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 January schedule includes
hikes in the Red Rock Canyon area (including Cottonwood Valley) and Lake
Mead area. In addition, this month we will be conducting a number of
hikes in Valley of Fire State Park. 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 close to
Charleston Boulevard. For hikes located in Cottonwood Valley
and west there will be a secondary meeting location available for
individuals coming from the south side of Las Vegas. That will be at
the gas station located at the intersection of Highways 159 and 160
(Blue Diamond Road). This will be a quick stop that will occur about
twenty or twenty-five minutes after the regular departure from Red Rock
Casino.
Lake Mead South. For
all hikes on the south side of the lake the general meeting spot will
be near the large outdoor sign in front of the Henderson Fiesta Casino.
Henderson Fiesta is located on Lake Mead Parkway just east of the junction of I-215 and I-515. Lake
Mead Parkway is the eastbound extension of I-215. There will also be
an earlier assembly point for west side participants at the Red Rock
Casino, with directions above, and there could be local stopping points
after the group leaves Henderson Fiesta. Those stopping points will be
detailed in the appropriate hike descriptions.
Lake Mead North. For
hikes on the north side of the lake the early west side collection
point will be on the top level of the parking garage at Rampart Casino
rather than at Red Rock Casino. Rampart
Casino at the Resort at Summerlin (a J. W. 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 NOTE #2. When
reading the descriptions you will see references to both Lake Mead
Boulevard and Lake Mead Parkway. These are different streets. Lake
Mead Boulevard is an east-west street on the north side of Las Vegas
that runs completely across the city. Lake Mead Parkway is on the south
side of the city and is an east-west street that starts at the junction
of I-515 and I-215 and extends over to the lake. Please do not mix
these up.
Times indicated for each hike are departure times and are strictly observed. Usually the group will begin arriving as much as one-half hour prior to the scheduled departure times.
Please
pay attention to the difficulty ratings for each hike offered and do
not attempt hikes that are beyond your abilities. New hikers without
recent hiking experience MUST begin with the 8:30 AM Saturday hikes as
these are the only hikes that guarantee a fairly leisurely pace.
Strenuous Tuesday hikes are only open to existing members who are
properly experienced. Be sure to wear appropriate clothing, footwear,
and hats and bring sunscreen, water, electrolyte replacement fluids as
needed, and food or snacks as desired for each outing.
Questions regarding general information should be directed to Chris Dempsey at dempseylv@aol.com
or by telephone at (702) 823-2355. Specific questions regarding hikes
should be directed to the listed coordinator. Refer to the club roster
for contact information.
Thursday, January 1 - Top of the World Arch via White Domes. This
hike in Valley of Fire will be pre-hiked on December 26 to determine
the actual route. It will be between 6 and 7 miles with about 1,900
feet of elevation gain and lots of scrambling, resulting in a strenuous
rating. The hike will begin at the White Domes parking lot, head to the
Top of the World Arch for a break, and pass the Fire Wave and some slot
canyons on the return. Anyone carpooling from Rampart Casino should
leave there by 7:30 AM. Departure from the general assembly point at Lucky Club Casino will be at 8:00 AM along with the coordinator. You can also meet the group at the Paiute Smoke Shop at I-15 Exit 75 around 8:45 AM, but you must RSVP with the coordinator in advance if you wish to take advantage of this option. Coordinator - Kay Blackwell.
Friday, January 2 - White Rock Hills Loop. The
standard 6.4-mile loop around the two cream-colored peaks at the north
end of Red Rock Canyon will be done counter-clockwise from Willow
Springs Picnic Area. With 900 feet of net elevation gain along the
nicely maintained trail the hike garners a moderate rating. The
assembled group will depart from Red Rock Casino at 8:00 AM. Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.
Saturday, January 3 - Red & Black Mountains. Rated
moderately strenuous, this hike on the south end of the River Mountains
by Boulder City will visit both peaks and cover a distance of 7 miles.
In actuality, it will top out on Black Mountain Overlook Peak rather
than the true Black Mountain, but most participants will hardly notice.
Also, there are a couple of routes that could be used getting to the
top of Red Mountain, one involving some slightly more difficult trail
through Bootleg Canyon, which may be determined on the day of the hike.
Early west side departure from Red Rock Casino will be at 7:20 AM with the main assembly point at Henderson Fiesta and an 8:00 AM departure. Those driving directly to the trailhead parking lot by St. Jude should be there by 8:15 AM. Coordinator - Lettie Gutierrez.
