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, as they will not include
directions.
The March hike schedule
includes mostly hikes in the Red Rock Canyon area with several hikes,
especially during the first half of the month, in the Lake Mead area.
See the information directly below for directions to assembly locations
for those hikes. When scheduled hikes are not specifically within those
areas, directions to the meeting sites will be included in the hike
descriptions.
Red Rock Canyon Area. Our
main assembly point for hikes in Red Rock, Cottonwood Valley, and the
escarpment west of these places is at 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 from 215, 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 most 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, for those wishing to carpool from the west
side, 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 levels 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. In March there is one Gold Butte hike on the schedule on Thursday, March 6. For
this hike 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.
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 most of these situations are referenced in the hike
descriptions, others may occur that are not so noted.
IMPORTANT POINT #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
southeast 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 and go to the wrong location.
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 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, March 1 - La Madre Double Arch. This
strenuous 6-mile outing in the vicinity of Keystone Thrust will begin
from the upper parking lot at Mile Marker 6 of the scenic drive that
also serves White Rock
Spring. The group will proceed up the Keystone Thrust Trail until it
drops into the upper wash, hike up to the fork, then turn right and
ascend a steep wash to the double arch. After a break they will return
to the red sandstone above Keystone Thrust Canyon before returning to
the starting point. Meeting location is Red Rock Casino with an 8:00 AM departure. Coordinator - Lettie Gutierrez.
Saturday, March 1 - Fossil Ridge. Here
is your basic easy to moderate 3-mile Fossil Ridge hike done in a
clockwise direction. From the Cowboy Stables parking lot the group will
follow the entrance road to the main building and climb the trail onto
the ridge immediately behind the building. Once on the ridge, the group
will follow the regular trail to the south along the top of Echo
Canyon, stopping for a snack break near an outcropping of stacked
composite boulders. The return will be along the northwestern section
of the loop often referred to as the "bunny trail." This group will
assemble at Red Rock Casino for an 8:30 AM departure. Coordinator - Dennis Rohne.
Sunday, March 2 - Rainbow Gardens. By special
request we will be doing an exploratory hike into the southern section
of Rainbow Gardens through a broad wash toward a large red sandstone
pointed monument. The hike will start from Lake Mead Parkway just west
of Lake Las Vegas and head in a northern direction. Trail conditions
are unknown and the estimated distance to be covered is up to 6 miles.
Long hiking pants are probably advisable as there could be lots of brush
and irregular terrain. Rating is probably moderate or moderately
strenuous. Early west side group will depart from Red Rock Casino at 7:20 AM and the fully assembled group will leave from Henderson Fiesta at 8:00 AM. Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.
Monday, March 3 - North Wind Wash Loop. This
moderate 8-mile loop hike starts in a dry wash across the road from
Black Mesa in the Lake Mead area. It continues to an area of colorful
rocks with sandstone marbles and oddly shaped formations. On the return
the route loops through an adjacent colorful wash with some loose
footing. West side participants should leave from Rampart Casino at 7:20 AM with the general meeting spot at the CVS Pharmacy on Lake Mead Boulevard and an 8:00 AM departure.
That group will meet up with the coordinators and any other south side
participants at the Mile Marker 4 pullout along Northshore Road about 8:15 AM before proceeding to the trailhead. Coordinators - Joan & Chuck Hawkins.
Monday, March 3 - Siena Ridge. We usually only do
this hike in late December but we are scheduling it again to see
whether or not we can get an early sighting of the Desert Tortoise we
encountered a year ago. The out-and-back hike itself is 5 miles in
length with under 1,000 feet of elevation gain and is rated moderate.
The starting point is the parking lot for the golf course in the
community of Siena, so if anyone going knows where that is they can
drive directly there. Otherwise, we will be assembling at Red Rock
Casino for an 8:00 AM departure. Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.
Tuesday, March 4 - West End Wash to Anniversary Narrows Loop. Also
known as the End Around hike, this strenuous trek starts at Mile Marker
13 on Northshore Road. The route passes a nice, very large arch and
climbs the side of a brilliant red dry waterfall before proceeding
almost to the foothills of the Muddy Mountains. It then goes over a
saddle to an interesting canyon with dry waterfalls and other formations
and descends into Lovell Wash just above Anniversary Narrows before
returning to the vehicles. Total distance is 10 to 12 miles and the
pace will be fairly fast. West side participants should carpool from
Rampart Casino, leaving at 7:20 AM. The general meeting location is the CVS Pharmacy on Lake Mead Boulevard with an 8:00 AM departure.
