North Peak and Lost Creek Peak via Graffiti Ledges in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, CA

Hike North Peak and Lost Creek Peak via Graffiti Ledges Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, CA

Class 4 7.2 miles 2900 gain 5-7 hrs Loop Jun 15, 2019
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

North Peak and Lost Creek Peak via Graffiti Ledges GPX Track

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I've been really trying to go for all the most fun routes in Red Rocks over the last few months, and I met up with a new friend (!) Colin to do the Graffiti Ledges, an interesting feature used to access North Peak (the sandstone North Peak) and Lost Creek Peak. Starting from the Willow Spring Trailhead, we headed up a social trail into Lost Creek Canyon, where we found the watercourse shortly after. We followed this boulder-hoppy fun bit through the sweltering heat, and made it to a major fork in the canyon. We took the left fork, which led southwest. A Class 4 move led into the canyon, and we encountered a bunch of fun obstacles (Class 2-3) leading to what seemed like the head of the canyon. It's not intuitive, but in order to access the Graffiti Ledges, keep to the right once near the head. A Class 3+ crack obstacle leads to the start of the Ledges' west side. There's one very short section toward the beginning of the Ledges that required some care, but overall it was just an interesting, pretty traverse on an exposed ledge. The route curves around past a wide slabby viewpoint and continues south of Lost Creek Peak (which looms just above), heading down on a ramp into another canyon just south of Lost Creek's ridge. Once within the drainage, we located cairns leading directly south, not in the main canyon drainage, but instead a shallower tributary. Class 2 led to the flatter ground above, and up to North Peak (the sandstone North Peak, the limestone North Peak is farther south). From North Peak, we headed along the ridge to Lost Creek Peak before locating a really pretty Class 2+ gully for our descent. We followed Rocky Gap Road back to the trailhead, though I recommend instead taking a defined trail on the ridge to the south of this drainage for a much easier descent.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
North Peak
7094 ft
n/a rise
2
Lost Creek Peak
6676 ft
33 rise

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Looking into Lost Creek Canyon from the trailhead.
Looking into Lost Creek Canyon from the trailhead.
Class 2 boulder hopping up the canyon.
Class 2 boulder hopping up the canyon.
Image 2 from gallery
Looking back toward the mouth of Lost Creek Canyon, Colin coming up one of many obstacles.
Looking back toward the mouth of Lost Creek Canyon, Colin coming up one of many obstacles.
At the fork in Lost Creek Canyon. We went left.
At the fork in Lost Creek Canyon. We went left.
Almost immediately after heading up the left fork, we encountered this Class 4 obstacle.
Almost immediately after heading up the left fork, we encountered this Class 4 obstacle.
Looking down the Class 4 obstacle.
Looking down the Class 4 obstacle.
Some very pretty terraces in the canyon.
Some very pretty terraces in the canyon.
Image 8 from gallery
Image 9 from gallery
Image 10 from gallery
Image 11 from gallery
Image 12 from gallery
Looking back down the way we came.
Looking back down the way we came.
Colin on one of many obstacles.
Colin on one of many obstacles.
Approaching the head of the canyon.
Approaching the head of the canyon.
Some Class 2 slabs lead up to the head. Keep generally right or you'll miss the Graffiti Ledges.
Some Class 2 slabs lead up to the head. Keep generally right or you'll miss the Graffiti Ledges.
Final Class 3+ move before getting to the Grafitti Ledges. You can see the start of the ledges in the center.
Final Class 3+ move before getting to the Grafitti Ledges. You can see the start of the ledges in the center.
Approaching the Ledges.
Approaching the Ledges.
The canyon we came up on the left, the approach to the Ledges on the right.
The canyon we came up on the left, the approach to the Ledges on the right.
Graffiti Ledges, a wide shot of the whole thing for context.
Graffiti Ledges, a wide shot of the whole thing for context.
Colin made quick work across. I took a couple of breath, exposure still scares me.
Colin made quick work across. I took a couple of breath, exposure still scares me.
Colin at the sketchy section. I sat on my butt at the spot he is at.
Colin at the sketchy section. I sat on my butt at the spot he is at.
Looking back along the first half, the sketchy section seen center left.
Looking back along the first half, the sketchy section seen center left.
The second half, mossy but not nearly as exposed.
The second half, mossy but not nearly as exposed.
Looking back at the entire Graffiti Ledges.
Looking back at the entire Graffiti Ledges.
Close-up of the Graffiti Ledges.
Close-up of the Graffiti Ledges.
The route wraps around the base of Lost Creek Peak, a really nice slab area with a good view.
The route wraps around the base of Lost Creek Peak, a really nice slab area with a good view.
View toward White Rock Hills HP, Calico Hills on the right.
View toward White Rock Hills HP, Calico Hills on the right.
Wrapping around the base of Lost Creek Peak. North Peak visible center right.
Wrapping around the base of Lost Creek Peak. North Peak visible center right.
Heading down after wrapping around the base of Lost Creek Peak. The ramp on the right led us down into the canyon below in the center. The trees that run northwest highlight our general route up to North Peak (center).
Heading down after wrapping around the base of Lost Creek Peak. The ramp on the right led us down into the canyon below in the center. The trees that run northwest highlight our general route up to North Peak (center).
Within the drainage, as we head up the gully. Note that we didn't follow the main gully, but a shallow drainage that heads directly south.
Within the drainage, as we head up the gully. Note that we didn't follow the main gully, but a shallow drainage that heads directly south.
Class 2 slabs.
Class 2 slabs.
Looking back, Lost Creek Peak visible center.
Looking back, Lost Creek Peak visible center.
Class 2/3 stuff to get to the top.
Class 2/3 stuff to get to the top.
Looking back down the drainage.
Looking back down the drainage.
North Peak (sandstone ahead).
North Peak (sandstone ahead).
Summit of North Peak (sandstone). Bridge Mountain on the left. North Peak (limestone) top right.
Summit of North Peak (sandstone). Bridge Mountain on the left. North Peak (limestone) top right.
View north toward Lost Creek Peak.
View north toward Lost Creek Peak.
View east toward the Red Rocks scenic drive and Las Vegas.
View east toward the Red Rocks scenic drive and Las Vegas.
Heading toward Lost Creek Peak on an easy ridge.
Heading toward Lost Creek Peak on an easy ridge.
Lost Creek Peak ahead.
Lost Creek Peak ahead.
Looking back toward North Peak (top left). The canyon we came out of visible center left. to get up, we followed the trees about halfway up before heading left to the saddle on the far left.
Looking back toward North Peak (top left). The canyon we came out of visible center left. to get up, we followed the trees about halfway up before heading left to the saddle on the far left.
Lost Creek Peak, view east.
Lost Creek Peak, view east.
Headed down a Class 2+ gully to get down to Rocky Gap Road. I recommend taking the social trail on the adjacent ridge to the south instead.
Headed down a Class 2+ gully to get down to Rocky Gap Road. I recommend taking the social trail on the adjacent ridge to the south instead.
Interesting section along the drainage.
Interesting section along the drainage.
Looking up at the terraces within the drainage.
Looking up at the terraces within the drainage.
A cairn marking a social trail to Rocky Gap Road.
A cairn marking a social trail to Rocky Gap Road.
We took Rocky Gap Road back to the trailhead.
We took Rocky Gap Road back to the trailhead.

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