Hike Bridge Point and Bridge Vista Peak Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, NV

Apr 04, 2019 — This route to yet another gorgeous set of Red Rocks peaks, Bridge Point and Bridge Vista Peak, was wasy to follow and had some of the best views I've seen in the area. Bridge Point is the triangular point visible from the scenic road, and is generally mistaken as Bridge Mountain (which is the white dome behind it). Bridge Vista Peak is just a small peak just below Bridge Mountain.

I actually didn't realize it, but I took much of this route a few years ago when I ascended Bridge Mountain via Pine Creek Canyon, but the canyon looked significantly different without water. So, this route was almost like a whole new canyon for me. Austin had never been, so this revelation and my general childlike love for routes was lost on him - he just liked the lushness of the canyon and the gorgeous walls around us. Anyway, follow the Pine Creek Trail into the north fork of Pine Creek, known as Fern Canyon. The going isn't fast in this canyon, since there seeme to be more large boulders and technical obstacles than other canyons in the area. We reached an impassible waterfall, but a vegetated gully on its right led higher up. From here, we stayed on the right side of Fern Canyon without dropping into the creek, and cairns led us to a good point to turn right and start working our way east, traversing ledges and up slickrock in a general northeasterly direction. There seemed to be at least three cairned routes, so keep track of the way up you came for the return trip. There are a few Class 3 moves, but nothing scary or hard.

Eventually, all routes seemed to lead to the southern end of a gully that leads north-ish, spitting us out at the saddle between Bridge Point and Bridge Vista Peak. We opted to bag Bridge Point first, taking the easy Class 2 slope to the summit block. The views were incredible. Situated at the edge of the Red Rocks peaks crest, we had a perfect southern view of the many towers, mountains, and overall sandstone splendor. Far below, we could see the car.

We worked our way back down the western slope and to the saddle, thinking Bridge Vista Peak would be a short detour. The route required we drop down a few hundred feet on the northern side of the saddle, where cairns then pointed us back up a Class 2+ gully. The gully ends and we navigated up to a serrated slickrock ridge that brought us to the base of Bridge Vista Peak. Cairns are likely to lead you astray. I took a few down because of how misleading many of them were. We stared at the summit block of Bridge Vista Peak. Wasn't there supposed to be a fixed line here? We went back and forth around the peak with no luck. I irresponsibly decided to scramble the eastern Class 5 rock to the summit and found a rope that was haning off on the south side of the summit. Derp. The correct route leads counterclockwise around the summit block, down a loose section and to the south of the peak on a gorgeous ledge, where you'll find a rope. If the rope isn't there, it's an unexposed Class 4 scramble up a chimney.