There will be a brief stop at Mile Marker 4 of Northshore Road to pick
up the coordinators and any other south side participants about 8:15 AM before heading to the starting point. Coordinators - Joan & Chuck Hawkins.
Tuesday, March 4 - Calico Tanks. For
those wanting a shorter hike we will be offering the scenic 3-mile
out-and-back hike along the Calico Tanks Trail out of Sandstone Quarry
in Red Rock. This moderate hike climbs through a colorful canyon in the
Calico Hills for a break on a ledge overlooking Ash Canyon and the
community of Calico Basin with views extending across the southern half
of Las Vegas as far as Lake Mead and some Arizona mountains. If this
hike suits your fancy you can meet the other participants at Red Rock
Casino for an 8:00 AM departure. Coordinator - Nancy Moore.
Wednesday, March 5 - Gorman Little Grand Canyon. Utilizing
a route though the low hills west of Bishop Gorman High School, this
hike has a steep climb through a slot in a low set of cliffs and winds
its way to the top of the canyon for views of Blue Diamond Hill and the
wallboard processing plant near the community of Blue Diamond. On the
return we will be following a trail we happened upon on our last visit.
The loop hike is about 6 miles long, is rated moderate other than the
aforementioned slot climb, and will be conducted in a counter clockwise
direction. Group departure from Red Rock Casino will be at 8:00 AM. Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.
Thursday, March 6 - Gold Butte Little Finland & Subway. This
strenuous 8.5-mile hike with 1,000 feet of elevation gain was
rescheduled from February 2 because of a possible conflict with the
Super Bowl. The drive into Gold Butte includes 4 miles of graded dirt
road followed by 4 miles of rough dirt road that requires high clearance
vehicles. The hike itself covers an area of Gold Butte highlighting
the Little Finland rock formations, slot canyons filled with
petroglyphs, and a boulder filled canyon with some fun climbing.
Exposed routes can be circumvented if necessary. Plan on being gone the
entire day on this outing. West side group departure will be at 7:30 AM and full group departure from Lucky Club Casino will be at 8:00 AM. Coordinators - John & Kay Blackwell.
Friday, March 7 - Mystery Woman Canyon. This
moderately strenuous loop hike will cover about 6 miles and includes
some scrambling in the namesake canyon. The route starts up Skull
Canyon, branches off into Mystery Woman Canyon, and stops for a break at
the new Las Vegas Overlook before returning past the communications
tower on Blue Diamond Hill. The finishing part of the hike is along the
steep and loose Boneshaker Trail that leads back to the cowboy
stables area. If interested, meet the group at Red Rock Casino for an 8:00 AM departure. Coordinator - Roger Hembree.
Saturday, March 8 - Sandstone Canyon. Get ready
for some good boulder scrambling in the canyon behind Spring Mountain
Ranch that penetrates the Wilson Cliffs on the west side of Red Rock
Canyon. This moderately strenuous out-and-back hike will cover a total
distance of 5 miles and provide spectacular views of colorful sandstone
cliffs where climbers may be present. Overall elevation gain will
approach 1,000 feet but most of that is during the boulder scrambling in
the canyon. This group will meet in the northeast corner at Red Rock
Casino for an 8:00 AM departure. This location is in
the lot just east of the main entry to the casino rather than our
regular location in the parking lot. Coordinator - Jon Lubinski.
Saturday, March 8 - Sandstone Quarry Loop. Starting
from Sandstone Quarry along the scenic drive in Red Rock, this 3-mile
loop hike utilizes a section of the Grand Circle Trail heading toward
the White Rock Hills
and cuts over a low sandstone mound before reaching the back side of the
Turtlehead Trail. From there the group will head down to the Ash
Canyon Overlook but will turn back toward the starting point on the
north side of Red Cap. There is some minimal rock scrambling involved,
which results in a moderate rating for this hike. The group will meet
in the normal spot at Red Rock Casino for an 8:30 AM departure. Coordinator - Ann Cronin.
