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. Most of the hikes during November will take place
near Red Rock Canyon, Cottonwood Valley, or the escarpment west of those
areas. While no hikes are scheduled for the Mount Charleston area, we
will begin incorporating some hikes in the Lake Mead area. Information
regarding those locations and driving directions is detailed below.
Red Rock Canyon Area. Our
assembly point for 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 point, 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. The group will be parking at the north end of the lot along
Charleston Boulevard. For hikes located in Cottonwood Valley
and west there will be a secondary meeting location available for
individuals coming from the south side of Las Vegas. That will be at
the gas station located at the intersection of Highways 159 and 160
(Blue Diamond Road). This will be a quick stop that will occur about
twenty-five minutes after the regular departure from Red Rock Casino.
Lake Mead Area. All of the hikes in the Lake Mead area on the agenda for November are on the south side of the lake. For
these hikes the primary assembly location will be at the Henderson
Fiesta Casino, located on Lake Mead Parkway (the east extension of
I-215) just west of I-515. There will often be an early
gathering 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.
Also please note that the coordinator will often be located at the
Henderson Fiesta or at a later spot and those leaving from Red Rock may
have to organize on their own.
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 hikes that guarantee a fairly leisurely pace.
Strenuous Tuesday hikes are only open to existing members who are
properly experienced. Be sure to wear appropriate clothing, footwear,
and hats and bring sunscreen, water, electrolyte replacement fluids as
needed, and food or snacks as desired 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, November 1 - Sandstone Quarry/Keystone Thrust Loop. This
moderate 7-mile partial loop hike starts from Sandstone Quarry on a
section of the Grand Circle Trail and has a net elevation gain of 800
feet. The loop portion involves heading to the north side of Cactus
Hill on the Keystone Thrust Trail and descending through Keystone
Canyon and its continuation wash south of the scenic drive. There is
scrambling involved in the canyon descent and quite a bit of brush.
Meeting location will be at Red Rock Casino for an 8:00 AM departure. Coordinator - Kay Blackwell.
Saturday, November 1 - Moenkopi Camp. The
leisurely hike of the day will start from a parking area on Moenkopi
Road south of Highway 159 and cover a distance of just over 3 miles. It
will not be structured in the sense that it will follow a specific
route, but will instead explore the desert area south of Highway 159 and
head toward an area of golden sandstone outcroppings. The group will
spend about an hour in this vicinity having a snack break and doing some
more exploring. Elevation gain is minimal but there is no trail
involved. Meet the group at Red Rock Casino for an 8:30 AM departure. Coordinator - Rebecca Guinn.
Sunday, November 2 - Calico Hills Loop. This
is a moderately strenuous hike starting at the Red Springs Picnic Area
that heads over Five Stop Hill and turns left up Gateway Canyon,
eventually reaching Sandstone Quarry. The trail system will return the
participants along the west and south side of the Calico Hills back to
the starting point. Total distance is about 7 miles and there is close
to 1,000 feet of elevation gain with some scrambling involved. DAYLIGHT
SAVINGS ENDS THAT MORNING, SO ADJUST YOUR CLOCKS ACCORDINGLY. Early
group departure from Red Rock Casino will be at 6:40 AM. The Coordinator will be at Red Springs Picnic Area for a 7:00 AM start to the hike. Coordinator - David Hardy.
Monday, November 3 - Calico Hills Trail. Starting
from the Red Rock fee booth parking lot, the group will head north
along the Calico Hills and eventually reach the break point above
Sandstone Quarry. This moderate out-and-back hike will cover 6 miles
and include a net elevation gain of 700 feet, although the terrain rolls
more north of the Calico I Overlook. Departure time from Red Rock
Casino will be at 8:00 AM. Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.
Tuesday, November 4 - Juniper Peak. Only
the most experienced and courageous members of the club should attempt
this very strenuous 7-mile trek that starts at the Pine Creek parking
lot along the scenic drive. The loop route will head up the Pine Creek
Trail and branch off to take the western approach to the peak through
Juniper Canyon. There is a lot of Class 3 scrambling and exposure and
expect about five to six hours of hiking time to accomplish the task.
