White Owl Canyon Middle Loop - 11/7/22

View from High Point of Hike

Lake Mead NRA colorful Terrain

Newly washed Las Vegas Wash

Trail going high around a Curve

Winds were bringing in a cold front and rain was to arrive the next day. After looking at forecasts all over the valley, we found a pocket of calm just north of the River Mountains out at Lake Mead NRA. Five hikers parked at the old Las Vegas Marina off of Lakeshore Road which is now very far away from anywhere a boat could be launched. Recently, a "controlled flooding" had been executed in the Las Vegas Wash, a river that emanates from nearby Lake Las Vegas. This small lake is formed from springs that are in the area of The Wetlands in east Las Vegas. The "controlled flooding" did a nice job of reducing the marsh land into the river channel. There used to be a lot of water fowl using this area. I hope the birds still have a large area to use between the marina and Lake Mead. A large variety of water fowl could be seen from the Shoreline Trail at any time of the year. However, the marsh lands, if there are any, cannot be seen from there any longer.

Enjoying the Rushing Water

Las Vegas Wash around an eroded Pillar

Following the Trail between the Rocks

Another eroded "Island"

The trail has been maintained after the flooding, albeit slightly altered here and there. We followed the rock lined trail out to the slot channel where we enjoyed the heavily flowing water for a few minutes. This was the only place where the Shoreline Trail still had water to see. When we reached the area below the entrance to White Owl Canyon, we turned directly up toward the slot. There were no owls inside the deep canyon slot but there was plenty of evidence of the birds roosting on the ledges above. We hiked through the slot canyon and on through the first large round culvert that runs underneath Lakeshore Road. The canyon continues up to a second double-culvert that runs under the River Mountains Loop Trail bike path. After this, the canyon widens to continue up the gravelly wash.

Entrance to White Owl Canyon

Inside White Owl Canyon

White Owl Canyon

The Culverts Section

Trudging up the wide wash, we looked around for bighorn sheep. Sometimes they are there among neighboring peaks and ridges. But, not today. The wash narrowed a couple of times and we gladly entered to do a couple of easy scrambles up, about 8'-10' each. At the top of the second scramble, we saw the view seen in the second photo of this entry. The power lines that you can see in the photo were raised from a road they had built 80 to 90 years ago to transport electricity from Hoover Dam. The old abandoned power line roads lie all over this area and form decent hiking paths. We reached the road at the bottom of the hill in front of us and started up. It is very rocky and washed out here and there but provides a good workout to the top of the hill. The view at the hike's high point, at the top of the hill, is simply sublime. Even without much of Lake Mead showing, (it is seen off to the east), the colors of the Lake Mead NRA are mesmerizing. These colors are continued into the wide canyon below us. We sat at the top of the hill above the canyon to enjoy our break.

Ralyn & Rita approach the first Scramble

Mike and Ralyn climb the Second Scramble

The Road Up!

Taking in the View

The next section of the hike is simply following the old road all the way down to the River Mountains Loop Trail. There has been some speculation about finding a way into the large canyon below the high point and following this wash down to the bike path. It's a good idea but needs further exploration. We know, for a fact, that there is at least one large scramble down. From a distance, we could not tell if the scramble is negotiable. So, on this hike, we continued down to the 35-mile loop bike path and turned to the left. In one third of a mile, we came to a gate and turned down to the right. Crossing Lakeshore Road, we continued into a picnic area turnout.

Large Colorful Wash

The Road Down!

Following the Road all the way down to the River Mountains Bike Path

Bike Path Junction

The entrance to the picnic area is long and makes a curve to the right and left. Here, imagine a straight line and you will make out a very vague old road that continues in the desert terrain. (We passed a very tall skinny cairn that may or may not be there next time!) This led us out toward the Las Vegas Wash and the ruins of an old concrete marina overlook. Just past the ruins, we turned to the right and found our somewhat washed out trail down to the Shoreline Trail. A couple more hikers down this trail and it will be back in business! We turned around the corner to the left and arrived at the cars. It was a beautiful hike with very little wind on what was an extremely windy day in Las Vegas! Fun. Fun. Fun.

