Overview

The South Oak Creek Trail is a pleasant 4.3-mile partial loop that crosses Red Rock Valley to the base of Mt. Wilson, traversing a variety of desert habitats (including Blackbrush Flats, typical Mojave Desert Scrub, and Pinyon-Juniper Woodland) along the way. The hike then loops around the back of Wilson Pimple (aka Potato Knoll) to Oak Creek (with water in season), follows the Riparian Woodland downstream along the far side of Wilson Pimple, and finally loops back to meet the out-bound trail, and returns across desert flats to the trailhead.

This hike links together several old mining roads that all run out to Wilson Pimple where someone tried to open a quarry or mine. As such, there is a network of old roads and a variety of ways to get to Wilson Pimple. Then on the far side of Wilson Pimple, there is a plethora of use-trails, which can seem confusing, but again provide a variety of ways to do the loop.

Link to map or elevation profile. Link to BLM Georeference PDF map file.

The open views and many options make some general rules useful. First, always stay on main trails. Second, on the way out, always hike towards the saddle between Mt. Wilson and Wilson Pimple (always stay left). Third, behind Wilson Pimple, stay close to the base of Wilson Pimple (always stay right). Finally, after crossing the creek for the second time and running along the northeast base of Wilson Pimple, always stay left on main trails back towards the trailhead.

Watch Out

Other than the standard warnings about hiking in the desert, ...this is a safe hike, even for kids. Watch for slippery rocks along the creek when water is flowing, and watch for ice during winter. In and around desert washes, always be aware of the potential for flash floods.

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 hike is short, 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 40 minutes from town, but not on the Scenic Loop Road. Drive out West Charleston Blvd, past the entrance to and exit from the Scenic Loop Road, to the South Oak Creek Trailhead. Park here; this is the trailhead.

The Hike

From the trailhead (Table 1, Waypoint 01), the trail runs west, through the barbed-wire gate, and down the old road towards the original Red Rock Campground. Off to the left, this was a nice campground in the old days. The trail runs straight down the old road to a trail sign and heavy metal gate at the edge of Red Rock Wash (Wpt. 02). Vegetation along the wash includes desert willow and shrub live oak, which provides habitat for desert birds.

The trail runs around this gate, across Red Rock Wash, and up the old road on the other side. The road curves to the right and runs northwest out across the desert flats. Vegetation through here largely is Blackbrush with a few Buckhorn Cholla, plus a few Mojave Yucca and Joshua Trees.

The trail runs northwest on the wide dirt road to a fork (Wpt. 03). Here, the outbound loop stays left, while the returning hikers will come back on the right fork. Staying left, the trail runs up the hillside on a narrow dirt road.

The narrow old road, which is quite rocky in places, runs northwest across the desert flats until it forks (Wpt. 04). Here, the loop trail again stays left until finally rejoining the original wide dirt road (Wpt. 05) a short way ahead.

On the wide dirt road, the loop trail now runs west and starts up into an open canyon on the south side of Wilson Pimple. An old road forks right, marked by a pile of white boulders, and higher up, an old campsite on the left made for a nice place for me to live during the winter of 1980 when I was climbing in the area.

Higher in the canyon the vegetation begins to change, with Utah Juniper, Cliffrose, and Mojave Yucca becoming common.

In the canyon, several dirt roads branch off to the right, but the loop trail stays left on the main dirt road up to a saddle (Wpt. 09). At the saddle, the use-trail to Wilson Pimple Peak forks off to the right.

The loop trail crosses straight over the saddle and runs down the other side into a nice forest of Singleleaf Pinyon Pine and Utah Juniper. The trail stays out of the bottom of the canyon, running along the western hillside (the toe of Mt. Wilson). Through here, there is a maze of old roads, use-trails, and illegal walk-in campsites, but the loop trail always stay to the right on main trails.

As the trail begins to pass Wilson Pimple and the canyon below the saddle opens into Oak Creek Canyon, the trail forks (Wpt. 07). Here, the well-used Escarpment Trail stays left, while Wilson Pimple Loop Trail stays right. Both of these trails look like "main" trails.

The trail now runs down a low ridge, staying towards the base of Wilson Pimple Hill. The trail winds about and feels like it might be going in the wrong direction, but always stay right at trail junctions and begins to run east on a bench above Oak Creek.

At a not-so-obvious fork in the trail (Wpt. 08), the trail again stays right. After crossing a few rocks, the trail again becomes wide and obvious. If this trail junction is missed, hikers can use any of the next two or three side-trails to the right to easily get back on track.

With the water in the canyon and the shade from Wilson Pimple, the forest along this section is dense and diverse. Here, the usual conifers mix with Ponderosa Pine (including young trees!), Fremont's Cottonwood, Velvet Ash, and Ashy Silktassel so big they look like trees.

The trail follows Oak Creek downhill, staying on the forested bench between the creek and Wilson Pimple until the streamside bench pinches out against the hillside and forces the trail to cross Oak Creek (Wpt. 09). On the north side of the creek, the trail continues downhill on the rocky bench above the creek, staying right when side trails branch off.

Eventually the trail drops back towards the creek, passing a nice outcrop of Shinarump Conglomerate, and crosses back over Oak Creek (Wpt. 10). Now, again on the south side of the creek, the trail winds through a forested area, but eventually begins to feel as if it is wrapping back around Wilson Pimple. Several minor trails branch off through here, but the main trail remains obvious.

Heading southeast, the trail joins an old road (Wpt. 11) and continues southeast. As the trail emerges from an area of conifer trees and tall oak and tall shrubs into open desert, the old road forks (Wpt. 12).

From this point (Wpt. 12), the goal is to return to the trailhead, which is off to the southeast. Hikers can turn left and hike more directly back to the trailhead, or they can stay right and continue circling around the base of Wilson Pimple.

Staying left, the road runs east to pass right of a grove of tall, Canyon Oak trees that probably made for another nice campsite in the old days, then curves southeast to rejoin the original wide dirt road (near to Wpt. 04).

Staying right (straight), the old road wraps around the base of Wilson Pimple, staying close to the hillside around to the southeast corner of the hill. This old road reaches a T-intersection where hikers can stay right to absolutely complete the circumnavigation of Wilson Pimple and return to the original wide dirt road. Staying left returns more directly to the trailhead, returning to the original wide dirt road (near to Wpt. 05).

Returning, South Oak Creek Trail now continues southeast, but stays left at forks in the wide dirt road to maximize the amount of new terrain. Eventually, however, hikers return to the original fork in the road (Wpt. 03) and everyone returns to the trailhead (Wpt. 01) on the same trail.