Page 11 - fall the rock 2015

10 Friends oF red rock canyon Friends oF red rock canyon 11

knoll. You will cross Oak Creek
two or three times. This part of
the creek is more likely to have
water in the spring. After another
mile or so, you come back to that
juniper tree you saw when you
came to the trail junctions. Turn
left here and this will bring you
back to the old road where you
make a right and head back to
your car.

This is a cooler weather hike with

Potato Knoll some shade at the snack area.
Remember to take enough water.
Hiking boots are best for this trail
Sled used to remove quarried sandstone from Rhea’s Quarry although I’ve seen people hike it
in sneakers.
ollow this fork as you hike that comes in from the highway.
Facross the flat part of this Keep right and you have a short One of the bonuses of this hike is
area and then down some steps rise to hike up. In this area, you don’t have to drive the Scenic
that bring you to Oak Creek. you can see the remnants of a Drive after you’re done to get
There may be water depending concrete entryway for Rhea’s back to Las Vegas. It’s also a less
on the time of year. After Quarry operation. If you’re used trail and you’re not as likely
crossing the creek, the trail interested, you can read more to see many other people.
continues until you come to a about this quarrying in Seekers,
large juniper tree where the trail Saints & Scoundrels: The Happy Hiking!
Volunteers dedicated to the preservation of Red Rock Canyon
meets another one. Follow the Colorful Characters of Red Rock
trail to the right and it will bring Canyon.
you around to an area where
Take a Hike - Potato Knoll you’ll have some elevation When you reach the

highpoint on this side
gain and some rocky going.
Along this part, you’ll pass the of the knoll, you’re
Article and photos by Norm Kresge remnants of a wooden sled that at a place that’s good
was used to haul sandstone out to take a break and
Potato Knoll is a hike of about 4.5 miles round trip. It’s not a standard of the area when there was a have a snack. In front
out-and-back hike but one that goes to the base of the Potato Knoll, loops quarrying operation here. A little of you is a view of
Oak Creek Canyon
around the knoll, and then returns on the same trail to the parking area. later, you’ll pass some petrified
wood off the trail on your right and the area has a lot
There are a couple of ways to do this hike. The best way is to park along side at the crest of this uphill of juniper and some
pine. Continuing on
section. For the next part of the
SR 159 at the first dirt parking area past the exit from the Scenic Drive hike, you’ll be going along the the trail, you’ll see
(about ¼ mile past the exit). The trail heads toward the knoll — the base of the knoll and the terrain it fork to the right.
Potato Knoll that is sometimes called Wilson’s Pimple. The first part of is flat. Take that right turn
the hike is on an old road. About ¾ of a mile out as you head toward Oak and follow it and
Creek, the trail forks to the left. When you get to the far side of you’ll join a trail that comes A great spot for a break
the knoll, you head to the right from Oak Creek. Stay to your
as you meet the Oak Creek Trail right and keep going around the

the Rock - Volume 6 Issue 1 Fall 2015