Bridge Mountain - 4/16/25

Bridge Mountain (R) from Approach

Hikers under the Bridge on Bridge Mountain

Getting There

Starting the Scramble Descent

Cheryl in her Element

Seven hikers met at the Willow Springs Picnic area to get into two 4x4s. We proceeded up Rocky Gap road. There seemed to be several spots where the road had improved since the last time we had gone up the road. But there were several spots where the road had deteriorated. It was still one of the worst roads we have driven on with our 4x4. It took us a little over one hour to drive 4.7 miles up to the Bridge Mountain trail head.

Photos: Bruno, Terri, Jerry and Cheryl

Chuck uses a nearby Tree

The Scramble Descent to Base of Peak

The Crack Climb (crack to left of indicated)

The Bridge Area

The Bridge Area

We got out and checked our tires and then started up the trail. We hiked up the trail to the crest of the limestone ridge and then started down the other side with Bridge Mountain coming into view. Approaching from the trail the view of our route up the crack to the arch seems almost impossibly vertical. We pointed out the route to the one newbie who had not climbed the mountain before.

On top of the Bridge

Climbing out of the Bridge Well

Hiking down to pass Hidden Forest (R)

Circling the Sandstone Slab

The Summit Well

We crossed from the limestone into the sandstone and took a short break at the Fern Canyon overlook. Only one hiker decided to crawl on their belly to get a close look at the drop off. The rest of us stayed well back. After the break we started following the well cairned route through the sandstone, scrambling up and down solid sandstone slabs and chutes.

The Summit Block

First part of Descent

Tinaja near the Bridge

Over the hump to gain the top of the Bridge

Crossing the Bridge

Finally, we reached the flat neck of sandstone that forms a land bridge to the base of the crack. We took another break before we continued up the crack. We took the standard route up the crack which actually goes up and out of the crack about a third of the way up onto the right hand ridge. The climbing here is all class 3. Everyone made it up safely and we climbed up the short distance to the arch. After a number of photos were taken we continued up and around the hidden forest and up the steep slabs of the peak itself. We finally reached the peak after 3 hours. We took a break and several more photos and then returned the way we came. On the way down we hiked on top of the arch. We reached the cars after 6 hours and 45 minutes. It would take us another hour to get back to Willow Springs.  ~Jerry

Stats for the hike: 6 3/4 hours, 2800 ft elevation gain, 6.6 miles.

Negotiating the Crack Descent

Climbing the Scrambles

Resting among the Scrambles

One more to Go!

South Calico Hills - 4/14/25

Grand Loop Trail Approach to Calico I

Red Rock Escarpment across the Canyon

Grand Loop Trail Junction

Balanced Boulder at South Calico Hills

Just hanging out with a friend while convalescing, we did a small hike starting at the Red Rock Visitor Center. Wondering what condition the Grand Loop Trail was in, we decided to head down toward the fee booth. I must say, someone has really been doing a great job with trail maintenance! The trail that leads down from the visitor center to the fee booth then over and up to junction with the Calico Hills Trail (i.e. part of the Grand Loop Trail) has been manicured to a tee! From the junction, we continued down to the Calico Hills wash and followed the beautiful trail all the way down past the petroglyph area. Next, we kept going on the same trail as it led out the wash toward Calico Basin Road. (Look for the deer up on the ridge above and to the left!)

Petroglyph Boulders at South Calico Hills

As we criss-crossed the wash on the trail, we came to the second rough trail up to the right and climbed to reach the ridge above. There is an old road trail that follows along the ridge. This trail took us to the trail junction where we were before we descended into the wash. Turning back to the left, we dropped down to cross the paved scenic loop road and climbed up and around the visitor center to get back to our car. It was a lovely morning. We finished just as the temperatures started getting warm. Easy and gentle, as my friend and I work on getting our hiking legs back underneath us.

Stats: 4 miles; 525' gain; 2.75hours

Calico Wash at South Calico Hills

Trail toward Bridge Point Peak at South Calico Hills

South Calico Hills above Calico Wash

White Rock Hills Peak - 4/8/25

White Rock Hills Peak

Scrambling up the South Side

Trailhead far Below

South Side

Eight hikers gathered at the Willow Springs Picnic area in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation area at 8 am. Our hike this day was to summit the high point of White Rock Hills. From a distance this doesn’t look that hard. But looks are deceiving. Even the stats for this hike don’t suggest the difficulty that we were about to endure (2.5 miles and 2,000 ft of elevation gain). Right from the parking lot we started up the southwest slopes right behind the pit toilet. The terrain here is very rugged with almost continuous class 2 scrambling over large sandstone boulders, slabs, and obstacles. We scrambled up just to the right of a rock climbing wall called “Outhouse Wall”. It gets its name from the proximity of the wall to the pit toilet near the parking lot, which, by the way was very clean. 

Helping Hands

Higher and Higher

Spotters needed Here

Another Class 3 Spot

We continued scrambling up for about an 1/8 mile and then started a traverse along the southwest face.We encountered our first class 3 obstacle of the day and the hike coordinators made sure everyone got through it safely. Shortly after this obstacle we reached a wide gully. This gully had some very steeply slanted slabs, some dry pour overs and other fun obstacles. Near the top of the gully we had to scramble up very loose rock and dirt until we hit the saddle. From the saddle we crossed the long step over class 3 obstacle safely and started our traverse around to the west side of the mountain. One hiker decided to stay here while the rest started the traverse through the piñon pine forest on the northwest side of the mountain. From the forest we went up three different gullies traversing half way up the first two. At the top of the third gully we reached the crest of the southwest ridge which we followed up to the summit. We had one more class 3 spot and the we were near the summit block with its class 3 move to get to the high point and the register.

Group photo just below the Summit

The last scramble to the Summit

Coming off the Summit

Class 3 Descent

We took a well deserved break and then took a group photo and started our way down. The temperature was not too hot but you could tell summer was coming. The humidity was high but a slight overcast helped keep things from really heating up. We started down the way we had come and picked up the hiker who stayed behind. We made our way back and we were surprised with the amount of brush and the number of ticks people were finding on themselves. We made it back and everyone was happy to be back! It had taken us just over 6 hours to go 2 1/2 miles with 2,000 ft of elevation gain. ~Jerry


Photos by Cheryl, Jerry, and Bruno

Stats: 3 miles; 2100' gain; 6 hours

Tough Stuff

Helping Hands

So glad to be Down

Skull Rock Loop - 4/1/25

She's alive! Lost in the middle of Red Rock Canyon! Oh, wait. A cairn!

 Thank you for all the well wishes. I'm slowly making my way back braving the precipitous weather out in the desert with a couple of friends. Patience is a virtue. 

Stats: 6 miles; 600' gain; 4 hours