Oak Peak and Oak Creek Overlook in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, NV

Hike Oak Peak and Oak Creek Overlook Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, NV

Class 3 9.8 miles 3600 gain 6-8 hrs Loop Apr 3, 2019
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

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This is another great route in Red Rocks up to the limestone crest overlooking the sandstone wonderland. From the Oak Creek Trailhead, follow the Oak Creek Canyon Trail to the mouth of the canyon and boulder-hop in typical Red Rocks fashion. A bit into the canyon, I reached a junction. Going left (south fork) heads up the standard Mt. Wilson via Oak Creek route, and to the right (north fork) leads to Rainbow Mountain. My route up to Oak Peak follows the north fork, since I'll later be descending from the Rainbow Mountain saddle. I continued up the gorgeous canyon, wrangling boulders for a while, and then sections of slickrock and waterfalls materialized. One waterfall required some steep and slippery Class 3 slab scrambling, and shortly after, a second major watefall marked the spot where I would leave Oak Creek Canyon to head up to Oak Peak. I cut southeast along the steep slab, traversing above Oak Creek Canyon until cairns led me south up a wide, shallow gully and the exposure diminished. A particularly steep slab waved at me, but I ignored it. Class 4/5 slab isn't my cup of tea. Instead, I kept to the right side of the slab where a very sustained Class 3+ break allowed for steady scrambling for a good 40-50 feet. It started feeling pretty exposed as I got higher and the dropoff into Oak Creek Canyon became more visible. I would almost call this section Class 4, really, but the climbing is easy. Once above the slab, I could likely have continued up the gully and worked south to Oak Peak, but cairns led me around the north side of Oak Peak, where I got some great views of Mount Wilson and got a sense for the incredible height of the sandstone towers around me. I continued up a Class 2 shallow gully to the saddle just west of Oak Peak, summitted, and then headed back along the west ridge toward the limestone crest. Sandstone gave way to limestone, and a few Class 2+ obstacles made the route up to Oak Creek Overlook Peak slow-moving. A single Class 3 move gains the summit cliff band just below Oak Creek Overlook Peak, which you could likely avoid by taking a detour south to the saddle of the peak and come up the southern slope.

From the summit of Oak Creek Overlook Peak, I decided to work north and loop back down into the standard Rainbow Mountain route, rather than go back the way I came. The limestone ridge has some nice views, and not a lot of brush to avoid. I made it to the sub-peak just west of Rainbow Mountain and decided the cliffs to the east were too sketchy to downclimb. I worked around the north side of the ridge and circled back to the ridge before descending down to the saddle with Rainbow Mountain. The standard route took me back into Oak Creek Canyon and to my car.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Oak Peak
6033 ft
n/a rise
2
Oak Creek Overlook
7211 ft
551 rise

