Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Short, Spectacular 4-6-Mile Loop That Packs a Lot of Bang for the Buck! Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Pink Goblin Loop Circles the Base of the Hill to the Left of Kraft Mountain Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Begin by Heading Up Hell Hill Through Pink Goblin Pass on Kraft Mt. Loop Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada This Rock Formation is Possibly the Pink Goblin? Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Pink Goblin Pass Summit Just Ahead Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Turtlehead Peak Seen from Pink Goblin Pass Summit Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Kraft Mt. (right); Brownstone Ridge (left) Divides Calico & Brownstone Basins Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada The Hill We're Circling Seen from Pink Goblin Pass Summit Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Beautiful Swirling Calico Rock Formation Along North Side of Kraft Mt. Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Swirls Along North Side of Kraft Mt. Toward Gateway Canyon Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Larger View Toward Gateway Canyon and Brownstone Ridge Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Head Up Gateway Canyon. Will Turn Left Up Rattlesnake Gulch Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Rattlesnake Gulch Will Be Just Before Tall Hill Ahead on Left Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Beautiful Lone Pinyon Pine in Gateway Canyon Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Note Color Variety from Pinecones to Pine Needles to Blue Sky Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Desert Holly Tree Ahead, Gateway Canyon Narrowing Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Just One of Many Dry Falls in Gateway Canyon. Finely Polished Limestone Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada The Many Polished Dry Falls Become Higher. Light Class 3 Rock Scrambling. Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Approaching Left Turn Up Rattlesnake Gulch Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Entering Rattlesnake Gulch Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Light Rock Scrambling, More Like High Steps. Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Rattlesnake Gulch Meets Rattlesnake Trail Near Ash Canyon Upper Entrance. Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada View Back Down Rattlesnake Trail and Gulch to Gateway Canyon. Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Entering Spectacular Sculpted Sandstone Entrance to Upper Ash Canyon Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Entering Spectacular Sculpted Sandstone Entrance to Upper Ash Canyon Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Incredible Combination of Aztec Red Sandstone Formations and Scattered Plants Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Aztec Red Sculpted Sandstone from Ancient Jurassic Era Frozen Sand Dunes Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Like Passing Through an Elaborate Bonsai Garden Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada View Back Through the Sandstone Corridor Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Perfect Bonsai Pine in This Setting! Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Scene Only Missing the Road Runner Being Chased by Wiley Coyote! Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Ash Canyon Trail Appears Ahead Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Options: Descend to Right or Ascend to Left of White Sandstone Formation Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Chose to Ascend to Left. Main Trail Was Probably to the Right! Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Steep Descent, But Not Too Difficult. Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Can You See the Rock Climbers on the Cliffs Ahead? Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Closer View of Rock Climbers. Descending by Rope to Openings Below. Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Pretty Amazing Feat! Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Strategy: Descend Along Upper Right Side of Canyon to Avoid Boulders Below. Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada View Back Up Canyon to White Sandstone Area Just Traversed. Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Continuing to Descend Along Upper Right Side of Canyon Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Soon Will Need to Descend to Boulders Below Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Now Passing Under a Huge Boulder in Canyon Below Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Canyon's Lower Opening Ahead. Will Exit onto Low Ridge to Left Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada View Back Up the Boulder Stretch Just Bypassed (above to right). Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada View Up Ash Canyon from Near Lower Opening Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Rock Climbers Now Descending Through the Canyon Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada View Back Up Ash Canyon. Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Exiting onto the Ridge Ahead to the Left Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Return Through Ash Spring to Kraft Mt. Trailhead Parking Area Great Introduction to Southwest Wilderness Navigation | Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Pink Goblin Loop Circles the Base of the Hill to the Left of Kraft Mountain | Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Begin by Heading Up Hell Hill Through Pink Goblin Pass on Kraft Mt. Loop | Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada This Rock Formation is Possibly the Pink Goblin | Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Pink Goblin Pass Summit Just Ahead | Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Turtlehead Peak Seen from Pink Goblin Pass Summit | Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Kraft Mt. (right); Brownstone Ridge (left) Divides Calico & Brownstone Basins | Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada The Hill We're Circling Seen from Pink Goblin Pass Summit | Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Beautiful Swirling Calico Rock Formation Along North Side of Kraft Mt. | Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada View Along North Side of Kraft Mt. Down into Gateway Canyon | Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Larger View Toward Gateway Canyon and Brownstone Ridge | Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Head Up Gateway Canyon. Left Turn Before Hill Left of Turtlehead Peak | Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Rattlesnake Gulch Will Be Just Before Tall Hill Ahead on Left | Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Beautiful Lone Pinyon Pine in Gateway Canyon | Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Note Color Variety from Pinecones to Pine Needles to Blue Sky | Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Desert Holly Tree Ahead, Gateway Canyon Narrowing | Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Just One of Many Dry Falls in Gateway Canyon. Note the Finely Polished Limestone | Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada The Many Polished Dry Falls Become Higher. Light Class 3 Rock Scrambling. | Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Approaching Left Turn Up Rattlesnake Gulch | Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Entering Rattlesnake Gulch | Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Light Rock Scrambling, More Like High Steps. | Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Rattlesnake Gulch Meets Rattlesnake Trail Near Ash Canyon Upper Entrance. | Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada View Back Down Rattlesnake Trail and Gulch to Gateway Canyon. | Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Entering Spectacular Sculpted Sandstone Entrance to Upper Ash Canyon | Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Combination of Aztec Red Sandstone Formations and Scattered Plants is Incredible | Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Aztec Red Sculpted Sandstone from Ancient Jurassic Era Frozen Sand Dunes | Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Like Passing Through an Elaborate Bonsai Garden | Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada View Back Through the Sandstone Corridor | Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Perfect Bonsai Pine in This Setting | Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Scene Only Missing the Road Runner Being Chased by Wiley Coyote! | Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Ash Canyon Trail Appears Ahead | Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Options: Descend to Right or Ascend to Left of White Sandstone Formation | Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Chose to Ascend to Left. Main Trail Was Probably to the Right! | Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Steep Descent, But Not Too Difficult. | Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Can You See the Rock Climbers on the Cliffs Ahead? | Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Closer View of Rock Climbers. Descending by Rope to Openings Below. | Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Pretty Amazing Feat! | Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Strategy: Descend Along Upper Right Side of Canyon to Avoid Boulders Below. | Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada View Back Up Canyon to White Sandstone Area Just Traversed. | Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Continuing to Descend Along Upper Right Side of Canyon | Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Soon Will Need to Descend to Boulders Below | Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Now Passing Under a Huge Boulder in Canyon Below | Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Canyon's Lower Opening Ahead. Will Exit onto Low Ridge to Left | Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada View Back Up the Boulder Stretch Just Bypassed (above to right). Many Boulder Bypass Routes. | Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada View Up Ash Canyon from Near Lower Opening | Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Rock Climbers Now Descending Through the Canyon | Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada View Back Up Ash Canyon. | Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Exiting onto the Ridge Ahead to the Left | Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada Return Through Ash Spring to Kraft Mt. Trailhead Parking Area | Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada

