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.
The March schedule includes hikes in the Red
Rock Canyon area (including Cottonwood Valley) and the Lake Mead area. Below is
information regarding our meeting locations for each of these destinations. There are different
assembly points for Lake Mead hikes depending on whether those hikes are on the
north or south sides of the lake. Meeting locations for hikes in any other areas will be specified
in the appropriate hike description. Starting this month, the exposure level of
hikes will be color-coded (see table below).
Red
Rock Canyon
Area- Our assembly point for hikes in Red Rock Canyon and the
immediate vicinity is at the Red Rock Casino on Charleston Boulevard just east
of 215. To access the meeting
location 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 close to
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 or twenty-five minutes after the
regular departure from Red Rock Casino.
Lake Mead South- For all hikes on the south side of the lake the general meeting
spot will be near the large outdoor sign in front of the Henderson Fiesta
Casino. Henderson
Fiesta is located on Lake Mead Parkway just east of the junction of I-215 and
I-515. Lake
Mead Parkway is the eastbound extension of I-215. There will also be an earlier assembly point for west side
participants at the Red Rock Casino, with directions above, and there could be
local stopping points after the group leaves Henderson Fiesta. Those stopping points
will be detailed 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 at the Resort at Summerlin (a J. W. Marriott
property) 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 the pullout
area close to Mile Marker 4 on the eastbound side of Northshore Road for south side participants not using the CVS Pharmacy
location.
Valley of Fire- For hikes in the state
park northeast of Las Vegas the general assembly point will be in the parking
lot of Lucky Club Casino. The Lucky Club
Casino is located on the northeast corner of the junction of I-15 and Cheyenne
Road along Cheyenne. If traveling northbound on I-15 and using the Cheyenne exit,
it is necessary to cross several lanes of traffic quickly and access the left
turn lane to get in to the property off the first side street. West side participants can meet early and carpool from the top level of the
parking garage at Rampart Casino. Information on that location is specified in the above
paragraph.
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 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 times.
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 Steve Allen at siallen@icloud.com
or by telephone at (847) 772-3193. Specific questions regarding hikes should be directed to the
listed coordinator. Refer to the club roster for email contact information.
Exposure Levels
Class 1 is the easiest hike you can take. You
are on a well established trail the entire time. No route finding skills are needed, and the trail is usually well signed.
Class 2 is defined as hiking that could require
some route finding skills and may take you over boulder fields or loose rock
slopes (loose rocks are also referred to as “scree”). There is a chance you will need to
use your hands for balance. Also, the hiker could face some minimal exposure.
Exposure means you are on a steep slope with little or no protection from a
fall. Class 2 exposure is minimal, and a fall here might result in only severe
injuries, rather than death.
Class 3 hiking can get you to some great places.
The trail will be steep and almost certainly require route-finding skills. The
big step up for Class 3 hiking is the use of your hands. Yes, you will actually
have to scramble up the mountains using hand and foot holds. However, Class 3
hiking and scrambling does not require ropes. It does mean there will be heavy
exposure in places. Falling on a Class 3 hike means potentially serious injury or death.
Class 4 hikes are on steep terrain and generally
require roped belays for safety. A belay is a system used by mountaineers to
protect one another from serious falls. A Class 4 fall would be serious; you have a very good chance of becoming a “recovery” operation for Search and Rescue teams if
you take a tumble on one of these treks. This level of hiking is actually
closer to mountaineering/rock climbing. Obviously, you need a partner for Class
4 hiking, and you should both possess a significant level of skill.