Stats: 5.5 miles; 840' gain; 3 hours

An amazing Cairn taller than Ralyn (no glue)

Old Marina Overlook Ruins

Descending back to the Trailhead

Black Mountain Peak (Boulder City) & Arch - 11/5/22

Hiking the Game Trail Ridge - Black Mountain Peak BC in Background

Arch near Black Mountain Peak BC

A Very Handsome Bighorn

Starting out from the Culvert Trail

The Fearsome Foursome were in Boulder City for a climb to Black Mountain Peak (BC). Not to be mistaken for Black Mountain (Henderson), Black Mountain Peak (BC) is situated in the River Mountains Range between River Mountain and Black Mountain Overlook Peak. Neither Mike nor I have visited this peak since 2017. It was about time to remind ourselves of its beauty, challenges and peculiarities. The hike, as it was introduced to us by Chuck H. is just over 7 miles. Today, however, we were able to shorten this to just over 6 miles. It was a slightly more challenging hike with the shorter route but it hit all the significant beauty of the area.

Connecting with the River Mountains Trail

Wash Climb to Red & Black Saddle

View back at Wash Climb

Trail to Black Mountain Overlook Peak

We started from the River Mountains Trailhead on SR 93 (Business) and began by hiking up along the culvert. This is a shorter route than the standard River Mountains Trail which we would take on our way down. We joined the official trail at the end of the culvert and hiked up into the wide canyon between Red & Black Mountains. For the purpose of shortening the hike, we climbed the wash to the Red & Black Saddle instead of taking the official trail of switchbacks that we later took for our descent. The wash is quite a workout so we took a short rest on the saddle before we turned up to the right and headed to Black Mountain Overlook Peak. It was a Saturday but the trail was very quiet at 10am! We reached the overlook as we have so many times before and barely took a moment to rest and enjoy the view. We were anxious to start down and hike out the game trail ridge that begins behind the far overlook sign. The trail is not easy footing but how many bighorns do you know that need easy footing! We followed along the ridge in an undulating way until we reached the base of Black Mountain.

Lake Mead from Trail to Overlook

Game Trail Ridge

A "No Oops Zone"

Lake Mead from Black Mountain Peak Summit

There are a couple of "No Oops Zones" in this area then the trail begins its final climb up to the peak. The trail is not in great shape but after we reached the summit and read the log book, we realized that there have, indeed, been only a few hikers that have surmounted the small peak in the last few years. The book didn't go back too many years so we didn't find our names. We took our break and photos then prepared for the descent which began from the nearby trailing ridge with a large alcove that previously held a geocache. We reached the top of the trailing ridge and began a very slow drop down a steep slope. There is life saving bedrock to help you down this slope but it is still treacherous. Finally, we were at the bottom and into the less steep descent wash. A trail led us down the brushy/rocky part of the wash until it narrowed and turned into a scramble. Carefully, we dropped down the scrambles and came to the old campsite. It is no longer being used so, now, it just appears as a junk pile. Right after the scrambles here, we found a trail that turned to the left and led us over to the next canyon where the large arch resides. 

Fearsome Foursome on Black Mountain Peak BC

The Steep Descent off of Peak

Wash Descent

Arch located in boulder Ahead

A short visit to the arch for photos and we finished scrambling down through the canyon to the floor of the valley. Quickly, we found the Bootleg Canyon Outer Caldera Bike Trail and turned left. A biker had only just pedaled by. We followed the bike trail around the top of the wide valley and came to the exit wash. The shortest way to connect the Outer Caldera Trail and the Red & Black Saddle is to scramble up through a rocky wash to reach the bike trail above and hike on up to the saddle. That's what we did then took a rest on some wooden barrier poles. Thankfully, it was time to make our descent to the trailhead! We headed down the switchbacks happily resting our legs at a pretty good clip.

A little more Scrambling

Fearsome Foursome resting at Red & Black Saddle on Short Wooden Barrier Poles

Switchbacks of River Mountains Trail

"Oh, hi there!" (smaller one)

Suddenly, we heard something somewhere clamoring down the wash just below us. There he was, a male bighorn, who stopped and turned back to face us. It was like he said, "Oh, hi there!" We were taking photos and suddenly noticed another, much larger bighorn right below us. Boy, was he a beauty! We took a lot of photos of the two then went on our way. We followed the River Mountains Trail all the way back to the car. What a great day hike! Good weather! Nice clear views! A long missed summit! And, two beautiful bighorns! For what more could you ask!

Stats: 6.3 miles; 1750' gain; 4.75 hours

"I'm eating here." (larger one)

"Still eating."  (Big Beautiful Horns)

Both Bighorns deciding to Leave - "Have a nice day!"