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The Knoll Trail is a beautiful 1.9-mile trail with an approximate 50ft elevation gain running North/South along the base of the Rainbow Mountains between Pine Creek Canyon and Oak Creek Canyon. It’s the Southernmost of 4 trails that run along the Eastern base of the Rainbow Mountains in Red Rock Canyon. From North to South these are:
Taken together, these trails offer the experience of hiking all the way along the Eastern base of the Rainbow Mountains between the Willow Spring area and Mt. Wilson. It’s an amazing experience of both Red Rock Canyon and the Rainbow Mountains that border the West side of the Canyon. Incidentally, you can also hike far above South/North along the Upper Crest Ridgeline of the Rainbow Mountains. Both routes put you in another world, but the lower baseline route is a good place the start vs. the far longer and more challenging Upper Crest Ridgeline.
Take the Highway 159/Red Rock Canyon exit off I-215. Take a right onto the Red Rock Canyon Scenic Loop. Circle the scenic loop past the high viewpoint, Willow Spring Turnoff and Ice Box Canyon Trailhead. Park at the Pine Creek Trailhead. The Knoll Trail is a left turn about 1/2th mile into the Pine Creek Canyon Trail.
Alternately, the Knoll Trail is a right turn about 1/2th mile into the Oak Creek Trail whose trailhead is just one parking area beyond the Pine Creek Trailhead.
Knoll Trail Northern Stretch Adventure Video by 4/14/2023; Southern Stretch a Few Weeks Thereafter
I’ve divided The Knoll Trail into a Southern and Northern stretch. The shortest, most popular stretch between Oak Creek Canyon and Juniper Canyon is The Arnight Trail, which bypasses the Southern portion of The Knoll Trail. The Arnight Trail connects with the Northern portion of The Knoll Trail in the Juniper Canyon area, where The Knoll Trail then continues Northward into Pine Creek Canyon.
On the other hand, people only traverse the Southern portion of The Knoll Trail if they want to specifically experience that stretch. Otherwise, it’s out of your way if you’re heading for Rainbow Mountain or Juniper Peak. However, to its credit, the Southern stretch of The Knoll Trail is closer to the base of The Rainbow Mountains and so offers that unique experience.
From The upper (West) end of the Oak Creek Canyon Trailhead, take The Oak Creek Canyon Trail West toward Oak Creek Canyon. In about a half-mile, turn right (North) onto The Knoll Trail.
The Southern stretch of The Knoll Trail is an “orphan trail”. This refers to the fact that it is out there in isolation. Its starting point off The Oak Creek Canyon Trail is not a “trailhead hub” like so many other trailheads. There is no parking at the trailhead. And all the potential destinations along the way (Rainbow Mountain and Juniper Peak climbing destinations) can be reached more directly by other trails.
This is basically to say that the only reason you’d be on the Southern stretch of The Knoll Trail is that you specifically want to be on that stretch of trail for its own sake. If fact, while traversing that stretch I did come across a couple regular “South stretch” hikers who were shocked to see someone else on the trail!
However, the very isolation of this stretch of The Knoll Trail is a benefit. There is a rugged beauty and solitude to the Southern stretch of The Knoll Trail. And, the spectacular views are non-stop all along the way. Red Rock Canyon and its surroundings are in view from Blue Diamond Hill to the South to the La Madre Mountains cliffs to the North. To the East there are The Calico Hills, Turtlehead Peak and Damsel Peak. And, you’re skirting the impressive towering Eastern cliffs of Rainbow Mountain.
In addition, there are unique views of Mt. Wilson and its Eastern and Northern rock climbing destinations. At one point you can almost see all the way up Oak Creak Canyon to where it rises up to meet The Rainbow Mountains Upper Crest Ridgeline. There are unique views of the Southern and Eastern cliffs of Rainbow Mountain. And, there are beautiful and very unique views of the Southern cliffs of Juniper Peak along with the entire summit approach.
And all these spectacular views are yours in complete blessed solitude while you’re traversing a stretch of trail feeling as if you’ve stumbled upon a hidden, secret trail.
There are isolated trails that come with concerns about what to do if you get lost or injured. You are not likely to experience those concerns on the Southern stretch of The Knoll Trail. All along the way you can see trailheads on either end, along with the
