Red Rocks Cragging & Hiking: Calico Basin (The Fox, Shit Howdy, Winter Heat Wall, Atman), Calico Hills (High Scalin’, Fear and Loathing, Yaak Crack, A Day in the Life, Sweet Pain), Mud Springs Wing (Once Upon a Time, The Schwa, Man of the People, Schwalli, Spirit Air), Willow Springs (Hidden Falls Area, N’Plus Ultra Area), Ice Box Canyon hike, North Peak hike, Turtlehead Peak hike, Calico Tanks hike, Calico Hills hike, Kraft Mountain hike, Bridge Mountain hike, Petroglyph Wall hike, Spring Mountains hike, White Rock Mountain + Keystone Thrust hike

Red Rocks Cragging & Hiking (i.e. days between bigger climbs at Red Rocks)

Cragging:
- Calico Basin
- Calico Hills
- Mud Springs Wing
- Willow Springs

Hiking:
- Icebox Canyon
- North Peak
- Turtlehead Peak
- Calico Tanks
- Calico Hills
- Kraft Mountain
- Bridge Mountain
- Petroglyph Wall
- White Rock Mountain + Keystone Thrust
- Spring Mountains

Region: Nevada
Elev: ~4,000-7,200 ft
Rock type: Sandstone
Type: 
Date(s): 2015(x3 days), 2019(x2 days), 2025(x15 days)
Partner(s): Jorge Urioste, Joanne Urioste, Danny Urioste, Mili Hortezula, Sarah Inwood, Kyle Willis (2015); DR, Marty Abegg, Sue Abegg (2019); Joanne Urioste, Sherri Lewis, Diane, solo, Nate Beckwith, Logan Cobb (2025)

This page documents some of my random days of cragging or hiking in Red Rocks, usually on a trip involving bigger objectives. At the bottom of the page, I keep a list of the climbs I've done in these areas.

Photos

CLICK THE DROP DOWN TO SEE PHOTOS FROM EACH AREA

Calico Basin has a wide variety of short trad and sport climbs. Access is via Calico Basin Road, about 2 miles before you get to the main scenic loop road.

Photos

SOME RANDOM PHOTOS FROM CRAGGING IN CALICO BASIN


More climbing fun!
More climbing fun!
Date: September 8, 2015 (Tue) & April 26, 2025 (Sat)
Partner: Danny Urioste (2015) & Logan Cobb (2025)
Climbed: Red Springs Area: The Fox (5.10d) (2015 & 2025) & Shit Howdy (5.10d) (2025)
First & fourth times climbing in Calico Basin
September 2015 photos
A fun few hours with Danny climbing The Fox (5.10d), an Indian-creek style right facing corner a few hundred feet above the desert floor. A fantastic pitch on perfect desert varnish. Photos from this climb are on my Red Rocks Sept 2015 trip report. The overlay below was made for my 2015 trip report and updated in 2025 to reflect the new anchors.
April 2025 photos
Ten years later, I climbed The Fox (5.10d) again, this time with Danny's friend Logan. We both led it. The bolted anchor was nice to allow easy rappelling from the top. We still had time afterward, so we hiked over to Shit Howdy (5.10d), which mountainproject said was a fun diagonaling crack on a shady wall several hundred feet above Cannibal Crag. Logan led it first, then I led it on his gear, then he led it again, then I followed to clean the gear. Thanks Logan for the fun morning out - let's try to make those Creek plans happen!

More climbing fun!
More climbing fun!
Date: September 10, 2015 (Thu)
Partners: Sarah Inwood, Kyle Willis
Climbed: Winter Heat Wall: Couldn't be Schmooter (5.9), Winter Heat (5.11b), High Class Hoe (5.10a); Yin & Yang Cliff: Atman (5.10a)
Second time climbing in Calico Basin
Winter Heat Wall: A few of the popular trad/toprope routes on the varnished face of the north-facing Winter Heat Wall.
Atman: A classic shorty up a splitter crack. Photos from this climb are on my Red Rocks Sept 2015 trip report.

