Kraft Mountain and New Peak Loop in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, NV

Hike Kraft Mountain and New Peak Loop Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, NV

Class 3 4.3 miles 2100 gain 2-4 hrs Loop Mar 27, 2018
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

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Most hikers know of Kraft Mountain becasue of the Kraft Mountain Loop, a trail that wraps around the the peak's circumference. Boulderers refer to the ares at the peak's southern base the "Kraft Boulders". This route leads to the summit of the named peak. This trailhead within the Calico Hills doesn't require a fee or reservation and any car can make it. The parking lot is full of camper vans and climbers gearing up.

From the parking lot, I headed along the official trail for a time until I saw a weakness on the southeast face of Kraft Mountain. I used a steep, Class 2 slope that brought me to a ledge. This ledge traversed east for a short time before Class 2/3 scrambling led up the weakness seen from below, ultimately directly up to the ridgeline. Now on the east ridge of Kraft Mountain, I continued toward its summit on Class 2/3 boulder-hopping fun. There were a couple of fun obstacles, but if you're pulling any moves that feel too difficult, there's likely another option that's easier.

Along the way to Kraft Mountain I took a quick stop at Big Bird Peak. This is an unranked and locally-named minor summit that's really just one big, fun Class 4 boulder. It's a nice add-on if that's your thing. Whether you tag the top of Big Bird Peak or just continue on, the ridgeline continues pleasantly the more significant scramblnig now behind me. The summit of Kraft Mountain gave me some great views toward the other various peaks in the Calico Hills, such as Grey Cap Peak, Turtlehead Peak, and my next summit, New Peak. I continued along the now widening ridgeline, heading northwest. The aim was to find a reasonable route amongst the chaos of zebra-striped boulders to get to the saddle between Kraft and New Peak, a pass known as Pink Goblin Pass. I was able to keep the route Class 2 for the most part, but then I reached a signficant cliff system that spans the base of Kraft Mountain. I was able to located a short Class 3 drop through a wide crevasse to overcome the cliffs. The pass was visible just below, Class 2 bringing me there.

Now at Pink Goblin Pass, I noted the the sandstone boulders of Kraft Mountain abuptly became limestone, a result of the wild geology of the area. I followed a social trail from the pass up toward New Peak. Initially just a steep trail, it became more loose higher up. Before the summit, the route became more spicy, a few brief sections of  Class 3 along the ridge crest. You may be able to avoid a couple of them, but not the one just below the summit. The moves had a bit of exposure, but excellent holds. The sharp and grippy rock was much different in character from the Kraft Mountain sandstone.

From the summit of New Peak, I dropped west along its ridgeline. There were a couple more Class 3 moves, but nothing harder than on the way up New Peak on its east side earlier. The limestone tends to create small cliffs that need to be wrapped around. Eventually the limestone faded away and became a steep descent slope, which led to the head of Ash Canyon, the gully on the southwest side of New Peak. I would soon learn that the Ash Canyon Trail isn't really much of a trail, since it becomes faded and ultimately leads into the drainage proper, where boulder-hopping ensues. I was then able to pick the trail up again and follow it back to the trailhead.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Big Bird Peak
4580 ft
80 rise
2
Kraft Mountain
4714 ft
394 rise
3
New Peak
4987 ft
467 rise

