Oak Creek Overlook Loop | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada

Overview | Oak Creek Overlook Loop | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada

Ultra Challenging Adventure

The Oak Creek Overlook Loop is one of the most challenging adventures in the Rainbow Mountains. Oak Creek Canyon is lined with huge house-sized boulders and successive ledges to ascend at many points. You’ll be navigating thick nearly impenetrable 40ft high brush barriers and steep smooth sandstone channels. Then there’s the ascent to Oak Creek Peak. Expect some near vertical class 4 stretches along the way to Oak Creek Peak requiring a rope assist. This entire adventure is a long, marathon exertion.

Great Rewards

But the rewards are great! You’ll see non-stop spectacular views of Red Rock Canyon to the East and Lovell Canyon to the West. The canyons you’ll traverse, though difficult, are wild, rugged and beautiful. There are colorful sandstone cliffs, ledges and boulders. Pinyon Pines on the upper ridges are artfully placed like bonsai plants. Ponderosa Pine groves in the canyons are majestic. There are flowing streams and ephemeral pools with screaming Baja California Chorus Frogs. Every turn in the route offers a unique scene…it’s almost sensory overload! You’ll experience an incredible sense of reward in this day filled with life memories.

Best Timing

Stick to late April through early May for that sweet spot with cool temperatures and extended hours of light. The streams will be running and the pools filled with life. Have gear for an overnight stay along this route…you may not be able to complete it in a single day.

Directions to the Start Point | Oak Creek Overlook Loop | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada

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 nearly to the loop exit. The last trailhead turnoff is for the Oak Creek Trailhead. Take a right off the Scenic Drive Loop onto the unpaved Oak Creek Trailhead Road and travel about a half mile to the Oak Creek Trailhead.

↓ Narrative Guide ↓

Narrative Guide | Oak Creek Overlook Loop | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada

The Adventure Route

From the Oak Creek Canyon Trailhead head up the Oak Creek Canyon Trail into the entrance of Oak Creek Canyon. Where the canyon divides take the North (right) split. Continue up the North branch of Oak Creek Canyon. In about 2,000ft leave the canyon to begin the steep ascent to Oak Creek Peak. From Oak Creek Peak take the adjoining ridge to Oak Creek Overlook Peak on the Rainbow Mountains Upper Crest Ridgeline. Then traverse the Rainbow Mountains Upper Crest Ridgeline to the Rainbow Mountain saddle ridge. Descend to the saddle below toward Rainbow Wall. At the base of the saddle, at the point the ridge begins to ascend toward Rainbow Wall, descend the gully to Oak Creek Canyon’s North Branch. Once in the canyon below, continue to descend the North Branch of Oak Creek Canyon to the lower entrance of the canyon. Finally return to the Oak Creek Canyon Trailhead on the Oak Creek Canyon Trail.