Classifications
Easy
•
someone
in fair hiking condition
•
trails
are generally in good condition
•
elevation
gain of less then 300’
•
distance
less then 3 miles
Moderate
•
someone
in good hiking condition
•
trails
are generally in good condition
•
elevation
gain of up to 1000’
•
single
digit mileage
•
some
rock scrambling
Strenuous
•
someone
in excellent hiking condition
•
difficult
terrain
•
lots
of elevation gain in excessive 1000’
•
mileage
may be double digit
•
lots
of rock scrambling
Extreme
•
someone
exceptional hiking/climbing condition
•
trails
are not always available
•
extreme
elevation gain
•
significant
increased mileage
•
technical
aspects of hike
Combinations
Easy-moderate, moderate-strenuous, very strenuous
Sunday, March 1st, Red Springs Loop- This 4 mile loop starting
at Red Springs picnic area also has quite a bit of scrambling and is rated
moderately strenuous with an elevation gain of 1000 feet. The route climbs up to
a notch in the Calico Hills and descends past the somewhat famous angel carving getting to the Red Rock side
of the sandstone hills. This section requires use of hands in several places. Scrambling continues in
the deep canyon between the hills and the scenic drive, but near the end turns back
to trail as it passes an area of petroglyphs and a balanced rock at the southern most
point of the Calico Hills. After a steep climb to a ridge the route descends
back to the basin to complete the loop. Gloves and hiking poles are
recommended. The assembled group will leave from Red Rock Casino at 8:15 AM or
meet the coordinator
at the Red Springs picnic parking at 8:30 AM. Coordinator- Kay Blackwell
Sunday, March 1st, 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 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 2nd, Blue Diamond Mine Loop- This moderately strenuous loop hike on the north end of Blue
Diamond Hill will be a longer version of the normal hikes starting at the horse
stables parking lot, covering a distance of 9 miles. The route will first
visit The Muffins and the two Las Vegas Overlooks, but on the way down to the
communications antenna we will divert to the south and hike through the mining
section on the top of the hill. The second half of the hike will explore some back country bike
routes and eventually hook up with the Fossil Ridge Trail for the return. Elevation gain is
around 1,200 feet. The group will assemble at Red Rock Casino for a 7:30 AM departure
and the hike will start from the horse stales parking lot about fifteen minutes
later. Coordinator- Chris Dempsey.
Tuesday, March 3rd, Cleopatra’s Wash- One of the most beautiful hikes on the north side of Lake Mead is this strenuous trek through a
canyon leading to the shore of Lake Mead in a very remote location. Total distance for the out-and-back
hike is 7 miles and there is quite a bit of boulder scrambling, as most of the hike is in a wash off-trail. Because of the
distance from Las Vegas, departure times will be somewhat earlier than normal and will be
6:50 AM from Rampart Casino for the west side group, 7:30 AM from
CVS Pharmacy for the main group, and the quick stop at Mile Marker 4 of
Northshore Road will occur around 7:45 AM. Coordinator- Chris Dempsey.
Wednesday,
March 4th, Lone Grapevine Spring- The
highlight of this moderate 5 mile partial loop hike starting from the Late
Night parking
area is the abundance of ancient petroglyphs
found on rock slabs laying
on the ground in the drainage area below the featured spring. Other attractions
include a visit to Wheeler Camp Spring and a route near the base of Windy Peak
that passes a horse trough fed by Lone Grapevine Spring. Elevation gain of a few
hundred feet occurs on the return. Departure times are 8:00 AM from Red Rock Casino and 8:25
AM from the gas station at the junction of Highways 159 and 160. The hike will start
from Late Night about 8:35 AM. Coordinator- Chris Dempsey.
Thursday, March 5th, Tank Discovery Scramble- This strenuous hike is almost pure
scrambling around the northern Calico Hills visiting various tinajas along the
way. The route includes the Lower Calico II Peak and Upper Calico II Peak. Distance is about 5 miles with an elevation
gain of 1500 feet. Gloves are recommended. Meet at Red Rock Casino for an
8:30 AM departure. Coordinator- Kay Blackwell
Thursday, March 5th, Cottonwood Valley Moonrise Walk- Enjoy the moon rising over Las Vegas on this easy early evening
double out-and-back walk along a paved trail. Total distance is about 3 miles and there is virtually no
elevation change. With sunset at 5:39 PM and moonrise at 5:55 PM, the sky won't be
very dark but the moon will be at it's fullest for the month. We will be using our normal spot at Red Rock Casino to meet and
will depart from there at 4:45 PM for the five
minute drive to the park. You may wish to bring a flashlight even though there are some
lights along the path. Coordinator- Chris Dempsey.
Thursday, March 5th, Mount Wilson Arizona- This scenic out-and-
back hike follows a ridge to the peak gaining 2500 feet of elevation and
carries a strenuous rating. Total distance is 5 to 7 miles and should take 5
hours. High clearance vehicles will be needed to access the
trailhead. Westside participants should depart Red Rock Casino at 7:20 AM
for the main assembly point at the Henderson Fiesta from where the entire group
will depart at 8:00 AM for the
trailhead. Coordinators- Laszlo Heredy and Ed Forkos.
Friday, March 6th, Southern Summerlin
Exploratory Hike- The
hike will head north up a dirt road alongside a water control drainage, past a
retention basin, then climb a short hill to the Siena Ridge overlooking
Summerlin South. Working our way along the ridge heading south, we reach a
point overlooking Bishop Gorman HS. Then the group will drop down a bit to a
trail heading back to the north and returning along the original dirt road. Total distance is
approximately 4 miles with an elevation gain of about 600 feet. Departure is
from the Mesa Park parking lot off of South. Mesa Park Drive at 8:00 AM.
From the west side, take the 215 South to the Town Center Exit. Turn right
on Town Center Drive. Take the second right onto South Town Center Drive to the
park. From the east side take the 215 West to Russell Road. Go west on Russell
Road and turn right onto South Mesa Park Drive. Coordinator- Tony Fountain
Friday, March 6th, Dale’s Trail from Ice Box
Canyon- Dale's Trail consists of several connecting trails that run
along the base of the escarpment on the west side of Red Rock Canyon. This trail has unexpected
vistas as you cross the rolling hills including solitude and lush desert
gardens. This moderate 5
mile out-and-back hike will start from Ice Box Canyon parking lot and stop in the vicinity of Skull Rock for a snack break. The trail is a series of climbs in and out of six major ravines,
some of which are a bit steep with a gross elevation gain of about 800 feet.
Meet the group at Red Rock Casino for a 12:30 PM departure. Coordinator-
Nancy Moore.
Saturday, March 7th, Little Finland & The
Subway at Gold Butte- This 8 mile hike takes
us to Gold Butte, a 2 hour drive from Las Vegas. It is a moderately strenuous
hike that will first visit Little Finland by entering the area the back way. Passing
the old corral and crossing the desert over to The Subway, there are many
petroglyphs to find. An extra loop will provide a little scrambling in Big
Boulder Canyon and there will be lots of other interesting things along the
way. There are two points of "exposed" route. Both of these can be
circumvented if necessary. The west side will meet at the Rampart Casino at 7:00am.
The main meeting location will be the Lucky Club Casino and we will leave there
at 7:30 AM. After a short stop at the Love's gas station, we should be
on the trail by 9:30 AM. Coordinators- Jon Lubinski and Kay Blackwell
Saturday, March 7th, Hoover Dam & Bridge- This is a more leisurely hike that was cancelled in January
because of rain. The hike will be a moderate effort of between 4 and 5 miles
that will visit both of the Colorado River features. The hike will start
from the Lake Mead Overlook along the old highway that is perched directly atop
the fifth tunnel in the line stretching from the vicinity of Alan Bible Visitor
Center. The only difficult part
of the hike involves a short, but steep bank getting down onto the regular
trail. There is about 500 feet
of elevation loss getting down to the dam, which must be made up on the return,
but most of the climb is pretty gentle. Early west side group leaves from Red Rock Casino at 7:50 AM to join other participants at the general meeting location of Henderson Fiesta for an 8:30 AM departure. Coordinator- Nancy Moore.