More climbing fun!
More climbing fun!
Date: April 21, 2025 (Mon)
Partner: Nate Beckwith
Climbed: Cannibal Crag: Elbows of Mac and Ronnie (5.11b, 45'), Have a Beer with Fear (5.11c, 30'), What's Eating You (5.10a, 45'), Ma and Pa in Kettle (5.7 R, 50'), Mac and Ronnie in Cheese (5.9+, 40', Steph only), A Man in Every Pot (5.8+, 40'), Caustic (5.11b, 50'), Save Your Heart and Eat It Later (5.12a, 60', Nate only), Baseboy Direct (5.11a, 60')
Third time climbing in Calico Basin
We spent the day cragging at Cannibal Crag, chasing shade and climbing first on the west side and then on the east side. It was quite crowded. We climbed 10 pitches each so it was a good mileage day. Our favorite routes we Caustic (5.11b) and Baseboy Direct (5.11a). The climbing was crimpy and of soft sandstone, not as good as the rock we had been climbing at The Gallery area the previous few days of climbing.

The Calico Hills are the low formations of red, pink, and white rock near the start of the scenic drive. There are several short routes here.

Photos

SOME RANDOM PHOTOS FROM CRAGGING IN CALICO HILLS


More climbing fun!
More climbing fun!
Date: April 12, 2025 (Sat)
Partner: Joanne Urioste
Climbed: Blister in the Sun Area: High Scalin' (5.9, 3p)
First time climbing in Calico Hills
Joanne and I spent the morning climbing High Scalin' (5.9, 3p). This route climbs a long, right-slanting crack up the center of Blister in the Sun. It was perfect temperatures, cloudy and 70. I had a great time catching up with Joanne and doing some climbing. So fun and good for the soul!

More climbing fun!
More climbing fun!
Dates: April 17&18&20&23&25, 2025 (Thu&Fri&Sun&Wed&Fri)
Partner: Nate Beckwith
Climbed: Wall of Confusion: Fear and Loathing (5.12a, 60'), American Sportsman (5.10c, 40'), The Runway (5.10c, 40'), Promises in the Dark (12b, 55'); The Gallery: Yaak Crack (5.11c, 50'), Minstrel in the Gallery (5.12b/c, 55'), A Day in the Life (5.11c, 60'), Gridlock (5.11a, 45'), The Goode Dude Climb (5.7, 40'), Sport Climbing is Neither (5.9, 25'), Bucks Muscle World (5.9, 25'), Gelatin Pooch (5.10a, 30'), Pump First, Pay Later (5.10b, 35'), Running Amuck (5.10c, 40'); Sweet Pain Wall: Glitter Gulch (5.11a, 50'), Sweet Pain (5.11d, 35'), The Gambler (5.11a, 40'), Slave to the Grind (5.11b, 50'), Sour Pain (5.11b,55')
Second/third/fourth/fifth/sixth days climbing in Calico Hills
Nate and I were on a weeklong stretch of sport climbing between bigger objectives. For the first few days, we climbed up at the Wall of Confusion and The Gallery, one of the more popular and stacked areas of 5.11 and 5.12 climbs. A few good days of strength-building steep sport climbing!

We spent most of the first day projecting one of Red Rock's best 12a sport climbs, Fear and Loathing. Nate redpointed it on his third try (nice job!), and I went up it four times and figured out all of the moves bolt to bolt (thanks Nate for the encouragement to take falls and figure out the 12a on lead rather than wimp stick my way up it). We then finished the day with two 5.10c's, both of each leading both.
The second day I worked some more on Fear and Loathing, eventually getting it to one hang. We then finished the day on a 3-star 11c called Yaak Crack. I led it three times, but I had expended enough of myself on the 12a that I was unable to make a redpoint. We'll be back.
After a rest day we returned for our third day up at Wall of Confusion and The Gallery. I promptly redpointed Yaak Crack and Fear and Loathing. My first 12a redpoint! I attribute it to my lucky Snoopy & Woodstock socks. We then played around on a couple of hard 12's (Minstrel in the Gallery and Promises in the Dark) Nate had his eye on.
After checking out another area (Calico Basin) and being less impressed, we decided to return to The Gallery area. We climbed at The Gallery in the morning, and when the sun arrived we moved to Sweet Pain Wall, which receives afternoon shade.  I led 10 5.11 pitches (3x A Day in the Life, 3x Gridlock, 2x Sweet Pain, 1x Glitter Gulch, 1x The Gambler), onsighting a couple of 11a's and redpointing an 11d. Must be the lucky socks. Nate played around on a 12c at The Gallery and blasted up the rest of the 5.11 pitches. It was another great day of climbing!
We were nearing the end of our three weeks in Red Rocks. We planned to do one more day of sport climbing, and then cap off the trip with a big route. We decided to do another Gallery + Sweet Pain Wall day. Another day of 5.11 redpoints and onsights for me, exciting.

