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 May
schedule includes hikes in the Red Rock Canyon area (including Cottonwood
Valley) and the Mountain Charleston 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. Hike coordinators have the right to reject a hiker for any reason. 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.
Sunday, May 1st, Windy Peak- The route up to this fairly imposing peak on the southern part of the
escarpment will follow the gravel road past the communications tower and the
continuation trail along a series of ridges to the peak. On the return the final descent back to the starting point will follow
another ridge without benefit of trail that offers good views of Mount Potosi
across the highway. There is moderate scrambling
involved getting to the peak with rolling exposure for about sixty feet. Total distance is around 6 miles with 1,500 feet of elevation gain and a
strenuous rating. The main group will depart at 7:30 AM from
Red Rock Casino and there will be a stop at the gas station at the junction of
Highways 159 and 160 about 7:55 AM to pick up south side participants. Coordinator- Chris Dempsey.
Monday, May 2nd, Grapevine
Spring/Lower Kyle Canyon O&B- Six miles of moderate route to a unique spring
leaving from the Twilight Trailhead with an elevation gain of 700 feet. We will keep an easy pace on established
trails. Great views of Mount Charleston,
good chance we’ll see some game. Depart Santa Fe Station 7:30 AM. Coordinator- David Gray
Tuesday, May 3rd, Bridge Mountain
(7003´)- Weather forced a cancellation in late March, so this will be our last
opportunity for the season. Quintessentially Class 3 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 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 vertical, making for a longer day and a
very strenuous rating. Come prepared. Depart from the Red Rock Casino at 6:30 AM. Coordinator- Michael O’Connor
Tuesday, May 3rd, Calico Tanks- We will meet at the Red Rock Casino and depart for the Sandstone Quarry
trailhead at 8:00 AM. We will do the standard Calico Tanks hike from Sandstone Quarry to the
Calico Tanks and back. This will be an easy-to-moderate
hike of about 3 miles at a leisurely pace. There will be some minor rock scrambling along the route and about 500
feet of elevation gain. Coordinator- Roger Hembree
Wednesday, May 4th, Conglomerate Gardens- Located on the North Blue Diamond
Hills, this moderate 6-mile loop hike opens with the standard climb up Fossil Ridge
to the old mining road near the southern border of the BLM land holdings. From the top elevation the trail turns down a series of drainages on the
west side of the ridge and meanders past an accumulation of conglomerate
boulders similar to the Muffins and also some ancient seabed fossils. Because of potential summer heat in the Las Vegas area, we will assemble
at Red Rock Casino for an early 6:15 AM departure.
The hike will start from the Cowboy Stables parking
lot at 6:30 AM. Bring plenty of water. Coordinator- Chris
Dempsey
Thursday, May 5th, Brownstone
Canyon Overlook- This strenuous 12-mile hike will start from the west end of Far Hills
Drive and follow a series of recreational gravel roads through and beyond the
area known as Little Red Rock. Although the route
is fairly straightforward, we will be passing a number of sandstone mounds and
formations that may tempt us to do a bit of exploration. Bring plenty of water and have electrolytes along to combat the
potential heat. Participants should meet at Red
Rock Casino for a 6:00 AM departure or be at the west end of Far Hills Drive for a start at 6:10 AM. Coordinator- Chris
Dempsey
Thursday,
May 5th, Lee Canyon / Sawmill Wiggles- For those who would
like a later hike in the coolness of the mountains, this will be 8 miles with a
1500 foot elevation gain. We will begin on Lee Canyon Rd at mile marker 10.5,
take our break at the Sawmill Trails Picnic Area, then return on the Blue
Trail. Depart the Santa Fe Casino at 8:30am.