Adventure Route Video

Sights and Sounds of Water in Ash Spring

Overview | Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada

I know of no other 4-6-mile loop that delivers such variety and challenge as this Pink Goblin Loop. Prepare to traverse three wild canyons, experience some light bouldering challenges, ascend a huge hill and take in big spectacular scenes. And all this is just a few miles from metropolitan Las Vegas!

Route of the Pink Goblin Loop

Beginning at the Kraft Mountain trailhead in Nevada’s beautiful Calico Basin you’ll ascend “Hell Hill” to the summit of the Pink Goblin Pass. From there, descend to Gateway Canyon. After navigating a few easy polished limestone dry falls in Gateway Canyon take a left to ascend a gully I call “Rattlesnake Gulch“, navigating a few additional beautiful but easy limestone dry falls. Near the summit of Rattlesnake Gulch you’ll connect with the upper Rattlesnake Trail.

At the summit of Rattlesnake Gulch, take a left into the upper opening of Ash Canyon on the Ash Canyon Trail. Traverse a variety of artistically sculpted sandstone formations along with some light bouldering and trail finding as you descend beautiful, wild Ash Canyon. You’ll experience spectacular views down the entire length of Ash Canyon to the Calico Basin below and distant points beyond. You might even see rock climbers scaling the impossibly high, vertical cliffs above. Finally, emerge from the lower opening of Ash Canyon for a short, easy walk back to your starting point at the Kraft Mountain trailhead.

Skills You Will Need for the Pink Goblin Loop

This entire experience requires no more than some light class 3 (need to use both hands and feet) rock scrambling in a few places along with picking out the best route during a few times when the trail disappears. However, all along the way there are large reference points to guide you. In all, this is a great introductory experience to wilderness navigation is the Southwest U.S. In addition, this is a full body workout. But again, it’s nothing extreme. 

