The
information below is important to determine where our group meets prior
to each hike. Please read the entire section thoroughly before
skipping to the actual hike descriptions.
The February hike schedule
basically includes hikes in the Red Rock Canyon and Lake Mead areas,
but there are a scattering of scheduled events in other parts of
southern Nevada. These other hikes will have additional information regarding assembly locations in the body of each hike description.
Red Rock Canyon Area. Due
to the postings restricting parking at the Albertsons location, we have
moved our main assembly point to the Red Rock Casino on Charleston
Boulevard just east of 215. To
access the meeting spot, turn into the casino property at the
signalized intersection directly across from Canyon Pointe, turn right
directly in front of the casino, and immediately turn right into the
lot. If traveling east on Charleston, you can turn right at the first
entrance and then make an immediate left. We will be parking at the
north end of the lot along Charleston Boulevard. Whenever Red Rock area hikes start from Highway 160, there will be a secondary pickup point for south side participants. That location is at the gas station at the intersection of Highways 159 and 160. Generally, this will be a brief stop which will occur about twenty minutes after the departure from Red Rock Casino.
Lake Mead South. For all hikes on the south side of the lake the general meeting spot will be at the Henderson Fiesta Casino. At
this location, we will be meeting close to the large outdoor sign in
front of the property. Henderson Fiesta is located on Lake Mead Parkway
just east of the junction of I-215 and I-515. Lake Mead
Parkway is actually the eastbound extension of I-215. There will also
be an earlier assembly point for these hikes at Red Rock Casino, with
directions listed above, and there could be local stopping points after
the group leaves Henderson Fiesta. These stopping points will be listed
in the appropriate hike descriptions.
Lake Mead North. For
hikes on the north side of the lake the early west side collection
point will be on the top level of the parking garage at Rampart Casino
rather than at Red Rock Casino. Rampart
Casino is located on Rampart Boulevard just south of Summerlin
Parkway. The garage is located on the northeast side of the casino and
is four stories in height. The best route from Rampart to the
general meeting location is Summerlin Parkway to Highway 95 to I-15
north to eastbound Lake Mead Boulevard. The general assembly
point will be in the parking lot behind the CVS Pharmacy located on the
southeast corner of the intersection of Lake Mead Boulevard and
Hollywood. There will also be a secondary pickup point at Mile Marker 4 of Northshore Road inside the recreation area.
Valley of Fire and Gold Butte. As
is the case with Lake Mead North hikes, the early west side assembly
point will be on the top floor of the parking garage at Rampart Casino
as indicated above. The
primary assembly point will be in the parking lot of Lucky Club Casino,
which is located on the east side of I-15 at the Cheyenne Avenue exit
and on the north side of Cheyenne. Participants getting there
from Northbound I-15 will have to cross several traffic lanes just after
the exit ramp to make a left turn into the property. For extreme north
side participants, there will be an additional pickup point about
thirty minutes after the departure time at the Indian Smoke Shop located
at the exit for Valley of Fire on Valley of Fire hikes only.
Individuals at that location must wait outside their vehicles so they
can be spotted by the coordinator.
IMPORTANT NOTE #1 -
Hike coordinators may not always be at either the early or primary
assembly points. Participants will need to monitor the time and set up
carpooling to the next meeting location or pickup point when that
occurs. Although some of these situations are noted in the hike
descriptions, others may occur that are not so noted.
IMPORTANT NOTE #2 -
When reading the descriptions, you will see references to both Lake
Mead Boulevard and Lake Mead Parkway. These are different streets.
Lake Mead Boulevard is an east-west street on the north side of Las
Vegas that runs completely across the city. Lake Mead Parkway is on the
south side of the city and is an east-west street that starts at the
junction of I-515 and I-215 and extends over to the lake. Please do not
mix these up.
Times indicated for each hike are departure times and are strictly observed. Usually the group will begin arriving as much as one-half hour prior to the scheduled departure time.
