Beginning the long 500-foot ridge climb from Cottonwood Canyon Rd:
By looking to the northeast while climbing up, the Cottonwood Canyon cave is clearly visible. If you look closely, my sister Tiffany is also visible walking toward the cave:
In this picture looking back, you can see how steep the climb is and also the bottom tip of the ridge where the hike starts:
View to the south farther up Cottonwood Canyon:
More of Cottonwood Canyon and even the distant Grapevines are visible the higher you climb:
This colorful ridge and hillside is visible directly across Cottonwood Canyon from where we were hiking:
Getting closer to the top now while occasionally picking up sheep trails:
An unnamed prominent peak rises up to the south:
This view shows the steep terrain leading up from the floor of Cottonwood Canyon to the rim. The route we chose to climb up is one of the few places where the terrain is manageable:
The darker colored rounded summit on the left side is Cottonwood BM (2,813 feet):
Wahguyhe Peak (8,628 feet) rises up prominently about 28 air miles away in the distant Grapevines:
This was our first view of the next portion of terrain we had to cross upon reaching the ridge. It didn't look too bad from this angle:
In looking across to the east at Tucki Mountain rising above Black Point, the actual Tucki summit is the bump about halfway between the middle and right side of the picture:
A snow-capped Wildrose Peak was clearly visible looking to the south while crossing the plateau:
One of the many "fun" drainage crossings we had to contend with:
Upon reaching the end of the plateau, this was the first of two hill climbs that we had to do. This first one was 100 feet high:
Looking at the wide wash we had just crossed toward Cottonwood BM:
At the top of the hill, we could more clearly see the minor peaks rising up along the front of the range. We were heading toward the left side of these minor peaks:
Wildrose Peak remained front and center the most visible peak off to the south:
But on the right side, we could also now see Rogers Peak (9,980 feet), which was also snow-capped. Telescope Peak was not visible:
Reaching the second hill climb, which was a bit easier with only 40 feet of elevation gain:
We had targeted the darker rocks on the left as a hiking marker because we knew that a gully dropped down from the ridge near these rocks and headed in the direction we needed to go:
After about 3/4 of a mile, our smaller wash merged with a much larger wash:
The wash ended up narrowing down and becoming filled with large boulders:
At this spot, the boulders created a complete blockade in the wash:
Crawling through passageways between the boulders in order to get past the blockade:
Just beyond, the canyon walls started to have colorful layers just below the rocky hillsides above:
Notice how the orange-tan layers really grew in height in the next two pictures:
Late afternoon shadows as we approached Pothole Canyon:
We felt a bit pressed for time to make sure we would have enough sunlight to see the entire upper canyon and make it partway back before having to use flashlights:
The entrance to Upper Pothole Canyon's narrows can be seen ahead:
The wash immediately closes in tightly. In spots like this, you never know when a major dry fall might appear:
In the next two pictures, notice how the late afternoon sunshine really highlighted the pretty banded cliffs high above Pothole Canyon:
The canyon walls also had a striking appearance to them. Great variety such as with this blue wall covered by white streaks:
This wall had stacked layers, with some of the higher layers sticking out farther than the lower layers:
A very narrow passage visible just ahead between the two walls:
The first of several spots where we had to climb down to continue (easy to medium difficulty):
Notice the tilted and very distinct layers visible within this canyon wall:
The tilted layers were visible on both sides of the canyon as we walked through this narrow gateway:
A gorgeous small dry fall that was well polished but eroded:
Getting a picture in this wonderland of rocks all around. Note the great number of colorful rock walls and rock slabs everywhere:
A perfect sandy wash to walk in through this colorful area:
A closer look at some of the unique colorful rock slabs rising high above the wash:
Tom can be seen in the distance as he provides scale for this amazing area:
The layers on the right side wall had red, tan, and many different shades of blue:
A closer look at the red and blue layered wall on the right side:
The left side canyon wall had so much variety and was extremely high:
Looking straight up from the wash at the left side wall. It is such a dramatic transition from dark blue and gray to the tan and red colors above:
The sunshine on the higher walls and peaks was providing a nice contrast with the shaded canyon:
Uplifted and tilted rock slabs continued to form portions of canyon walls, as seen in the next two pictures:
Check out all the various angles of rock layers. They rise up and extend in many different directions:
As with most narrow canyons, Pothole Canyon had extensive twists and turns:
An incredible amount of rock type and layers on display:
In looking at the rock slabs and high hillside in the background, there is just so much to see if you enjoy geology:
Yet another fantastic spot in the upper narrows of Pothole Canyon. Nearly every spot in the picture showcases something unique:
Continuing to head down canyon with no hindrance, much to our surprise:
At this spot, the canyon once again constricted into slot narrows:
A couple of giant boulders which have rolled down into the wash at a very picturesque spot:
Amazing contrast between the background rock and the two canyon walls of the slot passage:
Beautiful smooth, polished blue rock on the left side canyon wall:
I love slot narrows where you can touch both sides of the wall at the same time:
A couple of minor polished dry falls with smooth blue rock all around:
Just outside of the slot passage, the left side canyon wall sloped down with streaks and splotches of white:
Upper Pothole Canyon is such a fascinating place due to having such great variety within a short span of canyon:
A closer look at the natural white "paint" coloring the blue rock:
The rock takes strange angles as tilted layers rise up from the wash:
The sheer height of the canyon walls also impressed us:
The curved lower wall on the right extends out from the hillside to help direct the water flow:
Zooming in on the strange looking flat-topped peak rising above the wash (also seen in the previous picture):
Completely enclosed by walls containing many shapes and angles:
This wall slopes down and extends out into the wash as the canyon enters a short gorge:
Check out all the patterns and colors on display here:
Yet another extremely beautiful spot where the walls come together and a sloped dry fall appears:
Around the next bend, the passable upper canyon ended at the rim of Pothole Falls. This is the view down into the uppermost pothole:
Above Pothole Falls, the canyon exterior comes into full view:
Portrait view showing the rim of Pothole Falls and the high canyon walls above the major dry fall. This was all we could see of Pothole Falls:
Looking back from Pothole Falls, this was the view into the upper canyon we had just passed through:
This is the lookout bench not far from Pothole Falls which allows you to see into the lower canyon. Please use caution when standing at this spot:
This is the view (to the north) from the lookout bench. Note the massive canyon walls rising up from below:
My favorite view was looking straight down toward the wash far below with colorful rock all around:
The lower canyon would clearly also be an amazing place to walk through on another hike:
Upper Pothole Canyon had been an outstanding hike from beginning to end, at least once we entered the actual canyon:
We used this escape gully in the middle part of the upper canyon to look for a shortcut back:
Gorgeous striped peaks rising above Pothole Canyon which are only visible by climbing the hillside:
Upon exiting the escape gully, we began climbing the hillside toward the top ridge:
The sun was now setting and the last light of the day was shining on Tucki Mountain:
Much more of the northern canyon wall of Lower Pothole Canyon was visible from the hillside:
Zooming in on the wash of the lower canyon from the hillside above:
Beyond the walls of Pothole Canyon, Mesquite Flat and Tucki Mountain dominated the scenery:
Looking back as we neared the top of the ridge, you can see the steep climb we had up the hillside:
Standing directly opposite the canyon mouth, allowing for another perspective of the lower canyon:
One final look back at Upper Pothole Canyon:
From the top of the ridge, it was a much easier drop down the other side to reach the wash:
This report ends with a panoramic showcasing the area above Pothole Canyon:
