Cairn Trails Loop - 11/5/26

Snowy Spring Mountains beyond Upper Cairn Trail Ridge

View down through Black Velvet Canyon from Mountain Springs Peak Trail Ridge

View behind escarpment ridge from Upper Cairn Trail

A dog, a smile and our desert mountain Foliage
What more could you want?

What would a November in Las Vegas be without a trip up to Mountain Springs Peak? So, Susan, Amora and I almost did just that! Still fascinated with the Upper and Lower Cairned Trails, we parked at the Mountain Springs Pass Trailhead and started up the 4x4 road toward the antenna. After climbing the first hill, we turned to the left onto the shortcut trail. This trail ends at another road and we turned left. (Take note of the cairn here.) We followed this road up and around a corner until we came to a trail that crossed the gulley to the left. This led to another trail (right) and ended up at an old dirt road roundabout. (Begin looking for cairns.) The trail continues across the circle. Further up, there is a fork. Go left for the Upper Cairn Trail and continue straight for the Lower Cairn Trail. We forked to the left and began a beautiful climb up a ridge filled with desert foliage and rocky sections. The trail is cairned but if you stay atop the ridge, you're "gold!"As we neared the main ridge above, the trail became steeper. We tried, as we had before, to go right and traverse over to the main ridge where the Mountain Springs Peak Trail resides. It didn't work so well this time. Anyway, we found the trail and began following it to the right. 

Amora

Susan and Mt. Potosi

Here, there are magnificent views of the sandstone bluffs from above. Reaching the trail, we found ourselves not far above Black Velvet Canyon and we could see Windy Peak rising up from the sandstone bluffs to the right. We took our break and continued until we passed the Windy Peak Trail fork to the left.  Not much further, we found the junction to the Lower Cairn Trail on the right. The trail begins with a short zigzag down and heads out to a rock outcrop at a point on the ridge. After passing the outcrop, the trail begins to drop a bit steeper. At the bottom, we crossed the gulley again and hiked on down to the Cairned Trails Fork. 

Reaching Mountain Springs Trail from Upper Cairn Trail

Resting with Susan and Amora

Continuing straight, we retraced our steps back to the car. It was a cool day in the mountains and we saw a few other hikers ... each with dogs! Amora was a great sport and is becoming quite the scrambler! We took our time and enjoyed every minute.

Stats: 3.5 miles; 1100' gain

A cairn on Upper Cairn Trail - Mountain Springs, NV Beyond

Windy Peak as we descend the Lower Cairn Trail

Outcrop on Lower Cairn Trail