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 June schedule includes hikes in the Red Rock Canyon (including
Cottonwood Valley) and the Mount Charleston area with a few hikes scattered in
other areas around Las Vegas. Below is information regarding
our meeting locations for the main areas. Hikes in other locations will have
directions included in the descriptions for those hikes.
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 near 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.
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
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 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 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 contact information.
Exposure
Class 1- Terrain
that does not require use of hands or other equipment but can be negotiated
using only foot power.
Class 2- Terrain that is
uneven or irregular that may require use of hands for stabilization.
Class 3- Generally
steep terrain that definitely requires use of hands over stretches to
accomplish the task.
Class 4- In addition
to use of hands, some level of equipment is necessary to accomplish the task. This may
include webbing or short sections of rope for minor climbs or belay systems for
more difficult climbs.
Difficulty Levels
Easy- Hikes of 3 miles or less with not more than 300 feet of gain,
generally with only gradual elevation gains on even surface trails.
Easy to Moderate- Hikes ranging up to 5 miles and 500 feet of elevation
gain with the potential for some minor trail irregularities.
Moderate- Hikes that generally have a maximum distance of 8 miles with 800
feet of elevation gain. Somewhat longer mileage with less
elevation gain or shorter mileage with more elevation gain may also fit in this
category.
Moderately Strenuous- Distances of up to 12 miles and/or 1,600 feet
of elevation gain involving less than 25% of off-trail hiking such as boulder
scrambling or bushwhacking.
Strenuous- Longer distances with elevation gain capped around 3,000
feet or shorter
distances that encompass significant off-trail sections not requiring
additional safety equipment.
Very Strenuous or Extreme- Efforts that require serious
conditioning on the part of participants due to great length or
elevation gain or climbing that requires mountaineering skills.
Monday, June 1st, Raintree via North Loop- This
out-and-back moderately strenuous hike to the 3,000 year old bristlecone pine
tree is 6 miles long
and gains 2,200 feet of elevation. Meet at Santa Fe Station for a 7:30
AM departure. Coordinator- Michel Lamay
Tuesday, June 2nd, Mummy’s Toe- The normal
out-and-back route will be used for the strenuous trek of 8 miles that starts
at the North Loop trailhead. 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.
Departure is from Santa Fe Station at 7:30 AM. Coordinator-
Michael O’Connor
Tuesday, June 2nd, Easy Tuesday- Hikes will be easy to moderate and between 3
to 5 miles in length at a leisurely pace. Some might involve a little bit
of rock scrambling, but at an easy pace.
Departure will be from Red Rock Casino at 7:00 AM. Coordinator- Roger Hembree
Wednesday, June 3rd, Big Falls Overlook- A strenuous 9 mile out-and-back hike along
Trail Canyon Trail and North Loop Trail.
With 3,000 feet of elevation gain the vista affords a great view across Upper Kyle Canyon
to the plateau above Big Falls. Group
departure is from Santa Fe Station at 6:30 AM. Coordinator- Richard Hansen
Wednesday, June 3rd, Early Morning Red Rock Hike- Hike to be determined. Meet at Red Rock Casino for a 6:00 AM departure. Coordinator- Roger Hembree
Thursday, June 4th, Cockscomb Peak- Involving a very strenuous out-and-back route starting from the
Trail Canyon parking lot, the hike will climb to the junction with North Loop
Trail and turn onto Cockscomb Ridge, approaching the peak access on the east side
of the peak. Distance is 6 miles, elevation
gain is 2,100 feet, and steep scrambling with some Class 3 exposure is
involved. Experienced club hikers only. The group will
depart at 7:30 AM from Santa Fe
Station. Coordinator- Steve Anderson
Thursday, June 4th, Mary Jane Falls- Experience one of the major seasonal
waterfalls in the upper reaches of the Spring Mountains on this short trail
hike. Rated as a
moderate, this out-and-back hike totals just 3.5 miles while gaining 920 feet
of elevation. A short option from the base of the falls is a 100 yard trek to a
blackened cave in the cliffs with a terrific view of Kyle Canyon. The group will
meet at Santa Fe Station with an 8:30 AM departure. Coordinator- Chris Dempsey
Friday, June 5th, Calico
Hills- Avoid a longer
drive to the Mount Charleston area by participating on this early morning hike
in the Red Rock area. The moderate out-and-back hike covers a total
distance of 6 miles with a net elevation gain of 700 feet as the route passes
along the west side of the sandstone hills essentially forming one boundary of
Red Rock Canyon. Join the group at Red Rock Casino for a 6:00
AM departure or meet the group at the fee booth parking lot around 6:10
AM. Coordinator- Chris Dempsey.
