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), Valley of Fire and Lake Mead area. There
are also a number of afternoon hikes on this month’s schedule. 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.
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
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. Marriot 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 Cub 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 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
Tuesday, March 1st, Crabby
Appleton/ Magic Mountain- A loop hike, 1,900 feet, 6 miles, Class 3-4 with lots of great
scrambling, moderate exposure, strenuous. Ascend south-south fork of Pine Creek Canyon, cut back and up to Crabby,
traverse over to Magic and descend directly down its east slope. Meet Red Rock Casino 7:30 AM. Coordinator-
Ed
Forkos.
Tuesday, March 1st,
Willow Springs Picnic Area to the Limestone Wall- This easy to
moderate leisurely
pace group hike
will start from the Willow Springs picnic area White Rock Loop Trailhead and
take in part of the
White Rock Trail in
the valley north of the sandstone hills. This out-and-back hike should cover a
total distance of
about 4 miles and
about 700 feet gain in elevation with the turn around point in the shadow of a
group of rock formations. The backcountry scenery along the way is pretty
sensational. Participants should meet at Red Rock Casino for a departure at 8:00 AM. Coordinator- Tony Fountain
Wednesday, March 2nd, Rainbow Gardens- This moderate out-and-back hike in the Lake
Mead area covers a total distance of 6 miles with about 500 feet of elevation
gain on the return. In the first half of the hike
there is a half mile section of scrambling in a colorful canyon that requires a
bit of diligence. The snack break will be along the
banks of an arm of Lake Las Vegas. Pace will be somewhat leisurely. West side
participants should meet on top of the Rampart Casino for a 7:15 AM departure. The main group will assemble at the
CVS/Albertsons Grocery parking lot on Lake Mead
Boulevard and Hollywood for an 8:00 AM departure. The hike will start
from the Lava Butte Wash pullout on Northshore Drive near Mile Marker 2 around 8:25 AM. Coordinator- Chris
Dempsey.
Thursday,
March 3rd, Middle Pinto Ridge Exploratory- This estimated 6-mile off-trail route is expected
to be strenuous with some exposure and bouldering. It will have exceptional views of Pinto
Valley, Bittersprings Valley and Lake Mead.
This exploratory hike will attempt to find a connecting route between
Middle Pinto Ridge and the East Pinto Ridge route used on the January 2016 Jean’s
Peak hike. Cars will be staged at mm 22
(Razorback Ridge parking) and mm 25 on Northshore Road. The planned route climbs directly up to
Middle Pinto Ridge (from mm 22) and traverses the ridgeline eastward,
eventually making a descent and connecting climb up to East Pinto Ridge. This is a Lake Mead North hike. Meet the coordinator at MM 4 on Northshore
Road at 8:15 AM, leave CVS Pharmacy at 8:00 AM and leave Rampart at 7:20 AM. Coordinator– Chuck Hawkins
Thursday, March 3rd, Ash Canyon- Significant
scrambling is again a main theme on this strenuous 7-mile loop hike starting at Red Springs Picnic Area. After a gentle opening section to the mouth of Ash Canyon the difficulty rating rises sharply as the group climbs through the fairly steep canyon with lots of boulders to the eastern flank of
Red Cap. After a snack break at the top the route turns
down toward and enters Lower Gateway Canyon, exiting on the east side of Krafft
Mountain for a return to the starting point. Use of hands will be required in several areas of both canyons. The group will assemble at Red Rock Casino for an 8:00 AM departure. Coordinator- Chris Dempsey.
Friday, March 4th, Pinto Valley O&B- Mostly easy in/out trek coupled with photo sessions. Starting up the
Cottonwood Wash we’ll bypass the 15 foot dry falls
by the same name. Then jump on the Old Arrowhead Road and thru the nearby wash
(1910- Salt Lake City to Los Angeles) out to historic Signature Rock to
photograph petroglyphs, colorful rock formations, and grand vistas. Estimated
distance is 9 miles. Gradual elevation change(s). West side meeting location is
Rampart Casino, leaving there at 8:20 AM for the CVS Pharmacy on Lake Mead Boulevard and Hollywood and a 9:00 AM departure.
Stop at MM 4 for the rest of the group by 9:20 AM. Coordinator- David Gray
Friday, March 4th, Calico Scramble- Anyone interested in doing a
Calico Hills scramble join me at Red Spring parking area at 8:30 AM for an adventure on the rocks. As always I will try and minimize
exposure (up to Class 3) but you need to be comfortable with scrambling.
