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| Morning on the Sandstone Bluffs from White Rock Springs Peak |
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Color on West Side of White Rock Hills
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Sunrise on White Rock Springs Peak
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Waking up on White Rock Road
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White Rock Springs Peak is another scramble I haven't done since 2013. It is very much a scramble throughout the entire loop done as it was on this occasion. After checking with another couple of local websites, we ascertained that the peak on the main ridge is White Rock Springs Peak rising at 5977' in elevation. However, there is another rocky tor that rises about a scrambled quarter mile from this peak that is 6003' and has been dubbed as White Rock Springs Peak High Point or West White Rock Springs Peak. Although I stopped at the primary peak, three of today's four hikers went on out to the sharp pointy peak to the west to sign the log book ... that wasn't there. Where did it go? I heard a rumor about this. Is it on the primary peak somewhere? We didn't look.
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First False Peak on White Rock Climb
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So, the hike began at the bottom of White Rock Mountain Road off of the Red Rock Canyon Scenic Loop near mile marker 6. It's a short loop so the extra half mile of dirt road in the beginning and the end are welcomed.
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Following the Scramble Trail
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At the top of the dirt road, we were able to visit the facilities at the White Rock Trailhead. Then, it is there that the scrambling begins.
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White Rock Peak from Our Climb
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View Back down Ridge to Turtlehead Peak
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The White Rock Hill ridge flows right down to the upper trailhead past the upper side fence. We turned onto the trail past the yellow sandstone boulders there that are often used as a resting place for through hikers on the White Rock Hills Loop trail (aka White Rock Loop). The trail quickly changes from a dirt path to a sometimes cairned sandstone scramble. If you need a trail to ascend the ridge, there might be more than what we encountered. But, Mike, who loves a good challenge, led us up the rocks while ignoring some of the easier routes. I finally figured this out about half way up and started looking for easier alternatives! We were having a lot of fun! Nevertheless, the scramble continued all the way up the ridge.
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Squeeze Me!
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As we climbed, we gained elevation quickly and our rear views were top notch. We also enjoyed the morning views of the escarpment rising out of the Rainbow Wilderness.
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Up, Up and Away (...in my beautiful, my beautiful balloon! ...)
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The White Rock Hills are the very northeast terminus of the Keystone Thrust sandstone bluffs. And, the actual above ground fault is located only around a half mile northeast from there.
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The escarpment of the Keystone Thrust Sandstone Bluffs in the Rainbow Wilderness
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View Back from Ridge
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The La Madre Mountain Range with the La Madre fault, are the backdrop for this area behind the White Rock and northern Keystone Thrust fault. This is the Bonanza King Formation. The La Madre fault cuts and offsets the entire landscape of Aztec Sandstone and the Bonanza King Formation. Think of this as the army behind the generals of the escarpment in the Keystone Thrust! It pushes the older limestone over the younger sandstone in its marvelous slow motion blitz. (Okay, I know there are much more scientific ways of explaining all this.) Nevada is a wonderful place to be a geologist, I imagine. It is very fascinating to try to wrap your head around the movements of the earth and water in the past billions of years!
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Ralyn balances while Rita slides down a Rock Behind
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The scramble continued as a steep climb so the few places that are a dirt trail were slippery with loose rock. Most of the time, the sandstone was easier to climb.
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La Madre Mountains from Ridge (La Madre Wash below)
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Finally near the top, the sandstone plateaued and we made our way up to the peak. This peak tops off with a huge cylindrical boulder see in the fourth photo below.
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Ridge to White Rock Trailhead to Calico Hills
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Reaching the Final Plateau
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We stopped to take our group photo then Mike, Rita and Ralyn deposited their packs and sticks to begin their scramble over to the High Point. The scramble consists of a drop down and a climb up along the main ridge of the White Rock Hills. It is precipitous on either side of the scramble but the way across is not overly dangerous. I perched on the peak to watch their progress and take a few photos. (A nice respite; it was a perfect day with very little wind.) Most of their progress time was taken in the dip where I could not see them. Then, on the high point, they were unable to find the log book because, I think, I heard that it was taken away but I don't remember why. Anyway, they returned unscathed and finished their break at the peak.
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White Rock Springs High Point Peak (6020'), aka West White Rock Springs Peak
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The next portion of the short loop is, perhaps, the "diciest." This is a steep descent. We chose the "easiest" route that followed somewhat of a loose trail down the northeast side.
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Fearsome Foursome on White Rock Springs Peak (5977')
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Of course, the first challenge is finding that "trail." We just started down and found where others had descended. There were a few paths of destruction!
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View down Ridge from Primary Peak
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Primary Peak to High Point Peak to White Rock HP
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This would be an excellent place to make a real trail! We picked our way halfway down the easiest route we could find without adding to the destruction then joined a large sandstone slab for the remaining half. The slab slopes all the way down to the wash below. Just stay to the right, as a rule, so that you don't get cliffed out. The final drop into the wash consists of a crack between large boulders. (Or, a drop off the side of one of them.) Once in the wash, we yipped a small celebration and turned to the right. The route can climb out of the wash near here and follow the White Rock Loop back to the trailhead. We decided to follow the light trail in the wash.
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Rainbow Wilderness view from White Rock Springs Peak
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There were very few obstacles in the wash and no brush to sweep by. But, the wash was narrow and picturesque. Clearly, the wash had been used by hikers for years.
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Tricky Threesome scramble out to the High Point Peak
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We made quick work of the small shaded wash until it junctioned with the La Madre Wash coming down from the left side.
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Steep, Loose Northeast Side Descent
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Happy on the Slab!
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Here, the wash opened out and began showing beautiful white sandstone along its bed. A few more obstacles didn't slow us down and, soon, we waltzed into the Upper White Rock Trailhead where the BLM were placing new parking (railroad) ties to help with car organization! All morning, the attendance at the RRCNCA scenic loop had been light. (We had watched this from above!) It was a quiet day in the park and quite enjoyable, I must say! On the way out, the only trailhead that was full of cars was Pine Creek ... as usual. Excellent scrambling morning at White Rock Springs Peak!
Stats: 3.6 miles; 1300' gain, 4 hours
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