Deer Creek / Catch Pen Loop - 10/1/20

Conglomerate Arch with Mummy's Nose

Morning Sun on the Catch Pen Spring

Catching Shade on Ascent

Well-Maintained Trail

For our six club hikers, the morning began quite chilly. By the end of the almost 5 hour hike, the temperatures were warm enough to cause us to wish we were done! The 8.6 mile loop hike called Deer Creek / Catch Pen Loop begins at a turnout on Deer Creek Road across from the Seven Mile Canyon dirt road. There are, as usual, no trailhead signs but, if you park and dip down to the right side trail, there is an Orange Trail marker post. This is mainly an equestrian trail since it is located in the lower elevations of the Spring Mountains. The best weather for hiking this trail is during the shoulder seasons. (Usually, October would be considered cool enough!) The trail is well maintained and a pleasure to hike.

Trying to Warm Up

The loop can be hiked in either direction but it is my suggestion to use the counter-clockwise route. This sends the hiker down the ridge (a little steeper and rockier) and up the wash (more trees and gentler).

Low Elevation Scenery from Ridge Trail

So, we dropped down from the parking area and turned to the right to pass the Orange Trail sign post. The trail carried us around the canyon on the left, around an intermediate ridge, around the next wash and out to the top of the next ridge.

Mummy Mountain from Conglomerate Ridge Rocks

Break at Conglomerate Arch

This is the ridge that the trail follows all the way down to its bottom end. Along the way, the scenery of the low elevations and desert floor entertained us. There is a high mountain between Lee Canyon Road and Cold Creek Road called Traction Benchmark. It was seen clearly in every view to that direction. Nearer to us, a much lower round hill can be picked out. This was dubbed Jackrabbit Junction on one of the first hikes we did in this area. Every time we neared this area on the Middle Deer Creek Trail below, jackrabbits would come out of the woodworks! (Now, not so much.) In the far distant desert floor, Three Lakes Valley is seen with two of the sandy playas in view. This is part of the military installation at Indian Springs, Nevada.

Descending the rocky ridge Trail

Our first small break was at a set of conglomerate ridge rocks. A nice arch has been formed here with a beautiful view of Mummy Mountain behind us. (See three photos in this blog that were taken here.)

Out of the Trees to the Valley Below

Moving along, our ridge got closer and closer to the burn area of the Mahogany Fire 2020. The fire was contained at the deep Deer Creek Canyon nearby. 

Points of Interest

Nearing the Catch Pen Spring

It is possible that the fire workers used this trail to reach the lower areas of embers. Although things were left mostly clean, we did see a few small pieces of trash that were left. This could also be from recreational hikers since a lot of unfamiliar trails have been discovered by them since the pandemic began. Regardless, tree limbs do not need water bottles on the end of them! 😒  On down the ridge, we finally passed the very old wooden sign leaning on the bush that used to say Deer Creek Loop. Finally, we waltzed into the Catch Pen Spring area. I am assuming that the spring and others nearby, attracted livestock where the wranglers would "catch" them and round 'em up. A lot of the old fencing and rope is still there. (I also have a big imagination.)

Old Catch Pen and Spring

We took our first break here knowing that the remaining part of the hike is an ascent, albeit gentle. Afterwards, we turned left onto the Middle Deer Creek Canyon Trail. This trail closes the loop from the ridge and the wash sides on the Orange Trail.

Middle Deer Creek Canyon Trail (Lower side of Loop)

We followed this trail over to the Orange Trail fork. Be careful to not miss this fork turn to the left. There is an Orange Trail sign post plus a Deer Creek sign low to the ground here. A couple of photos and a sharp turn to the left sent us on our ascent.

The Six at the Fork turn to Ascend

A little Fall Color

First, the trail winds its way up through desert terrain and over a couple of arroyos. After one last look at the deepening wash below to the left, the trail continues up a ridge, dips down and up again then ends up in a parallel wash as you enter more trees. Another half mile in this wash then the trail climbs up and over the ridge to the left. During the course of the next half mile, the trail travels up a sandy wash. Luckily for us, the sand was hardened from recent rain. Since this is a horse trail, the trail is well marked with cairns indicating "jumps" in and out of the wash to bypass obstacles. We took another break among the trees trying to stay cool then finished up the last mile with a switchback up to the cars. This is an interestingly historic trail that is good to do at least once a year ... when it is cool!

Stats: 8.6 miles; 1725' gain; 4.75 hours

Following the Orange Trail Ascent

Shade Break

Scenes from the Orange Trail Wash Ascent