Distance in the 4 mile range. Coordinator- Steve Allen
Saturday, March 5th, Lone Palm Loop-
This moderate to strenuous hike is about 6 miles. It goes down to the Colorado River and
involves descending a hillside using a sheep trail and some scrambling. The snack break is taken on a raised area
near a small waterfall on the Colorado River.
The return loop requires some scrambling to reach the wash back to the
cars. This is a Lake Mead South
hike. Meet the coordinators at the
trailhead at about 8:20 AM. This parking area is reached by going over
the new bridge just past Hoover Dam. Take the first exit which is labeled Kingman
Wash and turn right at the bottom of the exit ramp. The parking lot is on the left after you make
the right turn and is on the Colorado River side of the highway. Leave Henderson Fiesta at 8:00 AM and Red Rock Casino at 7:15 AM.
Coordinators- Joan and Chuck Hawkins
Saturday, March 5th, Pueblo Park- As the coordinator will be returning from Phoenix that morning, this
traditional easy Saturday offering will not occur until 3:30 PM. Essentially a walk on a paved trail, this out-and-back hike will cover a
distance of 3 miles with less than 100 feet
of elevation gain. No hiking sticks are necessary
and the pace will accommodate leisurely hikers. The trailhead for Pueblo Park is located on Lake Mead Boulevard just
west of Buffalo in northwest Las Vegas. You must be traveling east on Lake Mead Boulevard to access the entrance
to the park. Again, the starting time for the
hike will be 3:30 PM. Coordinator- Chris Dempsey.
Saturday, March 5th, Moapa Valley NWR and Arrow
Canyon- This is a trip to Moapa Valley to visit the Moapa Valley
National Wildlife Refuge and then hike up the nearby Arrow Canyon. The wildlife refuge
has exhibits featuring the endangered Moapa Dace fish. After exploring the
small Refuge we will continue up Warm Springs Road and hike up the nearby Arrow
Canyon. This canyon has many interesting rock features including fossils and
rock art. We will hike up the canyon about 2.5 miles to a dam built by the CCC. We will take a
snack break and then hike back down the canyon. Total distance is 5
miles with less than 200 feet elevation gain with an easy rating. West side hikers
plan to meet at the Rampart at 7:30AM and East siders meet at the Lucky Club for an 8:00 AM departure. We will need high clearance vehicles to get to the
Arrow Canyon trailhead. Coordinator- Jerry Thomas
Sunday, March 6th, Calico Scramble- Anyone
interested in doing a Calico Hills scramble join me at Red Spring parking area
at 8:30 AM for an adventure on
the rocks. As always I will try and minimize exposure (up to Class 3) but you
need to be comfortable with scrambling. Distance in the 4 mile range.
Coordinator- Steve Allen
Sunday, March 6th, Gorman LGC to Hadrian's Wall- It has been a year or two since this hike has been on the schedule, so
the basic information is a bit hazy. It will be a loop
hike of possibly up to 8 miles in the foothills southwest of Siena rated moderately strenuous. The hike will start
at Mesa Park, located at the intersection of S. Town Center and S. Mesa Park
Drive. There is some pretty good scrambling involved in
what we call Gorman Little Grand Canyon. At the top of the canyon we will head south on a mountain bike trail around some low mountains
and take a break on a rock outcropping dubbed Hadrian's Wall by our esteemed Michael
O'Connor. Meet at Red Rock Casino for an 8:00 AM departure or
be at the parking lot on the south end of Mesa Park
(just past the roundabout) for an 8:15 AM start of hike. Coordinator- Chris Dempsey.
Monday, March 7th, Liberty Bell Extended-
This hike will be about 7 miles long with about 1,500 feet elevation and
will include some scrambling and bouldering through the return canyon. This hike will take the usual route to
Liberty Bell Arch. However, it will
return through a canyon that used to be part of a Liberty Bell loop hike before
the starting point was changed by the new highway. This is a Lake Mead South hike. Meet the coordinators at the White Rock
Canyon (Arizona Hot Springs) parking area at about 8:25 AM.
