First Creek

This weekend was a nice getaway to First Creek just off highway 159 - also known as Blue Diamond Rd and Red Rock Canyon Rd.

The hike up to the springs are about 1.5 miles and reasonably uphill all the way, although the grade is not too bad.

On the way up the trail the ground is what you'd expect to see, mostly desert, cactus, and rocks, not very interesting. Once you are about 3/4 the way to the spring you begin to see definite changes if you walk along the wash.

 The picture above features grape vines growing within a cactus. Not too often you will see this and it's very interesting.

The further you move up the more lush the wash becomes. Once there is sitting water the plants begin to flourish.

For me what's really great is to see pine trees come into the mix. We're still at a desert elevation and pine trees are reasonably scarce, but birds must have deposited these seeds many years ago and the sees took root. Even in the upper elevations and on the other side of the Spring Mountains you really don't see very many pine trees. There are a few near springs, but they're very sparce.

Like at the Spring Mountain Ranch there are some large patches of grape vines growing wildly. In you look around you will find some of them actually have fruit. Since these grapes grow wildly they put most of their energy into their leaves and vines so it's not very often we see fruit.

There are also a number of old-growth trees, some are dead, but many are surviving as long as the spring continues to run.

 

First Creek doesn't look like much of a hike from the road, but when you take the trail all the way up you will often be surprised by how nice it is.

If you go during the Spring you will often find many frogs throughout as they work on their courtships.

First Creek is located off of Blue Diamond Rd / Red Rock Canyon Rd just North of Spring Mountain Ranch. There's a large pull-off on the South Side (viewing towards the mountains) of the road.

 Enjoy First Creek.