Stanley B Loop v Cockscomb Trail - 6/4/26

Mummy's Toe behind ridge below Cockscomb Peak

Ridge descent from Cockscomb Peak

Large pillar with a tiny Head (Griffith Peak beyond L)

Initial scramble up Stanley B Canyon

Tough hike. Essentially, a hiker begins at the Stanley B Trailhead, climb up to the Stanley B canyon fork where a claim sign is attached to a tree up high. Then, the hiker takes the right fork and climbs up past the old closed mine and continues up the canyon until they reach the ridge, or the Stanley B Saddle. Next, the hiker turns to the left and climbs a steep ridge up toward Cockscomb Peak under the nose of Mummy's Toe. This climb stops at a cairn made of a stump and rocks in the middle of the ridge. A trail passes perpendicular to this cairn on the upper side of the ridge and heads down steeply to the left. This trail balances the narrow ridge in a zigzaggy fashion on slippery terrain.

Stanley B Spring flowing along old mine Road

Claim sign on tree at trail Fork

Susan and Sue climb up through the spring water on the right Fork

Stanley B Mine Area

The ridge slowly becomes wider and finally, the trail becomes more manageable. (That was fun, wasn't it?) After passing a switchback that connects to an easier loop route, the trail makes little switchbacks down to the right side of the ridge. Please try to keep the tiny switchbacks alive by not cutting them! The trail was meticulously made down the side of the scree-filled ridge side. It is important to try to follow the trail because it is clear that some hikers have cut straight down the scree without using the trail. Therefore, the trail is very difficult to see. Folks! Having a trail is much easier for negotiations! (Example: Mary Jane Falls ... need I say more?) So, after reaching the bottom of the hill, hikers start down this canyon, or the left fork of Stanley B. A nice trail leads down this side passing a piped spring, an old broken shelter, a flat abandoned campsite, and through the spring water again. The canyon trail ends at a mine airhole opposite to the mine on the other fork side as you walk into the original fork area.

"You first", "No, you first", "No, you first."

Dead fall in Stanley B Canyon Wash

Climbing up Stanley B Canyon Wash

Climbing along rock wall on Left

If you understood all that, you have a great imagination! Now, for a slower version of the hike! Three Lady Hikers parked at the Stanley B Trailhead on Kyle Canyon Road. It is the next turnout to the right after a green sign that reads "Rainbow Subdivision" traveling up Kyle Canyon Road. The wash that flows into the trailhead has a beautiful trail that half climbs and half scrambles up through the conglomerate rock and trees. When the trail comes to a cross trail, we turned right onto the old small mine road. It is also possible to continue up the wash for some more fun scrambling. Our right turn soon came to a small rise where a trail turns to the left.

Stepping up past the next cliff Band

The climb continues to the blue sky.

Scrambling

Moving past a fallen Tree

Here, our route turned to the left and hiked up through the trees on a trail that is now very clear. It finishes at the old mine road again and we turned to the left. Hiking up the old small road, we passed a large sawed stump. Here, the terrain on the left side of the trail dropped down to the spring water that flowed from the mine above. We continued past the small stream until we reached the fork area. There is an old metal sign placed high up on a tree that reads "Leroy Mining Claim D.E. Nelson Owner." The left fork passes a piped spring inside a lot of bushes but the right fork has a trail that leads up beside the spring water flow taking hikers up a short wet hillside to the Stanley B Mine. The mine has a grate covering the entrance. After photos, the Lady Hikers continued their climb up the trail within some bushes and past some old mining equipment. We also passed another entrance to the old mine. Soon, the trail passed the bushes and began its hike / scramble up through the canyon.

Sue makes the last climb to the Saddle

Arriving at the Stanley B Saddle

Sitting log and Mummy's Toe at the Saddle

Shade under the blazed tree on the Saddle

Every year, this canyon has at least one added obstacle. Sometimes the obstacle is minimal and sometimes it is substantial. Nevertheless, hikers always find a way over, around or under. One or two of the small cliff bands that have to be climbed in the wash have become slippery with wear but, we made it up the wash slowly and methodically without any serious issues. This is kind of like one of those "How do you eat an elephant?" things. (Taking one step at a time.) Finally, we reached the saddle at the ridge that lies between Stanley B Canyon and Fletcher Canyon. The views are spectacular and we sat to take a break. We love our laid back pace! After a few minutes, we turned toward Cockscomb Peak and began a tough climb up the ridge.

