Taking a right at the junction of the bypass trail and the Mosaic Rim Trail, the route to the upper canyon first ascends a small hill and then starts heading downhill as seen here:
This is the very small side canyon which drops you onto the canyon floor of the 3rd Narrows:
Once I was on the canyon floor, I looked back at the dry fall which had to be down climbed to get in here. It was medium difficulty. Some hikers may have problems with this one:
Heading down the 3rd Narrows in an attempt to reach the top of the 25 foot major dry fall at the end:
It wasn't too difficult to get to the spot. Looking down the 25 foot major dry fall at the canyon floor below:
And this is looking back down Lower Mosaic Canyon. In the distance, you can see the bypass trail which leads up to the Mosaic Rim Trail junction. I had been standing below this major dry fall less than an hour earlier:
After enjoying that moment, I turned around and began heading back up the seldom-visited 3rd Narrows:
There were a couple dry falls to climb up before getting back to the mid-point in the canyon, which was where I had first dropped into it:
A close-up of a mosaic pattern on the minor dry fall. There were some pretty patterns which were different but just as neat as the ones in the lower canyon:
The 3rd Narrows featured walls which began towering above me on both sides:
These narrows became tighter and more enclosed than anything found in the lower canyon:
A dramatic bend in the canyon with a dry fall which requires friction climbing:
Once above the chute dry fall, I came into this room which was an enclosed grotto with an impassable titanic dry fall:
Steve at the end of the passable portion of the 3rd Narrows:
After this, I needed to backtrack and get back to the Mosaic Rim Trail which was high above the 3rd Narrows. This picture was taken looking back down at the area I had just been exploring:
Check out the rounded wedged boulder in the upper 3rd Narrows. It almost looks like a giant bowling ball which could roll perfectly down these narrows had it not gotten stuck:
The Mosaic Rim Trail wraps around the edge of the cliffs which drop off into the canyon:
The rim trail then drops back into the main canyon, which takes a sharp right far in the distance:
One more look back down the 3rd Narrows before continuing up canyon:
Finally, the canyon hike had returned to normal after taking the long bypass and rim trails:
It wasn't long before the 4th Narrows of Mosaic Canyon began. I definitely felt great anticipation going into this area:
Notice how high the walls instantly became and minor dry falls also started right away:
Flash flood water flow has undercut the canyon wall on the left side here:
Climbing through positively beautiful slot narrows:
A nice picture showcasing the distinct color of the polished canyon walls with the sunlit higher walls in the distance:
The 4th Narrows contain slot sections with steep climbs over minor dry falls:
The passable portion of the 4th Narrows soon dead-ended in yet another grotto with a major dry fall:
Steve at the farthest point he would make it to in the 4th Narrows:
I soon found a trail which started heading up the mountainside. From this trail, I could see a potential bypass into more of the 4th Narrows. But instead of checking this out, I headed for Twin Springs:
The faint sheep trail was somewhat easy to follow most of the time, but it was steep:
Elevation was being gained quickly on this steep route:
The appearance of rock cairns was a definite relief and friendly sight:
View across Mesquite Flat all the way to the Niter Beds and beyond:
The sheep trail eventually dropped into a smaller side canyon, crossed it and went up the opposite bank, and then ended in the wash of a bigger side canyon:
Following that bigger side canyon toward the base of the Twin Springs hillside:
When the side canyon reached a junction, I turned left and found running water from Twin Springs:
Notice that there is plenty of surface water here for Bighorn sheep or thirsty hikers who have brought a water filter:
A good amount of water flowing down the rocks. It was definitely surprising to see so much flowing water up above Mosaic Canyon:
It's good that this source of water is so isolated and thus protected in behalf of Bighorn sheep and perhaps mountain lions:
A small pool filled up pretty good with fresh drinking water:
I actually circled around the hillside in both directions looking for a decent route to the source of Twin Springs. But after checking out around five of these routes, they all were too treacherous and steep:
Here are three pictures that I took around the Twin Springs area showing some of the bare trees growing in the wash:
After a while, I started heading out of the Twin Springs area because I realized it was just too difficult. From a little ways back down the canyon, I took this picture of the source of Twin Springs. See if you can find it in this picture. Keep in mind, it has a "Y" shape to it:
This zoomed in picture of the source of Twin Springs should make it a little bit easier for you:
One final majestic view of Death Valley on the way back down to Lower Mosaic Canyon:
This is the last part of the Mosaic Rim Trail as it passes above the 3rd Narrows before it passes the junction and rejoins the Mosaic Canyon loop hike:
