Oak Creek Canyon - 2/10/21

Oak Creek with Mt. Wilson (Second Crossing)

Typical Bouldering in Oak Creek

Trail from Scenic Loop Exit TH to Middle Oak Creek Trail

Middle Oak Creek Trail Sign

It had been many years since I scrambled up Oak Creek Canyon. There are so many use trails along the creek going into and out of Oak Creek Canyon that I shied away from the hike due to a misguided hike I led in 2014. I have a lot of time these days - with the pandemic and all - so I began a study of the area. Today, Rita and I did a run of the hike including a shortish scramble up the boulders of the canyon. It will need another run or two for me to pin down correct junction turns on all of those use trails coming back around Potato Knoll. That said, this is a fantastic hike with fantastic scrambling that should not have been ignored by the club for these past 6.5 years. Although a slightly shorter route would begin at SR 159, Double Trouble started at the Scenic Loop Exit Trailhead.

Transition to Oak Creek Canyon Trail

From the exit parking lot, cross the Scenic Loop Drive at the gate and choose the trail that is second from the left. (There are 4 to 5 trails that start out into the desert from this location.)

Rita on Canyon Trail

This trail is one of the oldest here and is very well-worn. It is a one mile trail that ends on the old Oak Creek Canyon Road that is now called Middle Oak Creek Trail. There is a lone largish white rock in the middle of the road at the junction. Take note!

Oak Creek Canyon Trail through Trees

Landmark on Oak Creek Canyon Trail

We turned right at White Rock Junction and began heading up toward the Sandstone Bluffs on the remnants of the old road. The road becomes very rocky as you get closer to Rainbow Peak. We passed a few trail posts for the Middle Oak Creek and, finally, after wading through a poorly maintained junction with the trail leading out from the Oak Creek TH off of the Scenic Loop, we reached a large new trail sign for the Knoll Trail. Our route continued toward the left side of Rainbow Peak and soon turned into a trail that began in red dirt. This is where a couple of rock climbers passed us on their way to climb a Rainbow Peak wall. We saw them high on the wall as we later made our exit from the canyon. (See twelfth photo below.)

 

"Let the ungraceful scrambling begin!"

The trail is fairly easy to follow until a particular section that scrambles up boulders toward the wall above. See Rita just after the scramble three photos above.

Beautiful Scramble

Two photos above shows an old tree landmark at the wall after the scramble. From there, continue following the trail which will eventually head down toward the canyon wash.

We went to the right of overhanging rock.

Rita scrambles Capably 

When we reached the wash, bouldering ensued immediately. Since we did not know the preferred routes up the rocks, we had to figure out every scramble as we looked right and left for ways to climb up to the next level. Three more rock climbers came by giving us a couple of visual hints. The boulders were huge and the scrambling was top-notch. Rita would have kept going but when we reached a particular huge slightly dangerous scramble, I cried "uncle!" (See second photo below.) There were a couple of cairns in the canyon that only told us that we were not the first to be here! They didn't really help. But, that's part of the fun! ... Figuring it all out, that is! After we took our "group" photo, we started back down. This was a much easier endeavor!

The Swimming Pool

In no time, it seemed, we were back at the place where we "put in." There, we continued down toward the red wall curve.

The Huge Rock Turnaround (for us)

The rocks were very colorful in the red wall area. As we made the left curve in the wash, we came to a large bedrock boulder where we have always taken our snack break in the past.

Double Trouble

Passing Entrance Point

We sat here for just a couple of minutes and watched and listened to those two rock climbers take on the sandstone like pros about 500' up the wall. Next, an option would be to continue the scramble down until you run into brush where there is a place to climb out and go back to a trail. Our route took the trail that begins here next to the bedrock. This is also where there are many use trails leading off of the trail that would provide a thoroughfare. It is also the area I flubbed up 6.5 years ago but, then, it was heading into the canyon not out. It's always a bit easier to find good routes on a descent. Nevertheless, I still had to refer to my GPS a few times. There are a few points on this part of the hike that I tried to hit.

Colorful Boulders below Red Wall

Three of those points are the three crossings of Oak Creek. The first two crossings had water flowing. The third crossing did not.

Colorful Area below Red Wall

I also wanted to take the trail that passed between the base of Potato Knoll and Oak Creek on the north side. Some use trails threaten to take hikers back up to the old Oak Creek Canyon road too soon.

Big Bedrock Break Spot (Mt. Wilson Above)

Climbers just hanging out on Rainbow Peak Wall

Other use trails threaten to take the hikers back to SR 159 at the South Oak Creek Trailhead. It was a little like threading a needle. We needed to not go too much right or left before we were able to cross Oak Creek a third time. We did, at last, make that third crossing at the correct location and climbed up to the old road. A short jog to the right brought us to the White Rock Junction. The left turn, here, put us on the one mile trail back to the Scenic Loop Exit Trailhead. Distant views of the escarpment, Wilson and Rainbow Peaks and the Calico Hills were beautiful under the clear blue sky. We hiked that last mile at a quick pace and entered the exit parking lot.

Trail toward Potato Knoll

We passed a few other hikers, today, but not many. One couple had a 200 lb. Pit Bull off leash. He excitedly ran toward us full speed but, thankfully, did not jump on us! 

Starting around Potato Knoll in Trees

Don't try this hike on a weekend unless you plan to run into a lot more people. Recreational hikers like this hike because it can be done from outside the Scenic Loop Drive by beginning at either the Exit TH or the Middle Oak Creek TH. Even the South Oak Creek TH could be used.

First Oak Creek Crossing

View back to Mt. Wilson

It was a beautiful day bordering on warm ... but not too warm! There used to be a small herd of mule deer that frequented the Potato Knoll area. But, we didn't see any wildlife on today's hike except for a few lizards! No bighorns either.

P.S. BTW, two days ago, there were 6 small baby bighorns seen with the female herd around Mouse's Tank at the Valley of Fire State Park. Too too cute! Just sayin'.

Stats: 6 miles; 700' gain; 4 hours

Trail along Oak Creek

Second Crossing of Oak Creek

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