Mount Wilson via Oak Creek and First Creek Canyons in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, NV

Hike Mount Wilson via Oak Creek and First Creek Canyons Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, NV

Class 3 9.8 miles 3500 gain 6-8 hrs Loop Nov 29, 2020
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Mount Wilson via Oak Creek and First Creek Canyons GPX Track

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I highly recommend going up Oak Creek Canyon first in case the static lines are not in place on the ascent. Descending Oak Creek Canyon and not being able to continue due to the lines not being there would mean having to return back up the canyon, a big undertaking. Also note that since there's always a chance there isn't a static line in place (or that it's in poor condition), you might not be able to complete the route without making a Class 4/5 set of moves.

Almost five years ago I hiked Mount Wilson via First Creek Canyon and then Oak Creek Canyon a month after. This route uses both of those canyons to summit Mount Wilson, creating a nice loop. I recommend using this trip report over those mentioned because it covers both routes and if you're like me, you prefer loop routes to out-and-backs. The one thing to note is that Oak Creek Canyon is a more significant undertaking than First Creek Canyon, and I recommend ascending that way since it's always safer to finish more dififcult obstacles on the way up than on the way back, specifically in case the fixed line isn't available (more on that later).

Yossi and I started off Blue Diamond Road along the southern Oak Creek Trail, where we passed Wilson's Pimple (a significant hump to the right of the trail) and continued into the mouth of Oak Creek Canyon. The trail becomes a little unclear since everyone seems to like making social trails everywhere, but with only a little backtracking we were able to get into Oak Creek Canyon without having to bushwhack through the desert. When the social trail was no finally longer clear, we dropped into the drainage and began the typical Class 2/3 boulder-hopping fun that the Red Rock canyons offer.

After a fair amount of ascending through Oak Creek Canyon, we kept left at the first major junction, and then right at the next one. Keeping right at the second might not be intuitive since the cliffs of Mount Wilson are visible on the left, but this isn't a viable route, as far as I know. Along the way up the canyon, we encountered quite a few tricking waterfalls that required Class 2/3 slab climbing, as well as some micro-route-finding around big boulders. We did run into a dryfall that required a Class 3 bypass on the right, where we had to scramble up a steep, blocky set of moves. On my first visit up Oak Creek Canyon this obstacle had a fixed line, but not this time. You won't know until you get there. There was another dryfall like this farther up that required a similar blocky Class 3 scramble on the right side of the canyon, followed by a somewhat exposed ledge with a tree aid, and then a Class 3 one-move gully with a bad fall consequence. You can also route-find a little higher up and avoid the scarier moves with a little more thought. Either way this is low-to-mid-Class 3. The final serious obstacle in Oak Creek Canyon had a static rope in place. A rope has been available all  times I've been up Oak Creek Canyon, but its not a guarantee that it will be there. Without the rope's existence (or if it looks old and untrustworthy), this spot would be very difficult, likely Class 4/5. Shortly after this obstacle, we continued south into a big amphitheater-like slickrock formation, where we ascended on Class 2 terrace-like ledges before traversing to the left at the base of where the slickrock became too steep. At the top of this aphitheater is a big pinnacle that served as a landmark. We wrapped around the left side of the pinnacle and continued into a minor drainage. This drainage gained some elevation and we found ourselves on a small ridge at the drainge's head. The Mount Wilson west ridgeline came into view ahead and we beelined a route through the sandstone/limestone mixture along the slopes to the ridge.

Once on Mount Wilson's west ridge, we followed ample cairns on Class 2 sandstone terrain to a false summit. A  minor dip brought us to the final push to the true summit on more Class 2 sandstone. The views were of course lovely. We backtracked along the west ridge from the summit and started down on the very obvious social trail leading into First Creek Canyon's head. This trail has become noticeably more well-traveled in the last few years, but still isn't completely clear what to do once within First Creek Canyon since there are boulder obstacles and dryfalls that need to be bypassed. I'd give this canyon overall a Class 2+ rating. There was some scrambling, but nothing is particularly difficult and not exposed. There is one steep slab on somewhat slippery rock next to a waterfall that may require some care, for example. Another couple of notable obstacles within First Creek Canyon were a small talus cave feature we used to avoid a dryfall and a nice waterfall with lush vegetation. There were also significantly more people in First Creek Canyon than we encountered within Oak Creek Canyon. Eventually we found our way to the mouth of First Creek Canyon and ascended the right side of the drainage and onto the official First Creek Trail. We took this back to Blue Diamond Road and followed the road back to our cars.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Mount Wilson
7070 ft
670 rise