Sunday, March 9 - White Owl Canyon. The long
version of the hike into the canyon on the shores of Lake Mead known for
a pair of white owls will begin near the old Las Vegas Marina and
follow the shore line of the lake to the canyon entrance. After exiting
the canyon on the west side, the route back includes some bushwhacking
but eventually reaches an abandoned section of Lakeshore Drive that is
now part of the long River Mountains Trail. There are two choices for
descending back to the lake, with one including some very intense
boulder scrambling in another canyon with a bypass option that is
generally pretty easy. West side departure from Red Rock Casino will be
at 7:15 AM with the full group leaving Henderson Fiesta at 8:00 AM. Coordinator - Lettie Gutierrez.
Monday, March 10 - Rainbow Canyon & Anniversary Narrows. This
moderate 8-mile loop in the Lake Mead area passes through colorful
Rainbow Canyon and includes stops both in the narrows and at the
abandoned area above Lovell Wash where the processing site used to be.
With spring approaching there is a chance of catching blooms on the
local bearpaw poppies. The route includes some uphill grades and a
little scrambling. Any participants from the west side should meet
at the Rampart Casino parking garage for a carpool departure at 7:20 AM to join the main group at the CVS Pharmacy assembly point. The entire group will leave at 8:00 AM and pick up the coordinators and other south side participants at the Mile Marker 4 pullout along Northshore Road at 8:15 AM. Coordinators - Joan & Chuck Hawkins.
Monday, March 10 - Krafft Mountain Loop. Back by
popular demand is this extremely picturesque loop hike through Gateway
Canyon on the north side of Krafft Mountain. Starting from the Red
Springs parking lot, the route follows the trail up Five Stop Hill
before dropping into the canyon for some exciting scrambling. After
exiting the canyon the trail back leads past a boulder array that gets
heavy use from the genre of free climbers who use only mats to
cushion any falls from their sometimes upside down adventures. Total
distance is about 6 miles and the rating is moderately strenuous. The
group will assemble at Red Rock Casino and leave for the hike at 8:00 AM. Coordinator - Nancy Moore.
Tuesday, March 11 - Hoover Dam Bridge Peak & Point. Here
is a new adventure for the intrepid group of "Tough Tuesday" hikers to
challenge. The most dramatic route is straight up the mountain from
almost under the highway bridge near the start of the Gold Strike Hot
Springs starting point. To create a loop route the group will use Gold
Strike Canyon to return to the vehicles. Total distance is only about 4
miles but it is pretty intense, resulting in a very strenuous rating.
West side departure from Red Rock Casino is at 7:20 AM. The full group will meet at the Henderson Fiesta and leave at 8:00 AM. Coordinator - Laszlo Heredy.
Tuesday, March 11 - Echo Canyon & First Finger. The
alternative hike this Tuesday is a moderate 6-mile loop route that
opens with some moderate scrambling up Echo Canyon and includes a few
dry waterfalls in the six-foot height range. Near the top of the canyon
the group will turn left on a trail that leads to First Finger, then
come back around at the edge of the mining area and descend along the
Fossil Ridge Trail. Enjoy the abundant views of the Wilson Cliffs from
the open top of this ridge. The assembled group will have an 8:00 AM departure from Red Rock Casino. Coordinator - Nancy Moore.
Wednesday, March 12 - Frenchman Mountain. This
strenuous 4-mile out-and-back hike to the tall mountain on the east side
of Las Vegas will involve several options. The coordinator will lead a
group up the steep gravel road accessed from Lake Mead Boulevard just
over the saddle in the Sunrise Mountains. Those wanting a different
approach can use either the western route up the partial trail from the
end of Bonanza Road, which includes significant scrambling and exposure,
or head toward the canyon on the northwest side that includes a twenty
foot crawl ledge. West side departure from Rampart Casino will be at 7:30 AM. The main group, including the coordinator, will be assembling at CVS Pharmacy on Lake Mead Boulevard for an 8:15 AM departure. Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.
Thursday, March 13 - Hollow Rock Peak. The
traditional out-and-back route to the top of the southern most sandstone
peak in the Wilson Cliffs covers a total distance of 6 miles and gains
slightly more than 1,000 feet. The opening portion of the hike is on a
fairly steep trail starting near Mountain Springs Summit. After a mile
of hiking the route branches toward the peak and soon becomes a
significant scramble over sandstone ridges and through steep
canyons. This is a strenuous hike with some exposure at the peak. The
main group will meet at Red Rock Casino for an 8:00 AM departure and there will be a secondary stop at the gas station at the junction of Highways 159 and 160 about 8:20 AM to pick up south side participants. Coordinator - Steve Anderson.