This parking area is reached by going over the new bridge on Highway 93
just past Hoover Dam. Take the first left hand turn lane to Trailhead Parking
for Arizona Hot Springs (about 4 miles after going over the new bridge). Leave Henderson Fiesta at 8:00
AM and Red Rock Casino at 7:15 AM. Coordinators– Joan and Chuck Hawkins
Tuesday, March 8th, VoF 7-Up- This is a brand new loop hike that takes us up all seven of the mesas
in the southwest of the Valley of Fire, with their great views. Starting from Mouse’s tank parking area
we scramble up (and down) #7 first with some minimal exposure. Crossing the road at Rainbow Vista we head West and ascend some steep
slick rock up to #6. #5 is just a few dozen yards
away, but there’s a chasm in between that takes a
bit of effort to cross before the first break at the picnic table on #5. Getting to #4, the largest mesa of this group, is an easy stroll with
#3, #2 and #1 following in quick succession. The second break will be taken at the high point of the hike at the
western edge of #1 before dropping off of it and meandering through the canyons
2 miles back to our cars at Mouse’s tank. 6 miles in 4-5 hours and 2,300 feet of gross gain
over rough terrain makes this a strenuous hike. We call it 7-Up!…with emphasis on the Up! Meet as usual: 7:30 AM Rampart, 7:50 AM Lucky Club, but let’s make it
8:45 AM at Mouse’s Tank parking lot this time
instead of the visitor’s center. Coordinator- Brian Dodd
Wednesday, March 9th, Waterfall Canyon- Although this 4 to 5-mile out-and-back hike is
probably rated moderate overall because 80% of it is along Rocky Gap Road, the
remaining portion in the canyon includes sketchy trail, portions of slick rock,
and a few Class 3 climbs around waterfalls ranging as high as thirty feet. Since the canyon is
deep spring fed, it usually has water coursing down the channel even during dry
seasons, and the route crosses the creek on several occasions. Elevation gain
approximately 1,100 feet. Assembly for
this hike will be at Red Rock Casino with an 8:00 AM departure. Coordinator- Ed Matulis
Wednesday, March 9th, Urban Walk/Angel Park Trail- Let's meet at 4:00 PM and walk Angel Park trail. We will meet at
Angel Park at the corner of So. Durango and Venetian Strada. This is another 3
mile walk along the golf courses at Angel Park. Coordinator- Lettie Gutierrez
Thursday, March 10th, Grand Circle- This moderately strenuous long loop through Red Rock Canyon will start
from the Visitor Center, resulting in a total distance around 11 miles. It will be conducted in a clockwise direction, which is the more scenic
option with a gradual climb to the top elevation. Snack break will occur on the rocks near White Rock Springs. If interested meet the group at Red Rock Casino for an 8:00 AM departure or
be at the Visitor Center parking lot by 8:10 AM for the start of the hike. Coordinator- Chris Dempsey.
Friday, March 11th, Calico Hills Loop- This moderately strenuous hike begins at the Red Spring parking, hikes
over 5-stop hill, up Gateway about 10 minutes then up to Sandstone Quarry. From there we follow the trail/route past
Calico II and I back to Red Spring. There will be some scrambling. Elevation
gain around 1,000 feet. and 7 miles. Meet the
Coordinator at Red Spring at 7:30 AM. Coordinator- David
Hardy
Saturday, March 11th, Lone Grapevine Spring- This generally moderate partial
loop hike in Cottonwood Valley will cover a total distance around 4 miles. Starting from the Late Night Parking Area along Highway 160, a series of trails through the valley leads to a
protected spring near the base of Windy Peak. After a short break the hike continues over to Lone Grapevine Spring, an
area containing a significant collection of ground level petroglyphs (rock carvings). The return to the vehicles will be along a more direct route. This will be a leisurely hike. The assembled group will depart from
Red Rock Casino at 8:30
AM. South side participants not going to Red Rock Casino should drive directly to the trailhead parking lot where the hike will start at
9:00 AM. There will NOT be a stop at the gas station at the highway junction. Coordinator- Chris
Dempsey.
Friday, March 11th, Death Valley Trip- Kay Blackwell
Saturday Mar 12th,
Sandstone Quarry to Dragon Canyon Overlook- This easy to moderate hike will
start at the
Sandstone Quarry parking lot in Red Rock Canyon pass Ash Canyon Overlook to the
Dragon Canyon
Overlook. This
partial loop hike should cover a total distance of about 4 miles and about 700
feet gain in elevation with a gentle amount of Class 2 scrambling. We will loop
over to the Turtlehead Peak Trail passing some familiar petroglyphs.
