Muffins / Three Amigos / Echo Canyon - 11/9/17

The Muffins from Afar

Three Amigos Trail

Echo Canyon

Cowboy Trailhead on Hwy 159

 Gypsum, which is hydrated calcium sulfate (a mineral composed of calcium sulfate with water included as part of its chemical makeup), forms deposits in warm, shallow water in arid environments, in this case most likely along the shores of the Permian ocean.* "This case" being the North Blue Diamond Hill of the Red Rock Canyon NCA. The Blue Diamond Mine mined gypsum from the upper part of this Permian Kaibab Formation / Bird Spring Formation until it closed in 2004. The plant that makes the plaster board still operates using gypsum that is trucked in from other locales. However, the lower part of this formerly gypsum-rich hill is rich with beautiful desert hiking. There are four major canyons separated by hikable ridges and a top cliff-edged rim outfitted with fantastic views of Las Vegas. Perched atop one of those hikable ridges is a large conglomerate boulder formation that locals have named The Muffins.

*Geologic Tours in the Las Vegas Area, University of Nevada, Reno
 

Hiking to the Base of the Muffins Hill

 Hiking and biking trails snake their way through the canyons and ridges of the North Blue Diamond Hill and, today, fifteen strong hikers arrived at the Cowboy Trailhead on Highway 159 for a moderately strenuous hike.

Hiking up the Muffins Trail

 We hiked past the lower horse corral and saw that Jackson was in his bedroom doing his thing. The small burro has been very prolific and most of the Red Rock horses are now mules! (Neat trick.)

Red Rock Wash from Muffins Trail

View back to the Trail and Escarpment

 A quick pace took the large group over the desert to the mouth of Skull Canyon. (Skull Canyon is so named for the horse's skull found within it many years ago.) Here, the trail led up then forked to the left heading on a traverse up to the Muffins formation. Each of us took on the climb at our own pace and we arrived at the top fairly close together. After a short pause, we continued up the trail touching on the rim for a short distance before taking a right turn on a faint trail that would take us around the small ridge peak instead of over it. This trail brought us over to the Skull Canyon side of the ridge then smoothly down on the SARS Trail crossing. After crossing the SARS Trail, we were officially on the Three Amigos Trail. This trail makes an inner circle up to the higher elevations then returns back down to the Boneshaker sign above Mystery Woman Canyon.

Alicia at the Muffins

 Following the trail would take hikers all the way up to the Cairn Overlook but, today, we bushwhacked a very short distance down to connect with a lower switchback, thereby skipping the overlook and about 3/4 of a mile of hiking.

Pause at the Muffins

 The descent on the Three Amigos Trail skirts the rim above quiet Mystery Woman Canyon. At a rocky place with a nice view, we stopped for our break. We were 0.2 miles shy of our halfway point.

Hiking up Muffins Ridge

Old Las Vegas Overlook from Three Amigos Trail

 Our pace had returned to "quick" after the Muffins stop. We were "in the zone!" But, there was a 5 minute delay when one hiker had to return to the break spot to retrieve his glasses. (Hey, it happens.) A little further along Mystery Woman Canyon and we turned left at a dirt pile indicating the shortcut up to the Boneshaker sign. This is a trail junction on Boneshaker Hill. The trail down leads to the steep Boneshaker drop to the desert floor. The trail up passes by the radio tower and on to the New Las Vegas Overlook. We took the trail that continues across the top of the canyons and ridges. This is the SARS Trail. Soon, we were crossing the top of the left fork of Cave Canyon where we had climbed up on our hike the previous week. Next, the ridge between Cave Canyon's left and right forks had to be climbed over.

Higher Elevations of North Blue Diamond Hill

 All along the top section of today's hike, we had a gorgeous view of the Wilson Cliffs escarpment. It was a beautiful day with an occasional breeze.

