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| Skull Rock |
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| Dale's Trail Cactus Garden |
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| Dale's Trail Rock Garden |
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| Lined Trail through Red Rock Wash |
It was another holiday weekend so thirteen hikers came out early on the Scenic Loop in Red Rock Canyon NCA to the Lost Creek Trailhead located on Rocky Gap Road right after turning off of the loop at mile marker 7. Capturing coveted parking spaces, we piled out. The SMYC Trail (named for the Spring Mountains Youth Camp kids who built the trail) leaves right from this parking lot and is lined with rock indicating that the trail maintenance crew led by Susan Murphy has been at work. We turned to the left at the first sign and followed the lined trail as it led through the wide Red Rock Wash. After this, the well marked trail climbed up the hillside which is at the base of the Red Rock escarpment.
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| Directional Sign |
We noted a new trail sign seen in the photo above. The trail has also been improved at this location.
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| SMYC Trail |
Today's hike was full of ups and downs and it doesn't waste time starting!
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| Approaching Ice Box Canyon Junction |
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| Dale's Trail with White Rock Hills in Background |
The majority of the elevation loss is found during the first half of the out and back hike. Likewise, there is more elevation gain on the way back. We hiked the one mile long SMYC Trail and junctioned with the Ice Box Canyon Trail which ran perpendicular to us from its parking lot trailhead to the canyon scramble. After crossing this trail, we started down Dale's Trail. Dale's Trail is named for ... well ... Dale! This person presumably made the trail back when the Wilson family lived in Pine Creek Canyon. Thanks Dale!
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| Mule Deer Cheesecake |
We often see mule deer along the trails at the base of the escarpment and today was no exception. Seeing deer is always a delight!
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| La Madre Range in Distance |
Dale's Trail is full of a variety of cactus and colorful boulders. It is the "garden" of the escarpment base.
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| First Bench Area |
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| Escarpment from Dale's Trail Second Bench |
About 0.8 miles from Ice Box Canyon Trail, there is a bench in some shade on the trail. We paused here for a sip of water. Today's group of hikers were very strong and we were enjoying an unusual opportunity to hike as fast as we wanted on this trail-only hike. It felt good to stretch our legs and lungs. Continuing from the first bench, we crossed a few more washes, passed another overlook then came to a second bench placed on a hill where a beautiful view could be taken in. With each wash crossing, we had to dip down and climb back up.
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| One of the Wash Dips |
Finally, Skull Rock could be seen in the distance. It rose up as the only really large red rock on a terrain mound of other large boulders.
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| Big Descent before Skull Rock |
The area around Skull Rock looks like a garden and there is an old sign next to the rock announcing the rock that has indentations like a skull.
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| Skull Rock Approach |
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| Taking a Break |
We stopped here for our break. There are a lot of large rocks to sit on. We were near the Pine Creek Canyon Trail and Mescalito Peak could be seen behind us. Turtlehead and the Calico Hills could be seen across the canyon floor. Our break was well deserved since we made really good time getting here and we would make really good time getting back. The morning had been quiet but here, we began seeing a few other hikers. The air temperatures were cool but we were all sweating ... perspiring ... in the sun with our efforts.
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| Taking Break in Front of Mescalito Peak |
We started back with the large climb indicated on the elevation graph. It was a doozy!
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| Climbing Dale's Trail on Return |
But, after getting past this initial ascent, we fell back into the rhythm of ups and downs again.
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| Through a Wash |
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| Group Shot at First Bench |
We got another glimpse of the deer when we got back to the same area. Then, we needed a stoplight when we reached the Ice Box Canyon Trail! Lots of hikers. We toyed with the idea of taking a side trip to see Lost Creek Waterfall at the end of the hike but decided not to since there were so many people around. Some other time. Great hike. Beautiful scenery. Really enjoyed the fast pace. And, kudos to Susan's work force! The trail was great and much improved from beginning to end!
6 miles; 1100 feet elevation gain; 3.25 hours
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| Ice Box Canyon Trail at Junction |
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| SMYC Trail |
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| Hiking back through Red Rock Wash |
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