The
information below is important to determine where our group meets prior
to each hike. Please read this section before skipping to the actual
hike descriptions. Hikes during the month of June will be split between
the Red Rock Canyon area (early mornings on select Mondays, Wednesdays,
and Fridays) and the higher elevations of the Spring Mountains (usually
referred to as the Mount Charleston area). Information regarding
assembly locations and directions to those locations is immediately
below.
Red Rock Canyon Area. Our assembly
point for summer hikes in Red Rock Canyon, Cottonwood Valley, and the
west side of the escarpment 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
outdoor lot. If traveling east on Charleston from 215 you can turn
right at the first entrance and then make an immediate left into the
lot. We will be parking at the north end of the lot along Charleston
Boulevard.
Mount Charleston Area. For
hikes north of Las Vegas in either the Mount Charleston area or in the
Sheep Mountains the assembly point will be at the Santa Fe Station
Casino. This property has two parking garages, one on the north end of
the casino close to Highway 95 and the Rancho exit and one on the
southeast side closer to the intersection of Rancho and Lone Mountain
Road. We always use the third level of the southeast parking garage as our meeting location. This
garage can be accessed from Lone Mountain Road traveling in either
direction at the entrance near the theater addition. It can also be
accessed from Rancho. If
traveling northbound on Rancho turn in at the casino entrance signalized
intersection and turn left to access the garage. If traveling
southbound on Rancho pass the signal and turn at the entrance that
directly accesses the garage. This second option is used if you are
getting to Santa Fe using northbound Highway 95 and taking the Rancho
exit. Drive up to the third level and turn left - we will be meeting right there.
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.
Sunday, June 1 - Hidden Forest. It
has been a while since we have offered this strenuous 11-mile
out-and-back hike in the Sheep Mountains. Could it have anything to do
with the twenty plus mile drive over some of the worst roads around?
The hike itself is a beauty, starting out in the high desert area on the
north side of the range through Deadman's Canyon and ending in a
ponderosa pine forest deep in the mountains where a CCC era cabin was
restored a few years ago. Overall elevation gain is in the 2,000 foot
range but it is fairly gradual. High clearance vehicles are essential
and four-wheel drive is quite helpful. The group will assemble at Santa
Fe Station for a 7:00 AM departure. Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.
Monday, June 2 - Early Morning Red Rock Hike with Doug. The
summer hiking series in the lower elevations of Red Rock Canyon gets
heated up this month. Our coordinator may have a destination in mind or
could ask the participants to come up with one. In any event the hikes
in this series will be in the moderate range with a targeted distance
of 4 or 5 miles, the idea being to get everyone off the trails by
mid-morning when it really starts to get hot. This month the departure
times from Red Rock Casino will be moved up a half hour to 6:00 AM to take advantage of somewhat cooler early temperatures. Coordinator - Doug Chang.
Monday, June 2 - Bristlecone Loop. For
those wanting to experience the higher elevations of the Spring
Mountains where you may even need a windbreaker in the early morning the
alternative will be a moderate 6-mile loop hike in the upper reaches of
Lee Canyon that gains about 800 feet of elevation. The views of the
surrounding mountains are exceptional and participants will pass
the gnarled pine trees that give the hike its name. The rest stop will
likely occur at the junction with the Bonanza Trail which is close to
the highest point of the hike. Departure from Santa Fe Station will be
at 8:00 AM. Coordinator - Nancy Moore.
Tuesday, June 3 - Lee Peak. As
a preamble to the following week's attack on the highest point in
southern Nevada our Tough Tuesday group will be heading up Trail Canyon
Trail and North Loop Trail on a very strenuous 13-mile out-and-back
trek. Situated along the north ridge between Mt. Charleston and Mummy
Mountain, Lee is technically not listed as an actual peak, but those
who reach the top will know it is a major climb with about 3,700 feet of
elevation gain. The hike is essentially all trail but the last section
is quite steep with significant loose rock. The departure time from
Santa Fe Station will be at 6:00 AM. Coordinator - Steve Anderson.
Tuesday, June 3 - Cave Springs. As
an alternative to the Lee Peak hike on this date we will be offering an
out-and-back trek along the same trails starting at Trail Canyon Trail
but only going as far along North Loop Trail as the horse trough at Cave
Springs. This moderately strenuous hike gains slightly more than 2,000
feet over a total distance of 6 miles. With the snow on the peaks this
year there is a good chance that water will be at least trickling
through the hose into the trough. If you want to find out meet the rest
of the group at Santa Fe Station for an 8:00 AM departure. Coordinator - Kay Blackwell.