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Along the Oak Creek Trail. Wilson's Pimple visible on the right, with Oak Creek Canyon just behind it.
Along the Oak Creek Trail. Wilson's Pimple visible on the right, with Oak Creek Canyon just behind it.
Almost at the mouth of Oak Creek Canyon.
Almost at the mouth of Oak Creek Canyon.
Within Oak Creek Canyon, almost immediately having to play on boulder obstacles.
Within Oak Creek Canyon, almost immediately having to play on boulder obstacles.
Image 3 from gallery
Class 2/3 stuff as we make our way up Oak Creek Canyon.
Class 2/3 stuff as we make our way up Oak Creek Canyon.
Beautiful trickling water.
Beautiful trickling water.
First major waterfall obstacle. On my first visit there was a static line here, but not this time! We had to find a workaround, which we located on the right.
First major waterfall obstacle. On my first visit there was a static line here, but not this time! We had to find a workaround, which we located on the right.
Class 3 move to get over the first major obstacle if there is no static line present.
Class 3 move to get over the first major obstacle if there is no static line present.
You can see the waterfall in the center that we just avoided.
You can see the waterfall in the center that we just avoided.
More fun slickrock obstacles as we continue up Oak Creek Canyon.
More fun slickrock obstacles as we continue up Oak Creek Canyon.
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Image 11 from gallery
Class 3 obstacle.
Class 3 obstacle.
Yossi coming up a Class 3 climb.
Yossi coming up a Class 3 climb.
Image 14 from gallery
View back down Oak Creek Canyon.
View back down Oak Creek Canyon.
Second major obstacle. Yossi is seen navigating the cliffs to the right of the obstacle, where we followed a ledge with a tree aid, then a Class 3 one-move gully. I should note you can avoid the exposed moves by route-finding a little higher up.
Second major obstacle. Yossi is seen navigating the cliffs to the right of the obstacle, where we followed a ledge with a tree aid, then a Class 3 one-move gully. I should note you can avoid the exposed moves by route-finding a little higher up.
One-move Class 3 gully to get above the obstacle.
One-move Class 3 gully to get above the obstacle.
Looking back down Oak Creek Canyon.
Looking back down Oak Creek Canyon.
Final major obstacle, where a static line was fortunately set.
Final major obstacle, where a static line was fortunately set.
Yossi on the static line.
Yossi on the static line.
Looking back down (static line on the right out of frame). Pictured on the left is what I believe might be a Class 4/5 workaround if there isn't a static line in place.
Looking back down (static line on the right out of frame). Pictured on the left is what I believe might be a Class 4/5 workaround if there isn't a static line in place.
Shortly after the final obstacle, we headed left up toward the amphitheater-like feature.
Shortly after the final obstacle, we headed left up toward the amphitheater-like feature.
Image 23 from gallery
Looking down the beautiful amphitheater-like feature.
Looking down the beautiful amphitheater-like feature.
Approaching the landmark pinnacle. Wrap left around it.
Approaching the landmark pinnacle. Wrap left around it.
Looking back down the amphitheater-like feature.
Looking back down the amphitheater-like feature.
Just past the pinnacle, headed up a minor drainage.
Just past the pinnacle, headed up a minor drainage.
At the head of the drainage, view toward Mount Wilson's west ridge. We did some minor side-hilling to get there.
At the head of the drainage, view toward Mount Wilson's west ridge. We did some minor side-hilling to get there.
Along the west ridge of Mount Wilson.
Along the west ridge of Mount Wilson.
Class 2 sandstone stuff.
Class 2 sandstone stuff.
Mount Wilson false summit, view toward the true summit
Mount Wilson false summit, view toward the true summit
View back toward Mount Wilson's false summit from the true summit.
View back toward Mount Wilson's false summit from the true summit.
Mount Wilson, view west. Oak Creek visible right of center.
Mount Wilson, view west. Oak Creek visible right of center.
Mount Wilson, view north.
Mount Wilson, view north.
Mount Wilson, view toward Las Vegas.
Mount Wilson, view toward Las Vegas.
Back along the west ridge of Mount Wilson, we located the social trail leading into First Creek Canyon, the second half of our loop.
Back along the west ridge of Mount Wilson, we located the social trail leading into First Creek Canyon, the second half of our loop.
Looking up along the social trail we came down, Mount Wilson's false summit up there somewhere.
Looking up along the social trail we came down, Mount Wilson's false summit up there somewhere.
Entering into First Creek Canyon.
Entering into First Creek Canyon.
Image 39 from gallery
Pretty Class 2/3 obstacles on the way down First Creek Canyon.
Pretty Class 2/3 obstacles on the way down First Creek Canyon.
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Image 42 from gallery
Image 43 from gallery
Slippery Class 2/3 slab.
Slippery Class 2/3 slab.
Making our way down First Creek Canyon.
Making our way down First Creek Canyon.
Talus cave obstacle.
Talus cave obstacle.
Nearing the mouth.
Nearing the mouth.
Looking up First Creek Canyon.
Looking up First Creek Canyon.
Just outside First Creek Canyon, view toward its mouth.
Just outside First Creek Canyon, view toward its mouth.

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Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!