Saturday, January 3 - White Domes & Fire Wave. This
easy to moderate Valley of Fire hike is a shortened version of the
Thursday hike with only minimal scrambling. Total distance is 3.5 miles
with 800 feet of elevation gain. The hike will start at the White
Domes parking lot and explore several small slot canyons before taking a
break at Fire Wave, a geological anomaly. Early west side participants
should carpool from Rampart Casino by 8:00 AM to meet the general group at Lucky Club Casino for an 8:30 AM departure. Again, those wanting to drive directly to the Paiute Smoke Shop at Exit 75 should be there no later than 9:15 AM, but should RSVP with the coordinator in advance if using this option. Coordinator - Kay Blackwell.
Sunday, January 4 - River Mountain Trail Part I. Back
by some popular demand is the full trek around the River Mountains on
the west side of Lake Mead. The trail is blacktop except for a few
areas of concrete, so walking or running shoes are probably the footwear
of choice. The entire 34-mile loop will be conducted over three
successive Sundays. The first segment will be the stretch on the east
side of the mountains between the Alan Bible lower parking lot and the
entrance booth parking lot on Lake Mead Parkway. This segment is 13
miles long and is rated moderately strenuous because of the distance.
Pace will be fairly fast. An early west side group will leave Red Rock
Casino at 7:05 AM with a full group meeting location at Henderson Fiesta and a 7:45 AM departure. A car shuttle will be required. Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.
Sunday, January 4 - Hamblin Washes. If you are
interested in traditional trail hiking and minor scrambling through
washes, then the Sunday alternative is this hike on the north side of
Lake Mead. Starting at Mile Marker 18 on Northshore Road, the partial
out-and-back hike covers a distance of 8 miles, explores washes on the
lake side of the road, and has a loop section in the middle. Overall
rating should be moderate. Bring a lunch as there will be a somewhat
longer stop than the usual short snack breaks. Those gathering at the
CVS Pharmacy lot on Lake Mead Boulevard and Hollywood should leave there
by 7:50 AM to join the coordinator and other south side participants at the Mile Marker 4 pullout with an 8:15 AM departure from that spot. Coordinator - David Hardy.
Monday, January 5 - Black Mesa Loop. This
moderately strenuous hike of 5 miles starts at the parking area at Mile
10.5 on Northshore Road. It climbs to the top of Black Mesa, offering
great views of the Lake Mead area. There is no trail and the hike
involves rocky footing on the sides and top of the mesa. After climbing
a ridge line to the top, the group will take a break before descending
on the other side. Early departure from Rampart Casino needs to be by 7:20 AM. The main group will depart from CVS Pharmacy at 8:00 AM, but will not join the coordinators until the Mile Marker 4 pullout around 8:20 AM. Coordinators - Joan & Chuck Hawkins.
Tuesday, January 6 - Valley of Fire East-West Traverse. This
is a strenuous point-to-point hike in Valley of Fire that will require a
car shuttle. Overall the distance will be 8.5 miles with 1,900 feet
of gross elevation gain going up and down the southern rock ridges
between Elephant Rock and the South Prospect trailhead. Time table
includes an early group departure with the coordinator from Rampart
Casino at 7:30 AM and a full group departure, traffic permitting, from Lucky Club Casino at 7:50 AM. The group should arrive at the trailhead parking lot at Elephant Rock around 8:45 AM. Coordinator - Brian Dodd.
Wednesday, January 7 - Oak Creek. An out-and-back
hike covering a total distance of 5 or 6 miles, this trek will start
from the gravel parking lot along Highway 159 where the scenic drive
exits onto the highway. With minimal overall elevation gain and minor
sections of slightly more difficult trail an overall rating of moderate
applies. The turn around point will be where the trail drops into the
canyon floor, and that is the spot that will be used for the snack
break. Participants should gather at Red Rock Casino for an 8:00 AM departure or meet the group at the trailhead parking lot where the hike will start by 8:15 AM. Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.
