Square Rock Loop - 4/25/24

Dale's Trail & Base of Bridgepoint Peak

Sandstone Bluffs south of Pine Creek

Old gate column of Wilson Homestead

Pine Creek Trail toward Mescalito Peak

Have you ever wanted to climb up to the base of the Red Rock escarpment in a place that isn't normally hiked? Well, I don't recommend it! Very tough terrain ... especially now after the rains we have had. So, four club members parked at the Pine Creek Trailhead and headed down into Pine Creek Canyon. At the old Wilson gate ruins, we turned right onto Dale's Trail. This trail runs from Pine Creek Canyon to Ice Box Canyon along the foothills of Bridgepoint Peak. It is colorful and pleasant to hike. Soon after climbing up a long hill right after passing Skull Rock, we turned left to bushwhack up to the steep rock at the base of the peak. The ridge is relatively easy to climb and there seemed to be vague trails that we could use.

Hikers at Skull Rock in front of Bridgepoint Peak

Rock Monument to the Cow

Starting the bushwhack across the escarpment Base

Too high and too Steep

Last year, we did a version of this same hike and today, we wanted to check out a slightly different route. (No could do!) We started across the traverse following an old burro trail. However, our plans to continue all the way over to Square Rock Saddle were dashed as we came into steep red small scree where the trail had been washed down over the small intermediary cliff. We got further on last year's hike! Having to backtrack, we slowly and carefully aborted our plans and came back to the original ridge on which we had ascended. Arriving at a large boulder called Pie Rock, we saw a cairn and started back down to Dale's Trail. A right turn on the main trail led us back down that hill between us and Skull Rock.

Flowers & Critters

Our descent ridge from escarpment Base

Large cairn near Pie Rock

Small break on descent Ridge

All of this had taken a lot of time as the going was very slow for me up on the red scree. Not wanting to give up our loop efforts, we turned to head up toward Square Rock Saddle through the desert terrain. We followed vague game trails over the desert and through a few shallow arroyos straight toward the saddle with the large rock that appeared square. (As it turned out, it really isn't square.) Anyway, the last "arroyo" turned out to be a large wash with steep sides. The rains had destroyed the easy trail we used last year so the climb up the other side was difficult. Next time, we may have to go higher to get an easier crossing. On top of the saddle, we took our photo in front of the "square" boulder. On the other side of the saddle, a trail dropped down into Pine Creek Canyon where we could see recreation hikers passing on Pine Creek Trail. Our trail dropped steeply but doably with zigzags to the trail below.

Climb up to Square Rock

Our group at Square (?) Rock Saddle

Starting down trail on other side of Saddle

Kay on the trail Down

Deciding to abort the next plan of the slow hike, (Fern Canyon), we turned left onto the main trail and took a side trip to Horace & Glenda Wilson's old homestead ruins. The approximate dates they lived here were from 1922-1933 at which time the house was vandalized and burned. They sold their land which included a large garden and orchard then moved to town, Las Vegas. Too bad. They had a good thing going. Our hike finished as we climbed up that final hill to the parking lot. What a beautiful, fun day! We'll keep working on the layout of this hike. I hope you also have a great day on the trails!

Stats: 3.6 miles; 925' gain; 3.25 hours

The old Horace Wilson Homestead (1922-1933)

Bridgepoint Peak and the two loop routes we have Taken

Climbing that last hill to the Trailhead