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

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

Class 2 8.4 miles 3400 gain 4-6 hrs Out + Back Jan 24, 2016
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Mount Wilson via First Creek Canyon GPX Track

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First Creek Canyon is a great introduction to the bigger canyons of Red Rock. It's the least technical and most traveled, but still has lots of wonderful features. The route described/pictured below is the approach to Mount Wilson via First Creek Canyon. This hike has become a bit more popular within the last few years, resulting in lots of cairns and a social trail to aid in gaining the summit. For a slightly more intense day to get to Mount Wilson, you can hike via Oak Creek Canyon (the canyon just north), or make the day extra fun and do the hike using both Oak Creek and First Creek canyons as a loop.

From the First Creek Trailhead, I followed the popular First Creek Trail to the mouth of the canyon. I dropped to the right into the drainage and continued on Class 2/3 boulder-hopping and scrambling as I made my way up the canyon. There are some tougher moves to deal with on the many rock obstacles. It might be tempting to take one of the many social trails that lead away from the drainage, but most of these are either climber trails leading to a technical route or just end in a bushwack. The drainage is definitely bouldery, but I find every time that I do this route that it's the best option. There's even one section where a trail leaves the drainage on awful terrain and avoids a very fun rabbit hole squeeze. So stick to the drainage, it's an adult playground!

I kept right at a major fork about halfway up First Creek Canyon. Otherwise it's hard to get too lost because there's pretty much only one way to go, up-canyon. There are plenty more obstacles, and then some slabby slickrock sections start popping in. Eventually I made it to the head of First Creek Canyon where it became slightly more brushy, but a social trail led through any unpleasantness. The social trail continued up the sandstone and/or dirt slope as the landscape transitioned from sandstone to limestone, the Keystone Thrust. I found myself along the west ridge of Mount Wilson, which I followed east on Class 2 sandstone to a false summit of the peak before reaching the true summit and its amazing views.

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

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Starting at First Creek Trailhead. Mount Wilson is visible left of center. I'll be headed into First Creek Canyon, far left in this photo.
Starting at First Creek Trailhead. Mount Wilson is visible left of center. I'll be headed into First Creek Canyon, far left in this photo.
Morning light as I head toward First Creek Canyon.
Morning light as I head toward First Creek Canyon.
A fun little talus cave shortly after entering First Creek Canyon.
A fun little talus cave shortly after entering First Creek Canyon.
The canyon looks like this for a long time, providing lots of boulder obstacles as a trickling stream for most of the year.
The canyon looks like this for a long time, providing lots of boulder obstacles as a trickling stream for most of the year.
Looking back toward the mouth of First Creek Canyon.
Looking back toward the mouth of First Creek Canyon.
Image 5 from gallery
Typical obstacles to expect.
Typical obstacles to expect.
To the left is a cool-looking canyon with streaming waterfalls. To the right is the route to get to Mount Wilson.
To the left is a cool-looking canyon with streaming waterfalls. To the right is the route to get to Mount Wilson.
A close-up of those fun waterfalls in the left fork of the canyon mentioned in the last photo.
A close-up of those fun waterfalls in the left fork of the canyon mentioned in the last photo.
A cool cascade, a nice relief from the canyon boulder-hopping. I'd call this section Class 2+ since it's a bit slippery and feels a little exposed. Crab crawling down should do the trick.
A cool cascade, a nice relief from the canyon boulder-hopping. I'd call this section Class 2+ since it's a bit slippery and feels a little exposed. Crab crawling down should do the trick.
Continuing up First Creek Canyon on many pretty slickrock waterfall features.
Continuing up First Creek Canyon on many pretty slickrock waterfall features.
Almost out of the canyon, looking back down First Creek Canyon.
Almost out of the canyon, looking back down First Creek Canyon.
Looking down into the First Creek Canyon after exiting and heading up to Mount Wilson. You can see the abrupt transition from sandstone to limestone, known as the Keystone Thrust. The social trail led me out of First Creek Canyon in the center and up to the west ridge of Mount Wilson.
Looking down into the First Creek Canyon after exiting and heading up to Mount Wilson. You can see the abrupt transition from sandstone to limestone, known as the Keystone Thrust. The social trail led me out of First Creek Canyon in the center and up to the west ridge of Mount Wilson.
Looking northwest toward Mt. Charleston (snow-covered). You can see how abruptly the sandstone changes to pine-covered ground to the left.
Looking northwest toward Mt. Charleston (snow-covered). You can see how abruptly the sandstone changes to pine-covered ground to the left.
Along the west ridge of Mount Wilson. After some easy walking, the route becomes Class 2 sandstone.
Along the west ridge of Mount Wilson. After some easy walking, the route becomes Class 2 sandstone.
Looking south back toward First Creek Canyon.
Looking south back toward First Creek Canyon.
Another neat water trickle on my way up.
Another neat water trickle on my way up.
The route leads along the slickrock and cairns point through this corridor.
The route leads along the slickrock and cairns point through this corridor.
View back into First Creek Canyon.
View back into First Creek Canyon.
False summit of Mount Wilson.
False summit of Mount Wilson.
View toward Mount Wilson - South Summit.
View toward Mount Wilson - South Summit.
Las Vegas pictured clearly in the background.
Las Vegas pictured clearly in the background.
From the summit of Mount Wilson, view south.
From the summit of Mount Wilson, view south.
Mount Wilson summit, view north.
Mount Wilson summit, view north.

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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!