The Mud Spring Wing is a series of south- and east-facing walls that sit on the southeast corner of Black Velvet Peak at the entrance to Mud Spring Canyon.

Photos

SOME RANDOM PHOTOS FROM CRAGGING AT MUD SPRINGS WING


More climbing fun!
More climbing fun!
Date: March 28, 2019 (Thu)
Partner: DR
Climbed: Once Upon a Time (5.10a, 2p), The Schwa (5.10d, 2p), Schwalli (5.9, 80'), Man of the People (5.11a, 110'), Spirit Air (5.11cm 125')
First time climbing at Mud Springs Wing
Mud Springs Wing is the heavily-varnished crags off the north side of the entrance to Mud Springs Canyon. Good rock, warm, and no crowds. Photos from this day of cragging are on my Red Rocks March 2019 trip report.

Willow Springs is located roughly seven miles (about halfway) along the loop road. The area hosts several single pitch traditional climbs of very good quality. The approaches are generally short and easy. One can find climbs ranging from 5.6 to 5.11 in the area. Some of the climbs are shaded most of the year making them a good early outing to beat the summer heat. The parking is limited and it can get crowded on weekends with good weather.

Photos

SOME RANDOM PHOTOS FROM CRAGGING at WILLOW SPRINGS


More climbing fun!
More climbing fun!
Date: September 7, 2015 (Mon)
Partners: Jorge Urioste, Joanne Urioste, Danny Urioste, Mili Hortezula
Climbed: Hidden Falls Area: Black Track (5.9), Left Out (5.10d), Big Foot (5.10a)
First time climbing in Willow Springs
A day of cragging with the Uriostes at Hidden Falls Area. Photos from this climb are on my Red Rocks Sept 2015 trip report.

More climbing fun!
More climbing fun!
Date: April 6, 2025 (Sun)
Partners: Joanne Urioste, Sherri Lewis, Diane
Climbed: N'Plus Ultra Area: Honey Combs (5.5), Lucky Charms (5.7), Double Pin-etration (5.7+), Unknown Face (5.10+)
Second time climbing in Willow Springs
A few hours of cragging with Joanne and Sherri and Diane at N'Plus Ultra Area. It was such a great time! After cragging, I hiked up to the top of North Peak (~12 miles, 2700' gain/loss). This hike starts from Willow Springs so it was a convenient choice. See the next section ("Hikes") for photos.

There are several great hikes to do in Red Rocks.

Photos

SOME PHOTOS from a few hikes i've done in red rocks


More climbing fun!
More climbing fun!
Date: March 26, 2019 (Tue) & April 14, 2025 (Mon)
Partners: Marty Abegg, Sue Abegg (2019) and solo (2025)
Stats: ~2.2 miles, 500' gain/loss
Ice Box Canyon Hike (Red Rocks)
The trail takes you through a cool, shady box canyon with seasonal waterfalls (December-April) in the heart of Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. Hiked this with my parents when I met up with them for a day during a climbing road trip. Photos from this hike are on my Red Rocks March 2019 trip report. I hiked this again in April 2025.
Hike info on redrockcanyonlv.org.
March 2019 photos
April 2025 photos

More climbing fun!
More climbing fun!
Date: April 6, 2025 (Sun)
Partner: solo
Stats: ~12 miles, 2700' gain/loss
North Peak Hike (Red Rocks)
One of the more strenuous mountain trails, this hike takes you through a pinyon-juniper forest and brings you to the top of the Red Rock Escarpment. After cragging with Joanne and Sherri and Diane for a few hours (see previous section for Willow Springs), I hiked up to the top of North Peak (~12 miles, 2700' gain/loss). This hike starts from Willow Springs so it was a convenient choice. I parked about a mile up the dirt road from Willow Springs (as far as my non-jeep could make it) and hiked the rest, making a lollipop loop by ascending via a trail that cuts off the road and descending the road. I had a slightly longer hike than expected since I mistook Bridge Mountain for North Peak (it just looked cooler) and would have summited that one too if I hadn't felt I was running low on time if I did. I enjoyed this hike through Red Rocks backcountry. (I hiked to the top of Bridge Mountain later during this same trip.) Below are some photos from my hike up North Peak.
Hike info on redrockcanyonlv.org.

More climbing fun!
More climbing fun!
Date: April 14, 2025 (Mon)
Partner: solo
Stats: ~2 miles, 400' gain/loss
Calico Hills Hike (Red Rocks)
I hiked around looking at possible future cragging.
Hike info on redrockcanyonlv.org.