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Starting along the Oak Creek Canyon Trail.
Starting along the Oak Creek Canyon Trail.
Image 1 from gallery
I left the Oak Creek Canyon Trail once the social trails became insufferable to follow, and entered the creek bed. I'd rather boulder-hop than bushwhack and backtrack.
I left the Oak Creek Canyon Trail once the social trails became insufferable to follow, and entered the creek bed. I'd rather boulder-hop than bushwhack and backtrack.
Fun and pretty obstacles within Oak Creek Canyon.
Fun and pretty obstacles within Oak Creek Canyon.
Looking back from within the north fork of Oak Creek Canyon toward the confluence of the forks.
Looking back from within the north fork of Oak Creek Canyon toward the confluence of the forks.
Image 5 from gallery
More obstacles within the north fork of Oak Creek Canyon.
More obstacles within the north fork of Oak Creek Canyon.
Image 7 from gallery
Image 8 from gallery
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Image 10 from gallery
Slippery slabby waterfall.
Slippery slabby waterfall.
Looking down the slippery slabby waterfall.
Looking down the slippery slabby waterfall.
Shortly after the waterfall, take a hard left and continue along this slab, leaving Oak Creek Canyon, which is just to the left in this photo.
Shortly after the waterfall, take a hard left and continue along this slab, leaving Oak Creek Canyon, which is just to the left in this photo.
Looking back toward Oak Creek Canyon from on the slabby traverse working up to Oak Peak.
Looking back toward Oak Creek Canyon from on the slabby traverse working up to Oak Peak.
More of the slabby traverse. Oak Creek Canyon visible down to the left. I went up the rock outcropping ahead on the right.
More of the slabby traverse. Oak Creek Canyon visible down to the left. I went up the rock outcropping ahead on the right.
After the slabs, heading up a wide, shallow gully. You can see the start of the crux.
After the slabs, heading up a wide, shallow gully. You can see the start of the crux.
The Class 3+/4 crux.
The Class 3+/4 crux.
Second part of the crux. I kept to the right rather than mess with the scary slabs on the left.
Second part of the crux. I kept to the right rather than mess with the scary slabs on the left.
Looking down the crux toward Oak Creek Canyon.
Looking down the crux toward Oak Creek Canyon.
Continuing up the shallow gully from above the crux.
Continuing up the shallow gully from above the crux.
Looking down the steep, shallow gully I ascended.
Looking down the steep, shallow gully I ascended.
Continuing around the north side of Oak Peak, Mt. Wilson in the distance.
Continuing around the north side of Oak Peak, Mt. Wilson in the distance.
Looking down Oak Creek Canyon before ascending the second gully, northeast of Oak Peak. I came from the rock rib on the left.
Looking down Oak Creek Canyon before ascending the second gully, northeast of Oak Peak. I came from the rock rib on the left.
Continuing up Class 2, zig-zagging up to Oak Peak's west saddle.
Continuing up Class 2, zig-zagging up to Oak Peak's west saddle.
Oak Peak summit, Mt. Wilson on the right.
Oak Peak summit, Mt. Wilson on the right.
Oak Peak summit, looking west toward Oak Creek Overlook Peak.
Oak Peak summit, looking west toward Oak Creek Overlook Peak.
Class 2/2+ obstacles as I ascended up the ridge.
Class 2/2+ obstacles as I ascended up the ridge.
Image 28 from gallery
Looking down toward Oak Peak (center), Rainbow Mountain (left), and Mt. Wilson (right).
Looking down toward Oak Peak (center), Rainbow Mountain (left), and Mt. Wilson (right).
Steep, loose stuff as I got higher on the ridge.
Steep, loose stuff as I got higher on the ridge.
Class 3 move ahead, center.
Class 3 move ahead, center.
Looking down from the single Class 3 move to gain Oak Creek Overlook Peak ridge.
Looking down from the single Class 3 move to gain Oak Creek Overlook Peak ridge.
Oak Creek Overlook Peak summit, looking south.
Oak Creek Overlook Peak summit, looking south.
Oak Creek Overlook Peak, looking north.
Oak Creek Overlook Peak, looking north.
Along the ridge as I head north from Oak Creek Overlook Peak.
Along the ridge as I head north from Oak Creek Overlook Peak.
Image 36 from gallery
Heading down the north side of the ridge to avoid the cliffs on the east.
Heading down the north side of the ridge to avoid the cliffs on the east.
Back on the ridge, heading to the Rainbow Mountain saddle.
Back on the ridge, heading to the Rainbow Mountain saddle.
Continuing down the standard Rainbow Mountain route.
Continuing down the standard Rainbow Mountain route.
Looking up the standard Rainbow Mountain route.
Looking up the standard Rainbow Mountain route.
Continuing down Oak Creek Canyon.
Continuing down Oak Creek Canyon.
Image 42 from gallery
Beautiful water flowing in Oak Creek Canyon.
Beautiful water flowing in Oak Creek Canyon.
Image 44 from gallery
Image 45 from gallery
Image 46 from gallery
A waterfall just before getting to my turn-off to Oak Peak earlier in the day. I continued down Oak Creek Canyon the way I came.
A waterfall just before getting to my turn-off to Oak Peak earlier in the day. I continued down Oak Creek Canyon the way I came.

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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!