Participants should meet at Red Rock Casino for a departure at 8:00 AM. Coordinator-
Tony Fountain
Saturday, March 12th, Lake Mead Tunnel Trail- This 5 mile hike
will be done at a leisurely pace. Meet at Alan Bible visitor center,upper
parking lot at 8:30 AM. This is not the usual lot that we park at. The lower lot gets really congested on the weekend. Leave Henderson Fiesta at 8:00
AM and Red Rock Casino at 7:15 AM. Coordinator- Judy Warner
Saturday, March 12th, Death Valley Trip- Kay Blackwell
Sunday, March 13th, Black Velvet Canyon- This moderately strenuous 8-mile hike was last done just over one year
ago. It also starts from the Late Night Parking Area
along Highway 160, but heads around the ridge in the opposite direction from
the Saturday hike. After crossing Cottonwood Valley
on a series of meandering trails and a bit of gravel road, a much rougher trail
leads to the entrance of the canyon for some pretty significant boulder
scrambling to the base of a dry waterfall. The return section loops back to the starting point using the Black
Velvet Bike Trail. Group departure from Red Rock
Casino will be at 8:00 AM. There will NOT be a stop at the highway junction gas station, so other
participants should drive directly to the trailhead for an 8:30 AM start of hike. PLEASE NOTE - This is the first day of daylight
savings, so adjust your clocks the night before or miss the hike. Coordinator- Chris Dempsey
Sunday, March 13th, Death Valley Trip- Kay Blackwell
Monday March 14th, Tony’s Tank Scramble- This moderate to strenuous group hike will involve
quite a bit of scrambling but at a moderate pace. The first part of the hike
will be from the north side of the Calico Hills along a route toward Red Cap.
Climbing Red Cap is not included. After exploring some of the tanks, the group
will descend along Mass Production Wall. We then proceed up the main Calico
Tank Trail, turning right below Rooster Rock, and then exploring other tanks
along the ascent to the Calico II Overlook Peak. The group will then begin
descending along a ridge above the main Calico Tank Trail. Along this return,
we will negotiate up a 20 foot high rock formation, “Tony’s Wall”, with a
variety of hand and foot holds. Total distance is about 4 miles with a moderate
to strenuous rating. Meet at Red Rock Casino for an 8:00 AM departure
.Coordinator- Tony Fountain
Monday, March 14th, Arnight Knoll
Loop Extended- This moderate loop hike of between 5 and 6 miles will start from the
gravel parking lot where the scenic loop exits onto Highway 159. After reaching the Oak Creek parking lot about a mile into the hike, the
group will follow the standard loop involving the Arnight, Knoll, and Oak Creek
trails back to that point. The return to the
starting point will be by a slightly different route, making this hike more of
a figure eight. Departure from Red Rock Casino
will be at 8:30 AM with
the hike starting from the exit parking lot at
8:45 AM. Coordinator- Chris Dempsey.
Tuesday, March 15th, White Rock
Hills Peak, 6462’- A loop hike, 1,860 feet of gain, 7 miles, Class 3-4
with lots of fine scrambling, strenuous, moderate exposure. Ascend the scenic SE gully from Willow Springs pulling out near the top
to the summit, then traversing the north slopes to descend back to the Rocky
Gap road near Willow Springs. Meet 7:30 AM Red Rock
Casino. Coordinator- Ed Forkos.
Tuesday, March 15th, Easy Tuesday La Madre Springs- We will depart Red Rock Casino
at 8:00 AM and drive to the Willow Springs parking area. From Willow Springs we will hike approximately 4.0-4.5 miles at a
leisurely pace out and back to the La Madre Springs. Coordinator- Roger Hembree
Wednesday, March 16th, Lake Las Vegas
Overlook via Tombstone Rock- This
approximately 7-mile hike has its break at a small hilltop peak with a
beautiful view of Lake Las Vegas, Lava Butte and the surrounding area. On the way to the hilltop, the hike goes past
Tombstone Rock and up several washes to an old campsite scrambling around a
very tall dry waterfall. On the loop
back, return via several different washes to a mesa top and descend to a
different abandoned campsite, a spring and an aqueduct. This is a Lake Mead South hike Meet the coordinator at the trailhead at the
old ranger station near Las Vegas Bay Marina at 8:20 am. To reach the trailhead drive east on Lake
Mead Parkway which continues straight as Lakeshore Road. Turn left at the old ranger station (left
hand turn lane at about mile 10 or 11 on Lakeshore Road) and park here. If you get to the Las Vegas Bay Overlook
sign, you just passed it. Leave
Henderson Fiesta at 8:00 AM and Red Rock Casino at 7:15 AM. Coordinators- Joan and Chuck Hawkins
Thursday, March 17th, Gray Cap- This spectacular hike to the top
of a mountain northeast of Red Rock Canyon will follow the traditional route
through Upper Gateway Canyon. It will be a
strenuous out-and-back trek covering a distance of 6 miles and gaining around
1,600 feet of elevation.. There is
significant scrambling involved along the route with several areas requiring
use of hands. This is also one of those hikes
that provides lots of scenic rewards both along the route and at the
destination. Meet the group at Red Rock Casino
for an 8:00 AM departure or be at Sandstone Quarry by 8:15 AM for the start of the hike. Coordinator- Chris
Dempsey.