Sunday, March 8th, Calico Hills-Squeeze Balloon- This hike starts at the
Visitor Center, utilizing the trails that parallel the Calico Hills and
eventually dropping into the fault canyon below the Calico II Overlook. The
route then turns into the side canyon leading to Angel Pass Saddle. The route
then ascends through a very steep drainage, turns into another drainage and descends
toward the back side of the main Calico Tank. A narrow crack comes into play following another climb with a
final descent back to Angel Pass and the return trip to the trailhead. Total
distance is about 6 miles and the significant amount of scrambling
results in a strenuous rating. Departure from Red Rock Casino will be at 8:00 AM. Coordinator- Steve Allen.
Sunday, March 8th, Black Velvet Canyon- The great majority of this 8 mile loop hike is on trail with minimal
elevation gain, but the entrance to the canyon and the bouldering up the canyon
definitely requires scrambling skills. Overall, this hike is rated as moderately strenuous with about
one mile of pretty intense terrain. The break spot is fairly deep in the canyon below a seasonal
waterfall. Group departure
from Red Rock Casino will be at 7:45 AM with a quick stop at the gas station
at the junction of Highways 159 and 160 around 8:10 AM before heading
out to the start of the
hike at the Late Night Parking area in Cottonwood Valley. Coordinator- Chris Dempsey.
Monday, March 9th, SMYC / Ice Box- Beginning at the Lost
Creek trailhead, this moderate 4 mile out-and-back hike will reach the turn
around point just below a 30 foot seasonal waterfall in Ice Box Canyon at an
ideal spot for a snack break. Overall, there is about 3/4 mile of scrambling in
the drainage of the creek, but the boulders are generally in the two to three
foot height range rather than the ten-footers found in some of the other
canyons. Elevation gain is 900 feet and gloves are recommended. The group will
depart from Red Rock Casino at 8:30 AM. Coordinator- Kay Blackwell.
Tuesday, March 10th, Fern Canyon Overlook- This is a strenuous out-and-back hike of 6
to11 miles depending on the 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 overlooking a 1000’ abyss 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.
Wednesday, March 11th, Kraft Mountain Loop- One of the most
stunning hikes in the Red
Rock area is this moderately strenuous 5 to 6-mile loop through Gateway Canyon
on the back side of Kraft Mountain. The route climbs the trail up Five Stop Hill before dropping
into the canyon for something over a mile of scrambling excitement. Exiting the canyon the
group will pass a boulder field on the south edge of the mountain before
returning to the start along Ash Creek. Participants should meet at Red Rock Casino for an 8:00 AM departure. Coordinator- Steve Allen.
Thursday, March 12th, Hollow Rock
Peak- This strenuous 6 mile hike is located on the south end of the
escarpment above the Red Rock area. While mostly trail, there is some fairly significant scrambling
involved after the group transitions from the limestone ridge to the exposed
sandstone in advance of the peak. While mostly an out-and-back route, the return will include a
descent along a ridge frequented by bighorn sheep. Group departure from
Red Rock Casino will be at 8:00 AM with a secondary
pickup at the gas station located at the junction of Highways 159 and 160 about
8:25 AM on the way to the trailhead near Mountain Spring Summit. Coordinator- Chris Dempsey.
Friday, March 13th, Canyon #5- This route begins from the parking area at Wheeler Springs just
north of Blue Diamond. The canyon cuts deep into the Blue Diamond Hill with high walls
and considerable scrambling. A large fill supporting a road high above marks the end of the canyon. Those carpooling from
Red Rock Casino should leave there by 7:30 AM. We will leave from the gravel parking area on
the right side of the entrance road to Blue Diamond where you will meet the
coordinator for an 8:00 AM start to the hike. Coordinator- David Hardy
Friday, March 13th, Calico Hills- The moderate
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 booth 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 a 12:30 PM departure. Coordinator-
Nancy Moore.