Wednesday, January 7 - La Madre Springs. This
will be a new approach to an old hike as our club will be partnering
with Red Rock Canyon Interpretive Association on a moderate 3.4-mile
out-and-back interpretive hike to the springs north of the White Rock
Hills. The hike will be led by Cody Dix from RRCIA and there will
be frequent stops along the way to discuss aspects of the area. Advance
registration is required to attend this hike, which will be limited to
fifteen participants. Anyone interested will need to call the program
desk at (702) 515-5367 to hold a spot. Those attending the hike should meet at Red Rock Casino for an 8:45 AM carpool departure. The group will need to stop at the Visitor Center to meet the hike leader at 9:00 AM before proceeding to the starting point.
Thursday, January 8 - Big Horn Butte. A strenuous
hike between 8 and 10 miles has its starting point at the Longview
Parking Area on Lakeshore Drive along Lake Mead. This parking area is
the next one toward Boulder City from Hole 33, sometimes used for the
White Owl Canyon hike. The route follows a wash and climbs the butte,
where there is a sign-in log. Early departure from Red Rock Casino will
be at 7:20 AM with the full group meeting at and leaving from Henderson Fiesta at 8:00 AM.
The assembled participants should use Lake Mead Parkway and Lakeshore
Road to get to the trailhead parking area, where the coordinators and
any other Boulder City participants will be. The hike should start
around 8:20 AM. Coordinators - Joan & Chuck Hawkins.
Friday, January 9 - Red Springs to Angel Canyon. An
out-and-back hike covering around 4 miles total, it will start from Red
Springs Picnic Area at Calico Basin and head around the south end of
the Calico Hills, passing both Calico I and Calico II Overlooks before
making a short climb in Angel Canyon to view the carving. After taking a
snack break in the canyon the group will reverse directions to return
to the starting point. Overall rating is moderate and there is
some scrambling involved. The assembled group will depart from Red Rock
Casino at 8:00 AM. Coordinator - Roger Hembree.
Friday, January 9 - First Creek. Here is another
new wrinkle being offered to the club this month - an afternoon hike.
Rated easy to moderate, this out-and-back hike has minimal elevation
gain and will cover a distance up to 4 miles depending on how the
coordinator and group feels. Perhaps there will even be water flowing
in the creek. This hike is certainly short enough and the start is
early enough to avoid any darkness issues. If interested, meet the
group at Red Rock Casino for a 12:30 PM departure. Coordinator - Nancy Moore.
Saturday, January 10 - Arizona Hot Springs. We
will be doing the loop version of this Arizona hike that visits a
couple of hot springs pools several miles downstream from Hoover
Dam. Participants should wear shorts or zip-offs or face the prospect
of getting their trousers saturated as we head through the pools on the
return leg. Total distance will be 6 miles with perhaps 1,000 feet of
elevation gain and some scrambling. Overall rating is moderately
strenuous. The coordinator will meet the early group at Red Rock Casino
for a 7:20 AM departure to Henderson Fiesta, from which the full assembled group will leave at 8:00 AM. Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.
Saturday, January 10 - Rainbow Gardens. An
easy to moderate hike of 4 miles, the route begins near Mile Marker 2
of Northshore Road and heads toward an area near the base of Lava
Butte. A short loop from the highest point of the hikes drops into a
very colorful canyon with copper tracings and makes the return back
toward Lava Butte Wash without continuing on toward Lake Las Vegas.
Anyone wishing to actually hike to the lake should make carpool
arrangements prior to the start of the hike. Early west side
participants should leave Rampart Casino at 7:50 AM for
the main assembly point at the CVS Pharmacy on Lake Mead Boulevard,
where the coordinator will join the group. Departure from that spot
will be at 8:30 AM. South side participants can head directly to the starting point of the hike which should begin about 8:45 AM. Coordinator - Kay Blackwell.
Sunday, January 11 - River Mountains Trail Part II. The
trek around the River Mountains east of Henderson continues today with
the middle stage. This segment will cover the distance between the fee
booth parking lot on Lake Mead Parkway and the Railroad Pass Casino.
Total distance of this leg is 12 miles over some rolling terrain and the
hike is rated moderately strenuous due to distance. All of the surface
is blacktop so walking shoes are probably better than hiking boots. A
car shuttle is necessary at both ends of the hike. The early west side contingent will leave Red Rock Casino at 7:05 AM and head for the main assembly point at Henderson Fiesta, from which the entire group will leave at 7:45 AM. Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.
