La Madre Double Arch Loop - 4/10/23

Climbing through the Lower La Madre Arch

View back down the Approach Wash

White Rock Wash

Hiking up to the Upper Trailhead

La Madre Double Arch sits in the lower elevations of the La Madre Mountain Range up behind the place where the Keystone Thrust fault can be seen as it makes its way slowly across the sandstone terrain. It is a large limestone arch with a small window on top of it found by making a steep climb up the La Madre washes. To put more oomph in the hike, thirteen club members started from the lower White Rock trailhead just off the Scenic Loop around MM 6. Starting from this location added 1 mile to the entire hike. We walked up the dirt road and took a short break at the restrooms. BTW, the park has improved the arrangement of the upper trailhead parking and the dirt road is in pretty good shape right now.

Following the Keystone Thrust Trail

View back from Trail to Escarpment

Trail up the Ridge above Pinnacle Wash

Dropping down to La Madre Wash

From the upper trailhead, we continued straight onto the White Rock Trail, crossed White Rock Wash then turned right onto the Keystone Thrust Trail. We were climbing at a constant rate past Cactus Hill on the right and finally came to a trail junction. If you go straight and down the other side, you will arrive at the open Keystone Thrust Fault area. Professional and amateur geologists come from all over the world to view this anomaly and it's in our own backyard. However, since this was not our goal today, we turned up to the left and continued climbing the ridge at a steady clip for a mile. The route drops down to the left there and into the somewhat wide La Madre Wash. Next, the route continues up the wash until you can see the arch up to the right where you must turn into the right smaller wash to reach it. If you come to a rock wall dryfall that you have to go around on the left side, you have gone too far. (Ask me how I know!)

Starting up through La Madre Wash

Well deserved rest under Arch

Negotiating the Downclimb

Fun Scramble in La Madre Wash Descent

I and another hiker decided to forego the arch visit and we turned to complete the hike by descending La Madre Wash to White Rock Wash and back to the trailhead for a 5 mile hike. Eleven others continued up to the arch and took their break while Mike captured some photos. It was reported that the climb had not gotten any easier! The previous climb up the ridge tempts you to hit it hard and fast. But, soon, the energy reserves run dry. I must remember to start slow next time! To hike through the arch window, you must go up the neighboring wash a little past it before you turn to the left. After taking a break on the other side of the arch, you must deal with a very steep downhill to return to the wash. On the descent, you have a choice of returning the way you came or down La Madre Wash. On this hike, those eleven hikers did a combination of the two with a little bushwhacking in between. It was a beautiful warm day. Finally, Las Vegas has decided to be ... well ... Las Vegas! Warm and sunny! We love it!

Stats: 6.5 miles; 2550' gain; 4 hours

La Madre Wash Descent

White Rock Wash

View of Double Arch from Upper White Rock Trailhead

La Madre Double Arch via Pinnacle Canyon with La Madre Wash Descent from Upper TH

La Madre Double Arch O&B from Upper Trailhead