Please
pay attention to the difficulty ratings for each hike offered and do
not attempt hikes that are beyond your abilities. New hikers without
recent hiking experience MUST begin with the 8:30 AM Saturday hikes as
these are the only ones that guarantee a fairly leisurely pace.
Strenuous Tuesday hikes are only open to qualified experienced hikers.
Be sure to wear appropriate clothing, footwear, and hats and bring
sunscreen, water, electrolyte replacement fluids as needed, and food or
snacks for each outing.
Questions regarding general information about any of the hikes should be directed to Chris Dempsey at dempseylv@aol.com
or by telephone at (702) 823-2355. Specific questions regarding hikes
should be directed to the listed coordinator. Refer to the club roster
for contact information.
Saturday, February 1 - Hamblin Mountain. One
of the most dynamic hikes in the Lake Mead area is this moderately
strenuous trek to the top of a mountain offering exciting views of both
Boulder and Virgin Basins of the lake. Total distance is 7 miles with
1,500 feet of elevation gain and there is a slight variation on the
return route through a colorful canyon and down a dry waterfall. The
starting point for the hike is Mile Marker 18 along Northshore Road.
West side participants can meet at the Rampart Casino for a departure at
7:20 AM. The main assembly location is at the CVS Pharmacy on Lake Mead Boulevard, from which the combined group will leave at 8:00 AM.
There will be a final quick stop at Mile Marker 4 of Northshore Road to
pick up the coordinators and any other south side participants at 8:15 AM. Coordinators - Joan & Chuck Hawkins.
Saturday, February 1 - McCullough Hills Trail. The
later hike for this Saturday will explore a newly constructed trail on
the south side of Henderson that goes into the Sloan Canyon Recreation
Area. This effort will be an easy to moderate out-and-back hike that
will cover a total distance of 4 miles along a well-graded walking path
with minimal elevation gain. The trailhead used for this hike is at the
end of Mission Road. Early west side participants meeting at Red Rock
Casino should leave at 7:50 AM to join the main group at Henderson Fiesta, from which everyone involved will depart at 8:30 AM. Coordinator - Chris Nienaber.
Sunday, February 2 - River Mountains Trail - Part 2. Continuing
where the group left off the previous Sunday means the starting point
for this strenuous 12-mile segment of the paved trail around the River
Mountains is at Railroad Pass Casino. At the end of the trek is a
parking area along Lake Mead Parkway very close to the entrance station
into Lake Mead Recreation Area. In between is a lot of vacant ground at
the edge of Henderson covering a fair amount of rolling terrain. A
good athletic or walking shoe will probably work better than hiking
boots and sticks are not necessary. There will be a snack break along
the way. The early west side group will leave Red Rock Casino at 7:00 AM and Henderson Fiesta will be the main assembly point for a 7:45 AM departure. Coordinator - Lettie Gutierrez.
Monday, February 3 - White Owl Canyon Shoreline Loop. This
moderate hike is approximately 5 miles and begins at the Las Vegas Bay
boat ramp near Mile Marker 10 on Lakeshore Road. It is a short version
of the longer loop through White Owl Canyon. The route proceeds along
the shoreline to Hole 33, passes through the canyon, and returns to the
starting point mainly along a section of the paved River Mountain
Trail. Early west side assembly will be at Red Rock Casino for a 7:20 AM departure. The full group will gather at Henderson Fiesta for an 8:00 AM departure,
and will meet the coordinators and other Boulder City participants at
the parking area on the right side of Lake Mead Parkway just before the
fee booth about 8:10 AM. Coordinators - Joan & Chuck Hawkins.
Tuesday, February 4 - Cleopatra Wash. This
strenuous 7-mile hike in the Lake Mead area mostly involves scrambling
through a beautiful canyon to the shore of the lake. There are several
dry waterfalls to negotiate along the way, but the 30-foot waterfall
near the end of the canyon is impassable. At that point the group will
climb a steep ridge by loose trail and scramble down the other side to
the shore. Boathouse Cove Road is used to get to the starting point and
it definitely requires high clearance vehicles. The west side group
will assemble at Rampart Casino and leave at 7:00 AM for the CVS Pharmacy at Lake Mead Boulevard and Hollywood. The combined group will leave there at 7:35 AM and do a final stop at the Mile Marker 4 pullout along Northshore Road about 7:50 AM on the way to the hike. Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.