Friday, March 14 - First Creek. Generally rated
easy to moderate, this 4-mile out-and-back hike passes a hidden grotto
below a seasonal waterfall in the creek drainage. After a short stop at
the grotto the group will head toward the entrance to the canyon,
reaching the break spot above a boulder waterfall that requires some
moderate scrambling to reach, Elevation gain is in the range of 400 to
500 feet. Meet the other participants at Red Rock Casino for an 8:00 AM departure. Coordinator - Roger Hembree.
Saturday, March 15 - Windy Peak. The out-and-back
hike to the top of this red-capped sandstone peak in the southern
portion of the Wilson Cliffs begins from a pullout on Highway 160 near
Mountain Springs Summit. Total distance is between 5 and 6 miles with
1,200 feet of gain. Besides a section of steep trail there is some
bushwhacking and also some scrambling around boulders near the top.
There is also some rolling exposure for about 50 feet just past the
transition from a limestone ridge to the sandstone mound that comprises
the peak. This hike is rated strenuous. Departure of the group from
Red Rock Casino will be at 8:00 AM with a secondary pickup at the Highway 159 and 160 gas station twenty minutes later. Coordinator - Lettie Gutierrez.
Saturday, March 15 - Fossil Ridge. The route for
this leisurely hike will be quite different from the route used on the
March 1 offering of the same name. This loop version will turn right
immediately through the cowboy stables entrance and turn right again
before reaching the brown composite boulders overlooking Echo Canyon.
Near the halfway point the route turns left and follows a trail above
Echo Canyon back down the north end of Blue Diamond Hill. Total
distance for the moderate loop hike is 3.6 miles with 800 feet of
elevation gain. Meet the group at Red Rock Casino for an 8:30 AM departure. Coordinator - Lorraine Stalians.
Sunday, March 16 - Bowl of Fire Loop. This
strenuous 10-mile hike will actually require a short car shuttle as the
start is at Mile Marker 20.5 along Northshore Road and the finish is at
Mile Marker 18. It starts by climbing a ridge and descending a steep
slope that leads into a series of washes where the group will come
across camel tracks in the sandstone. At the north end of the Bowl of
Fire they will encounter some fun scrambling in a colorful canyon that
may feature some pools if there is any recent rain. A half hour lunch
break will occur somewhat more than halfway along the route. West side
participants should leave the Rampart Casino at 7:20 AM, join the main contingent at CVS Pharmacy on Lake Mead Boulevard for an 8:00 AM departure,
then stop at Mile Marker 4 on Northshore Road to pick up the
coordinator and any other south side participants. Coordinator - David
Hardy.
Monday, March 17 - Calico Hills. The
out-and-back hike on the official trail between the Red Rock fee booth
and Sandstone Quarry covers a distance of 6 miles and gains a net of 700
feet, although the rolling terrain adds several hundred more. We will
be parking behind the fee both and taking the signed trail to Calico I
Overlook before dropping into the fault canyon between the hills and the
scenic drive. Along the way there will be a chance to view some
ancient petroglyphs on a slab of rock between Calico II and the turn
around point at Sandstone Quarry. The group will assemble at Red Rock
Casino for an 8:00 AM departure. Coordinator - Nancy Moore.
Tuesday, March 18 - McCullough Hills Trail. Be
prepared for a long day of hiking on this strenuous 16-mile out-and-back
hike south of Henderson. The goal is to follow the trail end to end to
end. There is some elevation change along the way but the trail is
generally in good shape. West side participants will have a 7:15 AM departure
from Red Rock Casino and will join the main group at the
Walgreens Pharmacy on the corner of Eastern and Sunridge, with a
departure for the new trailhead at 8:00 AM. Coordinator - Richard Hansen.
