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| Red Cap from top of Dragon Canyon |
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| Gateway Canyon |
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| Ash Meadows' approach to Dragon Canyon |
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| Dragon Canyon Approach |
For color in a five mile hike at Red Rock Canyon NCA, the Dragon / Gateway Canyons Loop can't be beat! Eleven hikers arrived on a windy morning at the Kraft Mountain Trailhead located at the end of Sandstone Drive in Calico Basin. In about an hour, the wind would be gusting up to 30 mph. However, we were counting on shelter from said wind within the canyons and so we set off up the road from the parking lot then dipped down into Ash Meadows. We followed a straight trajectory toward Dragon Canyon that we could see climbing up to the right of the larger Ash Canyon that separates the Calico Hills from Dragon Peak, the colorful jagged edged peak rising beyond the meadows.
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| Dragon Canyon on Right |
There was a trail every step of the approach, however, it has to detour slightly around to the right due to a deep wash. We followed the rim of the wash until the trail dropped down to cross it and continue on its way up to the entrance of Dragon Canyon.
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| Entrance to Dragon Canyon |
Upon entering Dragon Canyon, it became clear that the canyon is more challenging than it appears from a distance.
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| Choice of Routes in Dragon Canyon |
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| Dragon Peak Above |
There are several ways hikers climb Dragon Canyon and, today, we covered almost all of them! Some hikers went up to the left immediately to encounter maximum scrambling. Some hikers stayed below for the moderate scrambling. One or two hikers chose to take the trail all the way up. Regardless of choice, we all made it to the top of the canyon where the trail curves around to the left and reaches a beautiful overlook. (This is about half way up to the base of Dragon Peak above.) We gathered here and took a few photos, including the first one of this entry. The wind was pretty strong on the overlook so we didn't stay long.
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| View Back |
It was just a matter of finding the trail that leads from this overlook to traverse above the steep drop to the left and reach solid ground in the upper part of Ash Canyon.
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| Rounding top Corner |
The climbing wasn't done yet! Still a little more ascent up to the top of Ash Canyon while fighting the wind a little.
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| Dragon Canyon Overlook |
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| Trail connecting with Ash Canyon |
Finally, we reached the top of the canyon at the sandstone overlook. This was a very windy place so we didn't stop for a break. Continuing over the rise and down a trail brought us to the Rattlesnake Trail. We veered to the right to follow the trail down between the mountains, Turtlehead on our left and Dragon Peak on our right. The trail turned into a wash scramble and when we realized that we were sheltered from the wind, we stopped for our snack break. A couple of hikers went on down to the Gateway junction to take their break in the sun.
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| Upper Ash Canyon Trail |
We stopped long enough to eat a small bite and rest then we continued.
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| Topping out in Ash Canyon |
As soon as we junctioned with Gateway Canyon, the sun hit us and it felt good. Still not too much wind.
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| Turtlehead and Rattlesnake Trail |
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| View up Gateway Canyon at Junction |
Two days ago, many of today's hikers were on a different hike that also descended Gateway Canyon. It was a training hike for a long distance trek coming up so the speed was very fast. Therefore, these hikers could not help themselves but to travel down the canyon at a high rate of speed! (I guess they were still in the zone!) Lost in conversation, they didn't realize they were alone until the bottom of the canyon. It happens! The coordinator and others kept their moderately strenuous pace and met the front "runners" with smiles after the last large scramble.
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| Snack Break out of the Wind (Gray Cap above) |
Gateway Canyon offers a lot of scrambling but most of it is moderate in nature.
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| Descending into Lower Gateway Canyon |
There are, however, two major scrambles that might be considered class 3. These are made easier on the descending direction.
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| Color in Gateway Canyon |
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| Calico in Gateway |
All together again, we rounded the east end of Kraft Mountain on the loop trail. Many rock climbers were only just now arriving to "play" on the big boulders. The gusty wind was hitting us full force as we came out in the open. The rock climbers with the crash pads on their backs were having a slightly tough time of it as they struggled to stay upright in the strong wind! This is a very nice and colorful, short and sweet loop hike and we were all glad to get out of the wind!
5 miles; 950 feet elevation gain; 2.5 hours
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| "Pickle Rock" section in Gateway Canyon |
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| Circling East end of Kraft Mountain |
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| Strong Gusts of Wind at Finish Line |
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