Coordinator – Kay Blackwell
Friday, May 6th, Calico Hills
Trail- 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 7:30 AM departure or meet the
group at the fee booth parking lot around 7:40 AM. Coordinator- Barb Ulmer
Saturday, May 7th, Eagle's Nest
and Fletcher Canyon- A six mile partial loop with 1,100 feet of elevation gain. Ascend Fletcher
Canyon turning right to Eagle's Nest, then make our way back to Fletcher Canyon
climbing to Obstacle Rock/Rabbit Hole for our break. A steady pace will be maintained to acclimate
to hiking in the higher elevations. Meet at the Santa Fe Station at 8:00 AM. Coordinator- Lettie Gutierrez
Saturday, May 7th, Mountain
Springs Loop- This 3.5 mile leisurely hike
will take you into the cooler elevations around Mountain Springs, NV. The loop
route will begin at the summit pass trailhead and pass by the springs above the
town. We will explore a small cave after our lunch break then return by the
enclosed horses. There will be approximately 500 feet of elevation gain on
trails and dirt roads. Meet at Red Rock Casino for an 8:30 AM departure. There will
be a secondary meeting location at the gas station (Hwy 160 @ Hwy 159) around 8:50am. Coordinator- Kay Blackwell
Sunday, May 8th, Rainbow Mountain
Escarpment- This strenuous hike at the top of the escarpment is essentially an
expanded version of the loop hike involving Mountain Spring Peak. After hiking past the peak and the rock outcropping at the top of Black
Velvet Canyon, the group will climb the next ridge to the south and work their
way over to the Monument Peak area above Little Zion. After a snack break the group will return south and pick up the ridge
leading back to Rainbow Springs Road, passing the springs on the way back to
the starting point. Elevation gain should top 2,000
feet with a distance of 9 or 10 miles. The main assembly point will be at Red Rock Casino with a 6:45 AM departure and we will stop at the
Highway 159/160 gas station about 7:10 AM to pick up south side participants. Coordinator- Chris Dempsey
Monday, May 9th, La Madre Double Arch O&B- Depart White Rock parking for a moderately strenuous trek (mostly trail
and wash) to a limestone double arch formation. Elevation gain is 1,900 feet over a distance of 5.25 miles with minimal exposure. Hiking time
approximately 4 hours. A short ascent to the arch is on loose rock, so bring
your poles. Meet Red Rock Casino for a 7:00 AM
departure. Coordinator- Steve Allen
Monday, May 9th, Hummingbird Gulch Spring/Overlook via the North Loop Trail O&B- Exploratory- A new twist that avoids the steep up/loose rock climb of this
traditional trek. Estimated distance 6.4 miles with an elevation change of 1,800 feet. We’ll take our break
at the spring, overlook area in the deep woods down from the peak. There should be lots of birds, other game.
Depart Santa Fe Station 8:00 AM. Coordinator- David Gray
Tuesday, May 10th, Showgirl Trail
Top to Bottom- This moderately strenuous point-to-point hike involves a trail
established by the Forest Service a few years ago and then inexplicably
abandoned. The starting point is just off
the paved road going to Angel Peak and the ending point is in Lower Kyle Canyon
just off Highway 157. Even though much of the route is
downhill, there is quite a bit of steep terrain and a few
sections of trail need caution due to lack of
maintenance. The lower section of the trail
has little shade, so bring plenty of water and
electrolytes for warmer conditions. Total distance will
be about 10 miles and a car shuttle will be required. The assembled group will depart from Santa Fe Station at 7:15 AM. Coordinator- Chris
Dempsey
Wednesday, May 11th
through May 15th, Zion National Park Hiking Excursion Club Trip- Coordinator- Kay Blackwell
Wednesday, May
11th, Bristlecone
Loop- A traditional mostly easy trek with a
total distance of about 6 miles and elevation changes totaling 700 feet. Much of the trail is the old Scout Canyon
Fire Road. Easy pace to accommodate the
9,000 foot altitude and new hikers. Meet
at the Santa Fe Station for
an 8:00 AM departure. Coordinator-
David Gray
Wednesday, May 11th, Urban Walk, Lone
Mountain Urban Trail- Approximately 5 miles. Please
park behind the O'Reilly Auto Parts store at 7510 W. Washington. Meet at 4:00 PM. Coordinator- Lettie Gutierrez
Thursday, May 12th, Raintree via Trail Canyon- A moderately strenuous
out-and-back hike is just under 8 miles as it gains 2,200 feet of elevation
getting to one of the oldest bristlecone pine trees in the Spring
Mountains. The group will be departing from Santa Fe Station at 8:00 AM. Coordinator-
Ed
Matulis
Friday, May 13th, Spring Mountain Visitor Center- We’ll explore the new Acastus Trail which runs up along the upper Kyle
Canyon Wash. It is named for the Acastus Checkerspot butterfly which is only found in the
Mount Charleston area. Distance 4.2 miles with 500 feet of elevation change for an
easy trek. Sections paved. Great views. Leave Santa Fe Station at 8:00 AM. Coordinator- David Gray
Saturday May 14th, Willow Springs Picnic Area / Limestone Wall- This easy, leisurely pace 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 8:30
AM. Coordinator- Tony Fountain
Saturday, May 14th, North Peak (Limestone)
/ Fern Canyon Overlook Loop- Distance 11-12
miles. Elevation gain 3,500 feet. A strenuous hike due to distance, elevation
and pace. From the Willow Spring picnic area, the route ascends Rocky Gap Road
to Red Rock Summit which is about 5.8 miles. After our main break, the climb
continues up Limestone North Peak trail heading to North Peak Sandstone.
