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Angel Pass Sunrise
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Morning Light on the Sandstone Bluffs
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Calico Basin Sunrise
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Trail to Angel Pass Climb
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Daylight Savings Time ended the day before so two AtBF hikers took advantage of the extra hour to get up early for a sunrise at Calico Hills. There would be a little bit of rain in the area later so the clouds were gathering. This promised a beautiful display as the sun rose from the southeast. We started at the Red Springs Picnic Area Trailhead at 6:10am and headed up along the Calico Hills to the north. We shared the trail with no one. The clouds were already lighting up and, by the time we reached the other end of the hills, the sun was rising above the horizon. We turned to watch every few feet or so and, soon, the sun was hitting right into the Angel Pass Canyon. The red rocks lit up like a huge charcoal fire! Slowly, we climbed the familiar scramble picking our way through the literally heated rocks.
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View Back
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No matter which use trails you choose, you will end up at the saddle. There are a few choke points that all trails will have to go through. One choke point is the up and over rocks on the left side about halfway up.
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Another view back to watch Sunrise
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Some trails have more difficult scrambles than others. For the easier scrambles, stay near the left wall. Harder scrambles are near the center.
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Angel Pass Approach
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Start of Scramble
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Over the years, I have kept to the same route so that I pass by certain scrambles that I like. For instance, I prefer to approach the canyon on the "calico" rocks to the left. Then, we climbed the scramble wall to the left rather than starting up the middle. (See photo to right.) From here, we continued by choosing a trail left of the middle that includes a squeeze play and a big step up. I also like to pass by the cave rock. At this time, the cave rock has a lot of graffiti. I removed it through Photoshop for the photo below. After the cave rock, we chose a large step up scramble as demonstrated by Rita two photos below. Going through the pine trees and up and over section is always fun. Then it is a straight (okay, zigzagged) climb up to the saddle topped by a window boulder.
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Cave Rock
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I suppose a lot of these descriptions make no sense to a lot of people but, I'm a hiker, not a rock climber. Besides, who needs technical mumbo jumbo (hmm, pc?, idk) to get out there and enjoy a great morning!!!
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Step Up Scramble
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As we climbed, I got the first photo of the entry. Then, at the saddle, I took the photo two photos below and to the left. Shadows were surrounding the west side of the saddle but the sun was in full flame down on the canyon floor inside the scenic loop.
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Nearing the Summit of the Pass
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View to west side of Pass
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We started down the west side of the saddle after discussing a future scramble that continues up the north side of the pass. The descent routes are fewer in number but definitely make a difference in degree of difficulty. There are some good routes on the left side of the canyon albeit not so obvious. Be careful on the right side of the canyon lest you end up too high on the side wall. Somewhere in the middle are the best routes even though you can get into trouble there, too. Simple solution: If you get into trouble, retrace your steps and try a different route!
As far as I can tell, all routes will take you by the angel carving but be sure to look up to your right on the rock you are passing by or you will miss it. Today, the carving was in the shadows so no photo. No one knows who did the carving or why but it is very well done and no one wants to get rid of it. After the carving, the trails, again, become confusing and a little brushy. Take the most used trail or trails and you will eventually come out at the bottom of the canyon in a wide bare-ish area. This is a junction of sorts. Rock climbers use the walls and canyons to the right side. The Calico Hills Trail passes by down canyon in front of you. And, to the left, there are a couple of ways you can make your way down to the wash that lies below Calico II Overlook.
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Scrambling Down
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The most used route to get down to the wash is to scramble up and over the large rock outcrop in your 10:00 direction. However, the tanks in the slick rock sandstone at 9:00 are bone dry at this time and Rita was able to descend through this alley, a very unusual opportunity.
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| Dry Pools |
At the bottom of the alley, we continued out by staying in the gravel wash bottom until we hit the sandstone slab on the left. At this point, we had joined the Calico Hills Trail and followed the large cairns until we were approaching the bottom of the Calico I Overlook.
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Following the Calico Hills Trail
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Below Calico I Overlook
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We dropped into the wash, again, below Calico I and cut over to the slot. Not many recreational hikers know about the slot and how to negotiate the end of it. There are two ways: 1) use small hand holds and swing yourself up around the boulder on the left, or 2) climb up through the rabbithole on the right. The swing side is a difficult maneuver so we were going to use the rabbithole. Problem: there was a dying tarantula in the middle of the hole. Not dead yet! We decided to go back and around to the trail detour. Leave the poor spider to his misery. The trail dropped us back into the wash just above the Sliding Board Rock obstacle. This can be a very wet experience at the bottom except ... no water around for miles. So, we both had fun sliding down the rock and continued down the wash.
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Tarantula in the Slot Rabbithole!! Not.
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There are a few more fun obstacles to deal with as we stayed in the wash but all were negotiated rather easily. Just be careful. Serious harm could be done in a couple of places.
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| Approaching the Sliding Board |
As the wash levels out, we rounded a curve to the right and flowed into a trail that climbs the bank on the left. This trail leads out to the cluster of petroglyph filled boulders and the climbing walls on the left. There is graffiti on the petroglyphs. Sad to see. I chose not to photograph them.
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Sliding Board - No Problem
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Through the Last Obstacles
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At the boulder cluster where the petroglyphs are located, the trail splits. The lower trail continues along the wash and out to Calico Basin Road at the wash trailhead. There is also a place where you can turn left and climb the hill up to the overlook saddle. Our route headed up to the saddle but we took the left split here and did the climbing gradually. This trail takes you directly under the huge balanced rock above. I have seen rock climbers hanging from this rock ... hmm. Anyway, past this rock, the trail begins to turn up the hill. (Pick a trail, any trail.) At the overlook saddle, we decided to turn to the right to a small peak where the trail veers down to the left. This descent trail is more gradual and a lot less slippery than the one that heads down from the overlook to the boardwalk. This trail also dropped us out into the parking lot right across from where our cars were parked. It was a gorgeous morning and sunrise hike. Temperatures at that time of the morning were perfect! This hike is a tried and true route for moderately strenuous scramblers. Always a camera pleaser!
BTW, Rita picked up 8 plastic bottles during the short hike. 😞
Stats: <4 miles; 1000' gain; 3.25 hours for a fun pace
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Trail around South end of Calico Hills
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Trail below Balanced Rock - Climbing Rocks on Left
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Red Spring Picnic Area from Overlook Hill
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