The assembled group will leave Red Rock Casino at 8:00 AM. Coordinator - Michael O'Connor.
Wednesday, November 5 - Badger Pass (Long Version). For
this partial loop hike into the Bird Spring Range we will be using the
Late Night trailhead from the paved parking area along Highway 160.
Overall this is a moderate hike of 7 miles with elevation gain only
around 600 feet. Most of the climb is getting on top of the ridge
leading to the peak. Meet at Red Rock Casino for a 7:30 AM departure. There will also be a stop at the gas station at the junction of Highways 159 and 160 about 7:55 AM to pick up south side participants. Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.
Thursday, November 6 - Gray Cap Peak. Using
Red Springs Picnic Area as the staging point and climbing through Gray
Fox Canyon turns this 5 to 6-mile partial loop hike into one with a very
strenuous rating. Net elevation gain is 2,300 feet and there is
exposure along the route. The return will be down Gateway Canyon and
the trail down Five Stop Hill. The optional start would be at the
gravel parking area on the north side of Calico Basin, which would
shorten the hike by about a mile. The group will depart from Red Rock
Casino at 8:00 AM. Coordinator - Kay Blackwell.
Friday, November 7 - White Rock Hills Loop. Here
is a chance to experience one of the official trails maintained by the
BLM at the top of Red Rock Canyon. Total distance is 6.4 miles with 900
feet of net elevation gain and a moderate rating. Starting at Willow
Springs Picnic Area, the group will enjoy the counter clockwise version
of the hike, which gets the pure desert portion out of the way first.
Departure will be at 8:00 AM from Red Rock Casino. Coordinator - Sylvie Courtemarsh.
Saturday, November 8 - Red Springs Scramble/Slab Rift. Although
having a total distance of about 2 miles, this moderately strenuous
outing is almost completely scrambling over the sandstone formations on
the south end of the Calico Hills. There is some exposure on the slabs
at the top of the ridge with an elevation gain of about 700 feet. Some
route finding may be necessary because of the irregular terrain. Those
interested should gather at Red Rock Casino for an 8:00 AM departure. Coordinator - Steve Allen.
Saturday, November 8 - Lost Creek to White Rock. The
leisurely hike for the day will start from the Lost Creek trailhead,
pass Willow Springs, and take in part of the White Rock Trail in the
valley north of the sandstone hills. The easy to moderate out-and-back
hike should cover a total distance of about 4 miles with the turn around
point in the shadow of White Rock Hills Peak. The back country scenery
along the way is pretty sensational. Participants should meet at Red
Rock Casino for a departure at 8:30 AM. Coordinator - Tony Fountain.
Sunday, November 9 - Turtlehead Peak. The
standard out-and-back route will be the one used to access the top of
this dramatic limestone peak at the northeast corner of Red Rock
Canyon. With 1,900 feet of elevation over the trail from Sandstone
Quarry to the top this hike merits a strenuous rating and has a total
distance of 5 miles. There is hardly any shade available along the way,
with much of the surroundings desert terrain, but the view at the peak
is worth the effort. The group will assemble at Red Rock Casino for a 7:30 AM departure. Coordinator - Lettie Gutierrez.
Monday, November 10 - Railroad Pass to Mother Trail. This moderate 4 to 5-mile hike will follow a series of dirt trails between the Railroad Pass
Casino and the Veterans Home near Boulder City, but will not involve
the paved River Mountains Trail. It will start by heading southeast
around the Cascada Golf Course and then connect with the Mother Trail.
Some rolling terrain with perhaps 800 feet of elevation gain. A car
shuttle is required to get participants back to the starting point. For
this hike, participants should drive directly to the Railroad Pass
Casino on Highway 93/95 and park on the north side of the upper lot.
Some vehicles will be taken to the end point at 8:00 AM and the hike will start from Railroad Pass about 8:25 AM. Coordinator - Linda O'Leary.