View back from the start up the ridge toward Cockscomb Peak

One third of the way up to trail Junction (Cockscomb Peak above)

Kay admires boulder pinnacle and Harris Peak Beyond

Climbing steeply to junction Cairn

This is the toughest climb of the day! The things that make it worth it are the panoramic mountain views. There is a trail to follow. It is clear that someone has cut the climb short at one point. There is an advantage to taking the shorter route to the descent ridge, however, to get the full effect of the whole descent, I would suggest that you NOT take the shortcut. (Ignore the pink ribbon!) Instead, do your due diligence and climb all the way up to the cairn that lies in the middle of the ridge further up. Only then will you find the Cockscomb Peak Trail crossing the ridge. We turned left onto the trail and began a steep but very scenic descent. The ridge is narrow to begin so be careful as you pass the rock formations right and left.

Sue, Kay and Susan stand at the hike's High Point

Another view back as three Lady Hikers make the steep ridge Descent

The ridge becomes less Narrow

Heading into the scree on a vague Trail

Slowly and carefully, we took our time down some of the most slippery parts. When the ridge became wider, we passed where the shorter loop route comes in to join. We switchbacked small and large down until the trail began its journey down the right side of the ridge. Through the scree, there is a trail that is losing its purchase on the hillside. Knowing the trail, we stayed the course and easily descended to the bottom ... which is the top of the Stanley B left fork canyon. Someone has laid a nice rock-lined path there at the junction. The trail that follows as you hike down through the canyon has seen better days but it is still easy enough to follow and soon, we were passing the upper piped spring.

Trail leads through spring Water

Upper pipe Spring

Reaching the calm parts of the descent Trail

I couldn't resist!

At this piped spring, there is an old campsite that has since been ripped apart. The trail continues sidling up next to the spring flow then moves away for a while. Nearing the bottom of the left fork, the trail gives hikers a choice as to whether you hike up on a trail to the left of the water or you can hike in the water. We hiked in the water and took the offered trail that exits to the right. Another piped water spout comes out here and we hiked down to the mine's airhole. One last piped spring comes out in this vicinity among the bushes. This one used to be clearly seen but is now obscured. We hiked into the fork area, spoke to two hikers there, and continued down the trail. For variety, we used the old small mine road to finish out the hike down to the scramble wash exit. We saw one more hiker with his dog and finished the day! And, what a day it was! This is one of my favorite Spring Mountain hikes because of the challenges it presents. 

Stats: 4.5 miles; 1800' gain; 5.25 hours

The trail takes to the small stream as we near the lower Stanley B Fork.

Old Stanley B mining Road

Down through the scramble Wash

Many Views Loop - 6/1/26

North Sister from Ridge with Many Views

Lee Peak, Rocketship, and Charleston Peak

Mt. Everest (L) and Macks Peak (R) from Ridge with Many Views

South Sister Saddle

On Monday, a quiet day, I did another solo hike up to South Sister Saddle and looped around past the Ridge with Many Views. Parking at the Lee Canyon Road traffic circle, I crossed the road at the fire station and began my climb up through the Old Mill Picnic Area on a small paved road. Before the pavement ran out, a rock-lined trail veered off to the right. This is the Old Mill Trail. After another little while, a trail veered off to the right again. This trail is the South Sister Trail and it is not marked. I chose not to take photos of this scenic trail since I and many of us have hiked this trail over and over. I slowly and methodically climbed up through the ravines and made it to the South Sister Saddle landmarked by a large rotting log and, usually, a lot of wild horse manure! After a short rest, I started out the trail that leaves the saddle in a one o'clock direction. This trail takes hikers to the Ridge with Many Views, Rick's Saddle and the loop that I was hiking today.

Desert view from Ridge with Many Views

Tiny view of Black Rock at end of Sisters Ridge

Lee and Charleston Peaks

The trail is worn, however, there are a couple of places where helpful cairns are placed. After circling the top of a couple of ravines, the trail finally ends up at the top of a ridge that leads out toward the peaks. At the end of the ridge, hikers can enjoy a view of South Sister, North Sister, Macks Peak, Ricks Peak, Mt. Everest (NV), McFarland Peak and the Spring Mountain Divide. It is a 270 degree experience. Returning to the top of the ridge, I found the trail marked by a large cairn that leads hikers left over to the trail that climbs up from Ricks Saddle. This connecting trail is difficult to follow at this time. Suffice it to say, the trail should take hikers straight over to the target trail that climbs up the next ridge. Reaching this ridge trail, I sat for a short break and began the most difficult short climb of the day. The trail took me up to the top of the second phase of the South Sister Trail. From there, my route turned to the right and followed one of the two trails that lead back down to the South Sister Saddle. A return back down the large gully trail remained. A wonderful quiet day out in the woods.