Saturday, June 6th, Cave Springs via North Loop- This moderately strenuous out-and-back 9 mile hike with 3,700
feet of elevation gain involves
going up from the North
Loop TH, passing Raintree, and continuing to the horse trough fed by springs
from the caves above, Views toward Kyle
Canyon are quite spectacular. The group will
depart Santa Fe Station at 6:30 AM. Coordinator- Richard Hansen
Saturday, June 6th, Fletcher Canyon- This 4 mile out-and-back hike gains about
600 feet. The pace will be leisurely
with some minor scrambling. Group departure
from Santa Fe Station will be at 8:30 AM. Coordinator- Nancy Moore
Sunday, June 7th, 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 7:30 AM. Coordinator- Lettie Gutierrez
Monday, June 8th, Bristlecone Loop- One of the most popular hiking trails in the
Spring Mountains is this moderate 6 mile loop route at the top of Lee Canyon. Approximately 1900 feet of gradual elevation
gain. Departure will be from Santa Fe Station at 7:30 AM. Coordinator-
Michel Lamay
Tuesday, June 9th, Fletcher Peak vis Hummingbird Gulch- With the intensity of the scrambling, the
constant scree, the downed logs, and the thick brush, it seems to take a
long time to reach reached the top of Hummingbird Gulch at the saddle between
North Loop Trail and Fletcher Peak. As a
result the remaining climb to the top of the peak seems mild. This very strenuous 7 mile hike
with 2,400 feet of elevation gain. Departure from Santa Fe Station
will be at 7:30 AM. Coordinator.- Steve Anderson
Tuesday, June 9th, Easy Tuesday- Hikes will be easy to moderate and
between 3 to 5 miles in length at a leisurely pace. Some might involve a little bit of rock
scrambling, but at an easy pace. Departure will be from Red Rock Casino at 7:00
AM. Coordinator- Roger Hembree
Wednesday, June 10th, Early Morning Red Rock Hike- Hike to be determined. Meet at Red Rock Casino for a 6:00 AM departure. Coordinator- Roger Hembree
Thursday, June 11th, Mount Charleston Peak- Here is the first scheduled assault for 2015
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 4,800 feet of gain and covers a total
distance of 17.2 miles. 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 5:30 AM from Santa Fe Station. Coordinator- Michael O’Connor
Thursday, June 11th Red Rock Hike- Route to be decided prior to departure. Meet at Red Rock Casino at 7:00 AM. Coordinator-Tony Fountain
Friday, June 12th, 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 RockCasino
and leave for the stables at 5:15 AM.
The coordinator will meet the group at the stables for a 5:30 AM
start. Coordinator - David Hardy
Saturday, June 13th, Trail Canyon to Cave Springs- This out-and-back, 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. Meet the group at Santa Fe Station for a 7:30
AM departure. Coordinator-
Lettie Gutierrez
Saturday, June 13th, Upper Bristlecone Trail- This 4 mile out-and-back hike gains 900
feet of elevation. With a moderate
rating the pace will be leisurely. Departure time from Santa Fe Station is at 8:30 AM. Coordinator- Nancy Moore
Sunday, June 14th 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. Meet at Santa Fe Station for a 7:30 AM
departure. Coordinator- Lettie Gutierrez
Monday, June 15th, 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. Exiting the
canyon the group will pass a boulder field on the south edge of the mountain
before returning to the trailhead. Meet at Red Springs Park for an 6:00 AM departure. Coordinator- Steve Allen.
Monday, June 15th, Cathedral
Rock / Manhole Cover / Little Falls– Cathedral Rock has finally
reopened! The described route is a moderately strenuous hike of around 4 to 5
miles with approximately 1500 to 2000 feet of elevation gain. The route will begin
at the Echo Trailhead and climb up to Little Falls. Next, the route descends
around to climb up to Cathedral Rock. Finally, a relaxing hike out to a nearby
manhole cover where water flows down into the communities below. Let’s go and see what’s new! Meet at the
Santa Fe to depart at 8:00am sharp.
Coordinator – Kay Blackwell
Tuesday, June 16th, 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
group will meet at Santa Fe Station for a 7:30 AM departure. Coordinator- Steve Anderson
Wednesday, June 17th, Upper Lost Creek Waterfall- Most of this
out-and-back hike of 4 to 5 mile follows relatively easy trails but the climb
through the cliffs to the waterfall
elevates the overall rating to moderately strenuous. The group will
meet at Red Rock Casino for a 6:00 AM departure. Coordinator-
Steve Allen
Thursday, June 18th, Devil’s Thumb- Departing from the Trail Canyon trailhead the
route ascends to a rock pinnacle outcropping located at the end of the ridge
that constitutes the Thumb. Total
out-and-back distance will be 13 miles with 3,700 feet of elevation gain,
resulting in a strenuous rating. Meet at Santa Fe Station for a 6:30 AM departure. Coordinator- Richard Hansen
Thursday, June 18th, Red Rock Hike- Route to be decided prior to departure. Meet at Red Rock Casino at 7:00 AM.
Coordinator-Tony Fountain
Friday, June 19th, Sequoia Trip
Saturday, June 20th, Sequoia Trip
Saturday, June 20th, Telephone Canyon Top to Bottom- With seventy club members
attending the Sequoia outing there may not be many hikers left but we will
indeed have a leisurely hike on this Saturday.
The top to bottom trek in Telephone Canyon starts at Robber's Roost and
heads downhill to an end point along Kyle Canyon Road just up from the new
administrative building. Total distance is 4 miles and the rating should
be easy to moderate. Extra vehicles will be required for the shuttle
between the finishing and starting points. Meet at Santa Fe Station for an 8:30
AM departure. Coordinator-
Chris Dempsey.
Sunday, June 21st, Sequoia
Trip
Sunday, June 21st, No Name/Bristlecone Loop- Located in upper
Lee Canyon, this moderately strenuous loop hike starts at the end of the road
near the ski resort. After a mile on the Bristlecone Trail the group
will detour onto an abandoned section of the Bonanza Trail and encounter a
fairly short but very steep climb to a ridge with views of many of the Lee
Canyon peaks. Connections with the real Bonanza Trail and the upper section of
Bristlecone Trail bring us back to the starting point. Distance is 6
miles with 1,100 feet net elevation gain. Departure from Santa Fe Station
will be at 7:45 AM. Coordinator-
Chris Dempsey.
Monday, June 22nd, Sequoia
Trip
Monday, June 22nd, White Rock Hills Loop- A moderate 6.4 mile loop in Red Rock Canyon
circling two sandstone peaks known as the White Rock Hills. Our route this day
will be a counter-clockwise trek that will start from Willow Springs, getting
the front desert portion of the hike out of the way before much heat sets in. Overall net
elevation gain is around 950 feet and temperatures will have an impact on
whether or not the group takes a snack break. Departure from Red
Rock Casino will be at 6:00 AM.
Coordinator- Chris Dempsey.
Tuesday, June 23rd, Sequoia
Trip
Tuesday, June 23rd, McFarland
Approach- This strenuous
out-and-back hike covers a distance of about 13 miles following much of the
southern half of the Bonanza Trail. No Name Trail will not be part
of this hike as it was used two days prior and the snack break will occur near
a rock outcropping on the edge of the steep canyon that provides access to the
top of McFarland. Gross elevation gain will be somewhere between
1,500 and 2,000 feet. The assembled group will depart from Santa Fe
Station at 7:15 AM. Coordinator
- Chris Dempsey.
Wednesday, June 24th, Beyond Big Falls- From the Trail Canyon trailhead this
moderately strenuous route climbs to Big Falls via a wash then ascending a
short Class 3 section for a bit of exploration.