Tuesday, November 11 - White Rock Hills Peak. Another
very strenuous hike intended only for the most advanced members of the
club is this 5-mile exploration of the larger of the two peaks in the
White Rock Hills. The starting point will be at Willow Springs and the
approach will use the west route to the top. After getting to the
summit the group will make the descent on the south side back to the
trail. There is intense Class 3 scrambling, a fair amount of exposure,
and about 2,000 feet of elevation gain. An 8:00 AM departure from Red Rock Casino will be in effect. Coordinator - Michael O'Connor.
Wednesday, November 12 - Red Cap. The standard
partial loop route to the highest point in the Calico Hills will be used
for this strenuous 3-mile outing. Starting at Sandstone Quarry, the
route will follow the early portion of the Calico Tanks Trail, then
branch off in a drainage and begin the upward scramble on the south side
of the sandstone peak. After the initial descent the group will visit
several tanks along the ridge and make the final descent to the Calico
Tanks Trail along Mass Production Wall. The group should assemble at
Red Rock Casino for an 8:00 AM departure. Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.
Thursday, November 13 - Angel Pass/Squeeze Balloon. Approximately
4 to 5 miles with minimal exposure, this strenuous scramble hike in the
Calico Hills gains about 1,100 feet of elevation. From Red Springs
Picnic Area the trek heads up to the pass overlooking Red Rock Canyon
before getting to the really serious section of scrambling. Some route
finding may be necessary. Meet the group at Red Rock Casino for an 8:00 AM departure to the starting point. Coordinator - Steve Allen.
Friday, November 14 - Lone Grapevine Spring. This
moderate 5-mile partial loop hike begins at the improved parking area
serving the Late Night bike trail system. The route heads over to a
protected spring near the base of Windy Peak, then crosses and continues
to follow a major drainage in the escarpment watershed getting to the
horse trough south of the named spring. The break will occur in an area
of significant petroglyphs found on boulders and slabs below the
spring. The return to the starting point is more direct than the
outbound portion. Departure from Red Rock Casino will be at 8:00 AM with an 8:25 AM stop at the gas station on Highways 159 and 160.. Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.
Saturday, November 15 - Easter Cactus Garden Loop. Most
of the trails used on this moderately strenuous 8-mile loop hike will
be found on the ridge behind the community of Blue Diamond that we
often identify as the Blue Diamond Bike Trails. The hike itself will
start at a trailhead about two miles west of the junction of Highways
159 and 160, follow the ridge to its highest point, then visit an area
resplendent with a variety of cactus plants. The descent back to the
trail system will be on the west side of the ridge. The main group will
depart from Red Rock Casino at 8:00 AM and stop at the gas station at the junction of the two highways for an 8:25 AM pickup of south side participants. Coordinator - Kay Blackwell.
Saturday, November 15 - Sandstone Quarry Loop. Some
scrambling will be involved on this moderate 3-mile loop hike out of
Sandstone Quarry with minimal elevation change that will explore the
area north of the Calico Hills. One of the destinations is the red
sandstone formation sitting at the very top of Ash Canyon and another
feature is a straggling series of low cream-colored sandstone hills
along the beginning of the Turtlehead Trail. The assembled group will
depart from Red Rock Casino at 8:30 AM. Coordinator - Ann Cronin.
Sunday, November 16 - North Peak (Sandstone). The
partial loop version of this strenuous 7 to 8-mile hike will use the
Red Rock Wash drainage in the early going before reaching the steep
trail that leads up the back side of the escarpment and on to the peak.
There is 2,600 feet of elevation difference between Willow Springs and
the peak and there is a portion of moderate scrambling involved getting
to and traversing along the high ridge. The return will be along Rocky
Gap Road. Departure will be at 7:30 AM from Red Rock Casino. Coordinator - Lettie Gutierrez.
Monday, November 17 - Red & Black Mountains. A
designated city trail is the primary route for accessing these two
peaks in the River Mountains. It is best described as a double
out-and-back from the top of the saddle between the peaks, with a total
distance of 7 miles, about 1,500 feet of gross elevation gain, and a
moderately strenuous rating. The primary group should gather at the
Henderson Fiesta Casino and form carpools for an 8:00 AM departure.
