Lower Rocky Gorge Loop - 5/23/24

Tall Joshua Tree on the Blue Trail

Mummy Mountain from Rocky Gorge Trail Switchback

Pinnacle in Rocky Gorge

Starting down the small wash from the Trailhead

This trailhead is now officially called the Barrow Pit TH. It is located about 10 miles up Lee Canyon Road from SR 95 (which will eventually be I-11). It is on the right side as you are driving up and is relatively unmarked. Right now, there is a yellow caution sign there for some other reason than to mark the trailhead. My low clearance vehicle did fine on the way down the short gravel road and we parked at the bottom where there is sometimes an RV parked using the spot for some limited seclusion. We dropped down into the small wash behind the RV and started down a worn trail. This loop hike is often used by equestrians and on this occasion, there was a single bike track. The wash trail has been minimally maintained but it was easy to follow.

Following the wash Trail

View back from the beginning of the Switchback

Ralyn and Kay at the top of the Switchback

Blooming Beaver Tail Cactus

The wash trail continues down for about 0.75 mile and sometimes leaves the wash right or left to go around brush. Next, the trail turns to the left and crosses the desert over to the base of the neighboring small ridge. A long switchback climbs the hill where there are beautiful views of Mummy Mountain and the north ridge of Charleston Peak. The trail is clear and easy to follow down the ridge where burros are often on their way over to the springs of Deer Creek Canyon. The trail dips down to the left and follows through the brush to climb up to the next ridge and down to Rocky Gorge Wash. Finally there, we turned up to the left where, soon, we found ourselves in a small part of the wash where there were rock walls. The "gorge" is pretty but not large.

Trail leading down from top of Ridge

Arriving in the Rocky Gorge Wash

Scenes from Rocky Gorge

Following the Rocky Gorge Wash

The next 2.5 miles were in the wash following a trail climbing up through the small gravel. Again, it is easy to follow with a few small side trails that accommodate the horses. Finally, after the trail forks up through a wash on the right (not noticeable), we came to a well-marked turn to the right that climbs quickly up to the neighboring ridge. Elk have sometimes been seen here in this area. If you wish to continue on to Sawmill TH, then continue on the trail that goes diagonally down into the next wash and crosses a dirt road. For the short version of this hike, we turned left and followed the ridge all the way up until we junctioned with that same dirt road near the top of a hill (the high point of the hike). Down the road on the other side, we found the Blue Trail crossing and turned to the left. This junction is not marked. Keep your eyes open! Following the Blue Trail, we took a left fork to avoid dipping into the Blue Tree Campground and continued until we took a right turn ... this time we entered the wash below on an old road and turned left ... again.

The right turn Junction

Closer view of Mummy's Head, Lee Peak and Charleston Peak

Mike at the overlook to the Barrow Pit Trailhead

Ralyn following the ascent Ridge

We followed the road straight until we came to a deep wash in front of us. Don't follow the road to the right where the deep wash appears earlier. Our route crossed the deep wash and we ended up on the road that leads to the campground. Further, we finally came into the upper side of the Barrow Pit and on to our cars. It is a nice 6 miles that we do almost every year on the shoulder seasons. Nice views of the snow-capped mountains and just the right temps. Good day!

Stats: 5.9 miles; 1060' gain; 3.25 hours

The Blue Trail above Blue Tree Campground

Old road leading back to the Trailhead

Clean-up from Hurricane Hilary at the Barrow Pit