Rainbow Wall via Pine Creek and Oak Creek Loop in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, NV

Hike Rainbow Wall via Pine Creek and Oak Creek Loop Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, NV

Class 3 10.6 miles 3400 gain 6-8 hrs Loop May 9, 2022
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

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Rainbow Wall is the highest point of three named "Rainbow" summits in its vicinity. Years ago I hiked to Rainbow Wall along with Rainbow Peak and Rainbow Mountain via Oak Creek Canyon as an out-and-back. I was hoping to revisit the area, but form a loop instead. This route was the result, a more contrived route that first visits Terrace Canyon and then uses a fun Class 3 route-finding opportunity to get to the summit of Rainbow Wall from the north. I then would descend using Oak Creek Canyon like I did previously. Rainbow Wall is known more to rock climbers for being a world-class vertical face, while Rainbow Peak is better known to hikers due to its interesting non-technical scramble route. If you're looking to get all three Rainbow summits, refer to my other trip report since this hike only gets to Rainbow Wall (the high point). I highly recommend doing this loop rather than just doing Rainbow as an out-and-back, though.

I started from outside Red Rock Canyon in order to skip the slow and lengthy scenic drive and hiked in using an unlabeled trail, but you could instead cut off a couple of miles by parking at the Oak Creek Trailhead within the park here (36.110986, -115.466129). From this spot, I took the Arnight Trail to the Knoll Trail, which then merged with the Pine Creek Trail. After a short hike along the official trail, many social trails seem to leave the main trail and eventually the main trail is indiscernable. I ended up just dropping into the Pine Creek drainage and started the typical Class 2/3 boulder-hopping found in the Red Rock canyons. There's a bunch of cool moves to get over or around boulders, including a rabbit hole scramble, avoiding small water pools, etc. All is fun, but certainly not the place to be if you're trying to move quickly.

My first destination would be Gunsight Canyon, a minor spur of Terrace Canyon, which is a small drainage that runs into South – South Pine Creek Canyon. As you can tell from the naming, the canyon system is complex out here. I'd been here multiple times before because it's an incredibly cool feature of slick sandstone with step-like terraces that's worth revisiting. To get here, I keep left at all junctions within Pine Creek. The boulder-hopping slowly subsided as I got higher up Pine Creek, but the brush encroached a bit more. Fortunately, enough people travel through this way that there are cairns marking the easiest way to avoid the brushiest stuff. Now at the mouth of Gunsight Canyon, I started up. The route involves some Class 2/2+ moves to overcome the terrace-like formations within, but the slick nature of the drainage may be a bit unnerving once a bit higher up and the slope angle becomes slightly more severe. A single unexposed Class 3 move within a depression in the center of the drainage leads to higher ground and to the nicest views back into Gunsight Canyon. The route becomes a little more convoluted here since the drainage opens up into a slope with some minor brush. There are cairns leading up the slope, but my advice is to just locate the path of least resistance to gain the ridge above. It's straightforward enough to keep this steep slope ascent Class 2.

I emerged at the notch separating Gunsight Notch Peak and Rainbow Wall, a nice feature that forms an alternative, cool Class 3/3+ route to reach from the east via Juniper Canyon (a much more efficient alternative to the Gunsight Canyon route I had just completed). I headed up the Class 2+ short detour to Gunsight Notch Peak and then returned to Gunsight Notch. From here I could start the trip up to Rainbow Wall. It will be tempting to head directly south, but the terrain gets significantly steeper from here and cairns mark a route on the right that, rather than ascend initially, traverses to the southwest in order to wrap around a significant wall. The traverse includes some eposed Class 2 on a ledge, but there are plenty of holds and the ledge is wide enough to not be too daunting. Past the short traverse, the route wraps around and heads back east, ascending a steep Class 2 slab in order to get to higher ground. Now a much longer traverse begins. It took me along the base of a sheer wall beneath Rainbow Wall's northern face, barely gaining or losing any elevation. Miraculously, a nice wide ledge system leads all the way around the cliffs, guided by cairns. There were a couple of higher-angled sections along the way, and maybe a Class 2+/3 move required to overcome one steeper section. Toward the end of the traverse the route becomes a bit less clear. The ledge opens up more into a slope with sporadic minor cliff bands. It doesn't seem to matter all that much where you go, since I encountered at last two cairned routes. The idea here is to get around the last bit of fading sheer cliff face.