The coordinator, along with the sign-in sheet, will not be at that
location, but will be at the trailhead parking area next to St. Jude
Children's Home on Highway 95 starting down the long hill toward Lake
Mead. The hike will begin from that location about 8:30 AM. Coordinator - Linda O'Leary.
Tuesday, November 18 - Extended Gateway Canyon Loop. This
extended version of the Krafft Mountain Loop will start at the Red
Springs Picnic Area and head around the south end of the Calico Hills,
proceeding north on the trails to Sandstone Quarry. Heading east, the
route passes the base of Red Cap and the top of Ash Canyon before
descending through a drainage into Gateway Canyon, then out the mouth of
the canyon to the southeast corner of Krafft Mountain. The return is
through the boulder field south of the mountain and along Ash Creek.
Total distance of 8 to 9 miles with a strenuous rating and some
scrambling. Meet at Red Rock Casino for a 7:30 AM departure. Coordinator - Richard Hansen.
Thursday, November 20 - Fern Canyon Overlook. To
hold this strenuous hike to 7 miles it will be necessary to drive about
one mile up Rocky Gap Road to the Pink Jeep Pullout, which will require
high clearance vehicles. From that starting point the group will head
up a steep trail to a ridge and then descend somewhat to the overlook
above the north fork of Pine Creek, which provides a world class view of
the canyon and surrounding sandstone cliffs. Overall the elevation
gain is probably approaching 2,000 feet and the hike does involve
scrambling. Meet at Red Rock Casino for an 8:00 AM departure. Coordinator - Michael O'Connor.
Friday, November 21 - McCullough Trail Segment. Join
the group for a pleasant out-and-back trek along the segment of the
relatively new McCullough Trail in Henderson. This 8-mile hike is
generally rated as moderate. Although the terrain is somewhat rolling,
there are no long and steep sections to be negotiated. An early
group should assemble at Red Rock Casino for a 7:15 AM departure
to join the coordinator and other south side participants in the
parking lot of Walgreens Drug located at the corner of Eastern and
Sunridge Parkway. The entire group will leave there at 8:00 AM for the trailhead. Coordinator - Richard Hansen.
Saturday, November 22 - Calico Tank Scramble. The
early hike this Saturday will again involve quite a bit of scrambling.
The first part of the hike is along the Calico Tank Trail, but just
before reaching the end the group will climb through a crack and reach
Calico II Overlook Peak on the west side of the sandstone hills. After
descending to the trail, they will turn up along Mass Production Wall
and visit a couple tanks along the ridge before making a descent along
the normal Red Cap approach route. Climbing Red Cap is not included.
Total distance is about 4 miles with a strenuous rating. Meet at Red
Rock Casino for an 8:00 AM departure. Coordinator - Tony Fountain.
Saturday, November 22 - Badger Pass (Short Version). The
leisurely hike option this Saturday will be an easy to moderate 3-mile
loop that climbs about 600 feet on a ridge in the Bird Spring Range
before descending onto Deadhorse Trail in Red Valley and a return to the
vehicles. The starting point will be the gravel parking lot about
one-half mile south of Highway 160 served by a maintained gravel road.
High clearance vehicles are preferred but probably not necessary. The
early group should depart from Red Rock Casino at 8:30 AM and
drive to the gas station at the junction of Highways 159 and 160. The
coordinator, along with the sign-in sheet and any other south side
participants, will be at that location. Estimated departure from the
gas station will be at 9:00 AM. Coordinator - Ron Hindmarch.
Sunday, November 23 - Landmine Loop. There isn't a
lot of elevation gain in any one spot on this moderate 8-mile loop hike
around the ridge behind the community of Blue Diamond, but combined it
adds up to more than 1,000 feet of gain. The hike will begin from the
gravel parking lot on the right side of the main entrance road to Blue
Diamond just past the bridge and probably proceed in a clockwise
direction. The regular assembly point will be at Red Rock Casino with
an 8:00 AM departure, but south side participants can head directly to Blue Diamond, where the hike should start about 8:25 AM. Coordinator - Kay Blackwell.