Wednesday, February 5 - Black Mountain (Henderson). The
trail to the top of this peak on the south side of Las Vegas climbs
2,100 feet and seems to get steeper the closer one gets to the top. The
view is phenomenal and takes in not only all of Las Vegas but stretches
south past Searchlight and into Arizona. Total distance is right at 6
miles for the out-and-back hike and the rating is strenuous. Early west
side participants should meet at Red Rock Casino for a 7:30 AM departure.
The main group will assemble at the Walgreens located at the
intersection of Anthem Parkway and Hampton Road and leave for the
trailhead at 8:15 AM. Parking at the trailhead is limited so carpooling is essential. Coordinator - Helmut De Candia.
Thursday, February 6 - Cholla Forest Loop. The
south flank of the River Mountains provides the setting for this
moderately strenuous loop hike of 6 or 7 miles. The route involves a
series of dry waterfalls in a canyon before reaching a sensational
concentration of Teddy Bear Cholla where the break will occur. Be
prepared for scrambling over much of the route. The early west side
group will leave from Red Rock Casino at 7:20 AM and join the main group at Henderson Fiesta for an 8:00 AM departure.
They will meet the coordinator and other Boulder City participants at
the lower parking lot at Alan Bible Visitor Center around 8:25 AM. Coordinators - Joan & Chuck Hawkins.
Friday, February 7 - Calico Hills Figure 8. This
very strenuous 5-mile adventure will start from the Red Springs Picnic
Area. The group will ascend Grand Staircase, go down the back side,
navigate an inner route between Calico I and Calico II, ascend past the
carving to the saddle at Guardian Angel Pass, and descend toward Calico
Basin. The fun is not finished as the group will then climb past Heart
Rock and a tunnel to Slab Rift, cross the earlier path, traverse the
ridge above Grand Staircase, and descend to the boardwalk. The route
consists of 10% trail and 90% scrambling, has minimal exposure, and
should take four to five hours to complete. Departure from the assembly
point at Red Rock Casino will be at 8:00 AM. Coordinator - Jim Billetdeaux.
Saturday, February 8 - Fracture Ridge. Located in
the McCullough Range south of Henderson and right next to Black
Mountain, the trek to the peak at the end of Fracture Ridge provides
another opportunity to see up close the remains of volcanic activity in
our area from eons ago. The strenuous out-and-back hike is 6 or 7 miles
in length and gains roughly 1,800 feet. Most of the route is on trail
but there is some moderate scrambling getting to the peak. The early
west side group will meet at Red Rock Casino and depart at 7:15 AM. The main group will assemble at the Walgreens at the intersection of Anthem Parkway and Hampton Road for an 8:00 AM departure
to the trailhead, which is just five minutes away. Limited space at
the trailhead requires maximum carpooling. Coordinator - Ed Matulis.
Saturday, February 8 - Hoover Dam & Bridge. Eliminating
the hike through the tunnels reduces the total distance of this easy to
moderate partial loop hike to about 4 miles. Instead of Alan Bible
Visitor Center, it will begin from the Lake Mead Observation Point
sitting directly on top of tunnel #5. From that lot, participants will
drop onto the regular trail and follow the newly opened section of trail
that passes the Boneyard on the way to the dam. On the return, the
group will cross the new bridge overlooking the dam before returning to
the starting point. West side participants will depart from Red Rock
Casino at 7:50 AM and the entire group will leave from Henderson Fiesta at 8:30 AM, arriving at the starting point of the hike about 8:55 AM. Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.
