Oak Creek Canyon - 2/10/21

Oak Creek with Mt. Wilson (Second Crossing)

Typical Bouldering in Oak Creek

Trail from Scenic Loop Exit TH to Middle Oak Creek Trail

Middle Oak Creek Trail Sign

It had been many years since I scrambled up Oak Creek Canyon. There are so many use trails along the creek going into and out of Oak Creek Canyon that I shied away from the hike due to a misguided hike I led in 2014. I have a lot of time these days - with the pandemic and all - so I began a study of the area. Today, Rita and I did a run of the hike including a shortish scramble up the boulders of the canyon. It will need another run or two for me to pin down correct junction turns on all of those use trails coming back around Potato Knoll. That said, this is a fantastic hike with fantastic scrambling that should not have been ignored by the club for these past 6.5 years. Although a slightly shorter route would begin at SR 159, Double Trouble started at the Scenic Loop Exit Trailhead.

Transition to Oak Creek Canyon Trail

From the exit parking lot, cross the Scenic Loop Drive at the gate and choose the trail that is second from the left. (There are 4 to 5 trails that start out into the desert from this location.)

Rita on Canyon Trail

This trail is one of the oldest here and is very well-worn. It is a one mile trail that ends on the old Oak Creek Canyon Road that is now called Middle Oak Creek Trail. There is a lone largish white rock in the middle of the road at the junction. Take note!

Oak Creek Canyon Trail through Trees

Landmark on Oak Creek Canyon Trail

We turned right at White Rock Junction and began heading up toward the Sandstone Bluffs on the remnants of the old road. The road becomes very rocky as you get closer to Rainbow Peak. We passed a few trail posts for the Middle Oak Creek and, finally, after wading through a poorly maintained junction with the trail leading out from the Oak Creek TH off of the Scenic Loop, we reached a large new trail sign for the Knoll Trail. Our route continued toward the left side of Rainbow Peak and soon turned into a trail that began in red dirt. This is where a couple of rock climbers passed us on their way to climb a Rainbow Peak wall. We saw them high on the wall as we later made our exit from the canyon. (See twelfth photo below.)

 

"Let the ungraceful scrambling begin!"

The trail is fairly easy to follow until a particular section that scrambles up boulders toward the wall above. See Rita just after the scramble three photos above.

Beautiful Scramble

Two photos above shows an old tree landmark at the wall after the scramble. From there, continue following the trail which will eventually head down toward the canyon wash.

We went to the right of overhanging rock.

Rita scrambles Capably 

When we reached the wash, bouldering ensued immediately. Since we did not know the preferred routes up the rocks, we had to figure out every scramble as we looked right and left for ways to climb up to the next level. Three more rock climbers came by giving us a couple of visual hints. The boulders were huge and the scrambling was top-notch. Rita would have kept going but when we reached a particular huge slightly dangerous scramble, I cried "uncle!" (See second photo below.) There were a couple of cairns in the canyon that only told us that we were not the first to be here! They didn't really help. But, that's part of the fun! ... Figuring it all out, that is! After we took our "group" photo, we started back down. This was a much easier endeavor!

The Swimming Pool

In no time, it seemed, we were back at the place where we "put in." There, we continued down toward the red wall curve.

The Huge Rock Turnaround (for us)

The rocks were very colorful in the red wall area. As we made the left curve in the wash, we came to a large bedrock boulder where we have always taken our snack break in the past.

Double Trouble

Passing Entrance Point

We sat here for just a couple of minutes and watched and listened to those two rock climbers take on the sandstone like pros about 500' up the wall. Next, an option would be to continue the scramble down until you run into brush where there is a place to climb out and go back to a trail. Our route took the trail that begins here next to the bedrock. This is also where there are many use trails leading off of the trail that would provide a thoroughfare. It is also the area I flubbed up 6.5 years ago but, then, it was heading into the canyon not out. It's always a bit easier to find good routes on a descent. Nevertheless, I still had to refer to my GPS a few times. There are a few points on this part of the hike that I tried to hit.

Colorful Boulders below Red Wall

Three of those points are the three crossings of Oak Creek. The first two crossings had water flowing. The third crossing did not.

Colorful Area below Red Wall

I also wanted to take the trail that passed between the base of Potato Knoll and Oak Creek on the north side. Some use trails threaten to take hikers back up to the old Oak Creek Canyon road too soon.