Somewhere along this route we will turn south and go to Fern Canyon Overlook. Making our way back, we will not go to North Peak Sandstone but descend a
steep trail to Rocky Gap Road for the return trip to the trailhead. Meet at Red
Rock Casino for a 7:00 AM departure.
Coordinator- Lettie Gutierrez
Sunday, May 15th, Pine Creek / Potato
Knoll Loop- Distance 7-8
miles, less than 1,000 feet of elevation. This hike is rated moderately
strenuous due to distance and pace. Starting at the end of the scenic loop, the
route heads to the Oak Creek turnout, and on to Pine Creek. You must be comfortable
with very rocky trail terrain. Heading towards the creek, there should be water
flowing and gurgling. We turn south on the Arnight trail and make our way over
to Oak Creek. This part of the trail also has boulders and rocks. After our
break, it's on to the back side of Potato Knoll, making our way back to the
cars. Meet at Red Rock at 7:30 AM.
Coordinator- Lettie Gutierrez
Monday, May 16th, Rattlesnake
Canyon O&B-
Located close to Willow Springs on the north end of the main Red Rock
Canyon area is an obscure side canyon that offers pure boulder scrambling for
its entire length. Rated as moderately
strenuous with an out-and-back distance of less than 3 miles, this hike reaches
a terraced area somewhat at the base of the ridge leading to sandstone North
Peak on the escarpment. Elevation gain approximately 900 feet. Depending on the group we may trek further up the canyon. Departure will
be from Red Rock Casino at 7:00 AM. Coordinator- Steve Allen
Monday, May 16th, Eagle’s Nest Trail Loop- Easy
trek with a total distance of 2.75 miles, 220 feet of elevation. There will be great views of Kyle Canyon and
Mount Charleston Peak. Depart Santa Fe Station 8:00 AM. Coordinator- David Gray
Tuesday, May 17th, Fern Canyon
Overlook (6800’) - The hard way. Following a
2.5-mile warmup on Rocky Gap Road from Willow Springs, ascend the Class 3 wash to Dragon Rock Ridge. Continue on to Fern Canyon
where we’ll grab a little lunch and dangle our tootsies a
thousand feet above the canyon floor. Breathtaking view! Climb back up to
Dragon Rock Ridge, then descend the steep trail to Rocky Gap. Looking at 10
miles with 3,500 vertical feet of gain. Strenuous. Depart from the Red Rock
Casino at 6:30 AM. Coordinator- Michael O’Connor
Wednesday, May 18th, Big Falls- A traditional 3 mile out/back strenuous
trek. The route follows the Mary Jane Falls trail up Kyle Canyon dropping into a wash then turning up Big Falls Canyon,
boulder and log hopping to the base of the high limestone cliffs. Described as
the most spectacular falls in the Spring Mountains, it is located just below
Mount Charleston Peak. Great views.
Elevation gain approximately 900 feet. We’ll meet at the Santa Fe Station for an 8:00 AM departure.