Sunday, January 11 - Frenchman's Mountain. This
version of the hike to the peak on the east side of the valley will
utilize the gravel road used to service the antennas on the peak,
meaning the route will approach from the north. This out-and-back hike
is only 4 miles long but the elevation gain is right around 2,000 feet,
so the rating is strenuous. Parts of the old road have loose gravel and
hiking sticks are recommended. Anyone carpooling from Rampart Casino
should leave there at 7:20 AM and the main group will leave from the CVS Pharmacy on Lake Mead Boulevard and Hollywood at 8:00 AM. Coordinator - David Hardy.
Monday, January 12 - Railroad Pass to Mother Trail Loop. This
hike will combine some of the most beautiful landscapes along several
trails in the River Mountains. It will begin at Railroad Pass Casino
and circle around Cascata Golf Course by using the Mountain Loop Trail,
the Mother Trail, a bike trail named POW, and a couple miles of the
paved River Mountains Trail. Total distance is around 8 miles with
1,600 feet of gross elevation gain. Early west side participants should
carpool from Red Rock Casino at 7:20 AM, the main group will depart from Henderson Fiesta at 8:00 AM, and the hike will start from the upper parking lot of Railroad Pass Casino about 8:15 AM. Coordinator - Kay Blackwell.
Tuesday, January 13 - McCullough Trail End to End to End. A
somewhat long day is in store for those individuals who tackle the
entire 16 miles of this strenuous out-and-back hike on the edge of the
McCullough Mountains south of Henderson. Fortunately there is not a lot
of elevation gain over the slightly rolling terrain. Even with a
moderately fast pace the group is looking at close to six hours
including a lunch stop at the turn around point. Anyone meeting early
at Red Rock Casino should leave there by 7:00 AM. The
main assembly point will be at the Walgreen's Drug at the intersection
of Sunridge Heights Parkway and Eastern Avenue, which is a couple miles
south of I-215 from the Eastern exit. The full group will leave that
location at 7:40 AM. Coordinator - Richard Hansen.
Wednesday, January 14 - West Center Loop. Once
again the troops will be heading to Valley of Fire to explore the
sandstone mounds and canyons found in this state park. Today's
hike passes through sandy washes and reaches a climbable wall. At the
top there are some options which includes heading to the top of the
world....or not depending on the mood of the group. The route continues
through the rolling sandstone and includes a fairly steep descent back
to the starting point. Moderately strenuous rating over 3.5 miles and
1,000 feet gross elevation gain. Early departure with the
coordinator from Rampart Casino is at 7:30 AM. Traffic permitting, full group departure from Lucky Club Casino will be at 7:50 AM. Coordinator - Brian Dodd.
Thursday, January 15 - East North Bowl. This
will be an exploratory hike of 7 or 8 miles that will begin using the
approach trail for North Bowl of Fire at Mile 20.5 along Northshore
Road. The group will turn off to see a set of camel tracks in the
sandstone and head up to the red rocks on the eastern side of the
approach canyon. An unexplored game trail will hopefully take the group
back to the North Bowl Trail. Expect a rating of moderately strenuous
for this loop hike. The early west side group should leave Rampart
Casino at 7:20 AM with a full group departure from CVS Pharmacy on Lake Mead Boulevard and Hollywood at 8:00 AM. South side participants can drive to the Mile Marker 4 pullout for a quick stop pickup around 8:15 AM on the way to the trailhead. Coordinator - Kay Blackwell.
Friday, January 16 - South Bowl of Fire. This
trek through the red rocks on the south side of the Muddy Mountains
will start about three miles in from Northshore Road on Callville Wash
Road, unless the road is impassable. Flame Canyon will be the first
goal. Once the group scrambles into this canyon it will take a left
turn through a bunny hole and pass by a formation known as Snow White on
the way to the lunch break at the top. With the scrambling, expect a
rating of moderately strenuous over the 7 mile journey with 800 feet of
elevation gain. The assembled group should carpool from CVS on Lake
Mead Boulevard at 7:50 AM to meet the coordinator at the Mile Marker 4 pullout for an 8:15 AM departure. Coordinator - David Hardy.
Saturday, January 17 - Hamblin Mountain. The
trek to the top of this Lake Mead peak is so fantastic we seem to offer
it several times during the season. At 7 miles, this moderately
strenuous hike has a net elevation gain around 1,500 feet getting to a
top which offers views of parts of three of the lake basins along with
Boulder Narrows. A slight diversion on the return passes through a
colorful canyon before heading down a dry waterfall at Cottonwood
Springs. Early departure from Rampart Casino will be at 7:20 AM. The full group will leave CVS Pharmacy on Lake Mead Boulevard at 8:00 AM and make a quick stop around 8:15 AM at the Mile Marker 4 pullout to pick up any south side participants. Coordinator - Lettie Gutierrez.