Saturday, March 14th, Little Zion- This strenuous 6 mile out-and-back hike has some of the best scenery
in the Red Rock area, but it takes a fair amount of work to enjoy it. About half of the hike
involves scrambling through a wash and the half that is trail is fairly steep. Those who relish these
off-trail experiences will see incredible sandstone formations reminiscent of
Zion National Park and a great view of the Cottonwood Valley area above Spring
Mountain Ranch. Group departure from Red Rock Casino will be at 8:00 AM
with a stop at the gas station at the junction of Highways 159 and 160 about 8:20
AM to pick up any south side participants. Coordinator- Chris Dempsey.
Saturday, March 14th, Ash Meadows-
This is an easy to moderate hike in the Red
Rock vicinity. The hike will be a 3 mile loop in the Calico Basin area starting
from Red Springs Picnic Area, heading along the east flank of the Calico Hills
to the base of Ash Canyon, then back across the desert below Five Stop Hill
with a return along Ash Creek. Departure time from Red Rock Casino will be at 8:30
AM. Coordinator- Marg Biesiada
Sunday, March 15th, North Bowl of Fire Loop- This strenuous 10 mile
hike will 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. The Rampart Casino will
be the early west side staging point with a 6:30 AM departure. The
primary meeting is at CVS Pharmacy on Lake Mead Boulevard and Hollywood for a 7:15
AM departure. Meet the coordinator at Mile 4 on the Northshore Road where
we will leave at 7:30 AM. Coordinator- David Hardy.
Sunday, March 15th, Escarpment Base Trail
Extended- We had so much fun on this slightly exploratory out-and-back
trail hike in February we need to try it again. Starting from the gravel parking lot at the exit of the scenic
loop we will follow a social trail back to the gravel parking lot below Oak
Creek to access the Arnight Trail and take the combination of trails below the
Wilson Cliffs as far as Lost Creek. Total distance is 13 miles with gross elevation gain of 1,850
feet and a strenuous rating. Expect the hike to take about six hours. Red Rock Casino will be
the assembly location with a 7:30 AM departure or you can meet at the
start of the hike around 7:45 AM. Coordinator- Chris Dempsey.
Monday, March 16th, Blue Diamond Bike Trails- This moderate 5 to 6
mile loop hike starts from the bike shop in the community of Blue Diamond. The opening part of the clockwise
route is along a section of the historic Old Spanish Trail. Net elevation gain is
around 500 feet and the return portion will include the slightly longer trail
along the base of a rocky cliff. Participants should meet at Red Rock Casino for an 8:00 AM departure
or be at the parking lot between the bike shop and the school by 8:15 AM.
(Parking here has been recently limited.) Coordinator- Chris Dempsey.
Tuesday, March 17th, White Rock Springs Plus- Starting
from Willow Springs Picnic area, the group will head in a counter- clockwise
direction and approach the peak from the northern side of the mountain for a
serious scramble up to the top. The descent will be on the eastern side,
completing the loop back to the trailhead. Expect an elevation gain in excess
1500 feet. Total distance for this strenuous hike is about 8 miles. The group
will meet at Red Rock Casino for an 8:00 AM departure. Coordinator- Michael O’Connor.
Wednesday, March 18th, Upper Lost Creek
Waterfall- A moderately strenuous out-and-back hike of 5 miles that
is situated in Red Rock Canyon, the hike begins from the Ice Box Canyon parking lot. It proceeds
along Ice Box Trail a short distance, turns north on SMYC Trail, then climbs a
steep trail to reach a ledge that leads around back to the top of the waterfall. The group will depart from Red Rock Casino at 8:00 AM. Coordinator- Steve
Allen
Thursday, March 19th, Nevada Hot Springs- This great hike runs
down a narrow, rocky canyon to a series of hot springs and several hot pools
that beg for a good soak during cooler weather. At 6 miles, out-and-back, this
hike carries a strenuous rating. The route descends some 800 feet to the river,
scrambling over and around boulders with several areas having fixed ropes.