Wednesday, March 19 - Horse Thief Canyon. This
6-mile outing is actually two hikes in one. The hike is accessed by
driving up a gravel wash from the parking area also serving Arizona Hot
Springs on a recreational road requiring high clearance vehicles. The
hike starts by passing an unclimbable dry waterfall and scrambling up a
wash with mostly minor elevation gain. Continuing up a scenic canyon
the group will reach Horse Thief Falls for a break. After returning to
the starting point, the day continues with a short trek off the highway
to a remarkable slot canyon. Overall rating is probably moderately
strenuous. West side participants should leave Red Rock Casino by 7:40 AM and head for Henderson Fiesta, from which the consolidated group will leave at 8:20 AM and a final assembly will occur at the Arizona parking lot at 9:00 AM. Coordinator - Keith Lane.
Thursday, March 20 - Mountain Spring Peak. The
namesake for this moderately strenuous 7-mile loop hike is a limestone
peak sitting just above the top of the Wilson Cliffs somewhat behind
Black Velvet Peak. The most scenic spot, used for the break, is on a
ledge high above the top section of Black Velvet Canyon. These two
locations are followed by a stretch of bushwhacking down a ridge to a
gravel road leading back to the starting point. The group will meet at
Red Rock Casino for a departure at 7:40 AM and do a secondary stop about 8:00 AM at the 159-160 gas station to pick up any south side participants before heading to the trailhead. Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.
Friday, March 21 - Cottonwood Valley Loop. A
moderately strenuous hike of 6 miles with around 1,500 feet of
elevation gain will start from the dirt parking area we also use for
Badger Pass. It starts on a trail but eventually leaves it for a
cross-country route up a steep ridge to a higher ridge with views of Las
Vegas. From there the group will head south along the ridge
and connect with the Deadhorse Trail passing through Red Valley back to
the vehicles. Early assembly will be at Red Rock Casino on the west
side, with the group leaving at 7:30 AM. Final assembly point will be the gas station at the intersection of Highways 159 and 160 with a departure time of 8:00 AM. Coordinator - David Hardy.
Saturday, March 22 - Gray Cap Peak. Although the
approach used this Saturday is recognized as the easiest one to access
the peak, it is still tough enough to garner a strenuous rating.
The out-and-back hike from Sandstone Quarry covers about 5 miles with
about 1,600 feet of gross elevation gain. After passing the north end
of Red Cap, the group will head down a side canyon going east, turn left
into Gateway Canyon, and start doing serious scrambling on sandstone at
the top of that canyon. The limestone cap on the peak is a reminder of
the massive Pacific Plate movement eastward some sixty million years
ago. Departure from Red Rock Casino will be at 8:00 AM. Coordinator - Steve Anderson.
Saturday, March 22 - Firehouse Loop. The easy to
moderate option for the day will be a hike that starts off Moenkopi Road
in the vicinity of the BLM fire station. The easy to moderate loop
will cover a distance just over 3 miles and will include an elevation
gain of around 400 feet getting to the top of a hill for a partial view
back toward Las Vegas. Pace will be leisurely to accommodate all
participants. Meet the other cast members at Red Rock Casino for an 8:30 AM departure. Coordinator - Ann Cronin.
Sunday, March 23 - Mystery Woman Canyon. When we
first did this hike a year ago we had no idea what to expect in this
canyon that tops out near the communications tower on Blue Diamond Hill,
so the title of the hike had to have the word "mystery" in it. This outing will basically follow the route used on
March 7 to access the top of the canyon and reach the Las Vegas
Overlook, but will return to the starting point entering the top section
of Skull Canyon, making this a moderately strenuous partial loop
hike of about 6 miles with 1,200 feet of elevation gain. The group will
assemble at Red Rock Casino for an 8:00 AM departure. Coordinator - Lettie Gutierrez.
Monday, March 24 - Escarpment Base Trail. Rarely
does our club schedule a point-to-point hike that involves car
shuttling, but this moderate 5.4-mile hike is so interesting we usually
put it on the agenda several times a year. Some vehicles will be left
at the Lost Creek trailhead, where the group will finish, and the others
will be driven to the starting point at the gravel Oak Creek parking
area along the Red Rock scenic drive. In between is the Arnight, Pine
Creek, Dale's, and SMYC trails which will lead in a northerly direction
along the Wilson Cliffs, also known as the escarpment. Departure from
Red Rock Casino will be at 8:00 AM. Coordinator - Nancy Moore.
