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| Heading down to the 3 Steps of Death Descent |
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| Yellow & Pink Slot |
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| Two Moms and a Baby at White Domes |
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| Morning at White Domes |
On another gorgeous day at Valley of Fire State Park, three of us met at the visitor center for a hike to the Top of the World Arch. As it happened, we also met John W. and David & Brenda M. getting ready for their own hike in a different part of the park. We drove up to White Domes Trailhead at the end of Mouse's Tank Road. When we walked up to the trailhead, we noticed several (about 6) bighorn sheep grazing on the hill behind the restrooms. At the time, we didn't notice any babies. It's the first time I have seen the bighorns hanging out so close to this trailhead. After photos, a slow start to our hike, we descended the long hill beyond that leads to the movie set and the Kaolin Wash.
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| White Domes Descent to Movie Set |
We turned right in the Kaolin Wash and hiked through the tall slot. Beyond the slot, we continued up wash until we passed the rock wall on the left.
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| First Hike of the Day through Tall Slot |
Finding the trail leading up between the cryptobiotic soil on the left, we turned. The trail led us to the first wide opening in the wall and turned up this wash.
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| Pointy Mountain Bypass Trail to Main Alley |
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| Eye of the Iguana |
The trail continued up and over a small hill and we passed the Pointy Mountain on the left side. This put us in the Main Alley to go straight. Two wide washes went past on the left. On the right, we passed the Chocolate Wall and the Eye of the Iguana. The next landmark was a fat monolith rock that stood in the middle of a junction of three washes. The main alley continued in the wash ahead with a small fork coming up soon. The end of the 3 Steps of Death descent was directly right and the canyon wash headed off at a 2 o'clock direction. We headed into the canyon for our climb.
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| Main Alley passing Beautiful Wash |
The canyon trail is clear but it is narrow so it would be difficult to lose the route anyway. We ducked under the overhanging rock and the bent tree. (The tree was a real test!)
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| Canyon Ascent |
The canyon got steeper and, in the end, we came to a large square boulder blocking progress. Our scramble was on the left end of the rock.
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| Last Scramble to top of Canyon |
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| View from top of Canyon |
We scrambled up and around the boulder then made our way to the sand dune up a level on the right. Following old footsteps through the sand, we came to the first ramp climbing the wall to the right. Up the ramp, jump to the left, down a ramp, cross the desert floor at the bottom, then start up the next ramp. These ramps represent quite a bit of elevation change and at the top of this last ramp, pass the rock on the left side and circle around to see the large, sturdy arch. This arch was created out of a large tinaja area in the peak of the sandstone hill / mountain. It spans what was probably a very deep tinaja at one time.
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| Crossing Sand Dune, Climbing Ramp and Rock Pointing the Way |
While we were taking our photos, we heard voices clearly from far below. The sound carried very well. Then we heard, "Mike!"
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| Down and Up Ramps to Top of the World Arch |
While we were taking our break, we saw John W.'s group far below on the Prospect Trail. And, they saw us. Later, we exchanged photos!
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| View from Up Ramp to Arch |
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| Mike climbs up to the Arch |
We took a very pleasant break then faced the music! This would be my first descent on the 3 Steps of Death! Everyone kept telling me that the scariest part of the descent is the name! So, we climbed up behind the arch, dipped down to the right side of the steep sandstone slab wall and found the passage. The 3 steps that the name refers to is one small 10 foot section where the slab is steep and hikers are required to climb up the slab about 3 feet that is somewhat sandy to reach the comfort of a narrow space behind a large boulder. After passing behind the boulder, we followed a sandy, rocky and steep trail down to a long steep slab descent.
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| Three Musketeers on Top of the World Arch |
At the bottom of the slab, we connected with a trail that finished the descent down a steep old rockslide. We finished at the fat monolith landmark.
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| Rock Layers at Arch |
We took a short rest looking back up at the steep descent we had just made. Then, turning back to the left where we had come from previous to the canyon climb, we headed back to the first large wash opening up on the right side of the main alley.
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| View from Top of the World Arch to Northwest (Prospect Trail below) |
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| Rita and Kay near Hike High Point |
I call this wide wash "Beautiful Wash" but I don't yet know the official name. I tend to name things as I see them. And, this wash has beautiful and incredible yellow, pink and orange colors. The wash has a few flat features but also has a few undulating dry pour overs. Most of them need to be circumvented due to their slightly too high drops. The wash winds around a little until it reaches Mouse's Tank Road. This is the Wash #3 crossing. We continued down through the sandy wash until, soon, it made its next bend to the left. Staying straight, we climbed up the orange colored rock on the right.
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| Mike and Rita at the 3 Steps of Death |
It is in this area that many delicate fins protrude from the rock underfoot. It is important that hikers watch their step during this section of the hike so not to break the fins.
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| 3 Steps of Death Slab Descent |
The route continues over the flattish sandstone terrain by veering to the left slightly. Finding your own exact path, the hike eventually drops into the Kaolin Wash next to the red crack wash at the right.
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| Hiking into Beautiful Wash |
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| Delicate Fins |
Passing some photo shoot equipment with a caretaker, we turned to the right and followed the wash until we came to a crack to the left that leads up to the Fire Wave. Usually, you recognize this by all the people around! Staying out of the photo shoot, we passed the unusual rock design and hiked over to the Wave Wall where we stopped for a short pause. It was getting warm so we didn't linger long. Our next move was to climb the adjacent wash, go over the pink & yellow hill, and drop back into the Kaolin Wash. The yellow & pink slot was next. The walls in this slot have soft curvy lines that make the slot appear like a dream.
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| Photo Walk View |
The Mouse's Tank Road Wash #5 crossing is next. The continuance of the Kaolin Wash offers many colors and appearances all the way back to the movie set.
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| Passing the Fire Wave |
During this section, there are three different small slots. It has been a few years since I have been able to pass through these slots certain that they will be dry.
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| Passing the Wave Wall |
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| Entering the Yellow & Pink Slot |
When we reached the tall slot again, there were bighorns up on the sandstone ridge high above. I didn't realize until I got home and saw my photos that there was a baby there as well. So cute! (See third photo of entry.) The large group of bighorns that we saw in the beginning of the hike had spread out into the high cliffs of White Domes. We saw them as we finished out the hike on the White Domes Trail. This was a lovely day at the park. We are beginning to feel like the park is becoming an old friend.
Stats: 5.7 miles; 1100' gain; 3.75 hours
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| Mike and Rita in one of the Kaolin Slots |
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| Bighorns watching the White Domes Trail |
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| Returning to the White Domes Trailhead |
