Mindful Scramblers

Rating: Long and tiring, 7.5 miles total. 90% easyish cross-country desert travel. 1100 feet of accumulated elevtion changes. Some sand, some moderate rock climbing. No scary falling exposure that can't be worked around if really necessary.

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This hike is in conjunction with Red Rock Hiking meetup.

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This is a epic desert hike performing a huge lazy loop that touches five first class rock art sites, while touring and extremely seen it part of the Nevada desert. If you'd like to step out across vast open spaces full of color, this is the place for you.

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Sorry about the early start, but this hike usually drags out due to long pauses at the rock art sites, so we need all the daylight we can get.

Note that this hike is "dog-friendly." It's the desert, so lots of stones and a bit of cactus, but there's hardly anyone else out there to create dog problems, other than at Little Finland maybe.

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This hike and the drive in to it are an epic all day adventure in a remote and stunning desert setting. It's not just about rock art! There are amazing wilderness scenes thruout the hike. Those who love the desert will really love this place, we guarantee it.

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The route starts with a fun gradual descent along a beautiful red sand dune that's usually sculpted with wind ripples, to the first rock art panel. After a good long look, we climb a couple hundred feet to cross over a highground covered with brooding isolated rock formaions, passing thru a natural window in the rock along the way.

Little Finland is next. There we low down for a while to admire the famous and bizarre rock formations, along with a couple more rock art locations.

Then we head out across a flat to Red Rock Spring. It's a wide open place where water actually flows in a barren desert, and more rock art is found nearby.

A bit later we're confronted by a 30 foot deep wash hidden below the flattish terrain, with sculpted redrock and pools found along its length.

While traveling that length we pass between enormous dark sandstone buttes that are so heavily sculpted that they rival Little Finland. Reaching the end of the wash, we'll take a short side trip to visit a butte with a large impressive arch right at the top. Because of its obscure location, very few people have ever seen it.

Next comes more flat desert tramping, finally reaching a very large white butte, and a white sand dune area surrounded by high white rock masses, which we must slog thru, à la Lawrence of Arabia.

Then we wriggle thru a little slot and climb sharply over a small hidden pass, descending directly to the vicinity of the very famous Khota Circus, the largest rock art panel in all of Nevada. Imagine a wall 50 feet long covered with animals.

As a bonus, there's another superb panel within sight. However that panel is high up on a sheer, unreachable rock face. Wonder how they did that...

Finally we trudge a long downhill mile to the start, passing yet another great rock art site known as the "Lollipops" due to the appearance of the petroglyphs.

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In short, you will find out why so many love the desert, and see oodles of rock art to boot. What's not to love? :)

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Prep: 3 big bottles of water, much food, sturdy hiking boots, and the near-mandatory camera. ;-/ Also a sweater for the end of the hike. It gets cold fast in November!

Meet: We meet in the Chevron Terrible's Gas station. Before going we'll move any cars left behind to a nearby dirt lot.

Logistics: We go south on I-15 south about 40 miles to Exit 112, the western Bunkerville exit. NOT the Falcon Ridge Parkway exit in Mesquite, which also says "Bunkerville" on the sign!

Note: Those in Mesquite may go to Lower Flat Top Exit on I-15, at the Flying J gas station, at about 6:30am Nevada time, and meet the rest of us. We'll be making a short stop there before heading out into the desert.

Then it's 24 miles of 'semi-paved' road to Whitney Pockets. The dirt road from Whitney Pockets to the Lollipops trailhead is about 8 lumpy bumpy miles. 4x4s or all-wheel SUV's are needed, at minimum.

Carpooling: Many members of this group have 4x4s. If you don't, just ask to carpool with others in the hike's comment section below. We usually take 2-3 extra.

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Notice:
Meetup organizers are not tour guides and are not park rangers. Expect the same risks and take the same precautions you would if you were hiking alone. You are solely responsible for your own safety and well-being.

By signing up for and/or attending this Meetup event, you acknowledge, understand, accept, and agree that hiking and other outdoor activities can be dangerous and can cause serious bodily injury and possibly death. The organizers of this group and current and former members cannot be held responsible or liable in any way for the actions of any participant - including you - at any event.

All attendees participate at an event at their own risk and are solely responsible for any damage to their property, and/or injury to themselves or their guests.

By signing up for and/or attending this Meetup event, you affirm that you understand this disclaimer and that you knowingly and voluntarily agree not to bring any type of claim arising out of or related to this Meetup event against the organizers of this Meetup group.