Tuesday, March 25 - Cave Canyon. There
is some pretty good scrambling in this canyon after negotiating a
15-foot dry waterfall, but it soon gives way to more gentler terrain as
it reaches the top of the canyon. In case the coordinator wants to
enter one of the two large caves near the waterfall you should probably
pack a flashlight of some kind. For the outing today the group will
complete the loop hike by making a final descent through Skull Canyon.
Estimated distance is about 5 or 6 miles, depending on the connection
with Skull Canyon, and the rating is moderately strenuous. Join the
group at Red Rock Casino for an 8:00 AM departure. Coordinator - Nancy Moore.
Wednesday, March 26 - Waterfall Canyon. This
spectacular point-to-point hike is only 4 miles in total distance but
it usually has some amount of water flowing even during fairly dry
seasons. Most of the hike is conducted on Rocky Gap Road getting to the
entrance to the canyon, but that one mile in the canyon is where the
intensity picks up. Most people can negotiate the moderately strenuous
scrambling required to reach the base of a 30-foot waterfall and the
more daring can climb to the top and follow the creek upstream for
another short distance. We will assemble at Red Rock Casino in the
usual spot for an 8:00 AM departure. Coordinator - Kay Blackwell.
Thursday, March 27 - Above Lost Creek Waterfall. Most
of this 4 to 5-mile hike is along relatively easy trail but the climb
through the cliffs near the Lost Creek waterfall and the subsequent
scrambling over and around boulders above the cliffs elevate the overall
rating to strenuous. The partial loop hike will start at the Ice Box
parking lot and follow the SMYC Trail to Lost Creek, continuing north on
the Willow Springs Loop Trail accessing the approach to our
destination. On the return we will incorporate the rest of the Willow
Springs Loop getting back to Lost Creek Trail and a return along SMYC.
Join the group at Red Rock Casino for a 7:45 AM departure. Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.
Friday, March 28 - Ice Box Canyon. Part
of the route used for this hike will duplicate the one used the
previous day, as it will start at the Lost Creek trailhead and follow
the SMYC Trail to the approach into Ice Box Canyon. After the trail
ends by dropping into the drainage, the group will encounter a stretch
of moderate boulder scrambling for about a half mile in either direction
reaching a 30-foot seasonal waterfall deep in the canyon. Total
distance will be about 4 miles for this moderately strenuous
out-and-back effort. Red Rock Casino will be the meeting point for this
hike and the assembled group will leave at 8:00 AM. Coordinator - Roger Hembree.
Saturday, March 29 - White Rock Hills Loop & Potluck Picnic. The
rating is moderate for this 6.4-mile loop around the two White Rock
Peaks at the north end of Red Rock Canyon with an elevation gain of 900
feet, all on trail. One of the more interesting factors about this hike
is the striking difference between the desert vegetation on the south
side of the mountains and the tree and shrub growth on the north side,
where twice as much annual rainfall occurs. Participants who are
interested in a pot luck picnic after the hike should bring food items
that do not require cooking to share with the group. Departure from Red
Rock Casino will be at 8:00 AM. Coordinator - Jim Billetdeaux.
Saturday, March 29 - Ash Meadows. Starting
from Red Springs Picnic Area the group will follow a series of trails
along the east side of the Calico Hills that will reach the base of Ash
Canyon for a break. Elevation gain is generally minimal but the trail
rolls slightly in spots. Ash Meadows itself has a healthy stand of ash
trees fed by a spring and creek that flow from near the location of the
break. Pace will be leisurely, distance is a little over 3 miles, and
the rating is easy to moderate. This group will leave at 8:30 AM from Red Rock Casino. Coordinator - Ann Cronin.
Sunday, March 30 - Blue Diamond Hill. Our
club does several hikes on the northern section of Blue Diamond Hill,
but this outing will be quite different since it is a point-to-point
hike requiring car shuttling. The hike starts at the cowboy stables
parking lot and heads toward the communications tower below the Las
Vegas Overlook before passing the gypsum mine area and winding up at the
community of Blue Diamond. To make sure we have enough vehicles to
carry all the participants from the finish back to the starting point,
the group that assembles at Red Rock Casino will depart at 7:10 AM and drive to Blue Diamond, getting there by 7:30 AM.
South side participants can drive north on Highway 159 from Highway 160
to join the group. Drivers should turn off Highway 159 onto the main
entrance to the community, cross the bridge, and look for the dirt
parking area on the right just before the first houses. Coordinator -
David Hardy.
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