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| Calico Hills from North Peak (Limestone) Summit |
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| North Peak / Bridge Mountain Trail |
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| In the Rock Garden of Rocky Gap Road |
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| Kay made me stand here. |
We don't often do hikes above 6 miles but this is a favorite. Why? I think because years ago, we were introduced to North Peak (Limestone) by hiking up Rocky Gap Road from Willow Springs Trailhead off the Red Rock Scenic Loop. For years, we heard about the "legend" of the Rock Garden of Rocky Gap Road on the other side of Red Rock Summit. Finally, about two years ago, we escaped the same ol'-same ol' and ventured over to Lovell Canyon Rd to find the Rocky Gap Road junction there. (Btw, this junction and trailhead can be found on your newer car GPSs. Cool!) So, this year, Ralyn and I drove around to Lovell Canyon Road and about 7 miles out, we found the trailhead and parked our low rider at the junction. Lower Rocky Gap Rd will stave off any intruders that don't have the correct vehicles right away. A deep gulley encountered soon after turning right onto the dirt road is a clear statement. We happily hiked through the gulley and started up the road to reach an out and back to North Peak (Limestone) in a distance of around three miles less than an out and back hike starting from Willow Springs Trailhead.
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| The wash is used to go around some of the Rock Garden. |
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| Red Rock Canyon NCA Boundary |
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| Rainbow Wilderness Boundary |
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| Yep. This is part of the Rock Garden. |
It was early in the morning so the air was nice and cool. Campers all along Lovell Canyon Road were still in their sleeping bags while we enjoyed the solitude of the 4WD back road. In fact, we had the road to ourselves all the way up to Red Rock Summit and continuing to North Peak. Our observations of the road were that it had not changed since our last visit in May. Hilary, nor the following rainstorm had not done much damage. Although, we did notice that the sides of narrow Lovell Canyon Road were rutted in places making it difficult to pass larger vehicles coming from the other direction. Even the Rock Garden looked the same. (Not sure that it could ever look worse!) So, we turned right onto the North Peak / Bridge Mountain Trail at the summit and started up a steeper grade following a mountain ridge up to beautiful views and the trail junction.
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| Interesting things along the Road |
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| Rabbitbrush decorates the Road and Wash |
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| From whence we Came |
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| La Madre Range from North Peak Trail |
If you continue straight at the junction, you will follow a trail around and down to an overlook of Bridge Mountain. The remaining "trail" to Bridge Mtn should be marked by cairns. No promises. Then, of course, there is the crack climb ... no cairns there! Anyway, the best way to climb Bridge Mountain is follow someone who has been there before ... or, if you are a genius at route finding. I'm thinking of a couple of places in particular. ... But, I digress. We turned left at the junction and continued out the trail that follows the ridge to a low pointy peak. I noticed new trails leading up to the rocky point but we stuck to the tried and true scramble up the right side of the rocks. Not too difficult.
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| Trail Junction Sign |
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| North Peak (Limestone) from Trail |
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| Views toward Bridge Mountain from North Peak and Trail Junction |
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| On the Peak |
We took our break and welcomed a couple more hikers who took our pic. Then we climbed down off the rocks the same way we had climbed up. Descending the steep trail was easy and fun. Then we turned left onto the dirt road at Red Rock Summit. On our way down, we passed four more hikers and a bicyclist. Yep, a bicyclist. I bet that was a challenge. When we got back to the car, there were two other cars parked at the trailhead. This was a great place to be today!
Stats: 8.4 miles; 1900' gain; 4.75 hours
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| Descending the North Peak / Bridge Mountain Trail |
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| Starting down through the Rock Garden |
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| Gnomes in the Rock Garden |
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