Brownstone Canyon & Lower Dam Pond (with loop return) - 3/10/23

Lower Dam Pond at Brownstone Canyon

Pictographs in Brownstone Canyon

Water Flowing down Red Sandstone

Small Break on the Kraft Saddle

It was a beautiful day. Very little wind. After the morning clouds went away, we had blue skies. We took full advantage of the beauty and did a long slow hike out to Brownstone Canyon and its Lower Dam. With all the rain we have had this winter, the dam pond was full and so were all of the other tinajas we passed along the way.

    Brownstone Canyon was used by ranchers that were encouraged by the 1859 silver rush. This is evidenced by at least two dams that were constructed in the canyon to catch water for livestock. The Upper Dam is located up canyon from the pictograph area and to the right. 

Starting down Rattlesnake Trail to Gateway Canyon

Climbing up to Rattlesnake Trail / Gateway Junction

Upper Gateway Canyon Scrambling

Lots of Water in Upper Gateway

The Lower Dam area is located down canyon from the pictographs and to the right. The water from the Lower Dam runs out from the dam into natural troughs where we imagine the cattle took their long slurps.

     Historic use of southern Nevada began in 1826 with blazing of the Old Spanish Trail by American and Mexican explorers. Fremont revised the route of the Old Spanish Trail through southern Nevada in 1844, for the first time cutting through the lower portion of what would become Red Rock Canyon. Colonizing efforts by the Mormon Church initiated the settling of a mission and ranch site near what is now downtown Las Vegas in 1855. This first settlement was abandoned in 1857. Ranchers began occupying the Las Vegas valley in 1865 and the Wilson Ranch was establish in what is now the Red Rock area in 1880. - https://www.nevadawilderness.org/la_madre_mountains_wilderness_whats_out_there

Brownstone is a protected area within the La Madre Wilderness. Look but don't touch is a good mantra!

Gathering at the Top of Upper Gateway

Group Photo climbing up to Sandstone Plateau

Nearing Small Canyon Right Turn

Getting by a Water-filled Slot

We began our hike at the Kraft Mountain Loop Trailhead located at the end of Sandstone Drive in Calico Basin, Red Rock Canyon NCA. A good non-stop ascent up 5-Stop Hill (!) put us on the Kraft Mountain Saddle. Even though the low clouds had not burned off yet, it was clear that the day would be a good one. The temps were up a little and, again, very little wind. After a short rest on Kraft Saddle, we continued down the Rattlesnake Trail to Gateway Canyon. Turning left, we headed up the gravel wash and began attending to the many scrambles in front of us. Up the sliding board and past the Rattlesnake Trail junction, we entered into Upper Gateway Canyon. The many scrambles in this part of Gateway are all picturesque and challenging.

Starting across the Plateau

Ice remains in the Deep Tinaja

Tinaja after Deep Tinaja

Photos Everywhere in Brownstone Canyon

All of us know the scrambles well so sometimes, we try different ways to accomplish them. With my new knee, I looked for some easier ways to ascend. Others looked for harder ways. We were all having fun and no one was in any particular hurry. About halfway up, we began seeing a lot of water in the wash. This increased the difficulty of the climb but only a little. At the top of Gateway, we paused then continued up to the left, a red and white sandstone wash that flows down from a cream colored sandstone plateau above. About halfway up this wash, we turned right into a small canyon. There was a lot of water coming down from the plateau to the left. We decided to try to avoid a particular slot and climbed up past the traditional waterfall feature.

Negotiating the Crack Descent

Almost down the Crack

More Pictographs

Petroglyphs down the Canyon

I didn't lead the group high enough in the small canyon and we ended up doing that slot anyway! It was filled with water but we were careful and got past it just fine. With so much water everywhere, our trip across the plateau was non-traditional and we missed the first of the large tinajas. We passed the Deep Tinaja that has been bone dry for a couple of years and it not only had water but also an island of ice! We made our descent down to the famous crack. Luckily, we didn't have any ice issues here. At the bottom, we quickly perused the pictographs and hiked on down to the Lower Dam and Pond. We found the dammed pond to have more water than I have ever seen it to have. It was so beautiful, we couldn't stop taking photos! We took a nice break.

Approach to Lower Dam

A Day on the Beach

High above Pond

View down Brownstone from Loop Around Crack

On our return, we decided to take a different route. We continued up Brownstone Canyon past the pictographs and found a place to climb up to the left. Up there, we found a trail and began to follow it to the left. The trail was cairned a little and we easily followed it over, up, and down past another lovely tinaja. We came in behind the Deep Tinaja and started hiking our way across the upper portion of the sandstone plateau. At some point on the plateau, we became separated into two groups. Charlie, Rita and I hiked across the familiar traditional route but Mike, Jerry and Cheryl were being challenged by a lot of deep gullies lower down. We lost sight of each other and the upper group headed down the slab at the end of the plateau. We made it all the way to the top of Gateway before the other group called us from the slab above.

Jerry blazes the Trail

Following the Scramble

Tinajas Everywhere!

Starting back across the Plateau at a Higher Level

In the meantime, I managed to twist my ankle. This slowed our descent to a near crawl. Luckily, I was able to hike out and, I must say, the rest of the group was filled with appreciated patience. Slowly, we met each scramble descent head-on. Finally, we reached the Rattlesnake Trail junction where the trail climbed up out of Gateway Canyon and up to Kraft Saddle. One more tedious descent down 5-Stop Hill and back to the cars. A long hike but a fun hike. We plan to do the new loop at Brownstone Canyon again. We enjoyed the new scrambles! Happy hiking!

Stats: 7.2 miles; 2100' gain; 6.75 hours

The Plateau

Returning down the Slab to the Top of Upper Gateway

View toward Lower Gateway Canyon from Rattlesnake Trail

Traditional End Loop

Our End Loop Today