Distance will be about 5 miles with 1,200 to 1,400 feet of elevation
gain. The group will meet at Santa Fe Station for a 7:30 AM departure. Coordinator-Michael O’Connor
Thursday, June 25th, Mummy’s Tummy- The scree field above North Loop
Trail that forms an important link to the peak is one of the most difficult
sections of climb in the Spring Mountains and will require a significant
expenditure of energy. Overall this out-and-back hike covers a
distance of 9 miles and gains 3,900 feet of elevation. Because of the
terrain this hike carries a very strenuous rating. Join the group at
Santa Fe Station for a 7:15 AM departure. Coordinator- Chris Dempsey.
Friday, June 26th, Red Springs - Most of the route for this moderate 4 mile
out-and-back hike with an elevation gain of 400 feet will be in the shade as
the group will start from Red Springs Park and go around the south end of the
Calico Hills as far as Calico II Overlook utilizing the canyon between the
sandstone hills and the scenic drive as much as possible. Meet at Red Spring picnic area for a 5:30 AM start. Coordinator- David Hardy
Friday, June 26th, Stanley B
Mine and Springs – This moderate hike of 3 miles has 900 feet of elevation
gain so it is a bit of a climb. It leads to an barred up mine that exudes a
spring. The area is somewhat historic. The hike involves some scrambling and
some trail. Pace will be slow enough to accommodate all moderate hikers. Meet
at the Santa Fe at 8:00am.
Coordinator – Kay Blackwell
Saturday, June 27th, Fletcher Peak via North Loop- The standard route to the top of one of
the major peaks surrounding Kyle Canyon that will be used for this hike
involves the eastern end of North Loop Trail and the somewhat tougher ridge
trail leading to the peak. Although it still
carries a strenuous rating, the 7 mile out-and-back hike with 1,900 feet of
elevation gain is undoubtedly the easiest route to the top of
something big in the vicinity. Meet at Santa Fe
Station for a 7:30 AM departure. Coordinator- Lettie Gutierrez
Saturday, June 27th, Mary Jane Falls- The elevation gain for this moderate
out and-back hike is 1500 feet. Total
distance is 3.5 miles and the pace will be leisurely. Meet at Santa Fe Station for a 8:30 AM departure. Coordinator- Nancy Moore
Sunday, June 28th, Angel Peak
Exploratory- Our coordinator
has reached this elusive peak in the Spring Mountains twice before by different
routes and this will be a third option as we will start this hike from the base
of Telephone Canyon. The estimated distance for this strenuous
out-and-back hike is between 8 and 10 miles with an elevation gain possibly
surpassing 2,000 feet. For those unfamiliar with where we will be
hiking, Angel Peak is the mountain east of Fletcher Peak that houses the Spring
Mountain Youth Camp. There may be some bushwhacking involved. Participants
should meet at Santa Fe Station for a 7:30 AM departure. Coordinator- Chris Dempsey.
Monday, June 29th, La Madre
Double Arch- This strenuous 5
mile out-and-back hike in the vicinity of the Keystone Thrust will begin from
the upper parking lot at 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. Meet at Red Rock
Casino for a 6:00 AM departure. Coordinator- Steve Allen
Tuesday, June 30th, Calico Hills/Squeeze Balloon- Starting at the Visitor Center
and utilizing the trails that parallel the Calico Hills, the route eventually
drops into the fault canyon below the Calico II Overlook. Turning into the side canyon leading to Angel
Pass Saddle, we will then ascend a very steep drainage, transverse another
drainage that 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 very strenuous
rating. Departure from
Red Rock Casino will be at 6:00 AM. Coordinator- Steve Allen.
Tuesday, June 30th, Trail Canyon / Fletcher Canyon – This is a 6 mile point-to-point hike that treks
from the Trail Canyon Trailhead to the Fletcher Canyon Trailhead. There is 1800
feet of elevation gain followed by 2600 feet of elevation loss. After doing the
required Trail Canyon climb, the route drops down into the top of Fletcher
Canyon for a wonderland hike down past Obstacle Rock. Meet at the Santa Fe for
an 8:00am departure. Coordinator – Kay Blackwell
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