Westside participants should depart Red Rock Casino at 7:20 AM for the
main assembly point at the Henderson Fiesta from where the entire group will
depart at 8:00
AM for the trailhead. Coordinator- Steve
Anderson
Thursday, March 19th, Cave Canyon / 2nd
Finger / Fossil Ridge - The group will be
starting this moderately strenuous 7 mile loop hike from the Cowboy Stables
parking lot on Highway 159 at the north end of Blue Diamond Hill. There is nearly 2 miles
of scrambling in the canyon, with the most significant stretch including a
climb up a 14 foot
dry waterfall. Bring a flashlight to explore one of the two caves in the
vicinity of that waterfall. Also gloves and hiking poles are in order. After
taking a trip out to the end of Second Finger and back, the return will be
along the Fossil Ridge Trail. Meet the group at the Red Rock Casino with a departure time of 8:30
AM. Coordinator- Kay
Blackwell
Friday, March 20th, White Rock Hills Loop-
Participants in this group will be circling
the White Rock Hills from Willow Springs Picnic Area. This trail has a hidden
forest, rugged mountain views, high vista scenery and low desert exploration. This
moderate hike is 6.25 miles in length and gains 900 feet getting to the snack
break on a rock outcropping below White Rock Springs Peak. Participants for this
hike should gather in the customary spot at Red Rock Casino for a 12:30 PM
departure. Coordinator-
Nancy Moore
Saturday, March 21st, Windy Peak (back route)-The 5 mile out-and-back
route with 1,600 feet of elevation gain to one of the southern sandstone peaks along the escarpment
begins at Mountain Spring Summit on Highway 160. Rated as moderately strenuous the route includes an opening
section of steep gravel road before shifting to single-track trail approaching an intermediate
ridge that provides a view of the ultimate destination. Parts of the remaining
route are faint trail that can be hard to follow. The final assault of the peak has about
100 feet of rolling exposure. Gloves and hiking poles are recommended. Departure
from Red Rock Casino is 8:00 AM. We will also stop at the gas station at the junction of Highways
159 and 160 around 8:20 AM before driving to
the trailhead. Coordinator- Kay
Blackwell
Saturday, March 21st, Calico I to Sandstone Quarry- This moderate 4 mile
out-and-back hike will utilize the Calico Hills Trail to treat participants
to some exceptional
displays of scenery where the desert connects with the sandstone formations in the
hills. It will begin at
the Calico I Overlook and head north to Sandstone Quarry for a snack break before returning to
the starting point. Net gain is somewhat under 500 feet but rolling terrain
increases the gross amount to 700 or so. Pace will be leisurely. Departure from the assembly point at Red Rock Casino will be at 8:30 AM. Coordinator-
Nancy Moore
Sunday, March 22nd, Black Hills Long- The hike begins at the
gravel parking area on the right side of the entrance road to Blue Diamond
where you will meet the coordinator for an 8:00 AM start. Those carpooling from
Red Rock Casino should leave there by 7:30 AM. The route will follow a
network of trails out of Blue Diamond with little elevation change the first
few miles until we begin following a trail into the hills between Tertiary
Ridge and Highway 160. There are ups and downs until we reach the Landmine Trail where
we turn right and soon leave it to follow a faint trail that leads over the top
of Tertiary Ridge and back down into Blue Diamond. 8 miles and 1200 feet total
elevation gain.