Sunday, February 9 - River Mountains Trail - Part 3. The
most scenic, but longest, section of the paved trail around the River
Mountains is set for the finale of this three Sunday effort. Starting
from the lot along Lake Mead Parkway near the Lake Mead fee both,
participants will head around the east side of the mountains, passing
several features including the water intake station before reaching the
end at the lower parking lot of Alan Bible Visitor Center. This segment
is about 13 miles in length and also follows the old road bed for
Northshore Road that has been converted to bike and walking trails.
Because of the length this outing is rated as strenuous. West side
group will leave from Red Rock Casino at 7:00 AM to join the main group at Henderson Fiesta for a 7:45 AM departure. It will be necessary to spot vehicles at the end for the return. Coordinator - Lettie Gutierrez.
Monday, February 10 - Rubber Ducky Yucca. Here is
one more opportunity to visit the Joshua tree near Cottonwood Valley
that mountain bikers have decided to adorn with a host of rubber ducks.
On our last visit to the tree near Thanksgiving, one of our members
added a rubber turkey to the collection. Overall, this moderate partial
loop hike will cover a distance of 6 miles. The route includes a trail
that takes participants to the top of a long ridge that provides great
views of the area. The assembly point for the hike is at Red Rock
Casino with a departure at 8:00 AM. There will be an additional stop at the gas station located at the junction of Highways 159 and 160 at 8:20 AM to pick up south side participants. Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.
Tuesday, February 11 - Rufus Cove. This strenuous
hike of about 9 miles starts at the pullout one-half mile beyond Mile
Marker 16 on Northshore Road in the Lake Mead area. The hike goes down a
very colorful canyon to the shore of Lake Mead and there is some
boulder scrambling and a few dry waterfalls to negotiate. Any
participants from the west side can meet at the Rampart Casino for a
carpool departure at 7:20 AM. The main group will assemble at the CVS Pharmacy on Lake Mead Boulevard and Hollywood, leaving there at 8:00 AM to join the coordinator and any other south side participants at the Mile Marker 4 pullout along Northshore Road at 8:15 AM before heading to the starting point of the hike. Coordinator - Chuck Hawkins.
Wednesday, February 12 - McCullough Hills Trail. Unlike
the hike of February 1 with the same name, this will not be a short
hike. The objective for this effort is to do the entire 8-mile trail
from end to end. To accomplish this, the group will be split at the
final meeting spot and there will be a key exchange prior to the hike
and again in the middle of the hike. There is some elevation change but
the trail is in pretty good shape, so the hike carries a moderate
rating. The early west side group will gather at Red Rock Casino for a 7:20 AM departure.
The general meeting point is different from normal. It will be in the
parking lot of a Walgreens Drug Store at the intersection of Eastern
Avenue and Sunridge Heights Parkway. The address of the store is 11001
Eastern Avenue. Meeting time at that location will start around 7:45 AM and the group will leave there at 8:00 AM. Coordinator - Richard Hansen.
Thursday, February 13 - River Mountain Peak. The
highest point in the River Mountains is the objective for this strenuous
8-mile out-and-back hike starting from the trailhead parking lot next
to St. Jude Children's Ranch. The route will follow the city trail to
the saddle between Red and Black Mountains, then drop off the back side
using a series of mountain biking trails. Farther on is a utility
gravel road that leads to the saddle below the peak and the final
assault is a fairly tough bushwhack to the top. Departure from the west
side collection point at Red Rock Casino will be at 7:20 AM and the full group will leave from Henderson Fiesta at 8:00 AM, arriving at the River Mountains trailhead parking lot by 8:20 AM. Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.
Friday, February 14 - Krafft Mountain Loop. Celebrate
Valentines Day with a moderate 5-mile romp through the lower section of
Gateway Canyon while making a circle around the magenta colored
mountain on the north side of Calico Basin. Starting from Red Springs
Picnic Area, the familiar route heads north along the Calico Hills and
climbs the trail to the saddle atop Five Stop Hill. From there the
trail descends into Gateway Canyon for some exciting scrambling amid the
very colorful sandstone formations. After exiting the canyon,
participants will pass a renowned boulder area and follow Ash Creek back
to the starting point. The group will gather at Red Rock Casino for an
8:00 AM departure. Coordinator - Helmut De Candia.
