Five Burros (with Eye of Sauron) - 11/3/25

Eye of Sauron rock Formation

Four of five burros in the Shade

Changing colors on Landmine Loop

Starting out the Mustang Loop from Late Night TH

The "Eye of Sauron" is a symbol of the Dark Lord's power and his all-seeing vigilance from Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, but it can be interpreted both metaphorically and literally. In the books, it represents Sauron's will and awareness, projected to those who come near the One Ring and used as an emblem on his forces' armor and banners. In contrast, the films visually depict it as a literal, fiery eye atop the tower of Barad-dûr, a more literal interpretation of the symbolic concept. AI-Overview  For more interesting fantasy about the Eye of Sauron search on Google. The "Eye of Sauron" that is found within the cliffs near Late Night Trailhead, needs an addition of a lot of imagination. But, it's fun anyway!

Diving into the Cactus Slalom

Nice joshua tree on the Cactus Slalom

Susan hikes up the Cactus Slalom

Climbing one of the Rusty Bucket Trails

Three and a half Wanderers left Late Night Trailhead to the right of the kiosk and hiked out the Mustang Loop. When the trail met a point on the Black Velvet Road, we crossed the road and joined a trail that used to lead to Rubber Ducky Yucca. (Surprise folks! All the ducks on the Joshua tree have been removed in the last few days.) So, we hiked down past the naked yucca and continued down the Cactus Slalom Trail passing the trail ramp that leads up to the left. Hiking between the large boulders that stick up in the "middle of nowhere," we eventually reached a trail that turned up to the right. This unnamed trail can be called one of the Rusty Bucket Trails. There are at least four trails that take hikers up to the top of the hill where the Eye of Sauron is located.

Amora on the Trail (Eye of Sauron hill in background)

Amora would like to share the Rock

A wider view of Eye of Sauron

 All of these Rusty Bucket Trails are interesting and fun to hike. When we reached the plateau on the top of the Rusty Bucket, we hiked to our right to the foot of the rocky cliffs above. Since I had Amora, Sue and I decided to stay at the base while Susan hiked up the steep hill and get photos of the rock formation, Eye of Sauron, photo to the left. Other photos of her excursion are seen in the collage below. We waited about twenty minutes and watched as Susan climbed up in a diagonal from left to right. The rock formation as seen from the bottom appeared like a cave with two "eyes" above it. To get the photos that she got, you have to lay down on the ground! Good job, Susan! A round of applause!

Susan's pics from the Eye and her Return

Five Burros

A break on the Rocks

Group Photo

Susan returned to Sue, Amora and I and we all returned to the trail we had left. Hiking east on the trail, we passed the Lawn Mower Trail on the right and another Rusty Bucket Trail coming in on the left. Our trail reached the small peak at the eastern end of the hill and started zigzagging down toward a canyon below. We crossed the wash and heard a snort! Yes, the Five Burros hike (previously named Four Burros) came through with four burros in the shade above with one burro gracefully walking in from the left of the cliffs. The sun was in such a bad location that none of us were sure that we got the pic. But, Sue, managed to get a couple of good shots. Later, I got all five burros from a different angle.

Hiking out of Rusty Bucket to Landmine Loop

Crossing the Black Velvet Wash

Black Velvet wash with fall Colors

Windy Peak Wash

After taking a break on the bedrock of the wash, we hiked down the trail turning left at a trail junction. This trail led us down to cross the Black Velvet / Windy Peak Wash at a beautiful bedrock crossing. Next, we turned left on the Landmine Loop. It had been a few years since I had hiked this section of the Landmine Loop. Along the wide wash, the desert willows were all yellow from the change of seasons. We came to another trail junction and turned left. This was a mistake that we had to later correct. We should have continued until the next left turn. We fixed this mistake by a little bushwhacking but, eventually, we ended up on the Cactus Slalom Trail again heading back toward the Rubber Ducky Yucca that isn't there anymore. After hiking between the large solo boulders, we found the ramp trail up and connected with the Mustang Loop to go back to the trailhead. This was a beautiful and fun hike but it was a bit too long for my dog. She slept for two days after that! 😅😥

Stats: 6.7 miles; 825' gain; 4.25 hours

Cactus Slalom Trail

Cactus Slalom Trail heading toward Trailhead

Connecting with the Mustang Loop

Just Right (Ebb 'n' Flow / Goatroper Loop) - 11/1/25

Wide view of Red Rock escarpment and Cottonwood Valley from Ebb 'n' Flow Trail

Ebb 'n' Flow Trail and Wilson Peak

Ebb 'n' Flow Trail to Red Rock Escarpment

Morning sun on escarpment as Susan and Sue
looks on from Ebb 'n' Flow

There is a bicycle trail in the hills across from Blue Diamond, NV inside the Red Rock Canyon NCA boundaries called Ebb 'n' Flow. It wiggles up through and around the contours of the desert hills that rise along the east side of SR 159. For the bikers, the trail asks that it is a one-way going downhill from Gypsum Jump Overlook. Hikers prefer to hike the trail from the bottom up, if not for anything else, so that bikers can be seen coming down in front of them. The Ebb 'n' Flow's partner trail is called Goatroper. It is an older trail that follows contours on the other side of the same ridge. These two trails can be used to make various lengths of different loops. On this hike described here, the length of the route was just right; not too long and not too short!