Wednesday, June 4 - Early Morning Red Rock Hike with Doug. The
exact destination will be determined at the assembly point but the
parameters are set at a moderate hike covering a distance of 4 to 5
miles. Elevation gain will be capped around
600 feet and scrambling will probably be held to a minimum with most of
the route on established trail. The objective will be to be back at
the vehicles by mid-morning to minimize the heat impact. If interested
meet the other participants at Red Rock Casino for a 6:00 AM departure. Coordinator - Doug Chang.
Thursday, June 5 - Trail Canyon/Fletcher Canyon. This moderately
strenuous 6-mile point-to-point hike will have more descent than it has
climb but the elevation gain of 1,600 feet up Trail Canyon to the
junction with North Loop Trail is still pretty significant. Getting
into the upper portion of Fletcher Canyon involves a steep descent down a
slippery trail. While there is sporadic trail in the upper section
there is still quite a bit of significant scrambling. The toughest
parts are down a rock face along a waterfall and through the rabbit hole
next to Obstacle Rock. The last two miles back to the vehicles are an
easy walk. Extra vehicles will be needed for the car shuttle.
Departure from Santa Fe Station will be at 8:00 AM. Coordinator - Kay Blackwell.
Friday, June 6 - Early Morning Red Rock Hike with Doug. If
you are into Red Rock area hikes rather than the Mt. Charleston
area then this moderate 4 to 5-mile outing should satisfy your needs.
The destination will be determined at the assembly point but the hike
will not have significant elevation gain and should be mostly over
existing trails. Red Rock Casino will be used as the staging point with
a departure at 6:00 AM. Coordinator - Doug Chang.
Friday, June 6 - Mummy's Toe. Snow and ice at
Mummy Springs prevented our intrepid group from advancing beyond that
point on May 6 so here is another opportunity to reach the top of one of
the most distinctive peaks on the edge of Kyle Canyon. The normal
out-and-back route will be used for the strenuous trek of 7 or 8 miles
that starts at the North Loop trailhead off Deer Creek Road. It passes
Raintree and Mummy Springs and then starts a steep climb up a rapidly
disintegrating trail that turns into a difficult scramble route as it
approaches the upper ridge of the mountain. The group will have a 7:00 AM departure time from Santa Fe Station for this hike. Coordinator - Jim Billetdeaux.
Saturday, June 7 - Mary Jane Falls. The elevation
gain for this moderate out-and-back hike is 920 feet and the total
distance to be covered is 3 miles. At the falls there is an short
optional trek to a shallow cave at the base of a cliff that provides an
exceptional view of the upper portion of Kyle Canyon. Pace will be
leisurely to accommodate participants getting into the higher elevations
of the Spring Mountains for the first time this year. The group will
be assembling at Santa Fe Station and will depart for the trailhead at 8:30 AM. Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.
Sunday, June 8 - Long Canyon. This is a new hike for our club that was found on the www.birdandhike.com web
site of Jim Boone, one of our esteemed members. It will be offered as
an exploratory out-and-back hike along gravel roads and through dry
washes in the Desert National Wildlife Range near Corn Creek. Total
distance will be 8 or 9 miles with 2,000 feet of elevation gain that
does include a short stretch of narrows. We are calling this a
strenuous hike due to distance and elevation gain. High clearance
vehicles are preferable due to road conditions. The assembled group
will leave from Santa Fe Station at 7:30 AM. Coordinator - Kay Blackwell.
Monday, June 9 - Early Morning Red Rock Hike with Doug. Start off the week back in the lower elevations of Red Rock Canyon on a
hike to be determined at the assembly point by the participants.
General parameters are that the hike will be around 4 or 5 miles without
significant elevation gain and will be rated moderate. Group
composition will determine whether or not there is any scrambling. The
group will meet in the regular spot at Red Rock Casino for a 6:00 AM departure. Coordinator - Doug Chang.