Stats: 5.1 miles; 1500' gain; 3.75 hours

Tiny fossils of ancient plant Life

South Sister from top of Phase II of South Sister Trail

Lee Peak, Rocketship and Charleston Peak

Foxtail Spring & Pioneer Rock Loop - 5/30/26

Foxtail Spring and snow Drift

Pioneer Rock (foreground) and north ridge of Charleston Peak

Lee Peak resides over the Lee Canyon ski Slopes

Climbing up to the forest road on Foxtail Ridge

Spring has sprung and many hikers couldn't wait to get up to Foxtail Spring nor the Pioneer Rock Loop. I don't blame them but I guess I was waiting until I had the elevation gain at that altitude in me to go. Jerry and Cheryl invited me for their hike up there and, feeling good, we went. It was a beautiful day. We parked at the Lee Canyon Road traffic circle trailhead and started up past the Foxtail Picnic Area gate. An immediate right put us on a trail that climbed up to the top of the end of Foxtail Ridge. At first, this ridge is flat at a low elevation but after a saddle, the ridge climbs steeply up. The ridge provides gorgeous rocky views of the canyon below. But, eventually, the steepness takes over and the climb ends up on the north ridge of Charleston Peak.

Forest road on Foxtail Ridge

Jerry, Cheryl and Kay start up from Camp Foxtail

Our road exits the camp Area

Careful! Wires down within the Camp

So, we hiked happily along the flat low part all the way to the saddle where a large water tank resides. This tank provides water for most of Lee Canyon residences and businesses. On this hike, we veered to the left rather than continuing straight to hike the rocky ridge. The old Girl Scout camp that lies to the left of the ridge built steps that lead down to the main building of the camp. The camp was abandoned a few years ago and now belongs to the Forest Service. So we are able to hike through and around the old camp without problems. The dirt road that travels up on the left of the main building was our trail. It leads hikers up to Pioneer Camp, where the Pioneer Rock Loop begins, and further up to Foxtail Spring.

Looking back at Pioneer Rock from the water Station - Mummy Mountain to Right

Foxtail Ridge Spire from climb up Water Pipe Road

Side road used for last Water Pipe Road hill before Spring

Cheryl & Jerry enjoying the Climb

The road was built so that workers could lay a pipeline from the spring down to the camp. It is very steep, especially at the top, but the spring is unique and worth the climb. The three of us hiked through the aspen alley, past the pump house and on up until the road crossed a messy wash area. This is where the road gets really steep. The first section of hill is required so, up we went. At the top of this hill, we turned to the right. If you are able to follow an old road switchback, it will take you up to a road that runs parallel to the pipeline road but is a little easier to climb. This easier road never gets too far from the pipeline road and, finally, the two roads intersect. Here, we crossed the steeper pipeline road and followed an overgrown trail that led to the spring.

Cutting across to the Spring

Peekaboo!

Ice stalagmites and snowdrift at Spring

Ice Stalagmites

The spring comes out of a cliff band as seen in the photos above. There was still a large snow drift below the band and several ice stalagmites dripping down. The view behind you at the spring is of the mountains surrounding Lee Canyon Ski Slopes and on down Lee Canyon Road. After photos, we returned to the pump house almost the way we had climbed up and took our break. The difference in the route meant that we found our way down a messy trail through a wash instead of descending that awful first steep hill. Next, we decided to hike the Pioneer Rock Loop.

Bushwhacking on the Descent (Water Pipe Road above)

Washout at the Picnic Table

The Pioneer Rock Trail

Lee Canyon Ski Slopes from Pioneer Rock Trail

The Pioneer Rock Loop hasn't changed since last year. The few trees that have fallen across the trail were the same trees that have been there a couple of years. Sure would be nice if someone would maintain this trail by removing fallen trees. However, the trees simply mean that the hike becomes a small scramble! Highlights of the loop are a great view of Lee Canyon Ski Slopes and Lee Peak, Pinnacle Point where you can get a great view of the Sisters Ridge and a point where you can see the largest view of Pioneer Rock.

Pinnacle Point with South Sister

The gang on Pioneer Rock Trail with North and South Sisters

Pioneer Rock (L) from Pioneer Rock Loop

Desert Paintbrush on loop Trail

We were in no hurry so we took in the whole thing! It was nice. No one else was around. ... Until, ... when we got all the way around the loop and started back on the forest road on top of the low part of Foxtail Ridge, we were very surprised to see a wild stallion. Brown and white. Big guy! He was just standing there about 15-20' from the forest road. When we stopped to take our photos, he became what we interpreted as stressed. He started yawning and turning his head toward us showing his full mouth of teeth. We made the wise decision to not stress him any further and moved on down the road. This was an excellent and relaxing hike for this Saturday. Thanks to Jerry and Cheryl for extra photos and good company!

Stats: 5.3 miles; 1500' gain; 4.25 hours

South Sister from loop Trail

Back on the forest Road

Agitated male wild Horse