Monday, November 24 - Grand Circle. It's the
first chance of the year to tackle the big loop hike through the heart
of Red Rock Canyon. We will be starting from the parking lot behind the
fee station at the entrance to Red Rock and proceeding in a clockwise
direction. Total distance for the strenuous trek is 12 miles and there
is about 1,000 feet of net elevation gain, although rolling terrain adds
something to that. The group will meet at Red Rock Casino for a 7:30 AM departure. Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.
Tuesday, November 25 - Hoover Dam & Bridge Peak. If
you go on this hike don't have the thought that you will be taking a
pleasant stroll out on the dam to look down the Colorado River. The
destination is a peak sitting on the north side of the river and west of
the dam that looks down on the entire configuration. Although rather
short at 4 miles, there is considerable elevation gain over steep
terrain with no trail, and thus garners a strenuous rating. Early west
side participants can carpool from Red Rock Casino at 7:20 AM and meet the rest of the group at Henderson Fiesta for an 8:00 AM departure. Coordinator - Laszlo Heredy.
Wednesday, November 26 - Fossil Ridge Extended. From
the Cowboy Stables parking area along Highway 159 the group will follow
the trails to the south toward the top of the wall above Echo Canyon
and turn right to the old mining road. The route extends across that
road for a couple mile loop and completes the full loop back to the
vehicles along what the mountain bikers call the Bunny Trail. The
rating is moderate and the total distance is about 6 miles with
something less than 1,000 feet net elevation gain. Meet at Red Rock
Casino for an 8:00 AM departure. Coordinator - John Stewart.
Thursday, November 27 - Mystery Woman Canyon. This
6-mile loop hike gains somewhat over 1,000 feet and is rated moderately
strenuous. It starts from the Cowboy Stables parking lot and follows
the trail into Skull Canyon. Halfway up that canyon it turns right into
the side canyon designated as Mystery Woman. After a break at the new
Las Vegas Overlook, the group will descend the top portion of the hill
to the Boneshaker Trail and take that back to the stables area.
Departure from Red Rock Casino will be at 8:00 AM. Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.
Friday, November 28 - Blue Diamond Canyon 4A. Starting
from the community of Blue Diamond, this moderately strenuous loop hike
will cover a total distance of 5 miles and gain 1,000 feet of
elevation. There is a considerable amount of scrambling involved in the
deep canyon which leads to the area of the mining operation on top of
the hill. The return will be along the ridge between Canyons 3 and 4.
The early gathering spot will be at Red Rock Casino for a 7:30 AM departure,
and those participants will drive to the gravel parking area on the
right side of the entrance road to Blue Diamond to meet the coordinator
and other south side participants. The hike will begin from that spot
promptly at 8:00 AM. Coordinator - David Hardy.
Saturday, November 29 - Lost Creek Waterfall. In
order to stretch this hike out to 5 miles we will be starting from the
Ice Box Canyon parking area and the SMYC Trail will be used in both
directions. After visiting the Lost Creek Waterfall from the bottom, we
will proceed along the base of the northern section of the Wilson
Cliffs and climb through a notch to the next layer of sandstone. This
climb section is steep and loose and is followed by some serious
scrambling on the sandstone over slabs and around boulders, and there is
some exposure. After the descent we will follow the Willow Springs
Loop Trail through the picnic area and back to Lost Creek. Meet at Red
Rock Casino for an 8:00 AM departure. Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.
Saturday, November 29 - Cowboy Horse Trails. The
leisurely hike of the day will be a 3-mile jaunt in the area between
Blue Diamond Hill and Highway 159 that is more often used for the cowboy
rides. The terrain is quite level with no more than 400 feet
of elevation change and the rating is easy to moderate. Participants
should assemble in the normal spot of Red Rock Casino for an 8:30 AM departure. Coordinator - Kay Blackwell.
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