Once past the traverse, the views opened up and I could see the west ridge of Rainbow Wall. Cairns didn't lead me directly to it though, instead pointing up a steep slope section on the left and away from the expansive view. It seemed to lead to a dead-end. However, a fun Class 3 crack materialized in the rock ahead and continued to more excellent Class 3 scrambling on fun rock. This fun scramable section continued to a slab and then up to much more tame ground. A Class 2 slope got me up to the ridgeline from here.

The route to Rainbow Wall once along the ridgeline was overall straightforward. I recommend keeping just right of the crest to avoid drop-offs and instead hike on bright maroon-colored slickrock. A Class 2/3 move along the way makes way for access to the summit. The views down the actual wall of Rainbow Wall are pretty dizzying. You can also see Rainbow Peak and Rainbow Mountain just to the south.

From the summit of Rainbow Wall, I backtracked along the ridgeline and followed cairns to avoid a few rock outcrops along the way. Eventually a very heavily-used social trail popped in once I left the slickrock and was now on dirt. The trail led just south of the ridgeline and then continued through a pretty drainage (Class 2) and into Oak Creek Canyon.

Oak Creek Canyon is a delighfully colorful canyon complete with trickling water on slickrock slopes. Initially the obstacles are slabby in nature, slippery rock with small holds to stop from sliding too fast providing some fun (Class 2/2+). The water starts to fade away and most of the obstacles become more typical rock-hopping and micro-route-finding through the drainage. It was more or less a repeat of the ascent earlier in the day through Pine Creek Canyon.

Eventually I made it the mouth of Oak Creek Canyon and I kept my eyes peeled for a social trail leading out of the drainage and up to the northern bank of the canyon. There are multiple spots to do this, but the faster you find one, the faster you can get away from the boulder-hopping and instead take one of various social trails leading to the official Oak Creek Trail. I took the Oak Creek Trail back to trailhead.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Gunsight Notch Peak
6160 ft
160 rise
2
Rainbow Wall
6924 ft
642 rise

