Wonderland of Rocks - 1.24.2024
We parked in the dirt parking lot and started hiking on the Wall Street Mill Trail... this dirt parking lot is located a quarter mile NE of the paved parking lot for the very popular Barker Dam hike.
|
After hiking less than a tenth of a mile we left the Wall Street Mill Trail... turning left on an obvious, but unsigned trail.
|
Another tenth of a mile of hiking brought us to the Worth Bagley Homestead... also know as the 'Pink House' and 'Wonderland Ranch'... we will hike over to the wash behind the Pink House and head north into the Wonderland of Rocks.
|
The first quarter mile of hiking in the Wonderland is in narrow terrain... Denali Girl refers to the rock formation in the far right foreground as her wilderness kitchen.
|
Continuing to hike north in the Wonderland of Rocks... usually in a wash, but sometimes on rock.
|
Continuing to hike north in the Wonderland of Rocks.
|
Continuing to hike north in the Wonderland of Rocks.
|
Continuing to hike north in the Wonderland of Rocks... we refer to the rock in the foreground as 'Shark Rock'.
|
Shortly after passing by 'Shark Rock' the terrain opens up considerably... the South Astro Dome and North Astro Dome are in the distance on the left... very popular rock climbing destinations.
|
Continuing to hike north in the Wonderland of Rocks... 'The Camel' is out there in the distance.
|
Continuing to hike north in the Wonderland of Rocks... hiking past the 'Freak Brothers'... a rock climbing challenge.
|
Continuing to hike north in the Wonderland of Rocks... we have passed by the 'Freak Brothers'... and are getting ready to turn to the right and start hiking east.
|
Now hiking to the east.
|
Hiking east toward the 'Red Obelisk'... another rock climbing challenge.
|
Just before reaching the 'Red Obelisk' we turned to the north and decided to explore the canyon between two large rock formations.
|
Continuing to hike north in the little canyon... lots of vegetation and big rocks.
|
Continuing to hike north in the little canyon... lots of vegetation and big rocks.
|
Continuing to hike north in the little canyon... lots of vegetation and big rocks... with a lot of the vegetation being prickly pear cactus.
|
Continuing to hike north in the little canyon... lots of vegetation and big rocks.
|
Continuing to hike north... out of the little canyon now and gaining a little elevation... but still dodging a lot of prickly pear cactus.
|
Looking back at the little canyon we just navigated.
|
After gaining a little elevation out of the previous little canyon we will drop down into another little canyon and begin hiking to the west.
|
I have dropped down into our second little canyon... and Denali Girl watched me from above while I did it.
|
Denali Girl and Star Dancer are coming down to join me in our second little canyon.
|
Shortly after hiking in our second little canyon we are getting ready to give up some elevation in a cave-like rock formation.
|
Feels like a cave as we continue hiking west.
|
Feels like a cave as we continue hiking west.
|
Feels like a cave as we continue hiking west.
|
Feels like a cave as we continue hiking west.
|
Out of the cave-like structure and continuing to hike west.
|
Looking back at the cave-like rock formation (shaded on the right) that we came out of in the second canyon.
|
Out of the second little canyon and now hiking south... getting close to closing the loop portion of our hike.
|
Hiking south now... sometimes you have to make yourself small.
|
Still dodging some prickly pear cactus.
|
Still hiking south trying to close the loop portion of our hike... with 'The Camel' out there on the left-center horizon.
|
Still hiking south... with 'The Camel' in the middle of the photo.
|
Still hiking south... getting ready to close the loop portion of our hike.
|
Still hiking south... with 'The Camel' in the middle of the photo.
|
Still hiking south... with 'The Camel' in the right foreground.
|
We have closed the loop portion of our hike... with the 'Freak Brothers' on the left and the two Astro Domes on the far right.
|
Continuing to hike south in the Wonderland of Rocks... now tracing our steps back to the car.
|
Continuing to hike south in the Wonderland of Rocks... now tracing our steps back to the car.
|
Continuing to hike south in the Wonderland of Rocks... now tracing our steps back to the car.
|
Continuing to hike south in the Wonderland of Rocks... now tracing our steps back to the car.
|
We have exited the Wonderland of Rocks and returned to the 'Pink House'... less than a quarter mile of hiking will get us back to our cars... the total hike was 4 miles, gaining 218 feet of elevation.
|