Big Bedrock Break Spot (Mt. Wilson Above)

Climbers just hanging out on Rainbow Peak Wall

Other use trails threaten to take the hikers back to SR 159 at the South Oak Creek Trailhead. It was a little like threading a needle. We needed to not go too much right or left before we were able to cross Oak Creek a third time. We did, at last, make that third crossing at the correct location and climbed up to the old road. A short jog to the right brought us to the White Rock Junction. The left turn, here, put us on the one mile trail back to the Scenic Loop Exit Trailhead. Distant views of the escarpment, Wilson and Rainbow Peaks and the Calico Hills were beautiful under the clear blue sky. We hiked that last mile at a quick pace and entered the exit parking lot.

Trail toward Potato Knoll

We passed a few other hikers, today, but not many. One couple had a 200 lb. Pit Bull off leash. He excitedly ran toward us full speed but, thankfully, did not jump on us! 

Starting around Potato Knoll in Trees

Don't try this hike on a weekend unless you plan to run into a lot more people. Recreational hikers like this hike because it can be done from outside the Scenic Loop Drive by beginning at either the Exit TH or the Middle Oak Creek TH. Even the South Oak Creek TH could be used.

First Oak Creek Crossing

View back to Mt. Wilson

It was a beautiful day bordering on warm ... but not too warm! There used to be a small herd of mule deer that frequented the Potato Knoll area. But, we didn't see any wildlife on today's hike except for a few lizards! No bighorns either.

P.S. BTW, two days ago, there were 6 small baby bighorns seen with the female herd around Mouse's Tank at the Valley of Fire State Park. Too too cute! Just sayin'.

Stats: 6 miles; 700' gain; 4 hours

Trail along Oak Creek

Second Crossing of Oak Creek

Hiking Home to Cars

Jean's Epic Loop - 2/7/21

View from inside Dicey Descent

Redstone from near Jean's Saddle

Ralyn reading log book at Jean's Peak Cairn

Ascending Arch Canyon in Shadow

First of all, this is a strenuous hike! It was presented as an exploratory and we had no idea what we would run into. That said, it was very exciting to turn around every corner in an unknown wash. Would there be a dry fall? Would we have to turn back? Would we be able to detour successfully? In the end, we made it a successful hike with no missteps, bumps, or bruises! (Does a hole in the pants count?) Much was learned about which areas I had questions. Many more questions were raised! The Fearsome Foursome drove to Northshore Road's mile marker 25 trailhead parking. This is also known as the Call Box trailhead. The hike started out as it usually does for a climb to Jean's Peak; across the road and up the hill to the first canyon that is in the shadows during winter mornings.

The Arch

The canyon has a trail that climbs up through the wash and sometimes up on the right side. There is a little bit of scrambling opportunity.

Slab Ascent

About 2/3 of the way up to the saddle, there is a hefty triple arch by the right wall. We always climb up to the arch on our way. Then, after going through the arch, there is a trail that traverses up toward the saddle.

Meeting the Usual Trail

Ascending to the Cairn

Before we hit the saddle, we noticed a slab of limestone on the hillside to our right. Hey, why not! So, we climbed up the "sticky" slab and made our way to the bridge where we junctioned with the usual route. Looking up from the bridge, we saw Jean's Peak Cairn and the ascent to the 5'-6' tall stone structure. After this climb, we took our group photo and wrote in the log book. The route continued along the ridge where the high point rose a third of a mile away. The exploratory began here. We continued down the other end of the ridge where, once upon a time, we had made an ascent. The route wasn't too steep here but was very rocky. We picked our way down slab rock to slab rock as we watched three male bighorn sheep trot along on the other side of the canyon.

Fearsome Foursome on Jean's Peak

Here's where there are a few choices. Hoping we made a good choice, we reached the first wash bottom and picked a descent to the left. Our choice was the furthest of a few "gulleys."

View from Jean's Peak Ridge

Our choice gulley started better than the others and a sheep trail seemed to lead us there. Then, we started a very slow and tedious descent over rock, slab, scree and dry falls.