Coordinator-
David Hardy
Sunday, March 22nd, Liberty Bell Arch- One of the most popular
moderate hikes in the Lake Mead area is this 5 or 6 mile hike that follows an
out-and-back route from the new parking area along Highway 93. The group will begin by
following a wash into the top portion of White Rock Canyon and turn right
through a series of interconnected washes on a recently established trail that
intersects the old trail going past the arch. The remains of a manganese mine provide a historical reference
to the area and the arch itself is a geologic wonder. The snack break will
occur at the turn around point on a broad plateau 700 feet above the Colorado
River. The west side
group will leave Red Rock Casino at 7:20 AM for the main assembly point at Henderson Fiesta, from which the entire
group will depart at 8:00 AM. Coordinator- Lettie Gutierrez.
Monday, March 23rd, Brownstone Canyon- This strenuous
out-and-back hike of 8 miles starts from the Sandstone Quarry trailhead and
follows a path thru the sandstone formations where it intersects
with the Rattlesnake Trail. The route then follows several washes, scrambling
over boulders and negotiating numerous dry falls to the top of Gateway Canyon.
Keeping high on the sandstone behind Turtlehead Peak, we will seek a narrow
crevice used for the descent to the pictograph wall. Departure is from Red Rock
Casino at 8:00 AM. Coordinator- Steve Allen
Tuesday, March 24th, North Peak (Sandstone)
Lollipop Route- From the Willow Springs Picnic Area, the group will hike up
Rocky Gap Road to the turnoff for the North Peak. The steep canyon ascends to
the ridge behind the escarpment, passing the transition from limestone to sandstone on the way to
the peak. The descent will be by the regular trail to Rocky Gap Road for the return to Willow Springs. Total distance should
be around 9 miles with 3000 feet of elevation gain and a strenuous rating. Meet the group at Red
Rock Casino for an 8:00 AM departure. Coordinator- Michael O'Connor
Wednesday,
March 25th, Oak Creek Canyon-
Here is one of those elusive hikes in the Red
Rock Canyon area that doesn't use any of the official trails, but follows a
series of horse and social trails into the boulder strewn canyon, passing over
Oak Creek on several occasions getting there. Net elevation gain is only about 400 feet over the course of
this 6 mile out-and-back hike with a moderate rating. Depending on the
consensus of the group we may go up the canyon for a very short distance to
exercise our scrambling needs. Departure from Red Rock Casino will be at 8:00 AM. Coordinator- Chris Dempsey.
Thursday,
March 26th, Potosi Mountain via the West Ridge- The route for this
strenuous climb follows a prominent ridge line on the west side of the
mountain. There is no trail and the hike is mainly a scramble up
to the summit. There is a small amount of bushwhacking. Although the hike is only 6.5 miles, it will
be slow going so we will need about 7 or 8 hours to complete. With an elevation
gain of 3300 feet there are great views of Death Valley to the west and the Las
Vegas valley from the summit. Gloves are recommended, however hiking sticks
will probably not be helpful as the hike is mostly scrambling. Group departure
from Red Rock Casino will be at 7:30 AM with a stop at the gas station
at the junction of Highways 159 and 160 at about 8:00 AM to pick up any
south side participants. The trailhead is 4 miles down Mt Potosi Canyon Road (sometimes
called Boy Scout Camp road). Coordinator- Jerry Thomas
Thursday, March 26th, Calico-Gateway Loop- Starting point for this moderately strenuous 8 mile loop hike is
at Red Spring Picnic Area at Calico Basin. The route goes around the south end
of the Calico Hills and proceeds along the west side to Sandstone Quarry. After passing the north
end of Red Cap it turns down a side canyon heading east and accesses Gateway
Canyon for a moderate scrambling effort around the east side of Kraft Mountain. A renowned boulder
field possibly provides some bystander action on the return. Meet at Red Rock Casino for an 8:00
AM departure or be at Red Spring by 8:10 AM. Coordinator- Chris Dempsey.
Friday, March 27th, Echo Canyon & First
Finger- This is a
moderate 6 mile loop hike that opens with some moderate scrambling up Echo
Canyon and includes a few dry waterfalls in the six-foot height range. We will see ancient seabed fossils as we hike up the
canyon. Near the top of the canyon the group will turn left on a trail that
leads to First Finger and take a snack break with a magnificent view of the Calico Hills.
