Blue Diamond Canyons 4A / 5A Loop - 11/13/21

Tenacious Trio in Canyon 5A on the Staircase

Dynamic Duo on Triple Decker Scramble in Canyon 4A

Easy Section in Canyon 5A

Entering Canyon 4A

Last spring, Rita and I explored and premiered (for us) a 5.5 mile loop hike in the canyons across SR 159 from Blue Diamond, Nevada. Canyons 4A and 5A (counting from the right to the left) are deep and beautiful containing several gems in the way of scrambles and geologic formations. Today, the Tenacious Trio returned to the canyons to enjoy the adventure again. We parked at the Wheeler Camp Spring Trailhead located between Oliver Ranch and Blue Diamond then walked a trail from the parking lot to the east until we were across from Canyon 4. This is the canyon east of the mine truck road. We crossed the road and began hiking up into the canyon wash. It was apparent that there had been a little bit of a washout which might bode for some excitement further up!

First Major Scramble in Canyon 4A

Doing the Work

Starting up the Triple Decker Scramble

Yucca Brevia in Silhouette

At the fork, we veered to the right heading into Canyon 4A. Swerving around brush, we climbed through the wash and came to the first real scramble. Sure enough, there was a deepened hole at the bottom where water had gathered but the scramble still had a few rocks to help get the climb started. With a little help among us, we all got up the most difficult scramble of the morning. Continuing, we soon came to the Triple Decker Scramble. It looks a lot harder than it is! We climbed from step to step, straight up at first, then curved around to the left for a little more climbing. This was the second gem. We continued up the wash meeting every scramble with pensive adventure. Too soon, we came to a large wash junction. The Tortoise Memorial Wash turned to the left.

Mike at top of Triple Decker Scramble

Nearing Tortoise Memorial Wash

Halfway up Tortoise Memorial Wash

Not as Hard as it Looks ...

Last year, climbing this wash, we came upon a recently deceased tortoise. Thus, the name. We didn't see him this time but we climbed up the wash that opened out at the top passing a survey marker. Taking a left at the marker, we T'ed into the mining truck road about a half mile down from any mine activity. (We were still within the Red Rock Canyon NCA boundaries.) Finding a place to climb down to cross the road then over the road to the wide ravine on the other side, we began a descent into the next canyon, Canyon 5A. This "feeder" ravine had one scramble in it, another gem, that can be descended two different ways. Mike shows one way in the photo to the left. Once in Canyon 5A, we took our break. To our right, we could see mine tailings at the end of the canyon. Next, we turned to the left and began a gentle descent, at first. Soon the gems started appearing again. One of the gems in this canyon is a very large and old junk dump from a long time ago. (The map below places the junk too far up canyon.) Anyway, it is very interesting. Also, it is suggested that from there on down, all hikers be very careful of some exposed sharp rusted metal objects in the wash. There are at least three more gems following this. A steep down climb, a "staircase," and a slot descent.

Descending Canyon 5A

Old Junk Pile

A Little Challenge

Kay halfway down the Little Challenge

The down climb is seen above and to the left. (I am actually standing on a rock in the photo to the left!) The staircase is seen in the first photo of the entry. And, the slot is seen from the top in the photo below. After the slot, we junctioned with Canyon 5 and turned to the left. At a left turn in the wash, we connected with a bike trail that follows above the deepening wash and hiked the trail all the way out ending across from the trailhead. Although the canyon is beautiful below the bike trail, there is a very difficult pour over in this section. We didn't see any other hikers all day but, at the end, two bikers came up behind us and nearly ran us over. wtf?

  Fantastic hike! Might do it again in the spring!

Stats: 5.5 miles; 900' gain; 3.75 hours

Canyon 5A Narrows

Junction Canyon 5A and Canyon 5

Hiking the Bike Trail out of Canyon 5