Spectacular Views Along the Pink Goblin Loop

Here are a few of the spectacular reference points you will see along the way:

Best Time of Year to Traverse the Pink Goblin Loop

Stick to the Fall through Spring months. Summer temperatures can reach the upper 90s and beyond. Make sure the last rain was over 24 hours ago as the sandstone in Ash Canyon gets very slick when wet. Definitely avoid snow or icy conditions!

Trailhead Directions | Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada

From Hwy 215 in the Summerlin area, take the Charleston Blvd exit, turn upward (West) on Charleston Blvd toward the mountains. Charleston Blvd becomes Blue Diamond Rd. (159) as you leave the city. Take the Calico Basin exit off 159 (right turn) onto Calico Basin Road. Continue on Calico Basin Road to the end of the road. On the way you will pass the Red Springs Desert Oasis parking area as the road veers right and becomes Calico Drive, then Sandstone Drive. Sandstone Drive ends with the Kraft Mountain parking lot, on the left.

Adventure Route Description | Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada

Get Your Bearings!

Get your bearings at the Kraft Mountain Trailhead where you can see the entire Pink Goblin Loop route. The route basically circles the large hill to the left (West) of Kraft Mountain.

From the trailhead you can see a saddle pass between Kraft Mountain and the large hill just to the left. That saddle is the summit of Pink Goblin Pass. Further to the left, just to the left of the large hill is another saddle. That saddle is the upper opening of Ash Canyon. You’ll be ascending through Pink Goblin Pass, then descending the far side of Pink Goblin Pass to take a left around the back side of the large hill. You’ll emerge at the saddle on the left side of the large hill, descend the canyon there (Ash Canyon) and return to your starting point at the Kraft Mountain trailhead.

So, the route is pretty simple. However, keep the big picture in mind: That large hill you’ll be circling. When the trail disappears a few times along the way, just keep circling the large hill to the left (West) of Kraft Mountain. The trail will periodically reappear and you’ll stay on track!

Kraft Mountain Trailhead to Pink Goblin Pass

You’re beginning on the Kraft Mountain Loop trail as if you’re taking the loop in a clockwise direction around Kraft Mountain. Follow the signs for the Kraft Mountain Loop until you reach the summit of Pink Goblin Pass. The trail is well defined and the ascent to the pass is called “Hell Hill“. The hill is not that bad but the name if fun. You can say, “I survived Hell Hill“! As you’re ascending Hell Hill, that huge sandstone formation to your right is the Pink Goblin. Yes, like seeing shapes in clouds, you have to work at it…but eventually you’ll figure out the shape of a goblin…gargoyle…something scary!

Turn around often on the way up Hell Hill to see expanding views of the Calico Basin and beyond, along with beautiful calico sandstone formations to your right along Kraft Mountain.

At Pink Goblin Pass, the summit of Hell Hill, expansive views open up ahead. There’s Turtlehead Peak straight ahead with a backdrop of the La Madre Mountains ridgeline, Gateway Canyon below slightly to the right, and a huge sandstone ridgeline to the right (East) of Kraft Mountain. That ridgeline is much larger than Kraft Mountain!

Pink Goblin Pass to Gateway Canyon and Rattlesnake Gulch

As you begin descending the far side of Pink Goblin Pass, take time to notice the incredibly beautiful sandstone sculptures to your right! About mid-way to the base of Gateway Canyon there’s an unmarked trail split to the right. Look closely or you could miss it. That’s the continuation of the Kraft Mountain Loop around Kraft Mountain. You won’t take it today, but it’s good to know where it is. You’re continuing straight as you leave the Kraft Mountain Loop.

As you continue to descend, the wide limestone gravel wash at the base of Gateway Canyon appears. Now watch carefully as you approach the wash. There are two very faint unmarked trail splits to your left. These are a streamlined connection, actually the beginning of the Rattlesnake Trail that will take you around the back side of the large hill to the left (West) of Kraft Mountain and on up to the opening of Ash Canyon

Interesting Variation in the Pink Goblin Loop Route

On this day (and in the video on this page) I took an interesting, slightly more challenging variation of the route by continuing down to the Gateway Canyon Wash and taking a left to begin ascending that wash. It turned out to be a slightly wider loop, but still, basically the same Pink Goblin Loop.