Tuesday, June 10 - Mount Charleston. Here is the
first scheduled assault for 2014 on the highest peak in Southern
Nevada. With the top elevation of 11,918 feet the very strenuous
out-and-back hike from Trail Canyon trailhead involves over 4,200 feet
of gain and covers a total distance between 16 and 17 miles. The hike
on the previous Tuesday will
probably provide ample insight about trail conditions above 11,000 feet
that could include residual snow and ice. Participants need to be in
excellent shape to attempt this hike and need to carry lots of water and
electrolytes in addition to food. Departure will be at 6:00 AM from Santa Fe Station. Coordinator - Steve Anderson.
Tuesday, June 10 - Wild Horse Canyon. The
alternate hike on this Tuesday will be a moderate loop hike covering a
little over 3 miles on the east side of Mummy Mountain. The starting
point is along Highway 158 and the first part of the hike involves a
climb of about 1,000 feet up North Loop Trail to a mid-ridge meadows
area. After a rest break the group will make the steep trail descent
into the well-shaded canyon that used to be home to a lone wild horse.
There are some springs emanating in this canyon that give rise to
columbine and other plants dependent on good water availability. The
group will depart from Santa Fe Station at 8:00 AM. Coordinator - Nancy Moore.
Wednesday, June 11 - Early Morning Red Rock Hike with Doug. This
will be the last opportunity for nearly two weeks to participate on a
weekday outing in the Red Rock area (there is an option available on
Sunday, June 15). These early morning hikes usually cover 4 to 5 miles
and have a moderate rating without significant elevation gain. The mix
of hikers at the assembly point usually determines where the hike will
actually occur and whether or not there will be any scrambling. One of
the intents is to have everyone off the trails by mid-morning. If
interested meet the group at Red Rock Casino for a 6:00 AM departure. Coordinator - Doug Chang.
Thursday, June 12 - Raintree via Trail Canyon. The
slightly longer route to the 3,000 year old bristlecone pine called
Raintree will be used for this moderately strenuous hike of 7.5 miles
that gains 2,200 feet of elevation. It will be an out-and-back
hike starting up Trail Canyon Trail and continuing to the east on North
Loop Trail once that junction is reached. The most scenic part of the
hike is along the section of North Loop Trail which provides fantastic
open views of Kyle Canyon and the surrounding peaks. The group will
assemble at Santa Fe Station for a departure at 8:00 AM. Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.
Friday, June 13 - Upper Bristlecone Trail. A
pleasant walk through the woods is perhaps the best way to describe
this moderate out-and-back hike covering a total distance of close to 5
miles. Elevation gain is around 700 feet between the starting point
near the top of Lee Canyon Road and the turn around point at the
junction of the Bristlecone and Bonanza Trails. The trail winds through
a few minor rock outcroppings and provides really great views of the
surrounding peaks including Mummy Mountain and South Sister. The
assembled group will leave from Santa Fe Station at 8:00 AM. Coordinator - Roger Hembree.
Saturday, June 14 - Sawmill Trails. This week's
leisurely hike will find the group heading up Lee Canyon Road but
stopping at the Sawmill Picnic Area before getting into the upper
canyon. The hike itself is a 3-mile loop that would generally be rated
easy to moderate, at least for hikes in the upper reaches of the Spring
Mountains. After meandering through a forest of cliff roses the trail
gains a ridge with spectacular views to the northeast. In the last mile
there is a steep descent down a recreational gravel road and the finish
is slightly uphill. Departure from Santa Fe Station will be at 8:30 AM. Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.
Sunday, June 15 - Blue Diamond Ridges. This
moderate early morning hike on the hill across from Red Rock Canyon will
cover a distance up to 7 miles starting from the Cowboy Stables parking
lot along Highway 159. How much the group does will be determined by
the temperature increases during the morning. If it stays somewhat cool
the destination will be the new Las Vegas Overlook. Rating should be
moderate or a bit more. Participants will gather at Red Rock Casino and
leave for the stables at 5:45 AM. The coordinator will meet them at the stables for a 6:00 AM start to the hike. Coordinator - David Hardy.
Sunday, June 15 - South Sister Saddle Loop. The
alternate hike in the higher elevations of the Spring Mountains will
occur on the north side of Lee Canyon. The route will start from the
Lower Bristlecone trailhead, follow that trail to the Bonanza junction,
and continue up Bonanza Trail to a ridge leading to the saddle
approaching the route to South Sister. This will be an 8-mile trek with
2,100 feet of elevation gain that involves some significant off-trail
scrambling. Rating for the hike is moderately strenuous and a pretty
good pace will be maintained. If this hike suits you meet the rest of
the group at Santa Fe Station for a 7:30 AM departure. Coordinator - Kay Blackwell.