Coordinator- David Gray
Wednesday, May 18th, Urban Walk,
Lone Mountain Urban Trail Part 2- Approximately 5 miles Please
park at the northern most parking lot of Doc Romero park behind the Rainbow
Library. You can get there from West Sauer off of Buffalo or from Cheyenne by
using North Ronemus Dr. Meet at 4:00 PM. Coordinator- Lettie Gutierrez
Thursday, May 19th, Burlap Buttress (5598’)- A scenic, strenuous, Class 3 climb with considerable
scrambling from the Black Velvet Canyon trailhead. 2,300 feet of gain, approximately 6 miles roundtrip, expect 5-6 hours. We'll
need high clearance vehicles .Depart Red Rock Casino at 7:30 AM. Coordinator- Ed Forkos
Thursday, May 19th, Cathedral
Rock (Inclusive)- This 6 mile hike begins at the
Echo trailhead, hikes up to Little Falls, over to Cathedral Rock and catches
the Manhole Cover on the way down. With 1,525 feet of elevation gain, this will
be a moderately strenuous hike with a moderate pace. Meet at the Santa Fe for
an 8:00 AM departure. Coordinator- Kay
Blackwell
Thursday, May 19th, Upper Lost
Creek Waterfall- Most of this out-and-back hike
of 4 to 5 miles follows relatively easy trails, but the climb through the
cliffs to the waterfall elevates the overall rating from moderate to moderately
strenuous. There will be some Class 2 and easy Class 3 exposure. We will take a
moderate pace starting from the Ice Box Canyon trailhead parking lot. The group
will meet at Red Rock Casino for a 7:00 AM departure. Coordinator- Tony Fountain
Friday,
May 20th, Red Springs Peak / Slab
Rift- Depart from Red Springs picnic area,
making our way along the rocks to the south point where we will start our
ascent up to Red Spring Peak. Initial
ascent requires negotiating a steep crack (alternate route available). After reaching the high point, we will traverse
the ridge to the Slab Rift formation. The descent will be down a drainage that
will take us through the Tunnel of Love (optional) and past Heart Rock to the
basin below where we will complete the loop back to Red Springs. This is a moderately strenuous hike of about
3 miles with an elevation gain of less than 900 feet. There will be
some exposure and you should be comfortable with Class 3 scrambling.
Meet at the Red Springs parking at 7:30 AM. Coordinator- Steve Allen
Friday, May 20th, South Sister Overlook O&B- This 4.6 mile moderately strenuous trek stops short,
at “Phase III,” of the tough climb to the peak. This ridge offers
great 360 degree views. Good chance to see wild horses roaming. Elevation gain 1,700 feet. Slower pace,
stops to accommodate elevation gain. Depart Santa Fe station at 8:00 AM. Coordinator- David Gray
Saturday, May 21st, North Loop / Raintree
/ Wild Horse Ridge- A six mile hike with 1,800 feet of elevation gain. Ascend up North Loop to
Raintree where our break will be taken. Then it's back to the meadow making our
way over to Wild Horse Ridge for the descent back to the cars. The pace will be
steady to acclimate to hiking in the higher elevations. Meet at the Santa Fe at
8:00 AM. Coordinator- Lettie Gutierrez
Sunday, May 22nd, Cave Springs- This is a moderately paced 5.5 mile climb up Trail Canyon and on to
Cave Springs. Although short, there is 2,000 feet of elevation gain. This will
be the first installment of Kay's Mt. Charleston training hikes. We will aim
for a moderately paced summit climb in early August. Meet at the Santa Fe for
an 8:00 AM departure. Coordinator- Kay
Blackwell
Sunday May 22nd, Tony’s Tank Scramble- One last time before shift to summer. This moderately strenuous 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. Meet at Red Rock Casino for an 7:00 AM departure .Coordinator- Tony
Fountain
Monday, May 23rd, Mummy’s Nose (10,748’)- Meet new friends; climb old mountains. Mark Z. from Sun City Anthem
has invited us to join him and his gang for an assault on Mummy’s Nose. Clocking in at just under five miles with 2,800 feet vertical, this very steep ascent features lots of loose terrain
with some Class 3 near the summit. Color it strenuous. Depart from the Santa Fe
at 8:00 AM. Coordinator- Michael O’Connor
Monday, May 23rd, Deer Creek Canyon Historical O&B-
Three miles easy to moderate trek that takes us back to the 20’s when
Mummy Mountain was logged and investors built resort cabins to entice city
folks. Highlights- Foundation of a sawmill, lookout Mummy’s Nose and log lean-to built in deep
woods. Elevation gain 600 feet. Depart
Santa Fe Station 8:00 AM. Coordinator-
David Gray
Tuesday, May 24th, Calico
Traverse S/N- Departing from the Red Springs
picnic area the route stays low on the eastern face of the Calico Hills. Upon
reaching the southern point, we will ascend to Red Spring Peak, then traverse
the ridge before descending from a point above the saddle of Angel Pass. After
the challenging traverse, the down-climb through the pass to the basin floor
and the return to the trailhead seems almost relaxing. The route is almost all scrambling with areas
of Class 3 exposure. This is a strenuous hike with the
terrain often dictating the pace. Expect elevation gain in excess of 1,200 feet
over a distance of 4 miles. Meet at the Red Springs picnic parking for a 7:30 AM
departure. Coordinator - Steve Allen
Tuesday, May 24th, Stanley B.
