June 6-8, 2025 My first tour through High Rock Canyon was the test for Rides with Friends, a bike touring program for Friends of Black Rock High Rock. I dubbed this route a Crown Jewel, or a best of the best. This year I offered it in a slightly different format. The route is slightly expanded to include the Potholes of Fly Canyon. The trip length is expanded to three days with the first night in Mahogany Canyon. Day two was short, but we met up with Friends of Nevada Wilderness to participate in the annual stewardship project at Steven’s Camp. And day three is pretty much the same, long but not technically difficult. All and all it was a great trip!
This year I was only doing one Rides with Friends so in addition to meeting up with the BLM and Friends of Nevada Wilderness I picked this route because of its awe factor. Once I put it out there I was pleased to be joined by Doug Artman, Shay Daylami, Nikki Hussein, Christine Anderson, and Meghan Quinlan. This was Nikki’s first trip with the group but everyone else had been on many trips together. Everyone quickly meshed and was riding, laughing, and story telling like they had been riding partners all along.
Day 1 – Co Rd 34 – Fly Canyon – High Rock Canyon – Mahogany Canyon 22 miles, 518’ elevation The route passes some private inholdings in the NCA. Unfortunately the development has altered the feel and look of this once primitive access to High Rock Canyon. Ideally these parcels can be purchased and deeded back to the BLM to maintain the integrity of the NCA. Fallowing Willow Creek through Smoky Canyon we made a quick stop at the Little High Rock Hilton at the bottom of Little High Rock Canyon. The Fly Canyon Potholes are a natural wonder that always earns some oohs and ahhs. But the grandest of them all is High Rock Canyon. We took our time at Post Office Cave, which to the uninitiated would be so easy to pass by. And just above Post Office was our first home for the night, Mahogany Canyon.
Mahogany Canyon is a designated campsite, one of a few in the NCA. I am very comfortable with dispersed camping, when I get to the end of my day I can find my home for the night. The idea that the best campsites are found, not made is important especially in the group setting. Minimizing the impact of campsite selection is fostered by these sites. But this is also a great campsite, flat, open, with access to water and a view scape in and out of the main canyon with space for a group.
The access to water is a deep hole in a bend at the confluence of Mahogany and High Rock Creeks. Watch your step so you don’t unintentionally go for a swim. But is is a potential spot for a refreshing dip. Mahogany Canyon has great views of the changing light at sunrise and sunset on the main High Rock Canyon Walls.
Day 2 – High Rock Canyon – Steven’s Camp 14.6 miles, 1,000’ of climbing with a handful of water crossings This was a shorter day, a little more technical, but the effort got us to Steven’s Camp in time for the annual stewardship projects, trail maintenance on Upper High Rock Canyon and cleanup of the cabin. Doug and I worked with the BLM crew to install the new visitors’ log kiosk and trail signs. It was great to collaborate with Friends of Nevada Wilderness and the BLM on this trip. Although the Rides with Friends bikepacking model was created for Friends of Black Rock High Rock I would love to expanded to other Friends groups such as Friends of Red Rocks and Friends of Avi Kwa Ame. It is time to do some outreach. We were able to participate in stewardship as well as camp with a larger group. And Friends fed us too!
Steven’s Camp is another great designated spot to camp. There is water, shelter, corals and a pit toilet. The cinder block bunkhouse is free to use, first come first serve, but always a little “mousey”. While I don’t know of any Hantavirus reported from the area I would only stay in the cabin under the most dire circumstances.
We had an art project as well. Friends of NV Wild wanted to make some Public Lands support signs and brought out poster boards and markers to do so. We all took pictures holding our signs in support of public lands not being sold off for development. This is activism at work where it matters most. Nevada’s public lands are worth defending.
Day 3 – Red Rock Rd – Co. Rd 34 35.3 miles, 2,400’ of climbing After a yummy breakfast, thank you Stewards of the Black Rock Desert, we were on the road. There was one more water crossing, as Steven’s Camp is surrounded by water. Then we made our way to Co. Rd 34 and back to the start. It is a rolling, well graded road back to the start. The views of the table lands and canyons is Wild West iconic. There is an old wooden cabin and several water troughs along the route. There are a handful of turn-offs that every time I pass I remind myself I need to get back there to see where they go. We also passed by the Hog Ranch Mountain overnight route and the loop around Little High Rock Canyon Wilderness.
A favorite stop is the Lund Petrified forest. Every year at Burning Man I learn a little more from Chas Rogers about the petrified wood in our area, the significance to paleo ecology, and a little more about the geology of Northern Nevada. Chas is a geologist that specializes in petrified wood, and through microscopic work can identify the tree species that made up the paleohabitat some 12 mya.
The High Rock Canyon Route continues to evolve. Last year Corby Cobb and I visited the Potholes and camped at the end of a cherry stem road above Pole Canyon. We participated in a clean-up at Little High Rock Hilton with Friends of Black Rock High Rock. There are plenty of iterations to be done with High Rock Canyon as the spine. It is a popular 4X4 route as well as bikepacking. Let me know if there is anything I can do to get you out there!