Saturday, January 17 - Pinnacle Valley Wetlands. The
leisurely option for the day will explore the opening section of the
approach to Pinnacle Valley. Starting from a park just west of the
community of Lake Las Vegas, the out-and-back route will follow a
recreational gravel road a short distance to the north, pick up a paved
trail and cross a bridge spanning the Las Vegas Wash, then head toward
Clark County Wetlands for a bit. Distance should be around 4 miles with
minimal elevation gain and a rating of easy to moderate. Anyone
carpooling from Red Rock Casino should leave there at 7:50 AM for the main assembly point at Henderson Fiesta, from which the full group will leave at 8:30 AM. Coordinator - Nancy Moore.
Sunday, January 18 - River Mountains Trail Part III. The
full loop will be completed today when the last section between
Railroad Pass Casino and Alan Bible Visitor Center is negotiated. The
entire group will stay together on what will essentially be a downhill
walk of 10 miles at fairly fast pace that carries a rating of moderately
strenuous. This is all paved trail so walking or running shoes are
probably preferable to hiking boots. We will also need to set up a car
shuttle at both ends of the hike. The coordinator will meet the early west side group at Red Rock Casino for a departure at 7:05 AM and drive to Henderson Fiesta for a full group departure at 7:45 AM. Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.
Monday, January 19 - Bootleg Canyon. Boulder
City is the location for another hike in the River Mountains with this
moderate 6-mile jaunt. From the starting point near the base of the zip
line the group will head up the Mother Trail, cross over to the West Leg
Trail, and continue up to the top of Red Mountain. Elevation gain
should be around 1,000 feet. The early west side group should leave Red
Rock Casino by 7:30 AM for the primary meeting location at Henderson Fiesta. The fully assembled group will then leave there at 8:10 AM.
As the coordinator resides in Boulder City, she will meet the group in
the parking lot below the Veterans Home. To get there take a left at
the first signalized intersection on Highway 93 after passing Railroad
Pass Casino, make another left on Veterans Memorial Drive, and continue
on that street about one-half mile past the home and there will be
trailhead parking. The hike will start around 8:30 AM. Coordinator - Linda O'Leary.
Tuesday, January 20 - Valley of Fire High Point. This
strenuous 5-mile hike will start from the Visitor Center in the state
park. Gross elevation gain should be less than 2,000 feet reaching the
highest point in the park. There is lots of climbing over rocks and
boulders with some upper body work required to access the top through a
sloping chimney. Exposure is minimal. Early west side group will leave
with the coordinator from Rampart Casino at 7:30 AM. Traffic permitting they will stop at Lucky Club Casino about 7:50 AM to pick up the rest of the participants and should arrive at the Visitor Center around 8:45 AM. Coordinator - Brian Dodd.
Wednesday, January 21 - Liberty Bell Arch. The
arch for which this hike gets its name sits on an angled outcropping
and can be seen for miles around. Besides hiking past the arch, the
group will visit the site of an old manganese mine with a sluice box
anchored on the rock above the old shaft. Rest break will occur on a
plateau 700 feet above the Colorado River with magnificent views.
Overall this hike is rated moderate and will cover a distance between 5
and 6 miles with over 1,000 feet of gross elevation gain. West side
group will leave from Red Rock Casino at 7:20 AM with the coordinator and will head for the main assembly point at Henderson Fiesta for an 8:00 AM departure. Everyone should reach the trailhead around 8:40 AM. Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.
Thursday, January 22 - Fortification Hill. Situated
just upstream from Hoover Dam on the Arizona side of the river,
Fortification Hill was formed both by an ancient volcano and by ash
drift from other caldrons downstream. The out-and-back hike is rather
short at just 4 miles, but most of the trail accessing the top shelf is
very steep, resulting in a strenuous rating. Overall elevation gain is
more than 1,000 feet and the is some exposure climbing through a cliff
section to the upper plateau. High clearance vehicles are essential.