Springs- We will meet at Santa Fe Casino
and depart at 8:00 AM. This leisurely out-and-back trek in a side canyon off Kyle Canyon will
cover a distance of about 3 miles and visit the site of an old mining claim. At the end of our trail there are some mine shafts on right and left
forks that require some scrambling to reach. The scrambles to the shafts are optional for anyone who wants to go see
them. Otherwise, the entire hike is on a trail with an
elevation gain of 900 feet and a rating of easy to moderate. Coordinator- Roger
Hembree
Wednesday, May 25th, Oak Creek Traverse to Pine Creek Meadow
O&B- An easy pace for a more moderate trek just below the
escarpment with a total distance of over 4 miles on rocky terrain, through a
couple of small washes on the Arnight Trail. Elevation gain approximately 200 feet. Great views of
Wilson’s Cliffs. We’ll leave from Red Rock Casino by 8:00 AM. Coordinator- David Gray
Wednesday, May 25th, Urban Walk, Lone Mountain- Approximately 4-5 miles. Park at
Policeman Memorial Park (behind Metro Substation on Cheyenne) on Gowan south of
Hualapai Way. Walking past Majestic Park
making our way over to Lone Mountain trail. Meet at 4:00 PM. Coordinator-Lettie Gutierrez
Thursday, May 26th, Bristlecone / No Name / Pine Cone Canyon Loop- This moderately strenuous hike begins at the Lower Bristlecone
trailhead. In 8 miles, the route travels up Bristlecone, up No Name, up
Bonanza, then down Pine Cone Canyon with 1,700 feet of elevation gain. Meet at
the Santa Fe for an 8:00 AM departure. Coordinator-
Kay Blackwell
Friday, May 27th, Calico Hills
Scramble- A trek of 4 miles, this strenuous scramble up
to Class 3 in the Calico Hills gains about 1,100 feet of elevation. From Red Springs picnic area the route heads
up to the pass overlooking Red Rock Canyon before getting to the really serious
section of scrambling that takes the group through a narrow crack and a descent
back to the canyon floor. Ascending back
to the saddle and the descent to the basin floor for the return trip to the
trailhead completes the balloon loop.
Meet at Red Spring for a 7:00 AM departure. Coordinator- Steve Allen
Saturday, May 28th, Cockscomb
Ridge- This is a moderately paced 5.5 mile climb up
Trail Canyon and on to the base of Cockscomb Peak. Although short, there is
1,800 feet of elevation gain. This will be the second installment of Kay's Mt.
Charleston training hikes. We will aim for a moderately paced summit climb in
early August. Meet at the Santa Fe for an 8:00 AM departure.
Coordinator- Kay Blackwell
Saturday, May 28th, Mack’s Canyon Road O&B- Easy to moderate
4.5 mile trek up the dirt road towards Mack’s Peak. Overlook offers great views of this area,
including neighboring peaks. Elevation gain of 1000 feet. Moderate pace. Depart Santa Fe station at 8:00 AM. Coordinator- David Gray
Sunday, May 29th, Stepladder Peak- Starting from the parking lot across the roundabout from the Kyle Canyon Visitor
Center, this moderately strenuous loop hike will head east and access the Shady Hollow Trail heading up through
Telephone Canyon. After turning back south on a portion of the
Stepladder Trail the group will continue along the ridge, climbing to the
highest point which has been designated as the peak. There is quite a
bit of scrambling over rough terrain along the ridge and the descent is
quite steep in several sections. Distance is 7 miles with elevation gain probably around 1,200 feet. Departure from
Santa Fe Station will be at 7:45 AM. Coordinator- Chris
Dempsey
Monday, May 30th,
Spring Mountain
Visitor Center Escarpment Trail- The hike will be
at a leisurely pace. Expect about 4 miles with no more than 500 feet of
elevation gain with no scrambling. The assembled group will depart at 8:30 AM
from Santa Fe Station Casino. Coordinator- Nancy Moore
Tuesday, May 31st, Bonanza Peak- This strenuous 10-mile out-and-back hike starts near Cold Creek and
follows the northern section of the Bonanza Trail for most of the route. The trail itself passes below the peak on the west side, so the last third of a mile is a route connecting with
the top of the ridge leading to the peak. Gross elevation gain should be in the neighborhood of 2,800 feet and we
will maintain a fairly steady moderate pace. The gravel road leading to the trailhead is usually rough and high
clearance vehicles will be required. The group will
leave from Santa Fe Station at 7:30 AM. Coordinator- Chris
Dempsey
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