Monday, June 16 - Trail Canyon. The trail through
this canyon can be taxing as the elevation gain averages over 750 feet
per mile but it can serve as a great training hike for longer outings in
the Spring Mountains. Total distance will be 4.5 miles with the
highest point of the hike being near the junction with North Loop
Trail. The snack break will occur either on the logs arrayed at the
junction or on a rock ledge slightly above it that provides striking
views of Fletcher Canyon. Rating is moderate but some people think it
is a bit more because of the climb rate. The assembled group
will depart from Santa Fe Station at 8:00 AM. Coordinator - Nancy Moore.
Tuesday, June 17 - Mummy's Nose. Although not
very long at about 5 miles this out-and-back hike is extremely steep as
it gains well over 3,000 feet from the starting point along Lee Canyon
Road. Without much trail to work with and lots of scrambling it could
take six hours or more to accomplish the task. Only those club members
in the best shape and without a concern for exposure should attempt this
very strenuous outing. The coordinator reserves the right to deny
participation to those not qualified. The group will meet at Santa Fe
Station for a 7:30 AM departure. Coordinator - Michael O'Connor.
Tuesday, June 17 - Cockscomb Ridge. The alternate
hike for this date certainly presents its own challenges. It will be a
repeat of the previous day's hike up Trail Canyon but it will turn
south at the junction with North Loop Trail and head out on a narrow
ridge that approaches the base of a large rounded rock formation
designated as the comb. This section involves steep and loose trail,
irregular scrambling, and some exposure. The overall distance for the
strenuous out-and-back hike is close to 6 miles. The group for this
hike will also assemble at Santa Fe Station and will leave from there at
8:00 AM. Coordinator - Kay Blackwell.
Thursday, June 19 - Mummy Springs Loop. Our
coordinator rated this loop hike as moderately strenuous but it could be
jumped up one more notch as it involves some distance, lots of
elevation gain, and a good chunk of off-trail scrambling up a steep
ridge. The 6-mile hike will climb from the Deer Creek Picnic Area
up the steep ridge that intersects the Mummy's Toe Trail a bit to the
north of the springs. From there the group will turn south and pass
both the springs and Raintree on the way down. At the meadows the group
will turn left and descend through Wild Horse Canyon back to the
starting point. Overall elevation gain is around 1,600 feet. Departure
from Santa Fe Station will be at 8:00 AM. Coordinator - Kay Blackwell.
Friday, June 20 - Raintree via North Loop. This
hike is nearly a repeat of the previous day's outing but it will not
involve any scrambling or go past the springs to the north of the 3,000
year old bristlecone pine. Instead it will be a 6-mile hike that will
be out-and-back on the switchback section of the North Loop Trail above
the first meadows and will follow the alternate route down through Wild
Horse Canyon. This hike definitely is rated moderately strenuous and
will cover a distance of 6 miles while gaining 1,600 feet of elevation.
Meet the other participants at Santa Fe Station for an 8:00 AM departure. Coordinator - Roger Hembree.
Saturday, June 21 - Stanley B Springs. This
leisurely out-and-back trek in a side canyon off Kyle Canyon will cover
a distance of about 3 miles and visit the site of an old mining claim.
On a large tree at the branching of a drainage is the sign that
proclaims ownership of the mine, with the shafts just above in the right
fork that requires some scrambling to reach. A spring currently exits
from the lower shaft, which is always full of water. Otherwise, the
entire hike is on trail with an elevation gain of 400 feet and a rating
of easy to moderate. The group will depart at 8:30 AM from Santa Fe Station. Coordinator - Kay Blackwell.
Monday, June 23 - Early Morning Red Rock Hike with Doug. The
lower elevations of Red Rock will be the site for a moderate hike of 4
to 5 miles that is designed to get participants off the trails before
the heat of the day sets in. There are a number of possible hikes that
fit the parameters and the exact hike will be determined at the meeting
location based on the abilities and desires of the participants. The
group will depart promptly at 6:00 AM from Red Rock Casino to ensure the early finish. Coordinator - Doug Chang.
