Blue Diamond Cirque - 2/11/23

Cairn on end of Snack Spot Peninsula

The Inner Hurl Trail

View out the Peninsula and the Red Rock Escarpment

Entering the Small Canyon

Cirque - /sərk/ - noun

1. GEOLOGY - a half-open steep-sided hollow at the head of a valley or on a mountainside, formed by glacial erosion.

2. LITERARY - a ring, circlet, or circle.

The Blue Diamond Cirque hike describes both of these definitions except for the "glacial" thing. The route surrounds the small "half open bowl" of the Blue Diamond, Nevada terrain and it also encompasses an elongated "ring" around the tertiary ridge behind the town. However, to be clear, the half open bowl of Blue Diamond's terrain, part of the Bird Spring Formation, was not formed by glacial erosion. 

Blue Diamond is the site of Cottonwood Spring (formerly known as Ojo de Cayetana, or Pearl Spring), a watering place and camp site on the Old Spanish Trail and the later Mormon Road between Mountain Springs and Las Vegas Springs. The springs are located on a mountainside south of the town at 36°02′44″N 115°24′22″W at an elevation of 3409 feet. ~Wikipedia

Cottonwood Spring is the spring located in the upper area of the present day Blue Diamond town. It is protected by the community since it is used as their water source.

Trail through the Small Canyon

Hiking up Inner Hurl

The end of Inner Hurl - View back to Inner Hurl Ridge

Nearing the end of Inner Hurl

 The basis of Blue Diamond Cirque was used by the AtBF hiking club for many years and we called it Blue Diamond Bike Trails. We used to be able to begin the hike at the top of the little town in a small dirt lot. Several years ago, this dirt lot was blocked off by the citizens of Blue Diamond and we had to start this hike at a dirt lot across from its county park. Two years ago, we explored the possibilities of the Arroyo St. Trailhead off of SR 159. By starting out at this trailhead, we were able to access the bike trails without tromping through the little community. Plus, the entrance to the now huge network of bike trails here was through a very nice little canyon next to Gypsum Hill. (I like to call it the more descriptive name of East Blue Diamond Hill!)

Taking a break on the Peninsula

View to Blue Diamond, NV and Gypsum Hill (aka East Blue Diamond Hill)

Mt. Potosi, Hollow Rock Peak and Windy Peak (L to R) from Hurl Trail

Junction Hurl and Landmine Loop

There are several small use trails that people have made to get to the small canyon entrance. We found the canyon and climbed straight up through to the saddle at the top. Here, we were offered a trail that leads down to the Hurl Trail, previously known as the Old Spanish Trail. Hiking past the large circle cairn of stones, we found our way on trail up to the Inner Hurl that is located under the cliffs of the ridge rising in front of us. The climbing didn't stop until we were at the end of this valley canyon. Here, we hiked on out to the end of the rocky peninsula and had our break with a view. Returning to the trail, we turned to the right and hiked past the outcropping of sandstone and on up to the hike's high point. Finally, the hike started on a downward slope as we gently descended the length of the tertiary ridge we had hiked under on the Inner Hurl. We were on the Hurl Trail and followed it down to an area nearer SR 160. It wiggled its way all the way down until it junctioned with the Landmine Loop, another popular bike trail.

Landmine Loop and Hurl Trails

Part of the Old Spanish Trail (1829 to 1848)

Following the Hurl back toward Blue Diamond

Odie says, "Turn right here."

Joining the Landmine Loop for a few minutes, we hiked past the Old Spanish Trail landmark post then on around the left corner back onto the Hurl. This part of the Hurl is sort of a main central route connecting several trails and we found the large circle cairn. Turning right, we began returning to the cars up and over the saddle and down through the small canyon. The day, a Saturday, began very cloudy and a bit dismal but near the end of the hike, the sun prevailed and other recreationists appeared in force! Great workout and lovely desert hike!

Stats: 6.2 miles; 1000' gain; 3.25 hours

Saddle leaving The Hurl

Dropping into the Small Canyon

Following the Small Canyon Out