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After hiking from outside Red Rock Canyon's limits to the Oak Creek Trailhead, I took the Arnight Trail. The goal is to get to Pine Creek Canyon, visible center.
After hiking from outside Red Rock Canyon's limits to the Oak Creek Trailhead, I took the Arnight Trail. The goal is to get to Pine Creek Canyon, visible center.
After taking the Arnight Trail and the Knoll Trail, I dropped into Pine Creek below and followed the Pine Creek Trail for a bit. Mescalito seen center.
After taking the Arnight Trail and the Knoll Trail, I dropped into Pine Creek below and followed the Pine Creek Trail for a bit. Mescalito seen center.
The Pine Creek Trail led into Pine Creek Canyon and then faded away. I then followed the drainage. This is a cute little waterfall shortly after entering the drainage.
The Pine Creek Trail led into Pine Creek Canyon and then faded away. I then followed the drainage. This is a cute little waterfall shortly after entering the drainage.
Rock-hopping within Pine Creek Canyon.
Rock-hopping within Pine Creek Canyon.
Small pools.
Small pools.
Pools and boulder obstacles as I head up Pine Creek Canyon.
Pools and boulder obstacles as I head up Pine Creek Canyon.
Image 6 from gallery
View back down Pine Creek Canyon. I kept left at all major canyon junctions.
View back down Pine Creek Canyon. I kept left at all major canyon junctions.
Image 8 from gallery
A major junction within Pine Creek, keeping left, which starts up Terrace Canyon.
A major junction within Pine Creek, keeping left, which starts up Terrace Canyon.
View back as I take the final left at the fork with Terrace Canyon, to reach the mouth of Gunsight Canyon.
View back as I take the final left at the fork with Terrace Canyon, to reach the mouth of Gunsight Canyon.
The mouth of Gunsight Canyon.
The mouth of Gunsight Canyon.
View back down as I start up the Gunsight Canyon slickrock.
View back down as I start up the Gunsight Canyon slickrock.
View up the drainage toward the base cliffs of Rainbow Wall, center.
View up the drainage toward the base cliffs of Rainbow Wall, center.
Cool step-like formations in Gunsight Canyon.
Cool step-like formations in Gunsight Canyon.
Another shot back down Gunsight Canyon.
Another shot back down Gunsight Canyon.
Ascending within the drainage, attempting to find the Class 2 options to avoid steeper sloped terrain.
Ascending within the drainage, attempting to find the Class 2 options to avoid steeper sloped terrain.
Close-up back down to the mouth of Gunsight Canyon.
Close-up back down to the mouth of Gunsight Canyon.
Higher up, another shot back down.
Higher up, another shot back down.
A Class 3 move within a depression at the base of the drainage.
A Class 3 move within a depression at the base of the drainage.
Close-up down into the featured slickrock of Gunsight Canyon.
Close-up down into the featured slickrock of Gunsight Canyon.
Ascending the slopes above Gunsight Canyon. The goal is to reach the ridgeline above. Ahead you see a small cliff band. Cairns lead around to the left, Class 2.
Ascending the slopes above Gunsight Canyon. The goal is to reach the ridgeline above. Ahead you see a small cliff band. Cairns lead around to the left, Class 2.
Higher up, view down into Gunsight Canyon.
Higher up, view down into Gunsight Canyon.
Class 2 to the ridgeline.
Class 2 to the ridgeline.
At Gunsight Notch, view east. This spot separates Gunsight Notch Peak from Rainbow Wall.
At Gunsight Notch, view east. This spot separates Gunsight Notch Peak from Rainbow Wall.
Class 2/2+ up to Gunsight Notch Peak.
Class 2/2+ up to Gunsight Notch Peak.
View back down the slope and into Gunsight Canyon.
View back down the slope and into Gunsight Canyon.
Gunsight Notch Peak, view toward Juniper Peak (center) and Bridge Mountain (left).
Gunsight Notch Peak, view toward Juniper Peak (center) and Bridge Mountain (left).
Close-up down into Pine Creek Canyon.
Close-up down into Pine Creek Canyon.
Gunsight Notch Peak, view toward Rainbow Wall.
Gunsight Notch Peak, view toward Rainbow Wall.
Onward to Rainbow Wall! It will be tempting to go directly up in the center of this photo, but cairns mark a route on the right, following a ledge.
Onward to Rainbow Wall! It will be tempting to go directly up in the center of this photo, but cairns mark a route on the right, following a ledge.
Along the ledge.
Along the ledge.
Class 2 with some exposure.
Class 2 with some exposure.
View back toward Gunsight Notch Peak (top center) after the ledge move.
View back toward Gunsight Notch Peak (top center) after the ledge move.
Shortly after the quick traverse section, the route wraps around and heads back east.
Shortly after the quick traverse section, the route wraps around and heads back east.
Class 2 slabs.
Class 2 slabs.
I came up from the bottom right. The route now leads along the ledge in the center of this photo along the base of the significant wall seen on the left.