Ebb 'n' Flow trail weaves Around

The sun rises on Red Rock

Colors Abound

Step up or ride Down

We began from a pullout trailhead on the side of SR 159 across from the vicinity of Bonnie Springs, an old park that has since been sold to developers. Directly across from Bonnie Springs's entrance and northwest by one pullout, is a trailhead we'll name Slab Wash Trailhead. We parked and stepped over the barbed wire fence meant to keep out the wild burros of this area. (They tend to get run over if left to roam free.) Sidling up the hill on the left side of the wash, we found the Ebb 'n' Flow trail crossing our path. We turned left on the trail and began a 3.25 mile hike up the wiggly woggly trail. Views of the sunrise on the Red Rock Canyon escarpment kept our senses busy as the gradual climb led before us. The trail terrain was very interesting as desert plants and sandstone were everywhere.

Wilson Peak beyond Ebb 'n' Flow

Susan on the Ebb 'n' Flow

Ebb 'n' Flow curves around the Contour

Sue takes in the Scenery

As we reached the top of the hike's elevation, the wiggles presented a little bit steeper terrain. We topped out on a small ridge peak just before the Goatroper junction. In the distance, we saw the Gypsum Jump Overlook, the highest point of the ridge we stood on. The trail then led us down to the junction and we took a break while watching two smiling runners jog by. We thought about continuing up to the overlook but decided it was unnecessary. Our hike was long enough without it! After the break, we started down the Goatroper trail. While this trail ran in and out the contours of the ridge, the feel of the route was different than that of Ebb 'n' Flow. We were on the sunny side of the ridge, however, the trail was colder, less encompassing, with ugly views of the Blue Diamond Gypsum Mine. Ebb 'n' Flow is so all-embracing that the straight forwardness of Goatroper was noticed. It helped that we passed a runner and a biker. Smiling faces tend to warm up the world! It was a beautiful day. Why not smile! 

     There were two miles of downhill on the Goatroper trail until we reached the saddle between the valley and Canyon 6. Although there is not an official trail leading down into Canyon 6, bushwhacking was easy and a budding burro trail can be found.

Nearing the Goatroper Junction (Gypsum Jump Overlook beyond)

Goatroper slithers around the Contour

Nice place for Red Barrel Cacti to grow on Goatroper

Goatroper trail nearing Saddle

Regardless of the exact way you hike down to the canyon, the Ebb 'n' Flow trail is clearly visible climbing up out of the canyon on the other side. We reached that junction and started up the trail, happy to be back to the more interesting pathway. Intending to take the trail all the way back to the point we entered the trail, we hiked a couple more beautiful wiggles. At the next "end of ridge turnaround" we looked down canyon to see our familiar wash entrance. We couldn't see the cars yet but we knew we were at the right spot. There was discussion as to whether we would continue around the trail to our entrance point since we saw how easy it seemed to just descend to the canyon. Common sense prevailed and we started looking for a decent way to reach the canyon floor. Very soon after the "end of ridge turnaround" we saw an easy descent hill sliding down to a spot of bedrock. Dodging desert plants and rocks, we made our way down the side of the hill and found a good way to drop into the wash. There was even a 1957 survey marker that we found on the side of the wash! As it turned out, the descent into the canyon was exactly the right thing to do as the trail route would have added about a mile.

Starting up Ebb 'n' Flow from Canyon 6

Ebb 'n' Flow near bushwhack Junction

Slab Wash Descent

Kay and Sue in Slab Wash

Susan mentioned that another hike leader in town had called a hike in this canyon Slab Canyon Loop. Indeed, once we got into the canyon, we saw a lot of slab limestone as bedrock. Therefore, we have dubbed this canyon "Slab Wash." The wash is nice and easy to hike as it curves in and out in the hilled terrain. In about 1/2 mile, we came to the fence and saw our cars waiting by the road. It had been a beautiful day as the temps only reached about 75 degrees. This one's a keeper! It was Just Right!

Stats: 7 miles; 1125' gain; 4.75 hours

Susan in Slab Wash

Continuation of Slab Wash

Slab Wash junction with SR 159