More climbing fun!
More climbing fun!
Date: April 16, 2025 (Wed)
Partner: solo
Stats: ~3.6 miles, 620' gain/loss
Kraft Mountain Loop Hike (Red Rocks)
A hike around Kraft Mountain to get the blood flowing. I checked out the Sunny & Steep climbing area. I picked up a Whopper meal for Nate back at camp.
Hike info on alltrails.

More climbing fun!
More climbing fun!
Date: April 19, 2025 (Sat)
Partner: solo
Stats: ~11-15 miles, 3900' gain/loss, 3rd
Bridge Mountain Hike (Red Rocks)
When I had hiked North Peak at the beginning of our Red Rocks climbing trip (see photos earlier on this page), I had seen Bridge Mountain and thought it looked like fun objective with an improbable 3rd class ascent. So a couple of weeks later, on another rest day between climbing days, I decided to hike to the summit. I parked about a mile up the dirt road from Willow Springs (as far as my non-jeep could make it) and hiked the rest, making a lollipop loop by ascending via a trail that cuts off the road and descending the road. My Garmin watch recorded 13 miles for my route (longer or shorter depending on where you park and whether or not you hike the road to its end or take the steep trail). The round trip took me just over 5 and and a half hours, at a casual pace. I met a friendly group of a dozen Las Vegas locals on the summit. It was a fun morning out!
Hike info on redrockcanyonlv.org.

More climbing fun!
More climbing fun!
Date: April 20, 2025 (Sun)
Partner: solo
Stats: 0.2 miles
Petroglyph Wall Hike (Red Rocks)
This short trail takes you across a wash and towards a cliff-side that features historical rock art, estimated to be at least 800 years old. I did this as a quick hiking stop on the loop road while driving out for a day of cragging at Calico Hills.
Hike info on redrockcanyonlv.org.

More climbing fun!
More climbing fun!
Date: April 22, 2025 (Tue)
Partner: solo
Stats: ~7.2 miles total on my Garmin watch
Fletcher Canyon & Eagle's Nest Hike (Spring Mountains)
Located just northwest of Las Vegas, the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area provides over one million visitors annually an opportunity to escape the desert heat of summer, as well as enjoy the only southern Nevada ski area and winter recreation opportunities within 200 miles. It is also the location of Mt. Charleston and the surrounding limestone cliffs where there is significant sport climbing development. I was curious to check out the area so when we had a rest day from climbing I did a morning hike in Spring Mountains. 

Several of the trails were closed due to Tropical Storm Hillary in August 2023. So I hiked the Fletcher Canyon and Eagle's Nest trails. Fletcher Canyon trail is a 3.8-mile out-and-back that takes you through a limestone slot canyon. Eagles Nest is a moderately trafficked 2.7-mile (round trip) loop trail that starts from the same trailhead. I combined the two trails into a nice 2.5 hours of hiking.

After my hike I picked up some body filler and paint and fixed a rust spot on my car. 
Hike info on gomtcharleston.com.

More climbing fun!
More climbing fun!
Date: April 24, 2025 (Thu)
Partner: solo
Stats: ~6.2 miles, 1150' gain/loss + 2.2 miles, 540' gain/loss
White Rock Mountain Loop + Keystone Thrust Trail (Red Rocks)
At this point I had hiked most of the popular trails in Red Rocks. One of the remaining significant hikes I had not yet done was the White Rock Mountain Loop. This is nicely combined with the Keystone Thrust trail for a nice 8.4 mile hike.

The White Rock Mountain loop takes you through a secluded pocket of life around the colorful sandstone White Rock Mountain. The Keystone Thrust trail takes you to the intersection of great and colorful geologic eras. Sixty million to 65 million years ago, the Pacific and North American continental plates got into a shoving match. The conflict pushed up the Sierra Nevada mountains to the west. The same force pushed the deep limestone layers up and over the sand dunes in what is now Red Rock Canyon.

I hiked the loop counterclockwise, adding the Keystone Thrust side trail in at the beginning. When I arrived at the Willow Springs parking area, I decided I felt more like jogging than hiking, so I opted to jog the road back to my car at the White Rock Mountain trailhead.
Hike info on redrockcanyonlv.org (White Rock Mountain Loop). Hike info on redrockcanyonlv.org (Keystone Thrust).

List of Climbs I've done at Red Rocks Cragging Areas

LIST MAINLY FOR PERSONAL RECORD-KEEPING | DATES I'VE CLIMBED THERE ON SECOND TAB

Comments Pertaining to this Page / Trip Report

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