Friday, March 18th, 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. The group will assemble at Red Rock Casino for a 8:00 AM departure. Coordinator- Barbara Ulmer
Saturday, March 19th, Hollow Rock
Peak - We will
ascend the traditional way up Heartbreak Hill from Mountain Springs Summit TH.
At the saddle, we turn right and make our way along the ridges over to Hollow
Rock. There are dirt trails and sandstone scrambling along the ridges. On the
return we will detour down the burnt out ridge back to the cars. This is a
moderately strenuous hike of 6 miles and 1,800 feet of elevation gain. Meet at
Red Rock Casino at 8:00 AM and then we drive to the gas station on Blue Diamond and meet that
group at 8:20 AM. From there, we drive to the top of the pass and park in the dirt lot. Coordinator- Lettie Gutierrez
Saturday, March 19th, Oak Creek
Loop (from Hwy 159)- Combination hike leisurely & moderate. This 5-6 mile partial loop
begins at the Oak Creek trailhead on Highway 159. The leisurely hikers will
hike up the trail to where scrambling begins. The moderate hikers will scramble
up the canyon a little ways and return. Then all hikers will continue back to
the cars together by looping around Potato Knoll. Elevation gain will be
between 700 and 1000 feet and the pace will meet the requirements of the
participants. Meet at Red Rock Casino at 8:30 AM or at the trailhead
around 8:45 AM. Coordinator- Kay Blackwell
Sunday, March 20th, Calico Scramble- Anyone
interested in doing a Calico Hills scramble join me at Red Spring parking area
at 8:30 AM for an adventure on
the rocks. As always I will try and minimize exposure (up to Class 3) but you
need to be comfortable with scrambling. Distance in the 4 mile range.
Coordinator- Steve Allen
Sunday, March 20th, Potosi Canyon #3- Today we will explore Potosi Canyon #3 that cuts into the eastern part
of Potosi Mountain. Expect scrambling and some bush whacking. Long pants and
long sleeve shirt recommended. This moderately strenuous hike of 6 miles has a
elevation gain of about 2,000 feet, Red Rock Casino 7:00 AM. Gas station route 159 & 160 7:30 AM. Coordinator- David
Hardy
Monday, March 21st, Eagle
Mountain (3833´)- A clockwise loop from the trailhead. Ascend the
rugged, limestone slope to the summit, traverse the ridge line to the north and
bring it back home. At just under four miles with 1,000 feet vertical, it’s a Class 2, moderately strenuous jaunt. Depart from Gilmore Cliff
Shadows Park at the western terminus of Alexander Road, 8:00 AM. Coordinator- Michael O’Connor
Monday, March 21st, Potato Knoll- The partial loop hike starts from the gravel parking lot at the exit of
the scenic drive on Highway 159 and follows a series of multi-use trails to the hill in the shadow of Wilson Peak. Climbing to the top of the 500 foot hill from the back involves some
minor scrambling. Overall, the 5-mile hike is rated
moderate and will be done at a pace to keep the group together. The assembled group will depart at 8:00 AM from Red Rock Casino. Coordinator- John Ward
Tuesday, March 22nd, Goat bed Peak/Gray Cap- Located in
the La Madre Wilderness Area just north of the Calico Basin, Goat Bed Peak
(4,960 feet) gets its name from the Big Horn Sheep that make this home. Once attaining the peak the route joins the
ridge to Gray Cap Peak(5,425). The descent through the sandstone cliffs to Lower Gateway
Canyon for the return to the trailhead completes the loop. With lots of scrambling,
significant exposure, and distance this loop hike warrants a very strenuous
rating. Estimated time 6-7 hours. Departure is from the gravel parking area on
Sandstone Drive in the Calico Basin at 7:30 AM. Coordinator-
Steve Allen
Tuesday, March 22nd, Ash Canyon Overlook- Here is an alternate leisurely hike for those wishing to stay in the Red Rock area. This is an easy to
moderate out-and-back hike starting from Sandstone Quarry that goes around the
north side of the Calico Hills. There will be two
potential destinations on this hike. The first is a red
sandstone outcropping at the top of Ash Canyon that will result in a total
distance around 3 miles. For those wishing
to up the rating to moderate, we will continue on to a cream colored sandstone
slab with better views that will add another mile to the total. Snack breaks will occur at each turn around point. Overall pace will be fairly leisurely. Group departure from Red Rock Casino will be at 8:00 AM. Coordinator- Chris Dempsey.