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Starting out from the Kraft Mountain Trailhead. Kraft Mountain seen left, Big Bird Peak on the right.
Starting out from the Kraft Mountain Trailhead. Kraft Mountain seen left, Big Bird Peak on the right.
Along the Kraft Mountain Loop Trail, heading toward Kraft Boulders, where there are usually climbers.
Along the Kraft Mountain Loop Trail, heading toward Kraft Boulders, where there are usually climbers.
Passing the boulders and heading toward the weakness, top right.
Passing the boulders and heading toward the weakness, top right.
Class 2 up the slope.
Class 2 up the slope.
A nice ledge to traverse.
A nice ledge to traverse.
And then more ascending through the weakness, Class 2/3.
And then more ascending through the weakness, Class 2/3.
View back down toward the trailhead as I ascend the weakness.
View back down toward the trailhead as I ascend the weakness.
On the ridge of Kraft Mountain. Lots of fun obsctacles to come.
On the ridge of Kraft Mountain. Lots of fun obsctacles to come.
There's certainly no one "right" way, but this was one of the Class 3 moves I pulled to ascend along the ridgeline.
There's certainly no one "right" way, but this was one of the Class 3 moves I pulled to ascend along the ridgeline.
View back at my progress so far.
View back at my progress so far.
Another Class 2/3 section, one of many.
Another Class 2/3 section, one of many.
Big Bird Peak seen on the right, a quick Class 4 set of moves for a minor sandstone summit. Kraft Mountain seen center.
Big Bird Peak seen on the right, a quick Class 4 set of moves for a minor sandstone summit. Kraft Mountain seen center.
Looking down the Class 4 moves coming up Big Bird Peak.
Looking down the Class 4 moves coming up Big Bird Peak.
Ridgeline from Big Bird Peak to Kraft Mountain.
Ridgeline from Big Bird Peak to Kraft Mountain.
Onward to Kraft Mountain. The scrambling is more tame, but it's a bit of a maze with all the little crevasses.
Onward to Kraft Mountain. The scrambling is more tame, but it's a bit of a maze with all the little crevasses.
Kraft Mountain ahead.
Kraft Mountain ahead.
View back toward Big Bird Peak on the way to Kraft Mountain.
View back toward Big Bird Peak on the way to Kraft Mountain.
Kraft Mountain summit, view toward New Peak (left) and Turtlehead Peak (top right).
Kraft Mountain summit, view toward New Peak (left) and Turtlehead Peak (top right).
I chose to descend a gully into a sandy area below. You could probably stay farther left and descend on Class 2/3 scrambling.
I chose to descend a gully into a sandy area below. You could probably stay farther left and descend on Class 2/3 scrambling.
View back up at the weakness I descended from.
View back up at the weakness I descended from.
Some more fun maze-like obstacles on the way down.
Some more fun maze-like obstacles on the way down.
New Peak ahead. Below is a row of cliffs I need to find a way through to reach Pink Goblin Pass, the saddle separating Kraft Mountain from New Peak.
New Peak ahead. Below is a row of cliffs I need to find a way through to reach Pink Goblin Pass, the saddle separating Kraft Mountain from New Peak.
View back up at progress descending from Kraft Mountain.
View back up at progress descending from Kraft Mountain.
A key Class 2/3 slot weakness to get past a row of cliffs.
A key Class 2/3 slot weakness to get past a row of cliffs.
A shot toward New Peak as I near Pink Goblin Pass.
A shot toward New Peak as I near Pink Goblin Pass.
Starting up New Peak.
Starting up New Peak.
View back toward Kraft Mountain.
View back toward Kraft Mountain.
Steepening terrain on a social trail to New Peak.
Steepening terrain on a social trail to New Peak.
New Peak just ahead.
New Peak just ahead.
Class 3 as I near the summit. Possible to wrap around it, but the terrain is steep and loose down there.
Class 3 as I near the summit. Possible to wrap around it, but the terrain is steep and loose down there.
View down at the first Class 3 move.
View down at the first Class 3 move.
Second Class 3 move to gain New Peak coming up. This and the next few photos have different lighting since on a previous trip it was better for illustrating the route.
Second Class 3 move to gain New Peak coming up. This and the next few photos have different lighting since on a previous trip it was better for illustrating the route.
Close-up of the upper Class 3 section.
Close-up of the upper Class 3 section.
Route along the north side of New Peak, turtlehead Peak seen top right and Red Cap Peak seen left of center.
Route along the north side of New Peak, turtlehead Peak seen top right and Red Cap Peak seen left of center.
Coming down the west side of New Peak, a Class 3 move.
Coming down the west side of New Peak, a Class 3 move.
View back toward New Peak as I continue down the west side.
View back toward New Peak as I continue down the west side.
A descending traverse along the west slope to avoid cliffs along the crest.
A descending traverse along the west slope to avoid cliffs along the crest.
Steep descent down to the Ash Canyon Trail.
Steep descent down to the Ash Canyon Trail.
Entering Ash Canyon. It's a bit tricky to find the optimal route since social trails lead all over and lower down in the canyon it gets bouldery. There doesn't seem to be an official trail to follow.
Entering Ash Canyon. It's a bit tricky to find the optimal route since social trails lead all over and lower down in the canyon it gets bouldery. There doesn't seem to be an official trail to follow.
Ash Canyon.
Ash Canyon.
View back toward New Peak as I return to my car.
View back toward New Peak as I return to my car.

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