and turned left. Not far from here, we topped out just before the Hurl Backdoor Trail and the sandstone outcrop where we take breaks sometimes.

Dave's Driveway

Hiking Dave's Driveway

Joining Landmine Loop

Breakpoint 

Again, the views! Wow! So, just after passing the sandstone outcrop on the left, we started crossing a saddle of sorts. Look hard and find a vague animal trail that will connect you to a trail that leads straight down the steep ridge on the left. There are two or three vague trails that will take you to the ridge descent. Now, we had to deal with a steep and slippery trail down the ridge. Entirely doable. Just go slow. So, slowly the three of us made our way down the ridge trying not to slip and fall. It was a long process but, finally at the bottom, we hiked down the wash and passed the two rusted wrecked cars. The second car was the famed "Flower Power" car. Following the trail on the embankment on the left, we were soon on the Landmine Loop once again. This time, we had completed our loop and finished the hike back to the cars at the trailhead. This is a very nice, beautiful, and somewhat challenging hike. We all agreed that we should do it again soon!

P.S. Even though the description might sound complicated, the maps should help you understand more clearly.

Stats: 6 miles; 925' gain; 4.25 hours

Ascent "Trail" from Landmine Loop to Hurl

Long descent ridge from Hurl to Landmine Loop

Old abandoned Cars (Flower Power Car in the Back)

Kraft Mountain (with Jerry & Cheryl) - 4/1/26

Seven hikers met at the Kraft Mountain trailhead at 8am.  It was a pleasantly cooler morning than the past several weeks with just a little breeze.  We greeted a new comer to the club and started hiking up towards Five Stop Hill (aka Hell Hill).  After hiking for a short distance we came upon three hikers from the Lone Mountain Hiking Club who were going up Five Stop Hill.  We had a stop and chat for a few minutes and then continued.  Shortly, we turned off the main trail onto a smaller social trail as we made our way up Three Peaks Canyon.  This name was given to this small canyon on the far left of Kraft Mountain by rock climbers due to the three rock pinnacles along the side of the canyon.  We started climbing up the pour over and scrambling up the canyon.  There was quite an abundance of wildflowers in bloom including globe mallow, desert marigolds, notch leaf phacelias, mohave asters, dogweed, hedgehogs, etc.  We scrambled to the top of the canyon and then turned right and followed some slots up towards the peak.  

We eventually joined up with the standard route to the peak and continued scrambling and rock hopping to the summit.  The new comer seemed quite capable and everyone was chatting and having a good time.  We took a snack break at the summit and signed in to the register.  Then we began our descent following a track I had made in 2011 on a hike led by Branch Whitney.  This route is quite circuitous and amazingly drops from the summit to the middle of Gateway Canyon through seemingly impassable cliffs.  We scrambled down ramps and chutes, hopping over boulders.  We dropped into a small bowl area and hiked down a corridor towards a narrow slot.  I pointed to the slot and asked who would like to be first to go through it.  Well, it was so narrow that probably no one could fit through it!  After a few minutes of consternation, we said, “April Fools”, and continued down a more reasonable path.  We reached Tree Alley and everyone was able to negotiate the class 3 down climb into the alley.  We hiked along the alley and up a slot and over to another slot until we reached another class 3 down climb.  Everyone was able to negotiate these class 3 spots with no problems.  We finally made our way down into Gateway Canyon and hiked along the wash and trail back to the cars.  

Stats: 3.7 miles, 1300 ft of elevation gain, 3 hrs 43 minutes.

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