Rainbow Gardens Crest Loop - 3/11/24

Lava Butte from Rainbow Gardens Crest Trail

Rainbow Gardens Canyon

Old Buffet Boys Cairn

Just us girls in the Wide Wash

There were three of us on a slightly breezy morning at mile marker 2 of Northshore Road, the Rainbow Gardens Trailhead for hiking. This is yet another beautifully colorful area that is easily reached with a small hike. The pink elephant in the room, of course, is the 2871' Lava Butte. That doesn't sound like much, however, the cone shaped butte's surrounding elevation at the base is only 1400'. This difference of 1469' is remarkably daunting as we gazed up the wide wash in front of us. Starting through the posts next to the pullout, we hiked up the familiar Wide Wash. We've been hiking this wash for years but, on this hike, we were set to explore a final new territory to create a really nice loop. It didn't disappoint!

Rainbow Gardens Canyon

Rainbow Gardens Canyon

Rainbow Gardens Canyon

Lake Las Vegas from climb to
 Rainbow Gardens Crest

We reached Bedsprings Junction in due time. If you look up the hill to the left or over the hill to the right, you will see why we call this trail junction, Bedsprings! There is a lot of very old mining and homestead junk hiding in arroyos around here. We turned right and continued our climb up to a ridge that trails down from Lava Butte. Hike over the ridge and drop into the following canyon and you start a descent through Rainbow Gardens Canyon, a canyon filled with different pastel colors. Enjoy the colors and easy class 2 walk down. At the end, there is an old mine ladder leaning up against the canyon wall. It appears that people could not resist trying to climb it and the rungs are rotted and broken. Just leave it where it is. We like to be reminded of the history here.

Lava Butte, 10 Falls Canyon and Rainbow Gardens Canyon

One of many cairns on Crest Trail

View over the Crest

Three Blues on Crest Trail

After the ladder, we passed a large canyon pouring in on the right. This is 10 Falls Canyon. It is a nice scramble up to its saddle overlooking Lava Butte. The second wash to the right is where we turned since the trail up is unrecognizable due to a recent washout. We climbed to the top of this wash and junctioned with the Crest Trail ascent. The view from this junction is where the first photo of this entry was taken. Really cool! Next, we tackled the steep climb up toward the tectonically uplifted crest. The trail is recently maintained and has several large cairns showing the way starting near the top. The trail turns to the right to lead across and up to the edge. Some of the cairns are pictured on this entry. Staying on the trail, we never felt like we were in danger of falling off the opposite side of the mountain! The trail continued all the way around the edge or through the more rocky terrain and down to the saddle at the top of 10 Falls Canyon. We took our break at the top of the next familiar saddle with an up-close and personal view of Lava Butte.

Rotted Mine Ladder, Crest Trail Cairns and Blooming Beaver Tails

Rita takes a peek over the Edge

Red Pinnacle of Rainbow Gardens in Distance

Following the Crest Trail

The trail continued from there but was vague in a few places. No worries! There were still a few cairns to mark your target areas. At the next crest saddle, we turned left to drop down to the base of Lava Butte. More views! A right angle turn started us across the rocky base on a vague but recognizable trail. The trail took us across and up to the next trailing ridge. This ridge has a vague trail / route (sometimes steep) down to its end. After descending Pineapple Cactus Hill and just before dropping between two white hills, we passed the old Buffet Boys Cairn on the left. The route follows the wash that leads between the white hills and continues straight across a perpendicularly flowing wash at the bottom. This is a steep climb up to the top of a hill with a great overlook and a game trail nearby.

Saddle at top of 10 Falls Canyon

Lava Butte from top of 10 Falls Canyon

Dropping down from next saddle to Lava Butte Base

On Lava Butte Base (Crest in Background)

The game trail led us straight toward the trailhead with a few curves and an intermediate drop into the Wide Wash in which we began our adventure. This trail return has proven to shorten the alternate long Wide Wash walk back to the cars. After sewing together several hikes over the years, we are very happy with the route we set today. It's a keeper, as Mike would say!

Stats: 5.7 miles; 1000' gain; 4 hours

Lava Butte on opposite Side - Wash next to Ridge Trail

Ralyn leads up a gulley to ridge Top

Trail follows ridge to Wide Wash Junction and Cars