Wednesday, March 23rd, Grand
Circle/ Keystone Trust- This moderate to strenuous 7 mile partial
loop hike starts from Sandstone Quarry on a section of the Grand Circle Trail
and has a net elevation gain of 1,500 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. Departure from Red Rock Casino at 8:00 AM. Coordinator- Ed
Matulis
Wednesday, March 23rd, Black Mountain Overlook Peak (Full Moon Hike) - Here's a unique twist to a standard Lake Mead trek - a full moon rise hike. The group will be
following the old city trail to the top of the peak for a view of the 100 per
cent moon rising over Lake Mead. Distance for the
moderate hike will be 6 miles with 1,200 feet of elevation gain. With the sun setting at 6:56 PM and the full moon rising at 7:21 PM,
timing will be important, and we will probably be dealing with rush hour. Accordingly, the west side group will leave from Red Rock Casino at 4:20 PM, departure from the main
assembly point at Fiesta Henderson will be 5:20 PM, and the hike will start from the trailhead parking lot by St. Jude
Children's Ranch at 5:45 PM. Bring flashlights for the return as the moon will not be high enough
before our descent begins. The hike should
finish around 8:45 PM. Coordinator- Chris Dempsey.
Thursday, March 24th, Windy Peak
(6246´) from Grapevine Springs- Approaching the summit from the east side, this
strenuous route to Windy Peak is a mere four miles, but with a demanding 2,000
feet of vertical climb. Very steep approach through the cactus with some mild,
Class 3 near the summit. Depart from the Red Rock Casino at 8:00 AM, with a courtesy stop
at the #160 gas station. Coordinator- Michael O’Connor
Thursday, March 24, Tanks II- This is
the second version of Tanks Discovery Scramble that will include the new
sandstone peak with the new tank. The moderately strenuous scramble hike
continues up to the Lower Calico II Overlook for our break then returns via the
Calico Tanks Trail. Expect some exposure on the return route. It is 4.5 miles
of scrambling with 1,600 feet of elevation gain. Meet at the Red Rock Casino
for an 8:30 AM
departure. Coordinator- Kay Blackwell
Friday, March 25th, Quartzite Mountain- This mountain is the high point
in the Las Vegas Range north of Las Vegas. We will approach from the Morman Well Road in the Desert National Wildlife
Refuge which will shorten the hike considerably. Total distance is 6.4 miles with 1,500 feet of elevation gain. The hike should be mostly class 1 with a little class 2 up a ridge and
very small amount of class 3 at the summit block. You could still enjoy the hike without climbing up to the summit. We will need high clearance vehicles to reach the trailhead. Meet at
Santa Fe station at 7:30
AM. Coordinator- Jerry Thomas
Friday, March 25th, Fork of Main Fork Pine Creek- This is a moderately strenuous
hike into a deep canyon with lots of pines and flowing water. Lots of scrambling over a distance of 5-6 miles out-and-back. Meet the
coordinator at the Pine Creek Trailhead at 8:00 AM or carpool from Red
Rock Casino departing by 7:30 AM.. Coordinator- David Hardy.
Saturday, March 26th, Turtlehead
Peak- We will ascend the normal steep trail to the
saddle and then up to the peak. After our break at the top, we will descend
back to the saddle but then hike across the ridge making our way west. I want
to explore descending down a canyon before the big wash.Be prepared for
encountering dry falls that might require use of hands. Once in the wash, we
hike back to the cars. Meet at Red Rock at 8:00 AM or Sandstone
Quarry parking lot at 8:15 AM. This is a strenuous hike that will be about 6 miles
with 2,000 feet of elevation.
