Colorock Canyon – Colorful with Many Rocks
– By Tom Garrison –
Trail: Colorock Canyon Trail. Free and no permit needed.
Location: Muddy Mountains Wilderness, Nevada
Difficulty: Easy with some moderately challenging rock scrambling in Colorock Canyon.
Average hiking time: A little more than two hours at a leisurely pace.
Elevation: Approximately 2,800 feet trailhead elevation with less than a 100 feet elevation change.
Family-Friendly: Due to the many uneven surfaces and rock scrambling, this hike is not suitable for young children.
Getting There: From St. George head south on Interstate 15. About 45 miles southwest of Mesquite, take Exit 75 for State Highway 169 (aka Valley of Fire Road) and drive east past the Moapa Indian Smoke Shop. After 3.2 miles from the Smoke Shop, when the highway bends hard to the left, continue straight (southeast) onto a paved road, Bitter Springs Trail Back Country Byway. On the left, a sign indicates you are entering the Muddy Mountains Special Recreation Management Area. The Byway, going southeast, is paved for a short distance, then continues as a graded dirt road.
At 3.7 miles from the turnoff, the Byway reaches a signed intersection, three destinations straight ahead and one, to the right, for Colorock Quarry leading to Colorock Canyon. Turn right (southwest) onto Colorock Road. Be aware that Colorock Road has some very rocky sections and difficult inclines crossing washes. Stay on the main track heading toward the mountains in the distance. About two miles from the Colorock Road turnoff the road climbs into the hills.
As the road crests the first major ridge, dirt roads lead off to the left and right, continue straight on the main road. Soon Colorock Road forks again, keep going straight (left) on the main track. Shortly, at 2.7 miles from the signed intersection, the road forks yet again in front of a small sign “Colorock Quarry” with an arrow to the right.
Go left and continue along a wash for .3 mile to a wide spot prior to crossing another wash. This is the best place to stop because it is easy to turn around and the road is much rougher further on. Parking at this point only adds about .1 mile to the hike. Consider this the trailhead for Colorock Canyon Trail.
In search of a challenging adventure? Well, sure. Who isn’t?
Do you enjoy bad rock-strewn dirt roads in the wilderness? How about a canyon with moderately challenging rock scrambling through narrows leading to a hidden valley (strangely enough called Hidden Valley)? Or great views of sandstone and limestone cliffs and odd rock formations surrounding the hidden valley? All without seeing another person on the drive to the trailhead or on the trail.
My wife Deb and I seek out isolated wilderness hikes. Colorock Canyon Trail in the Muddy Mountains Wilderness certainly meets that criteria, after all, it is in an officially designated wilderness area. However, this hike is not an officially maintained trail. The trail goes through a historic sandstone quarry and features an old cabin, a deep narrow canyon, and stunning views of scenic Hidden Valley.
Muddy Mountains Wilderness, 48,019 acres, contains a magnificent range of rugged limestone cliffs and canyons near the north and west shores of Lake Mead and south of Valley of Fire State Park. A major feature is a thrust fault layering limestone over sandstone. In some areas, the limestone has eroded revealing sandstone underneath. The region was designated an official wilderness in 2002.
Since the area we are hiking, is a low desert, it is perfect for a winter hike. We left St. George early on a chilly (temperature in the low 50s) morning in the latter part of March and headed south on Interstate 15.
The trailhead elevation is approximately 2,800 feet and the sky a hazy blue as we began our adventure. The elevation change from the trailhead to the highest point is less than 100 feet. The out and back hike is about three miles long and takes around two hours at a leisurely pace.
From the trailhead, we headed up the road into Hidden Valley Wash and followed it up the canyon. About 1/4 of a mile in we saw an old cabin above the wash on the right. In the same area, against the cliffs on the left, is evidence of quarry work.
We walked over and examined the cabin. Other than the somewhat unusual concrete walls, it was a typical one-room structure.
Past the cabin, we continued up the wash into the Muddy Mountain Wilderness and entered the dark limestone of Colorock Canyon and the narrows. Like many canyons, this one has wide sections and narrow sections. We soon came to a hard left (east) turn in the canyon. The next section was wider and then another narrows full of large boulders. We scouted around, found the best routes, and quickly scampered over the boulders. A bit beyond the last narrows, a large side canyon appeared on the left. We did not go there and stayed in the main wash.
We got beyond the boulders, the canyon got wider, and about one mile into the hike the canyon merges into Hidden Valley.
Hidden Valley is a large depression surrounded by sandstone and limestone cliffs and the Muddy Mountains. We headed south following Hidden Valley Wash for about ½ mile—sometimes sandy, sometimes on bedrock, and sometimes gravel. We took time to explore some of the many odd-shaped and colored sandstone formations—a real treat.
The return trip, as always on an out and back hike, showed the canyon in a different light.
We did not encounter another human on the hike, or on the road to and from the trailhead—very isolated. We did see some of the permanent residents of this remote area—a couple of species of birds, some jackrabbits, and squirrels.
This is a well worth it day trip, especially in winter. Perhaps you have a bit of the explorer’s gene and accept the challenge of a non-maintained wilderness trail.
