Overview

This 3.27-mile loop starts in the northwest corner of Calico Basin and makes a loop around the mountain (Peak 4714) just north of Calico Basin. The route starts heading northwest across desert flats beneath red and white sandstone cliffs. The trail runs up a sideslope and gully to a saddle, drops down the boulder-filled canyon on the other side to intersect Gateway Canyon, follows Gateway Canyon all the way down to the mouth, then circles back across desert flats to the trailhead.

The boulder-filled canyon makes for interesting route finding and a bit of rock scrambling, but it can be bypassed on the slopes to the west. Gateway Canyon also has a few spots of rock scrambling to get down pour-overs.

This route runs into the La Madre Mountain Wilderness Area.

Link to area map or route map.

Watch Out

Other than the standard warnings about hiking in the desert, ...this hike is fairly safe, but there are several short, steep scrambles. Always be extra careful when you get high enough to fall and hurt yourself.

While hiking, please respect the land and the other people out there, and try to Leave No Trace of your passage. Also, even though this is a short hike, be sure to bring what you need of the 10 Essentials.

Getting to the Trailhead

This hike is located in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, about 30 minutes from town, but not on the Scenic Loop Road. Drive out West Charleston Blvd, turn right towards Calico Basin, then drive to the end of the pavement and the Sandstone Road Trailhead. Park here; this is the trailhead.

The Hike

From the trailhead (Table 2, Waypoint 01), the route runs west on the old dirt road, then turns north across the open desert following washes or an old road that becomes a well defined use-trail near the base of the red sandstone cliffs (Wpt. 03). Through this area, the vegetation is typical Mojave Desert Scrub where the dominant vegetation is composed largely of Creosote Bush and White Bursage, with a few Mojave Yucca, Spiny Menodora, and other shrubs.

The use-trail leads northwest, then north and up a steep hillside, intersecting another use-trail (Wpt. 04) that comes in from the Ash Spring area to the west.

From the trail intersection (Wpt. 04), the use-trail continues up the steep hillside and eventually follows along the edge of the gully until reaching a saddle (Wpt. 05). Views to the south out over Calico Basin, and views to the north towards the mountains, are breathtaking. Along this section, Blackbrush becomes common on the slopes, and Shrub Live Oak and Desert Almond become common in the bottom of the gully where moisture levels are somewhat higher than on the hillsides.

From the saddle (Wpt. 05), the route continues north and down into the bottom of Gateway Canyon. The route either leaves the trail at the saddle and descends the boulder-choked canyon (photos at left), or follows the use-trail a short distance farther to a low point, then descends a wash into the bottom of the canyon.

Scrambling down the boulder-choked canyon is slower, but undoubtedly more interesting. The route descends pour-overs; clambers over, under, and around enormous boulders; and winds among Shrub Live Oak thickets. This route requires a bit of minimal 3rd-class scrambling.

The various routes converge at the bottom of the canyon (Wpt. 06).

In the bottom of Gateway Canyon, the route turns and runs southeast and down the canyon. Much of the route down the canyon runs along the gravel wash, but there are rocky areas and a couple of places where enormous boulders block the canyon, forcing hikers to scramble around the edges. During winter, deep pools of water impede progress and force a bit of extra rock scrambling.

Because of the water and shade in the canyon, the vegetation is fairly lush compared to more sunny places. Canyon Live Oak are common along the wash, and there are some nice stands of Desert Willow.

Eventually the canyon widens and the wash spills out from the confining rock walls onto the open desert (Wpt. 07). The route again picks up a use-trail and runs along the west side of the wash, eventually wrapping around the edge of the sandstone mountain and starting back west towards the trailhead.

Not long after the use-trail begins curving to the west, the trail runs along a deep box canyon with interesting rock strata. It is worth taking a minute to walk over to the edge and peer into the chasm.

The route runs through a scenic field of sandstone boulders that rolled down from the cliffs above. Watch for various lizards, Rock Wrens and other birds, and rock climbers on the boulders.

Near the trailhead, which can't be seen from the use-trail because of a low ridge, multiple trails break up and run in various directions. A good landmark is the house with elevated metal water tanks opposite the trailhead parking. Near that house, the use-trail crosses a deep ravine (Wpt. 09) and climbs the other side on a bit of trail that is visible from a fair ways off.

After crossing the ravine, the trailhead (Wpt. 10) is close and visible.