Coordinator- Lettie Gutierrez
Saturday, March 26th, Calico II Moenkopi Loop- This leisurely outing will start
at the Red Rock Visitor Center, proceed around the building to the Calico I
Overlook, loop below the Calico II Overlook using both the high and low trails,
then access the Moenkopi Trail from Calico I for the return to the starting
point. Total distance for the easy to moderate hike is
about 4 miles. There is a short and steep climb
on the way out and another on the way back with some minor scrambling. The assembled group will depart from Red Rock Casino at 8:30 AM and
the hike will begin from the visitor center about 8:45 AM. Coordinator- Chris Dempsey.
Sunday, March 27th, Back Hills Lawn Mower- The hike begins at the gravel parking area on the right side of Highway 160, 2 miles beyond the gas station on 159. The route will follow
the Landmine Trail and then the Rubber Ducky trail. We will check the ducky
tree for rubber ducks. A little beyond that we connect with the 0ld Spanish
Trail for a short distance and then connect with the Lawn Mower Trail. We will
follow this until we connect with the trail leading back to the parking lot.
This is to be a moderate paced hike of 6 miles with an elevation gain of 600
feet. No fast pace! Red rock Casino 7:30 AM. Gas station on 159 & 160 8:00 AM. Coordinator-
David Hardy
Sunday, March 27th, Windy Peak- This 5
mile hike has almost 2000 feet of elevation gain. It begins at Mountain Springs
Summit up "Heartbreak Hill." There is a small amount of exposure
getting onto the sandstone before reaching the peak. Meet at the Red Rock
Casino for an 8:30
AM departure. There will be a courtesy swing by the gas
station (Hwy 160/159) at 8:50 AM. Coordinator- Kay
Blackwell
Monday, March 28th,
Dragon Canyon and
Gateway Wash - This moderately strenuous loop hike starts from the
Red Springs Picnic Area parking lot and up Dragon Canyon. We will proceed to
Ash Canyon Overlook, then down the Gateway Wash and return to the parking lot. We will have
several stops to accommodate a moderate pace. Expect about 6 miles with about
900 feet gain in elevation. Meet at Red Rock Casino for an 8:00 AM departure
.Coordinator- Tony Fountain
Tuesday, March 29th, Bridge Mountain (7003´)- One of the top three hikes in
the RRNCA. It’s a quintessential, Class 3
affair with lots of scrambling and exposure. Mileage & vertical gain depend on the starting point. If our
four-wheel gang can negotiate the drive to the top of Rocky Gap Road, figure on
six miles and 2,400 feet vertical, a strenuous
undertaking. If forced to start from the midway point of the road, it clocks in
at just under eight miles with 3,800 feet vertical,
making for a longer day and a very strenuous rating. Come prepared. Depart from
the Red Rock Casino at 7:30 AM. Coordinator- Michael O’Connor
Tuesday,March 29th, Easy Tuesday - Red Spring/Ash Canyon Loop- We will depart Red Rock Casino
at 8:00 AM and drive to the Red Spring Trailhead. From Red Spring we will hike to the old Girl Scout picnic area and then
on into Ash Canyon. We will then loop around Ash
Canyon and return to Red Spring on a different trail than we used going out. The hike will be about 5.0 miles at a leisurely pace. Coordinator- Roger Hembree
Wednesday, March 30th, Rubber Ducky Yucca- One more time this year to check out the number of rubber duckies
hanging from a Joshua tree in Cottonwood Canyon. The 6-mile loop hike starts from the paved Late Night parking area and heads east along the highway before turning back west on the
opposite side of a ridge . A trail diversion
onto the ridge at midpoint provides some excellent views of the area. The hike is completely on trail with less than 1,000 feet elevation gain
and is rated moderate. Departure from Red Rock Casino
will be at 8:00 AM and the hike will start from the parking area at 8:30 AM. There will not be a stop at the junction gas station prior to the hike. Coordinator- Chris Dempsey.
Thursday, March 31st, Brownstone
Canyon / Dam Loop - Moderately strenuous 8 mile loop with almost 2,000 feet of elevation gain. This route will
start at Sandstone Quarry, scramble to Brownstone Canyon, visit a nearby dam,
then loop around via the La Madre foothills; all at a moderately strenuous
pace. Must be comfortable with scrambling.
Meet at Red Rock Casino at 8:00 AM. Coordinator- Kay
Blackwell
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