Lone Grapevine Spring / Burro Trail Loop - 1/28/23

Petroglyphs found near Lone Grapevine Spring

Fence and Petroglyphs at Lone Grapevine Spring

Heading out toward Windy Peak

Using the Bike Trails

In doing a little research for this blog, I came to the conclusion that the springs we visited in Cottonwood Valley have different names than what I was introduced to them as. Fifteen years ago, I was told that the spring located in the foothills beneath Hollow Rock and Windy Peaks (southernmost) was named Lone Grapevine Spring. Just north of this spring where many petroglyphs have been written, there is another spring that, for many years, I thought was called Muddy Spring. Hmmm. I learned that the Muddy Formation doesn't come close to this area. Anyway, I remembered that Jim Boone had tried to correct our club's usage of those names a few years ago so I looked up his entry on his site, Birdandhike.com. Considering Mr. Boone to be the authority in this instance, I will adopt the names he gives each of these springs. The southernmost spring is named Wooden Fence Spring and the spring just to the north is the actual Lone Grapevine Spring. Consider this my correction to any previous entries on this site; and, ... there are many. Thanks.

Mike hiking out ahead to base of Windy Peak

View up Cottonwood Valley from Spring Area

Wooden Fence Spring Area below Hollow Rock Peak

Checking out Trails in the Spring Area

The Fearsome Foursome parked at the Late Night Trailhead on SR 160 east of the Red Rock escarpment. It was already a busy Saturday as all the trail bikers prepared their ride. Our route to the first spring, Wooden Fence Spring, took a direct aim at Windy Peak after we circled around the hill next to the parking lot. Windy Peak is the second prominent peak from the south end of the escarpment, kind of roundish. The network of bike trails are laid out all over the valley among dirt roads. It is easiest to just go straight for Windy on trails than to figure out where to turn right or left. When you reach the other side of Cottonwood Valley, you cross one last dirt road where there may be cars parked to the right, and dip down into the terrain. We ran into two mudholes on the trail before we could reach the Wooden Fence surrounding the spring area. Another landmark to look for is a smallish area of dark colored dirt and rock to the spring area's right. If you see cars parked as we did, these hikers are likely climbing the east side of Windy Peak; a strenuous climb.

Canyon between Hollow Rock and Windy Peaks

Dry Water Trough below Lone Grapevine Spring

Ancient and Cowboy Petroglyphs near Lone Grapevine Spring

Rita checks out Ancient Petroglyphs

After exploring this spring area, we found the trail that continued north to Lone Grapevine Spring. We found the wildlife water trough to be bone dry. Did the pipe break or is it frozen? We explored the petroglyphs and took a break. Next, we continued down the wash and found the burro path leading further north. It isn't easy to find but the hoof prints are unmistakable. (We saw a large "harem" of burros outside the fence near Blue Diamond on the way out but we never saw burros on the hike. We knew they were out there!!) The burro trails led us to the large and deep Windy Peak wash. Here, the trail leads east a little before we found the burro crossing. On the other side, we continued to find burro trails but they went in a couple different directions. Knowing we wished to head northeast to run perpendicularly into the Black Velvet bike trail, we found a burro trail for that, too! Turning right on the well worn bike trail, Black Velvet, we dipped back through the shallowing Windy Peak wash and headed back to the trailhead on the usual route. A good workout. Nice day. It's always fun to go check on the petroglyphs. ... Y'all keep down the defacing, will ya?

Stats: 5.5 miles; 700' gain; 3.5 hours

Vague but Clear Burro Trail leading north from Lone Grapevine Spring

Deep Windy Peak Wash Burro Crossing

Fearsome Foursome in Windy Peak Wash further Down

Following the Bike Trails back to Trailhead in Cottonwood Valley