Hidden Valley of Bluff Spring Mountain
15.5 mi4,687 ft
4,131 ft
2,405 ft
Long day that climbs up Bluff Spring Mountain, drops down to the valley hidden within, and then descends the northern face near an impressive (seasonal) waterfall.
Photos
Dark skies over Gold Canyon
Dark pools of water along the trail
Scary bush or hiding muppet?
Dim light along the Ely-Anderson Trail
Slowly waking light over Miner's Needle
Sharp canyon north of the springs
Flat land on top of Bluff Springs Mountain
A short, fun, boulder-filled final climb
Morning light on Four Peaks
Red light shining on the Ridgeline and Needle
A fully woken morning on the Western Superstitions
Frozen waterfall along the descent
Dripping water pooling within the canyon
Craggy outcropping along the way
Shadows hanging over Hidden Valley
Reminders of past burns
In Hidden Valley
First climb up the eastern side
Deep shadows on Music Mountain
North views of Malapais, Four Peaks, and Tortilla Peak
An old mining claim on the eastern hillside
Few remains of Al Reser's Camp
Large collections of water in the valley
Tough climb up a wash on the western side
Weaver's Needle dominating the view
Peak 3999 along the western side of Hidden Valley
An old horse path along the slope
A rugged view northwards
Another view down
Mining claim on the western side
Black Top Mesa, with lots of yellow
Remains from a more recent camp
Looking down the last descent to the tip
Boulders and brush complicating the descent
Looking down at the Little Bull Pass area
The waterfall draining Hidden Valley
The rope that might help me down
A most frightful descent
Sun shining bright over the waterfall
A good place to break for lunch
Lunch!
Some tough bushwhacking
Looking back up the cleft on the northern end
Imposing cliffs all around
On the Little Bull Pass Trail, maybe
Green pastures along the way
Heading back to the needle
Pleasant hiking surroundings on Terrapin Trail
Reflection of Weaver's Needle
Looking at Bluff Saddle ahead from Terrapin Pass
Gazing up at Peak 3999
Next to an afternoon-darkened Needle
Weird rock formations along the way
Last view back at the ever-present Needle
A lonely cairn, trying to lure me into the puddle
The infamous Peralta Rock along Bluff Springs Trail
Late evening light on Barkley Basin
Along the way
Waterfall 1
- Hidden Valley waterfall
Mountain 1
- Bluff Spring Mountain
Saddle 2
- Terrapin Pass
- Bluff Saddle
Ruin 1
- Al Reser's Camp
Trailhead 1
- Peralta Trailhead
Junction 5
- Dutchman's Trail / Bluff Spring Trail junction
- Cave / Bluff Springs Trail Junction
- Terrapin / Bluff Springs Trail Junction
- Ely-Anderson Trail
- Terrapin Trail / Dutchman's Trail Junction