Upper Trough Trail Loop - 8/1/22

Wildlife Water Troughs

Lower Green Trail

Mummy Mountain from Showgirl Trail (Orange Trail)

Starting Out

Forecast: 50% chance of rain until around 10:30am. 70% chance of rain after 11am. Where should we hike? Well, it's always a crap shoot (we are in Las Vegas), but a good method of deciding is 1) study the NOAA website throughout 2 days prior, 2) understand that the best chances are in the lower elevations of the mountains, and 3) watch the sky diligently throughout the hike! Yep. It's still a crap shoot! (In fact, on the way up the road, we began seeing RVs that were likely evacuated from a Kyle Canyon campground on the side of the road. There was a flash flood warning the night before.) Anyway, we decided on a trail hike starting from the Juniper Trailhead. This trailhead is located on Angel Peak Place (aka Lucky Strike Road) off of Deer Creek Road. This is the road that leads to the Hilltop Campground. However, instead of veering to the left at the campground fork, veer to the right and pass all the "Do Not Enter" signs!

Rita climbs the Connector

Ralyn found her Swing

View near Junction of Gypsy and Pixie Trails

Pixie Trail wash Crossing

Yes, you are allowed to go about half a mile down the road to the Juniper Trailhead that is on the right side. It is obvious since there is a pit toilet there and the parking lot is surrounded by large white boulders. We have the biking community to thank for the trails in this area. The trails are a spider web of viable hiking/biking trails all throughout the Telephone Canyon area. Some of this is Spring Mountain NRA and some of this is U.S. Forest Service real estate. For years many of us have spent fun times learning all the trails to make a myriad of hikes as these trails can be connected every which way. However, the good news (I think), is that the forest service has attempted to make sense of it all by placing trail signs and blocking off certain trails.

Dropping down behind the Robbers Roost Trailhead

Large Mushroom on Telephone Canyon Road

Hiking down Telephone Canyon Road

Green Trail Junction Sign

We started down the trail from the trailhead and hiked for almost a mile. Here, there is a connector trail that turns up to the right and leads to Deer Creek Road. We crossed the road and hiked up the highway embankment, followed the remnants of Old Deer Creek Road (Gypsy) up to the right to circle around. Passing by the swing, we reached the junction with the paved road and turned to the left on the Pixie Trail. This is a nice zig-zaggy trail through the trees that connects back to the lower portion of Gypsy. During our descent, we noticed that the main wash that crosses Pixie twice has been recently washed. (Nice thing.) We turned to the right on the Gypsy following it around over very old asphalt to the Robbers' Roost Trailhead.

Green Trail

Green Trail crossing Trough Trail (Lower Trough Trail is Blocked)

Climbing up the Trough Trail from Green Trail

Cleaning the Trough

Taking a good look at the clouds and noting the wind direction, we decided to take the longer route home. We dropped down behind the trailhead sign and turned right onto a very rocky Telephone Canyon Road. I don't think the bicycles use this section of the road. At any rate, we searched for the left turn onto what is now the "Green Trail." Passing a very large mushroom on the side of the road, we finally came to the trail and laughed when we saw that there was a trail sign. Before, this trail was difficult to find ... not anymore! We soon learned that this option was a lucky choice as we learned that the lower portion of the Trough Trail (our alternate plan) has been blocked off for restoration. The Green Trail crossed the Trough Trail at the blockage.

Peeking at the Clouds coming in over Lee Canyon

Angel Peak from the Green Trail (formerly Hike a Bike Trail)

Trail Junction Sign where Showgirl (Orange) turns Off

Stepping up the Pace with Smiles

A left turn in the wash took us up the Trough Trail to the old wildlife troughs. Ralyn and Rita's homemaker instincts kicked in and they cleaned out the troughs that were filled with years of dirt and debris. Onward up the trail, we agreed that it is still very steep! The trail has been blocked off at the top changing the momentum. We stepped over the blockage since we didn't have time (clouds threatening) to explore and see where "they" wanted us to go. We arrived at the Hike a Bike Trail and turned right to follow the Green Trail to the Orange Trail (Showgirl) junction. We stepped up the pace all the way back to the trailhead on the Orange Trail picking up a queen size comforter on the way! The clouds were dark over the Lee Canyon side. Above us, they were just very low. We were amazed that we didn't get wet but we didn't stick around to see the deluge over Lee Canyon!

Stats: 5.8 miles; 1100' gain; 3 hours

It's getting dark over there!

We stopped to pick up a trashed comforter!

View of clouds from Juniper Trailhead