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| - This is a 6 mile loop hike off the Scenic Drive in Red Rock Canyon. I like this hike a lot because you experience diverse terrain and plant life. For much of the hike, you're in typical Mojave Desert surroundings. When you get to the back side of White Rock Mountain, it's like Red Rock Canyon's hidden forest. That side is wetter and there are a large number of pinyon pines, juniper trees, and desert plants such as yucca and cactus of various types. It has a little of everything.
You can start the hike in 3 places, but I have always done this by going to the Willow Springs picnic area and parking there. Head east, parallel to the road you drove in to get to the parking area. You'll pass the pictograph hand prints on the sandstone and a roasting pit and you'll soon be on your way ascending to the top of a ridge. Then down the other side and back up until you get to the White Rock parking area. If you want, just before the parking area, a side trail goes down the hill to a place called "The Guzzler." It's a concrete rectangle with water fed by the White Rock Spring. There's water year round and the animals like it. There's a sign there saying White Rock Spring.
From the parking area, continue uphill. The trail drops into a wash and then back out and you'll pass the turnoff for the Keystone Thrust Trail. Don't take that one. Continue to your left and keep going up. After what seems like a long time, you come to a saddle. The view is stunning. This is about halfway on the hike, and it's a good place to take a break and have a snack.
Continue along the trail and now it's downhill. All that effort was worthwhile. This is the hidden forest area and the trail is quite lovely. It meanders through the trees and desert plants and you see the wonderfully colored sandstone on the back of White Rock Mountain. The geology along the trail, particularly in one spot where there is shinarump conglomerate, is stunning. Stop and enjoy and take photos.
Eventually, the trail joins the La Madre Springs Trail. If you want to make a long hike out of it, you could do a side trip to La Madre. For most however, turn left at the junction and head downhill. The trail meets Rocky Gap Road and you make another left and walk along the road back to the parking area. As you near the picnic area, you'll be glad your après hike lunch is waiting in the car. The picnic area is a great spot for Guinness time.
Happy hiking!
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