We will 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 a 12:30
PM departure from Red Rock Casino. Coordinator- Nancy Moore.
Saturday, March 28th, Tony’s Tank Hike- From Sandstone Quarry,
the group will go in search of a hidden arch located in a side canyon near the
quarry. The route then ascends up to an unknown peak before descending back to
the Calico Tanks Trail. The next ascent takes us past the large tinaja before
climbing to Calico II Overlook Peak, where several hidden tanks are located.
The down-climb is through a canyon to a formation called “Mushroom
Rock”. The return trip
utilizes the Calico Hills Trail (aka Grand Circle Loop) back to the parking
lot. This hike will be approximately
4 miles with a moderately strenuous rating. Meet the other participants at Red Rock Casino for an 8:00 AM departure. Coordinator-Tony Fountain
Saturday, March 28th, SMYC Trail: Ice Box
Canyon To Willow Springs- This moderate 3 mile out -and- back hike along the SMYC Trail
will begin at the Ice Box Canyon parking lot and head towards the Willow
Springs picnic area for a snack break before returning to the starting
point.The trail includes handcrafted stone stairs and is nestled among cholla,
beavertail, pincushion and strawberry hedgehog cactus. The trail climbs and
dips and winds around mountain foothills revealing hidden vistas and riparian
gardens. We will
visit a petroglyph and pictograph wall as well as some Native American sites.
There is always the possibility of spotting big horn sheep above Willow
Springs. Departure from
the assembly point at Red Rock Casino will be at 8:30 AM. Coordinator-Nancy Moore
Sunday, March 29th, Grand Staircase / Slab Rift - Starting from Red Springs Picnic Area the group will climb onto the southern
section of the Calico Hills along the route referred to as the Grand Staircase. Heading north, we will
traverse the ridge and drop into a formation known as Slab Rift. The descent
includes more scrambling
down to the trail running along the eastern side of the sandstone hills. Distance is
approximately 3 miles with a strenuous rating. Departure from Red Rock Casino
will be at 8:00 AM. Coordinator- Steve Allen.
Sunday, March 29th, Desert National Wildlife
Refuge Visitor Center Trails (Corn Creek)- This hike is
rescheduled from February so we can see the visitor center when it is open. If
you haven't yet checked out the visitor center at the Desert National Wildlife
Refuge, today's leisurely outing will provide you with the opportunity. The
trails from the center wind through ponds and luxurious foliage that takes
advantage of the water flowing through the upper sections of the Las Vegas
Wash. Distance hiked will probably top out around 3 miles, but it is quite
level and carries an easy rating. There is a long gravel road leading from
Highway 95 to the visitor center but it is well graded and should only provide
a sheen of dust to the vehicles. Since this hike is north of Las Vegas, we will
be using our gathering point for Mount Charleston area hikes. That location is
in the southeast parking garage at Santa Fe Station on the 3rd
level. Participants can access this garage from Lone Mountain Road or from the
main entrance to the casino off Rancho. Look for the group along the south wall
on the 3rd level. Departure time will be at 8:30 AM. Coordinator- Nancy Moore
Monday, March 30th, La Madre Double Arch.-This strenuous 5 mile
out-and-back outing in the vicinity of the 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. Meeting location is Red Rock Casino with an 8:00 AM departure. Coordinator- Steve Allen
Tuesday, March 31st, Terrace Canyon- Scenery doesn't get
much better than the terraced floor of this canyon tucked deep above the south fork of
Pine Creek. The amount of scrambling required is significant on this very
strenuous 6 mile out-and-back hike that will probably take six or seven hours to
complete. Don't go unless you are
prepared to climb up 15-foot boulders and crawl through brush to reach the
objective. Meet at Red Rock
Casino for an 8:00 AM departure. Coordinator- Michael O’Connor
No comments:
Post a Comment