Saturday, February 15 - Jean's Canyon & Redstone Petroglyphs. Rated
strenuous, this 7 mile hike starting at Mile Marker 25 of Northshore
Road heads up an interesting inner canyon that climbs over Pinto Ridge
and into Pinto Valley. At this point the route turns left towards the
Redstone rocks for an exploration of the many formations and
petroglyphs. There is some rock scrambling and elevation changes along
the way. West side participants should leave from Rampart Casino at 7:20 AM to join the main group assembling at the CVS Pharmacy on Lake Mead Boulevard and Hollywood for an 8:00 AM departure.
There will be a quick stop at Mile Marker 4 along Northshore Road to
collect the coordinators and any other south side participants around 8:15 AM. Coordinators - Joan & Chuck Hawkins.
Saturday, February 15 - River Mountains Trail Segment & Lunch. An
easy to moderate jaunt along a 4-mile section of the River Mountains
Trail is the order of the day for the later hike. This will be a
point-to-point hike that will require vehicles to be left at the
Railroad Pass Casino, where it will finish, with other vehicles taking
participants to the starting point by St. Jude Children's Ranch. There
is more downhill than uphill involved and the entire trail is paved, so
hiking shoes can be replaced with other athletic shoes. After the hike
join the group for lunch at the Railroad Pass café. The west side group
with the coordinator will leave Red Rock Casino at 7:50 AM, join the main group at Henderson Fiesta for an 8:30 AM departure, and get to Railroad Pass Casino at 8:45 AM, parking in the lower lot. Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.
Sunday, February 16 - Roos & More Zoo. This
sanctioned club outing will visit an educational zoo located in Moapa
that allows visitors constant hands-on interaction with the animals.
This outing required pre-registration and advance payment
of the individual cost and is currently filled. Details have been sent
to all the participants as to assembly location and time. Coordinator -
Jim Billetdeaux.
Monday, February 17 - Blue Point Spring Redstone Formations. This
generally moderate 5 to 6-mile hike starts at Blue Point Spring near
Mile Marker 40 on Northshore Road. There are numerous red Aztec
sandstone formations that will be explored, including an arch in which
the waters of Lake Mead can be framed for photographs along with several
other arches. It has some of the nicest formations in the Lake Mead
area, which definitely compensates for the long drive. The Rampart
Casino will be the early west side staging point with a 7:20 AM departure. The primary meeting spot is at CVS Pharmacy on Lake Mead Boulevard and Hollywood for an 8:00 AM departure. The coordinators and any other south side participants should be at the Northshore Road Mile Marker 4 pullout by 8:15 AM to join the rest of the group. Coordinators - Joan & Chuck Hawkins.
Monday, February 17 - Gunsight Notch Peak. This
very strenuous 7-mile out-and-back hike will rival any of the tough
Tuesday hikes for intensity. Starting from the Pine Creek parking area
the group will hike across the desert, enter the south fork of Pine
Creek, and continue up the canyon on the same route that leads to
Terrace Canyon. At the final canyon junction, the route turns left in
Gunsight Notch Canyon and climbs to the peak for a breathtaking view.
Elevation gain is in the order of 2,100 feet. There is no exposure but
the hike can still be intimidating due to the steepness. If using
trekking poles, be sure to bring rubber tips as the regular tungsten is
virtually useless and even dangerous on the loose shale. Departure from
Red Rock Casino will be at 8:00 AM. Coordinator - Jim Billetdeaux.
Tuesday, February 18 - Quarry Loop. Join other
members of the club for an exploration of an old quarry area at the
southeast corner of the River Mountains. Starting from a large parking
area just beyond Mile Marker 3 of Lakeshore Road, the group will head
toward the quarry and climb up a steep canyon on its left side. At the
top of the canyon are a series of mesas and upper canyons seldom visited
by hikers. The descent will be along the opposite side of the quarry
returning to the vehicles. This is a strenuous hike of 6 miles that
involves serious scrambling and climbing. The early west side group
should leave Red Rock Casino at 7:20 AM and join the main group at Henderson Fiesta for an 8:00 AM departure.