Red Rock Casino will be used for the early west side group with a 7:20 AM departure. The coordinator will be at the primary assembly point at Henderson Fiesta. The group will leave there at 8:00 AM. Coordinator - Steve Anderson.
Friday, January 23 - Ash Canyon Overlook. Starting
from Sandstone Quarry, the route will pass along the north side of Red
Cap to get to the overlook on a sandstone slab above Ash Canyon. This
stop will be followed by taking the trail on the back side of the Calico
Hills to the turnoff near the Turtlehead Trail that leads to some
petroglyphs. After a snack break at that location the group will catch
the Turtlehead Trail back to the starting point. Distance for the
partial loop hike is 3 to 4 miles with a moderate rating. Some
scrambling is involved. Meet the other participants at Red Rock Casino
for an 8:00 AM departure. Coordinator - Roger Hembree.
Friday, January 23 - Potato Knoll. Here
is another opportunity to take part in an afternoon hike in the Red
Rock area. The partial loop hike starts from the gravel parking lot at
the exit of the scenic drive onto the highway 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. The assembled
group will depart at 12:30 PM from Red Rock Casino and arrive at the starting point around 12:45 PM. Coordinator - Nancy Moore.
Saturday, January 24 - Lone Palm Loop. A
moderately strenuous hike of about 6 miles starts near the Kingman Wash
exit in Arizona and heads down through a series of interconnecting
canyons to the Colorado River. Some scrambling is involved and much of
the hike is off-trail. The return portion of the hike also requires
some scrambling in a different wash to return to the starting point.
Red Rock Casino departure will be at 7:20 AM and the main group will assemble at the Henderson Fiesta for an 8:00 AM departure.
The combined group will meet the coordinators in the gravel parking lot
at the bottom of the Kingman Wash exit about 8:30 AM. Coordinators - Joan & Chuck Hawkins.
Saturday, January 24 - Historic Railroad Tunnels. The
leisurely hikers will again visit a section of the abandoned railroad
bed that was used to haul construction materials to Hoover Dam back in
the early 30's. An easy to moderate 4-mile out-an-back will pass
through all five of the tunnels along the route and take a rest break at
the picnic table under a shelter just past the last tunnel. Elevation
gain is minimal in either direction. West side participants can carpool
from Red Rock Casino at 7:50 AM and meet the coordinator and the rest of the group at Henderson Fiesta for an 8:30 AM departure. Coordinator - Dennis Rohne.
Sunday, January 25 - Wilson Tank. To
access the starting point for this moderate 7-mile hike
possibly requires high clearance vehicles to get back into South
Cottonwood Valley about three miles on a rough gravel road. The hike
itself will be a loop passing the actual tank that will probably have an
overall elevation gain of 500 feet. A herd of wild horses roams
through this valley so there is a fair chance of spotting them.
The group will assemble at Red Rock Casino and carpool to the hike at 7:00 AM.
The coordinator, along with any other south side participants, will
meet them at the gas station at the intersection of Highways 159 and 160
for a full group departure at 7:30 AM. Coordinator - David Hardy.
Monday, January 26 - White Owl Canyon Shoreline Loop. Approximately
5 miles in length, this moderate hike begins at the Las Vegas Bay boat
ramp near Mile Marker 10 on Lakeshore Road in the Lake Mead area. It
first follows the shoreline on a windy trail through the aquatic
vegetation almost to the Hole 33 Overlook. The group will go through
the canyon occupied by a couple of owls and return to the starting point
using a section of the paved River Mountains Trail. West side
departure from Red Rock Casino will be at 7:20 AM with the full group leaving Henderson Fiesta at 8:00 AM.
To get to the starting point they will drive east on Lake Mead Parkway,
which continues straight as Lakeshore Road in the recreation area.
Look for the turnoff to the old marina where the coordinator will meet
the group around 8:20 AM. Coordinator - Joan Hawkins.
Tuesday, January 27 - Summerlin Peak. Little
trail exists to make the climb to the top of this imposing peak on the
northwest side of Summerlin any easier. It seems to be almost straight
up once the route leaves the entry drainage and starts climbing on a
ridge leading to the peak. While this hike is only 4 or 5 miles long,
the vertical gain is close to 2,000 feet, making this a strenuous
outing. Also, this hike will not use any of the normal assembly points
generally used by the club. Participants should take the Cheyenne exit
off CR 215 and drive a very short distance west where Cheyenne bends
north and continues with a different name. Right at that bend is a
large parking lot with a white fence that is set up to handle horse
trailers. The hike will begin there at 8:15 AM. Coordinator - Michael O'Connor.