Tuesday, June 24 - Fletcher Peak via Hummingbird Gulch. It's
a great feeling to have finally reached the top of Hummingbird Gulch at
the saddle between North Loop Trail and Fletcher Peak. With the
intensity of the scrambling, the constant scree, the downed logs, and
the thick brush that forces hikers to use long trousers to avoid getting
scratched, it seems to take a long time to reach that point. As a
result the remaining stretch to the top of the peak seems mild. This
strenuous 7-mile loop hike with 1,800 feet of elevation gain will return
to the starting point along North Loop Trail. Departure from Santa Fe
Station will be at 7:30 AM. Coordinator - Michael O'Connor.
Tuesday, June 24 - Mary Jane Falls. The
alternate hike of the day is a rather straightforward out-and-back
trail hike to the base of the waterfall that is part of the major
drainage on the central section of the north ridge between Charleston
and Mummy. With 920 feet of elevation gain, most of which is along the
switchbacks on the second half of the climb, it will still test the
average recreational hiker, but it does provide rewards with great views
of Kyle Canyon. Total distance is only 3 miles and the rating is
moderate. The group doing this hike will leave from Santa Fe Station at
8:00 AM. Coordinator - Nancy Moore.
Wednesday, June 25 - Early Morning Red Rock Hike with Doug. As
with all the other hikes in this series you can expect a moderate hike
of 4 to 5 miles without very steep terrain that will get the
participants back to the vehicles early in the day. The actual outing
will be decided by the group at the assembly point at Red Rock Casino
and the departure time will be at 6:00 AM. Coordinator - Doug Chang.
Thursday, June 26 - No Name/Bristlecone Loop. One
of our standard summer hikes in the higher elevations of the Spring
Mountains is this moderate 6-mile loop that also uses part of the
Bonanza Trail. That's because it seems to have just the right blend of
difficulty and scenery to provide a decent workout within the confines
of great surroundings. Rating is generally moderate but there is a
fairly significant stretch of slightly more than a half mile where most
of the 800 feet of elevation gain occurs. If interested in being part
of the group plan on getting to Santa Fe Station for an 8:00 AM departure. Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.
Friday, June 27 - Early Morning Red Rock Hike with Doug. Here's
the final opportunity this month to visit picturesque Red Rock Canyon
on an Around the Bend Friends outing. The group will leave from Red
Rock Casino at 6:00 AM for a moderate 4 to 5-mile hike west of Las Vegas that will be determined that morning. Coordinator - Doug Chang.
Friday, June 27 - Trail Canyon/Fletcher Canyon. Essentially this hike will be identical to the offering on June 5
but there will be one addition that will increase the overall distance
to 6.5 miles. After reaching the junction of Trail Canyon and Fletcher
Canyon the group will continue along North Loop Trail for another half
mile before starting the descent into Fletcher Canyon using a rocky
drainage approach. Participants will encounter scree, Class 2 and 3
scrambling, and a few other obstacles including the famous rabbit hole
at Obstacle Rock. The group will depart from Santa Fe Station at 7:00 AM. Coordinator - Jim Billetdeaux.
Saturday, June 28 - Wild Horse Ridge. This
moderate 4-mile loop hike begins at the parking lot for Deer Creek
Picnic Area with the group first walking along the highway to the North
Loop trailhead. After hiking up North Loop Trail to the meadows they
will head off on the trail toward Wild Horse Canyon, then take a faint
trail down a side ridge that leads to Wild Horse Ridge, which will have
spectacular open views of the area. The last mile of the hike involves a
walk uphill on a gravel road followed by a downhill section through
Deer Creek Picnic Area. We will be departing from Santa Fe Station at 8:30 AM for this hike. Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.
Sunday, June 29 - Pahrump Overlook Peak. A
high point on the west side of the Spring Mountains looking down at
Pahrump is the target for this strenuous 7-mile out-and-back hike.
It opens with an easy mile through the woods on Upper Bristlecone Trail
and gets more difficult going up No Name Trail to the saddle. From
there it becomes a cross country jaunt with plenty of bushwhacking and
scrambling over and around rock formations until it reaches the rocky
crag that constitutes the peak. Santa Fe Station will be used as the
staging point with a 7:30 AM departure. Coordinator - Michael O'Connor.
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