Starting Descent above Mystery Woman Canyon

 Our route was tickling the eastern edges of the Red Rock Canyon NCA boundary. The former Blue Diamond Mine (now owned by a mean old housing developer) owns the property on the other side of the boundary.

Mystery Woman Canyon

Passing Boneshaker Sign

 We dropped down beside the right fork of Cave Canyon and hiked on a trail above the wash. We looked around and saw a few seabed fossils found in the Precambrian rock. The North Blue Diamond Hill is loaded with them! This beautiful section is very photogenic with the limestone/dolomite, cactus garden terrain and distant views of the escarpment. It is also a great location to watch large birds, small mammals and reptiles. With the influx of hikers on a constant basis, the large mammal wildlife has mostly disappeared from this area. Five to ten years ago, you could catch glimpses of wandering burros and mule deer within the canyons. Now, these animals stay lower down in elevation. Regardless, you never know when a burro or deer might decide to go off by itself for a little R & R in Skull Canyon!

SARS Trail above Cave Canyon

 From this small canyon, the SARS Trail crosses at the top of Second Finger and First Finger then connects with what used to be an old mine road where we turned to the right.

SARS Trail Garden above Right Fork of Cave Canyon

 In a relatively short distance, we came to a trail junction that turned to the right. This is the Echo Canyon Trail. This trail leads down into Echo Canyon where the Fossil Ridge Trail continues down along to the wash.

Heading into Echo Canyon

Approaching Drop into Echo Canyon Wash

 Just after the second set of small switchbacks, we left the trail to start our finale scramble down through Echo Canyon. Usually, hikers use Echo Canyon to ascend. When it is used for the descent, you feel like you are in a whole different canyon! So, we worked our way down through the small wash scrambles with a slow pace. Again, we found fossils within the wash. In fact, the best shell fossil resides on the wall next to the largest scramble near the bottom end of the canyon. One by one, we descended the last scrambles and hiked down the exit trail. Upon arriving at the upper stables, we noted that there has been some construction going on. They are improving the dining facilities, it appears. There were many horses and mules that were saddled up and ready for a long line of trail ride but, as we hiked past them, they looked a little sleepy! Like us, they probably cheer up once they are on the trail!

8 miles; 1400 feet elevation gain; 4 hours

Echo Canyon Scrambling

Starting Exit Trail

Ready for the Cool Down

Tickling the Edges of the Red Rock Canyon NCA Boundary

Blue Diamond Bike Trails - 11/4/17

Let me at 'em!

Wilson Cliffs from Rock Ridge

Burros (Foal & Mom)

Starting out the Spanish Trail from Blue Diamond

 There are many bike trails found in the desert and hills behind the community of Blue Diamond, Nevada within the bounds of the Red Rock Canyon NCA. But, there is one particular route that we have used the longest for a nice moderate hike. For a long time, it was only a 5 mile hike but, now, since the people of the Blue Diamond community prefer hikers and bikers to use a parking area further down from the trailhead, it is a 6 mile hike. The views from this hike among the Bird Spring Formation are tremendous and, today, ... well, see the photos! Incredible!

Spanish Trail Marker

 Although this is the Bird Spring Formation, we did not see any fossils in the limestone that we passed. Perhaps it is because the visible limestone is joined by an abundance of dolomite.

Marina hides from Camera!

 Ten hikers arrived at the Blue Diamond Town Trailhead found on the town's entrance road just past the bridge on the right.

Bike Trail Sign and Mt. Potosi

Climbing Hill to Landmine Loop

 We crossed the road and the ball field then made a stop at the restrooms. The route through town makes a couple of turns before arriving at the upper trailhead. Here, we noted that we were starting our hike as a local race event was finishing. A couple of competitors passed us and that was all. We dipped down to start the hike on the Old Spanish Trail. A long gentle hill brought us up to the location of one of two Old Spanish Trail markers. The Old Spanish Trail was in use between 1829 and 1848 to travel between Santa Fe, New Mexico and Los Angeles, California. There were four routes made to avoid the Grand Canyon and the rough terrain of what is now Grand Escalante and Canyonlands.