Wednesday, January 27 - The Muffins. It
will probably be the out-and-back version of the hike to the
distinctive composite boulders on the north end of Blue Diamond Hill
that will occur today. If so, the trail hike from the cowboy stables
parking lot will be 4 miles in length with 750 feet of elevation gain
and a moderate rating. However, the coordinator may choose another
option, which would be to continue south on the ridge to the vicinity of
the old Las Vegas Overlook and descend through Skull Canyon. Show up
and find out what happens. The group will assemble at Red Rock Casino
for an 8:00 AM departure. Coordinator - John Stewart.
Thursday, January 29 - Painted Pinnacles/Baseline Mesa Loop. The
last hike in Valley of Fire this month will start from the Silica Dome
and cross some nondescript desert to reach one of the most beautiful
spots in the park - the painted pinnacles. From there the group will
climb up on Baseline Mesa, traversing from south to north. A beautiful
little canyon is used for the descent before getting back to the
starting point. The moderate hike is 5 miles in length with less than
1,000 feet of gross elevation gain. The coordinator will be at Rampart
Casino for the early departure at 7:30 AM. There will be a quick stop at Lucky Club Casino around 7:50 AM, traffic permitting, before heading to the state park where the hike will begin around 8:45 AM. Coordinator - Brian Dodd.
Friday, January 30 - Late Night Ridge. This
moderate hike begins at the Late Night parking area off Highway 160 and
crosses under the highway. After about one-half mile the route leaves
the trail and bushwhacks up a steep ridge to the east. Once on top the
group will explore and eventually drop into a canyon which leads back to
the main trail and a return to the starting point. Overall, it is
around 5 miles in length with 1,000 feet of elevation gain. The early
west side group should carpool from Red Rock Casino around 8:00 AM and meet the coordinator and any other south side participants at the gas station at the highway crossroads for an 8:30 AM departure. Coordinator - David Hardy.
Saturday, January 31 - Pumpkin Parfait Canyon. At
a length of 5 miles, this moderately strenuous hike has about 1,000
feet of elevation gain and includes scrambling and bushwhacking. It
starts at Rogers Spring, near Mile Marker 40 on Northshore Road and
crosses a couple canyons before reaching the colorful box canyon that is
the namesake for the hike. The return uses a different set of canyons
and negotiates a dry waterfall. West side departure from Rampart Casino
should be at 7:20 AM. The main assembly point is at the CVS Pharmacy on Lake Mead Boulevard with an 8:00 AM departure.
The coordinators and any other south side participants will be waiting
for the group at the Mile Marker 4 pullout along Northshore Road and
meet them about 8:20 AM. Coordinators - Joan & Chuck Hawkins.
Saturday, January 31 - Hoover Dam & Bridge. A
more leisurely hike for the last day of the month will be a moderate
effort of between 4 and 5 miles that will visit both of the Colorado
River features. This hike will start from the Lake Mead Overlook along
the old highway that is perched directly atop the fifth tunnel in the
line stretching from the vicinity of Alan Bible Visitor Center. The
only difficult part of the hike involves a short but steep bank getting
down onto the regular trail. There is about 500 feet of elevation loss
getting down to the dam which must be made up on the return, but most of
the climb is pretty gentle. Early west side group leaves from Red
Rock Casino at 7:50 AM to join other participants at the general meeting location of Henderson Fiesta for an 8:30 AM departure. Coordinator - Nancy Moore.
FINAL NOTE - This
is the last monthly hiking schedule that I will be posting for the
club. The preparation of the February schedule, which will be done in
January, will now fall in the capable hands of Steve Allen, who is
taking over as Hike Program Coordinator. He will be sending out the
solicitation notices requesting volunteers to submit their hikes. Also,
in something of a new position, Sylvie Courtemarsh will be taking over
the responsibilities of maintaining all hiking statistics and the hike
sign-in sheets should ultimately reach her. If you want to continue
turning them in to me on hikes that Sylvie is not attending I promise to
get them to her on a timely basis. Also, all hike coordinators should
begin using the new sign-in sheets which are available on the club web
site. Other than that, I plan on continuing to lead several hikes each
month and participate on more when others are in charge. See you on the
trails.
