Pinto Valley Wash - 12/2/23

MM 2.5 of Hike in Pinto Valley Wash on Old Arrowhead Highway

MM 2 of Hike in Pinto Valley Wash on Old Arrowhead Highway

View back to Hamblin Mountain Trail Junction

Great group of Hikers!

Kathy scrambles up Cottonwood Spring Dryfall

What drives your motivation to hike and explore the trails and routes of your world? With me, and probably like you, it is a few things. The color and intricacies of the desert plus historical values offered in the Pinto Valley area of Lake Mead NRA drew us back out there for an initial foray into the seasonal Lake Mead hiking. Seven club members parked at mile marker 18 on Northshore Road. We crossed the road to follow a trail that led out and down into the Pinto Valley Wash. After 1 mile of hiking up the beauty of the wide wash, we climbed up an increasingly slippery dryfall at Cottonwood Spring. (We might have to start going around!) Not too long after that, we forked to the right as we approached Razorback Ridge on the left. The Old Arrowhead Highway became clear beneath our feet and we followed it up through the narrow washes and canyons passing the junction to the Hamblin Mountain Trail and on up to the switchback that was once expertly constructed for the wagons and old cars that used to travel through here.

Right Fork at Razorback Ridge wash Junction

Hamblin Mountain Trail Junction

View up to Razorback Ridge back Side

Climb up road after Switchback

Hikers on the Old Arrowhead Highway

However, now, the switchback is in much disrepair. Water has gouged out the road and cars of any sort would not be able to negotiate it. As hikers, we are not deterred by terrain such as this. We climbed up to the road across the ruts and soon reached the high point of the hike at 2445' above sea level! Woohoo! Well, we weren't there for the climb! Although we had already hiked through a very colorful wash, before us lay an unimaginable setting of multiple desert colors. Hopefully, this setting is well portrayed in these photos. It felt like we were standing in the middle of a desert kaleidoscope! Can you imagine what the travelers of the road 100 years ago were experiencing? The Arrowhead Trail or Arrowhead Highway was the first all-weather road in the Western United States that connected Los Angeles, California with Salt Lake City, Utah by way of Las Vegas, Nevada. Built primarily during the auto trails period of the 1910s, prior to the establishment of the United States Numbered Highway System, the road was replaced in 1926 by U.S. Route 91 (US 91) and subsequently Interstate 15 (I‑15). Small portions of the route in California, Nevada (Las Vegas Boulevard) and Utah are sometimes still referred to by the name, or as Arrow Highway. ~Wikipedia

View down road from the High Point of Hike (2445')

Heading down the road from High Point

On the Old Arrowhead Highway in the Midst of Color

The Old Arrowhead Highway

Starting last curve to MM 3

We descended from the high point into a colorful low point where the road has been washed into small gullies. Next, we round a corner to the left and stopped at our MM 3 of the hike for a break. The extreme color stopped here although the normally impressive color continued. We discussed doing the Signature Rock Loop some time in the near future, but, all in all, it was a very quiet group of hikers today ... just enjoying the scenery and the 6 miles of fresh air. After a short snack break, we started our return on the same route that we came.  Initially, you have to be careful that you follow the road and not get distracted into other washes. After the climb up to that high point, it was all downhill.

MM 3 of Hike in Pinto Valley Wash on Old Arrowhead Highway 

Unnamed Mountain with pinnacle and green Streak

Portrait of Razorback Ridge and Old Arrowhead Highway

Dealing with the gully at the Switchback

Road down to the Hamblin Mountain Trail Junction

We decided we might start using another scramble to the right of the dryfall on future hikes. The original route straight up the center is becoming more slippery than ever! There is also the Old Arrowhead Highway route that detours around to the south. This detour is shown in a map below.

Such an enjoyable day. Beautiful weather. Good people.

Stats: 6 miles; 600' gain; 2.75 hours

Down the slippery Dryfall

Return down the wash to Trailhead

Climb out on Secondary Trail

Colorful cars with colorful Landscape

Middle Bird Spring Range - 11/30/23

View from Bird Spring Range toward Henderson, NV

From Bird Spring Range to North Cottonwood Valley

From Bird Spring Range to Calico Hills

The first long Climb

Six club members joined David Hardy for a hike in the Bird Spring Range. We began at the Badger Pass Trailhead located ~1/2 mile south of SR 160 on the Cottonwood Valley Road. Following the trail to the north from the parking area for approximately 1/2 mile, we then left the trail for a trailing ridge across from us to the southeast. This is a long climb of around 0.8 miles that gains a total of about 900'. As we climbed, the views of Cottonwood Valley and the Red Rock escarpment got better and better. There was a mid-point that provided a small rest with a rock outcrop. Then, the last 0.2 mile seemed even steeper. At any rate, the peak turned out to be at an elevation of near 5140' and we signed in.

The long climb Midway

Nearing the final Push

The final Push to Peak 5140

North Cottonwood Valley

After our small break, we started down the other side. Here, it was a bit steep. Then, we began hiking along the cliff edge where the views were of the east hills, the Strip and Henderson, NV. The ground at the bottom of the cliffs was about 300' down. Our hike brought us past a few small saddles and a few uprises of the range. For the most part, there was a vague trail to follow. Although we didn't see any large game animals this time, we have seen them in this area in the past. It is possible that they are the ones that have pressed the trail into the grass and rock.

Rita attacks the Final push to the Peak

From Peak 5140 to Peak 5294

Logging in on Peak 5140

Uprise on the Bird Spring Range

After passing a couple of the uprises of the terrain, we stopped for a break at the last saddle before climbing Peak 5294 that stood in front of us. Here, we could see the Las Vegas Strip casinos in the distance. After the break, we began the last big climb of the day. Refreshed, it didn't feel as difficult as the first big climb. There was another login here then we turned right to descend the trailing ridge in front of us. There was some sort of a trail on this ridge. It is the ridge we used many times in the past to ascend to the top of the Bird Spring Range ... a hike that might be called Bird Spring Range South. Down we went, heading toward a rock outcrop in the distance.

View of the Strip

Respite along Cliffs

A tiny Scramble along Cliffs

Taking a break before Peak 5294

We descended to the right (north) of the small rock outcrop and passed it. Next, a 90 degree turn to the left. This put us on the correct ridge to descend to Badger Pass. Near the pass, there is a short trail or abandoned portion of a road to finish. Without much hesitation, we decided to continue down the switchbacks to the Red Valley Trail.

Climbing toward Peak 5294

Rita leads the pack to Peak 5294

Sandstone Bluffs from Bird Spring Range

Logging in on Peak 5294

In the past, we called this Deadhorse Trail. We were mistaken. It is now called Red Valley. (Deadhorse Trail is found on the west side of the Cottonwood Valley Road.) Red Valley provides a beautiful view of the Sandstone Bluffs as you hike north through the red dirt and back to the Badger Pass Trailhead. Good hike!

Stats: 4.9 miles; 1460' gain; 3.75 hours

View toward Fossil Ridge south of Peak 5294

Reaching Badger Pass on Descent from Peak 5294

Dropping into beautiful Red Valley