Sunrise on Escarpment

 The Main Route passed through Santa Fe, Durango (CO), Moab (UT), Green River (UT), Panguitch (UT), Gunlock (UT), Mesquite (NV), Las Vegas (NV), Blue Diamond (NV), Tecopa (CA), Barstow (CA) and Los Angeles.

Starting up Hill on The Hurl Trail

 We left the Old Spanish Trail after we rounded the corner with Highway 160 in view. Next, we headed over the hill to the Landmine Loop and turned onto The Hurl Trail.

More Hurl Hill

Still more Hurl Hill

 The Hurl Trail has many many curves as it winds itself up to the top of the tertiary ridge behind Blue Diamond. Today, one hiker jokingly asked if this was the "Stairway to Heaven!" On and on, the hill climbed. But, oh, what views with which we were treated! This was the last day of Daylight Savings Time so, even at the late start hour of 8:30am, the sunrise on Mt. Potosi, the Red Rock escarpment and surrounding terrain was spectacular! We also dodged the threat of predicted harsh gusty wind. In fact, the weather for the morning hike was ... PERFECT!

Blue Diamond & Canyon #1 over David's Saddle

 We wound our way up to the top of the ridge and came to the trail junction for the Blue Diamond Cactus Garden, aka The Crags.

Yucca with Potosi Beyond

 Our route continued straight and we started our descent. We passed the sandstone outcropping where we used to take our snack break. These rocks presumably slid down from the ancient Keystone Thrust.

Sandstone Outcropping

Taking a Break on the Rock Ridge

 The story goes that these hills were made by landslides from the Keystone Thrust. Then Cottonwood Valley was eroded away to create what we see today. Once we passed the sandstone boulders, we balanced the ridge then took a left onto a protruding rocky ridge. We hiked all the way out to the end of the limestone/dolomite and took our snack break with a fantastic view of the Wilson Cliffs on a beautiful day. Eventually, we got up to leave and hiked back off the ridge and back to the trail. Turning left, we worked our way down to a trail junction.

A Snack Break with a View

If you go straight here, you still get back to Blue Diamond but we took a right and started on what the bikers call the Inner Hurl Trail. This trail leads along under the cliffs to the right above.

Returning to The Hurl Trail

We were hiking along with the knowledge that this trail oftentimes has burros hanging out on it.

Starting down the Inner Hurl Trail

Inner Hurl looking for Burros

When we were more than halfway along the cliffs, we saw them. As we stopped and stared, we saw that there were about ten of them. Within the small herd, there were a few (maybe 4 young ones). So cute! Deciding to see just how close we could get before they took off in the other direction, we advanced slowly. We stopped a few times before we reached their position. They had not moved very far. In fact, it seemed like the parents were cautiously allowing the little ones to get a good look at these things called hikers! Still, the adults' menacing stare was quite clear in its meaning.

We found them!

When we were among the burros, three of them slowly advanced on us! Part of the group of hikers stood their ground and took photos.

Burro Foal

I guess the burros were so comfortable with our presence that one of the young ones began suckling her mother while we watched. Look at how the mother hugs the little one in the photo below.

I'm hungry Mom!

Another Foal

All of the burros were of similar color and the color was really quite nice. Kind of a grayish brown. There were no black or gray burros in this bunch. We got our fill of photos and continued to watch them for a few minutes. Yes, they watched us, too. Finally, we decided to proceed down the trail as the trail dove into the shade. This part of the trail used to be steep and slippery but it is much better now. Still, a hiking stick is useful. So, we dropped down to the area where the Old Spanish Trail marker is on the other side of the hill. Then, we turned to our left and headed back to Blue Diamond. This was a very beautiful hike on a perfect day!

6 miles; 1000 feet elevation gain; 3.25 hours

Hiking in Shade from Cliffs Above

Heading back toward Blue Diamond

Nearing the Trailhead