Kraft Mountain Loop v Red Springs - 10/3/22

Gateway Canyon

Dropping into Gateway Canyon

Sunrise at the Kraft Mountain Saddle

Hiking onto the Girl Scout Trail

Usually, by October, the weather is cooling off and our club heads back to Red Rock Canyon NCA in lower elevations. This year, the temperatures are remaining warm for a bit longer. Regardless, we are tiring of the mountain hikes for now so we drove out to Calico Basin and dove straight into the warmer temps to stick our toes in the "water" and see just how warm "warm" is. Parking at the Red Springs Picnic Area parking lot, we found one bathroom that had a working door then prepared to hike up by the Calico Hills and connect with the Girl Scout Trail. The sun was just rising and we felt fine in the shady areas. However, the shady areas did not stick around for long and the sun made itself known. It is the desert, ya know.

Passing the Ash Meadow Area

View down from 5 Stop Hill

Dropping down from the other side of the Saddle

Starting down the Candy Cane Chute Shortcut

Following the Girl Scout Trail around by the old abandoned home foundation, we noted that the zen spiral of rocks is gone. We hiked down past the Ash Meadows spring and began our climb up to the base of 5 Stop Hill. Thinking we were in good condition, we charged up the hill ... but it beat our butts! We made it to Kraft Mountain Saddle without too much hesitation but it was still quite a climb. At the top, we rested while we watched the sun come up over Kraft Mountain. Next, we continued down the trail on the other side and took a right turn onto the shortcut Candy Cane Chute Trail. This is a very pretty route. Down the chute and we were in Gateway Canyon gravel wash turning to the right. A heavenly cool breeze flowed up the canyon.

Down the Sandstone Slab

Down the Candy Cane Chute

High Gravel in Gateway Canyon

Calico Rock in Gateway Canyon

Gateway Canyon presents itself differently every year due to summer monsoon action. We found that most of the scramble obstacles were similar to last year even if the gravel levels were either a little higher or a little lower than before. Everything is still very doable and we had lots of fun dropping down through the familiar wash. The only place where the gravel was a lot deeper was the big drop on the left side of the canyon where the right side is a multi-level scramble. (Don't go left!) We took our break in some good shade surrounded by calico colored rocks then finished hiking down to the trail exit. The trail took us around the southern end of Kraft Mountain where there are a lot of places to practice rock climbing skills.

The Big Multi-Level Drop

Ralyn deals with Pickle Rock

Through the Gravel Wash

Five on the Slab

The trail led us back to the Kraft Mountain Trailhead and, from there, we turned to the right and hiked down the road past the gate for a ways. At a large dip where a wash crossed underneath, we turned to the left onto a trail. The trail follows along the wash then continues through the desert and over a hill. Finally, we drop down to the Red Springs Picnic Area parking lot. We enjoyed our warm hike and especially enjoyed Jerry and Cheryl being back from their travels. Just thinking. We might return to the mountains for the next couple of hikes!

5.1 miles; 875' gain; 3 hours

Circling the southern end of Kraft Mountain

Ash Canyon straight Ahead

Following last trail through the Desert