I came up from the bottom right. The route now leads along the ledge in the center of this photo along the base of the significant wall seen on the left.
The ledge is usually quite wide.
The ledge is usually quite wide.
View back. I came up from the bottom left to gain the ledge seen on the right.
View back. I came up from the bottom left to gain the ledge seen on the right.
Continuing along the ledge traverse. There was only one Class 2+/3 section where it got steeper, but it's no more difficult than anything encountered so far.
Continuing along the ledge traverse. There was only one Class 2+/3 section where it got steeper, but it's no more difficult than anything encountered so far.
As the wall became less tall and would continue to do so. The route becomes more convoluted, since the ledge widens into a series of slopes. You can't go too wrong, and can easily keep this portion of the route Class 2/2+.
As the wall became less tall and would continue to do so. The route becomes more convoluted, since the ledge widens into a series of slopes. You can't go too wrong, and can easily keep this portion of the route Class 2/2+.
A ledge that you might not end up doing if you took another option toward the end of the traverse.
A ledge that you might not end up doing if you took another option toward the end of the traverse.
At the end of the traverse, the view opens up. You can see the west ridge of Rainbow Wall ahead. However, the route leads left and up (out of frame) instead of going to the ridge from here.
At the end of the traverse, the view opens up. You can see the west ridge of Rainbow Wall ahead. However, the route leads left and up (out of frame) instead of going to the ridge from here.
Class 3 crack.
Class 3 crack.
More fun scrambling past the crack.
More fun scrambling past the crack.
Class 3.
Class 3.
View back down the Class 3 stuff. I came up from near the tree in the center of this photo.
View back down the Class 3 stuff. I came up from near the tree in the center of this photo.
Class 2 slab to reach higher ground.
Class 2 slab to reach higher ground.
More tame ground, Class 2 to reach the ridgeline.
More tame ground, Class 2 to reach the ridgeline.
Along the ridgeline (rather, just to the right of it), headed to the Rainbow Wall summit. Rainbow Peak seen on the right.
Along the ridgeline (rather, just to the right of it), headed to the Rainbow Wall summit. Rainbow Peak seen on the right.
Summit of Rainbow Wall, view down into Juniper Canyon.
Summit of Rainbow Wall, view down into Juniper Canyon.
Close-up into Juniper Canyon down the impressive Rainbow Wall face.
Close-up into Juniper Canyon down the impressive Rainbow Wall face.
Heading west along the ridge from Rainbow Wall, starting my descent.
Heading west along the ridge from Rainbow Wall, starting my descent.
A rock outcrop, avoidable on the right.
A rock outcrop, avoidable on the right.
Avoiding the rock outcrop.
Avoiding the rock outcrop.
View back along the ridgeline toward Rainbow Wall.
View back along the ridgeline toward Rainbow Wall.
Descending the ridge to a social trail, cairns leading the way.
Descending the ridge to a social trail, cairns leading the way.
View back up at Rainbow Wall once I join the social trail. Oak Creek Canyon on the bottom left.
View back up at Rainbow Wall once I join the social trail. Oak Creek Canyon on the bottom left.
Descending into Oak Creek Canyon.
Descending into Oak Creek Canyon.
View up a pretty slickrock descent drainage (Class 2).
View up a pretty slickrock descent drainage (Class 2).
Within Oak Creek Canyon.
Within Oak Creek Canyon.
Slick Class 2/2+ obstacles.
Slick Class 2/2+ obstacles.
Pretty trickling water.
Pretty trickling water.
Image 63 from gallery
Descending Oak Creek Canyon.
Descending Oak Creek Canyon.
Lots of boulder-hopping.
Lots of boulder-hopping.
Slabby and interesting obstacles.
Slabby and interesting obstacles.
View back up some of the boulder-hopping stuff.
View back up some of the boulder-hopping stuff.
Continuing to descend. The boulders ease up a bit, but there's still plenty of Class 2/3 fun to be had.
Continuing to descend. The boulders ease up a bit, but there's still plenty of Class 2/3 fun to be had.
Image 69 from gallery
Nearing the mouth of Oak Creek Canyon, view back the way I came.
Nearing the mouth of Oak Creek Canyon, view back the way I came.
Once the canyon opened up, I looked around for social trail exit options on the left to get up to the northern bank of Oak Creek Canyon.
Once the canyon opened up, I looked around for social trail exit options on the left to get up to the northern bank of Oak Creek Canyon.
View back into Oak Creek Canyon's mouth.
View back into Oak Creek Canyon's mouth.
I followed the Oak Creek Canyon trail back to the trailhead.
I followed the Oak Creek Canyon trail back to the trailhead.

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