They will then meet the coordinator and other Boulder City participants
at the Railroad Tunnels parking lot below Alan Bible Visitor Center
about 8:25 AM before heading to the starting point of the hike. Coordinator - Chuck Hawkins.
Wednesday, February 19 - Grand Circle. The big
loop hike in Red Rock Canyon will start from the parking lot behind the
fee booth and proceed in a clockwise direction, heading first toward the
Willow Springs gap. At 12 miles and 900 feet of gain, this hike
provides great views of the sandstone and limestone peaks on all sides
of Red Rock Canyon. Because of the distance it is rated as strenuous.
The most rolling terrain is in the last three miles coming home from
Sandstone Quarry. The group will assemble at Red Rock Casino for an 8:00 AM departure. Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.
Thursday, February 20 - Lava Butte. It's been a
few years since this peak has been on the agenda, so it's time for
another go-around. The hike will start from the pullout on Northshore
Road close to Mile Marker 3 where Lava Butte Wash flows under the road.
This is about one mile from the junction with Lake Mead Boulevard. The
group will follow the wash and angle toward the mountain and climb the
steep ridge that climbs on the east face. Total distance is about 6
miles and there is 1,800 feet of vertical gain. These factors, along
with the amount of scrambling involved, result in the hike carrying a
strenuous rating. The Rampart Casino group will leave at 7:20 AM and the complete group will leave the CVS Pharmacy on Lake Mead Boulevard and Hollywood at 8:00 AM. Anyone driving from the south side can drive straight to the pullout where the hike starts. Coordinator - Steve Anderson.
Friday, February 21 - Lone Grapevine Spring. The
only time this season that this hike was scheduled was in December and
it got washed out, so it's time to try again. The moderate partial loop
hike starts from the Late Night trailhead parking lot and proceeds
through Cottonwood Valley, visiting a couple of natural springs near the
southern base of the escarpment. In the vicinity of the second springs
is a collection of both ancient and more recent petroglyphs carved on
boulders lying on the ground. Elevation gain is about 300 feet and
occurs on the return. The group will assemble at Red Rock Casino for an
8:00 AM departure and there will be a stop at the gas station at the junction of Highways 159 and 160 at 8:20 AM to meet south side participants. Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.
Saturday, February 22 - White Rock Springs Peak. This
moderately strenuous out-and-back hike will start at the White Rock
Springs parking lot at the end of the gravel road that starts at Mile
Marker 6 of the Red Rock scenic drive. It is about 3 miles in total
distance and scrambling is the primary aspect of the hike as virtually
the entire time will be spent climbing over boulders on the ridge
getting to the top. Elevation gain is 1,200 feet. Most of the
scrambling is Class 2 but there are sections of Class 3 terrain that
will require use of hands and there are areas of exposure. The group
will depart from Red Rock Casino at 8:00 AM. Coordinator - Jim Billetdeaux.
Saturday, February 22 - Calico I-Moenkopi Loop. The
leisurely hike for the first Saturday back in Red Rock Canyon will find
the group on an easy to moderate 3-mile loop with only a few hundred
feet of elevation gain. Starting from the Red Rock Visitor Center,
participants will head around to the back side of the building and take
the trail heading east that crosses the scenic drive. Turning gradually
north, they will stop briefly at Calico I Overlook, then cross the
drive again and head for the Moenkopi Trail and a gradual ridge with a
very good panoramic view of the canyon before returning to the starting
point. This group will depart from Red Rock Casino at 8:30 AM. Coordinator - Ed Matulis.