Hiking along Jean's Peak Ridge

Three Male Bighorn

There were two dry falls that presented a large challenge. No exposure but lots of scree and steepness. The first one came early on and then the second came as we were dropping into the deep red wash at the bottom. Once we were in the deep wash, we took a deep breath and continued down. To the left, there was a definite non-negotiable dry fall that would block anyone from using the wash to hike over to Jean's Canyon. An over-the-top route to that canyon might still be possible. We followed our deep wash where it opened out and seemed like it was clear sailing. But, as soon as we started the descent between the layered hills, it deepened again.

Descent at end of Ridge

First, there was a small narrowed area that we sidled through. Then, as our confidence built, BOOM, a non-negotiable dry fall appeared!

Target Wash Descent seen Below

The detour began by climbing out a steep hill to our left putting us up on the terrain above. The area turned out to be quite the canyon/wash junction. So, we had to cross another canyon with the use of a slab and connect with a sheep trail hanging off the edge of the hill.

Gradual Rocky Descent

Getting Closer to Target Descent

Once on this higher terrain, the route was clear all the way down to the old Arrowhead Road. There were just a few shallow washes still to contend with. On the way, we found a tortoise shell and a mylar balloon! (Those balloons may be biodegradable but, until then, they are ugly and require removing as trash.) Finally, we were on the road and we sat for our break. Not far from us, Jean's Canyon flowed out into the main wash / road. After our break, we welcomed the calm hike up Arrowhead Road on the northeast end of Pinto Valley. The road hike lasted for almost a mile. We took as many of the corner-cutting two tracks as we saw. Then, just before the wash junctioned with the Cut Wash, we took the turn to the left and wiggled to climb a trail up to the top of the low ridge in front of us.

Starting Dicey Descent

Here, there are three choices. We took the ridge trail however, you must be mindful of the cryptobiotic soil here and stay on the trail. The second choice is a favorite of Chuck H.'s. He likes the wash that begins at this left turn and parallels the ridge on its left side.

Diciest Part (Rita above)

The third option is to stay in the main wash, taking care not to turn right into the Cut Wash, bend around the next corner and follow the small trail sign up to the road on the left. This option may be the best for those that don't know the area very well.

Last Dicey Part of Descent into Deep Wash

Bottom of Last Diceyness

So, up on the ridge, we followed the trail on the top until it dropped us down to the road that had turned to cross in front of us. We turned left on the road and soon, came to the junction for Heartbreak Hill; where the road turns up to the right. Instead, we kept our straight trajectory and entered a small wash that wound around and came to a shelved dry fall of sorts. Again, we had to detour by climbing up the left side. Next, we chose to stay to the left and kept climbing to cross a bridge of sorts. We could see Jean's Saddle up in front of us. It was just a matter of bushwhacking up the hill until we found the sheep trail that led to the saddle and the trail on the other side. The views from this saddle are excellent but, today, there was a little haze over the lake.

Into the Deep Wash

The trail on the other side of the saddle leads down to Jean's Canyon at an angle leading away from the direction we wished to go. So, about half way down the hill, we turned right into an arroyo and followed it down to drop into the canyon.

Small Drop in Deep Wash

Jean's Canyon is a wonderful canyon that offers different scenarios from beginning to end. That includes this end of the wash.

On the Sheep Trail after Detour

Tortoise Shell

And, as we followed the shallow wash, we looked up to the hill on the left and saw our second small group of bighorns for the day. It is interesting how they always turn to look at us just after we turn to look at them! But, both groups of the horned animals were too far away to be very upset about our presence and they continued as if we weren't there. The canyon wiggled right and left and, near the end, we came to the last dry fall of the day. My first thought was, "Oh, no!" But, it was easily scrambled down and we were home free. We could hear the road above and knew we were near the end of the canyon. A trail exits on the left side and someone has placed a couple of cairns there to mark the route.

Arrowhead Road

The trail takes a sharp turn to the left, travels up and over the roadside terrain and drops down a bit to the road.

Starting Ridge Trail

The Call Box Trailhead can be seen from here. We crossed the road and returned to our cars.

Bushwhacking up from Small Wash to Jean's Saddle

Trail down from Jean's Saddle

Again, this is a strenuous hike and should not be attempted without proper preparations. I am beginning to know this area quite well. Still more to learn. We had a fantastic time and, I hope, the remaining Fearsome Foursome isn't as sore as I am, the next day.

Stats: <6 miles; 1500' gain; 5 hours (remember the tedious descents)

Jean's Canyon

More Bighorns

Still Smiling