As you ascend the beautiful Gateway Canyon Wash, the wash begins to narrow. Artistic limestone channels appear, carved out by the prior action of water rushing through the canyon. There are a few low, slightly challenging, interesting dry falls to ascend. Keep your sights on a large hill ahead and to the left. As you near that hill, you’ll find a gully branching off to the left along the base of the hill. I call that gully “Rattlesnake Gulch” and it will eventually connect with the upper portion of the Rattlesnake Trail near the upper opening of Ash Canyon

Rattlesnake Gulch is narrow and there are a few shallow artistic dry falls along to way to add some interest. Eventually you’ll see a line of calico sandstone cliffs ahead. That line of cliffs marks the place where you’ll turn left to enter Ash Canyon. As you approach those cliffs two things will happen: Rattlesnake Gulch will become clogged with brush ahead and there will be a left-splitting trail leading you out of the gulch. In around 100 feet that trail connects with the Rattlesnake Trail!

Upper Ash Canyon

About 500-1,000 feet later, the Rattlesnake Trail intersects with the unmarked left-splitting Ash Canyon Trail, the surface of which is red from the surrounding Aztec red sandstone. Soon the Ash Canyon trail begins passing through beautiful Aztec red sandstone sculpted pillars and shapes dotted with bonsai-like pines, desert holly, yucca, cacti and other plants. It’s like the garden we all try to create, only bigger, more beautiful and totally natural!

In a bit you’ll emerge from this Aztec red sandstone bonsai garden area to see a white sandstone hill ahead. This hill marks the end of what I refer to as Upper Ash Canyon. Through upper Ash Canyon you’ve been on the nicely defined Ash Canyon Trail. You can circle to the right of the white sandstone hill. This, I believe, is the continuation of the trail. In the video I circled to the left of the hill. Same result, but the left route is a bit steeper with a light class 3 rock scrambling descent on the other side of the hill. Both routes work. One advantage of the steeper left route is that is gives a higher, larger perspective of mid and lower Ash Canyon below and makes it possible to create your overall Ash Canyon navigation strategy.

Mid Ash Canyon

From the high perspective on the white sandstone hill I created an Ash Canyon strategy that involved keeping to the upper right (West) side of the canyon below as long as possible in order to avoid the brush, boulders and ledges in the base of the canyon. You’ll see this route in the video on this page. Here’s the thing: You WILL lose the trail a number of times as you descend Ash Canyon. In fact, the trail will disappear! Not to worry. Stick to your overall Ash Canyon strategy and the trail will conveniently reappear at times. You actually don’t need the trail.

After descending to the base of the white sandstone hill, I crossed over to the right (West) side of Ash Canyon and stayed high along the red sandstone at the base of the cliffs. There was actually a faint trail up there, but there are faint occasional trails everywhere in Ash Canyon! Staying high did indeed help me bypass a stretch of boulders, brush and ledges at the base of the canyon. However, there came a point where the upper route gave out, making it necessary to descend to the base of the canyon. Huge boulders…even a short tunnel down there.

Mid to Lower Ash Canyon

The fortunate thing is that whenever I reached a ledge, there was a brief bypass trail to the left above the wash. The remainder of the trip was basically a walk, though on brief, steep loose rock bypass stretches in places. It was just a matter of weaving around all obstacles. Interesting, challenging, beautiful! Just know that you do not need to do any heroic vertical ledge climbing. If you find yourself facing a vertical barrier, just look around to the right or left (mostly the left) for a walking route around the barrier.

Ash Canyon Lower Opening Back to the Kraft Mountain Trailhead

As you descend mid and lower Ash Canyon, notice a low flat ridge below the lower opening of the canyon on the left. You’ll even see a trail along that ridge. As you approach that lower canyon opening and ridge, a trail will appear that easily leads you above the canyon wash and up onto that ridge. Once on the ridge above the canyon you’ll see the Kraft Mountain trailhead ahead to the left. A nice trail will take you back to your starting point at the Kraft Mountain Trailhead!

Pink Goblin Loop Summary

Congratulations! You’ve completed the fascinating, challenging Pink Goblin Loop! It’s quite an achievement and in the process you’ve created life memories during this blessed wilderness immersion!

Summary
Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada
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Pink Goblin Loop | Calico Basin, Nevada
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This short 3-4-mile loop in Nevada's Calico Basin packs a lot of bang for the buck. You'll ascend Kraft Mountain's Hell Hill, circle West on the Rattlesnake Trail, and finally descend spectacular Ash Canyon.
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LasVegasAreaTrails.com
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