Sunday, February 23 - Camel Tracks Loop. As
we start to close down the hiking season near Lake Mead we have yet
another new option for serious hikers. Starting at Mile Marker 20.5 on
Northshore Road, the trail heads toward the Callville Road junction and
turns right to find some ancient camel tracks near a wash. The route
then climbs to a saddle for a break at an overlook of the North and
South Bowls of Fire. The moderately strenuous 6-mile partial loop hike
finishes through a colorful area back to the original trail and the
starting point. Total elevation gain is around 1,500 feet. West side
group will depart from Rampart Casino at 7:20 AM and join the main contingent at CVS Pharmacy on Lake Mead Boulevard and Hollywood, leaving at 8:00 AM and picking up any south side participants at Mile Marker 4 around 8:15 AM. Coordinator - Kay Blackwell.
Monday, February 24 - Red Springs Loop. Prepare
to boulder scramble on this moderately strenuous 4-mile hike starting
at Red Springs Picnic Area in Calico Basin. From the parking lot a
trail follows the east flank of the Calico Hills to the base of a notch
known as Angel Pass. The fun begins as the ascent is scrambling over
and around a variety of obstacles getting to the saddle. On the descent
into Red Rock Canyon the group will pass the somewhat famous angel
carving before finding a ledge near the bottom for a snack break. The
hike stays in a canyon alongside the Calico Hills until it reaches a
trail around the south end that returns to the original parking lot.
Meet at Red Rock Casino for an 8:00 AM departure. Coordinator - Nancy Moore.
Tuesday, February 25 - Calico Hills Peaks. Canceled
last time it was scheduled due to weather it's time to try it again.
From Red Springs Picnic Area, the group will traverse over to Ash Canyon
and continue west to the north chute approach to Red Cap. After a
short stop to admire the view, they will follow the ridge southeast and
climb Calico Peak. There is a 30-foot descent on a cliff wall in this
section that has significant exposure. After the second peak the group
will descend to the valley floor in Red Rock and ascend to Guardian
Angel Pass for a return to Red Springs. This is a strenuous 5-mile hike
with lots of scrambling and some Class 3 terrain. Meet at Red Rock
Casino for an 8:00 AM departure. Coordinator - Michael O'Connor.
Wednesday, February 26 - La Madre Miner's Cabin. This
moderately strenuous 5-mile out-and-back hike stages out of Willow
Springs Picnic Area and first heads up a half mile section of Rocky Gap
Road. Turning right onto a trail atop an old abandoned road, it passes
the cutoff for White Rock Hills Loop followed by a couple of old summer
home foundations and arrives at the wildlife pond at the base of a
creek. From there the route turns into a single track trail as it
follows the drainage upstream and turns fairly steep as it approaches
the old shelter on a ledge looking across the valley toward White Rock
Hills Peak. Assembly will be at Red Rock Casino with an 8:00 AM departure. Coordinator - Ed Matulis.
Thursday, February 27 - Fern Canyon. One
of the few places in southern Nevada where it is moist enough for
naturally occurring ferns is the North Fork of Pine Creek Canyon, which
contributes to the alternate local name. Starting from the Pine Creek
parking lot the regular trail passes the old Wilson homestead and
follows the canyon drainage on the north bank. Gaining a bit of
elevation and bending around the corner at the entrance to the canyon,
that trail eventually drops into the drainage. At that point it becomes
a boulder scrambling effort with some of the terrain requiring use of
hands. Overall, this out-and-back hike is 4 miles in length and rated
moderately strenuous. Group departure will be at 8:00 AM from Red Rock Casino. Coordinator - Kay Blackwell.
Friday, February 28 - Red Cap from Calico Basin. A
shorter but no less strenuous version of the Tuesday hike is this 3 to
4-mile trek to the top of the red mantle at the north end of the Calico
Hills. Starting from the gravel parking lot at the northwest corner of
Calico Basin, the group will climb through Ash Canyon, connect with the
Rattlesnake Trail, and climb Red Cap from the west side. They will make
the descent on the north side and reconnect with Rattlesnake Trail,
heading back down Ash Canyon to the starting point. The hike is 50%
trail and 50% Class 3 scrambling. Participants will depart from Red
Rock Casino at 8:00 AM. Coordinator - Jim Billetdeaux.
