Middle Oak Creek Trail in Red Rock Canyon, Nevada
The videos on this page are an example of rains and flash floods in the desert. I recorded water cascading down canyon walls in the Rainbow Mountains of Nevada. It wasn’t a major life-threatening flash flood, but enough to get an idea how quickly things can change in the desert during a storm. Route Details: 4 miles RT; 300ft elevation gain; **Mostly wilderness, few trails.** Click image or title above for more…
Mt. Wilson, Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada
Mt. Wilson, Nevada, at 7070ft elevation is the highest mountain in the Rainbow Mountain Wilderness to the West. It’s one of the more challenging Rainbow Mountains to climb due to thick brush at its base and the cliffs above. I’ve seen countless hikers staring at their smart phones trying to follow granular directions (turn this way at this rock or tree…etc.) and totally lost in an elaborate maze of rabbit trails. I myself did this in the beginning, until I finally put my smart phone down and focused on the big picture. Route details: 12 mi/ 3,757 > 7070ft; Some Trails, Mostly Wilderness. Click image or title above for more…
Pine Creek Canyon, Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada
Pine Creek Canyon is definitely worth a day or two. It is more wild, untouched and the plant life more varied and abundant than in many other areas around Red Rock Park. It’s the second to the last trailhead parking area on the Red Rock Park Scenic Loop Drive. This entire side of Red Rock Park is often overlooked by those who spent their time at the more popular Red Rock Park Visitor Center, the Calico Hills, Turtlehead Peak, upper viewpoint, Willow Springs and Ice Box Canyon. But be prepared for a maze of trails! Route details: 3 mi/ 4000 > 4,500ft; **Some Trails, Some Wilderness** Click image or title above for more…
Rainbow Mountain, Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada
Rainbow Mountain is one of the most difficult mountains to summit in the Rainbow Mountain Wilderness. Its beauty is in part due to the distinct Rainbow effect of reds and browns along with the massive vertical conical shaped cliff feature to the right: Rainbow Wall. Click image or title above for more…
Bonnie Springs Ranch | Red Rock Canyon
In mid-March of 2019, after about 45 years of operation, Bonnie Springs Ranch and it’s Old Nevada replica mining town, just West of Red Rock National Park, closed down. We feature Bonnie Springs Ranch here not because it is a hiking destination, but rather a long-time fixture in Red Rock Canyon. Click image or title above for more…
Windy Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada
Windy Peak in Nevada is the third peak from the South end of the Rainbow Mountain Wilderness and a good jumping off point to explore the Wilson Ridge which borders Red Rock Canyon NCA to the East and Lovell Canyon to the West. It’s one of the Rainbow Mountains beautiful Jurassic Era Aztec red rock frozen sand dunes similar to the famous formations in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. To stand in that place is to be surrounded by the artistic beauty of red and white rock with occasional bonsai-like pine trees. Route details: 5.2 mi RT/ 5,470ft > 6,238ft; **Mostly Good Trails, Some Class 3 Climbing** Click image or title above for more…
Griffith Crater? Exploration of a Potential Meteor Crater Below Griffith Peak, Nevada
While going over images I’d previously taken from the summit of Griffith Peak and refining the images using Photoshop, I noticed a curious formation on Sexton Ridge about a mile below Griffith Peak. There appeared to be a perfect meteor crater. From the image, the dimensions of the crater would be a near perfect circular shape, about 600ft in circumference, and about 75-150ft deep. Sexton Ridge is the ridge system that borders the West side of Lovell Canyon spanning the approximate 10-mile distance from the 11,060ft Griffith Peak to the Lovell Canyon Trailhead at about 5,500ft. Route Details: About 16 miles RT; *Some Trail, Mostly Wilderness* Click image or title above for more…
Sexton Ridge Descent from Griffith Peak | Mt Charleston Wilderness | Spring Mountains, Nevada
Sexton Ridge is rarely if ever traveled by humans in part due to the difficulty getting there. The route taken today from Griffith Peak Summit involves ascending Griffith Peak twice, beginning at the Charleston South Climb Trailhead at Cathedral Rock, ascending about 3,500ft to the 11,060ft summit of Griffith Peak, descending Sexton Ridge on the far side of Griffith Peak (I descended about 1,800ft today), then re-ascending back to the summit of Griffith Peak before heading back down to the South Climb Trailhead. Psychologically, it’s difficult to gear yourself up to ascend Griffith Peak twice!
Griffith Peak Southern Approach from Sexton Ridge Above Lovell Canyon, Nevada
Sexton Ridge is a 5-7 mile ridge South of Griffith Peak beginning at about 8,400ft and leading to the 11,060ft summit of Griffith Peak. However, it requires an additional 2,500ft ascent to get to the beginning of Sexton Ridge! The entire ridge including its access point from the summit of the Griffith Shadow Loop in Lovell Canyon is pure wilderness with some major brush navigation at points. Otherwise, this is a class 2 level climbing/scrambling experience. The views along the entire route are spectacular including Lovell Canyon, Griffith Peak, Harris Mountain and the saddle between, Potosi Mountain, Gass Peak, the Sheep Range, Las Vegas Valley and beyond, the Nopah Range, Telescope Peak, Mummy Mountain, Fletcher Peak, Lee Peak, Charleston Peak and too many more incredible points of reference to mention here! This could be a grand 2-day adventure with incredible nighttime views. Route details: 25 mi / 5000-11,060ft; *Some Trail, Mostly Wilderness* Click image or title above for more…
Griffith Peak South Approach from Lovell Canyon | Spring Mountains, Nevada
Overview at least 3 approaches to Griffith Peak summit from the Lovell Canyon Trail Trailhead. This approach to the summit will be longer than the traditional Kyle Canyon approach, with 2000ft more elevation gain, but the view is wide open all the way to Griffith Peak summit and the terrain snow-free for an additional month both earlier and later in the season! With this approach route you could be the first and last person to summit Griffith Peak this year. Click image or title above for more…