NV-159 Towards Red Rock Canyon NCA

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This page last updated on 05/0226/2019

(Fig. 01) Click to Enlarge Daytrips abound along NV-159 and inside the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. Click on the map (Fig. 01) on the right to better see the locations of the various hikes shown below. Each of these areas provide unique geologic opportunities, historical links with the past, and numerous endemic plants and species, many that are threatened or endangered and cannot be found anywhere else in the entire United States. Know as the Keystone Thrust, the fault that runs through this area has phenomenal geological formations that provide breathtaking views. The hiking here is some of the best in the entire state.

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area: The 13-mile Scenic Loop drive through Red Rock exposes visitors to the geological history and splendor of the canyon. The most famous photo opportunity is the colorful south facing eroded red Aztec sandstone outcropping of the Calico Hills, followed by the limestone Indian roasting pits. Continuing along, the Loop Drive brings you to the base of the 24,997 acre Rainbow Mountain Wilderness Area. The elevations here range from about 4,100 feet at the base of the escarpment to 7,070 feet at the summit of Wilson Mountain. The summit of Rainbow Mountain is at 6,924 feet.  The various elevation changes along the Loop Drive itself provide a variety of pullouts and turnoffs with breathtaking views of the valley floor on one side and ever rising cliffs on the other. Hiking, Birding and Photography

Calico Basin: Calico Basin is a colorful area tucked between the gray limestone of the La Madre Mountains to the north, the red sandstone of the Calico Hills to the west, and a desert ridge to the south. When looking towards the northwest from this location, you can see Turtle Head Peak, which is also visible directly behind the Calico Hills outcrop when at Red Rock Canyon. Hiking, Birding and Photography

Calico Tanks: The trailhead for this fairly strenuous, 1.2-mile hike is located at the Sandstone Quarry parking area inside Red Rock Canyon. The hike runs up a canyon and over sandstone slickrock to a large natural depression (a "tank" or "tinaja") near the top of the Calico Hills ridge. The tank sometimes holds water, and there are great views of Calico Basin and the Las Vegas Valley from a saddle just beyond the tank. Hiking, Birding and Photography

Red Spring Picnic Area: Located within Calico Basin, Red Spring Picnic area boarders a beautiful marshy salt-grass meadow surrounded by a wooden boardwalk. Red Spring is a natural spring with a permanent water flow that is located at the southwestern end of the meadow. It emerges from a shallow tunnel in the rocks at the base of the red sandstone cliffs. The waters from this spring and surrounding washes feed the beautiful marshy salt-grass meadow and support a variety of trees including large cottonwood trees, ash trees, shrub live oak, and honey mesquite. The abundant vegetation attracts a variety of birds, squirrels, rabbits and other interesting wildlife. Hiking, Birding and Photography

Sandstone Quarry Overlook & Trails: The Sandstone Quarry Overlook, about 2.75 into the Scenic Loop Road, is the trailhead for the short Sandstone Quarry hike and nearly a half dozen more hikes that range anywhere from less than a half mile in length up to 11 miles. These hikes include: 1.2 mile Calico II, 2.2 mile Calico I, 2.5 mile Calico Tanks, 5-mile Turtle Head Peak, and the 11.4 mile Grand Circle hike. Hiking, Birding and Photography

White Rock Loop Trail: This trail is on the eastern edge of the 47,000-acre La Madre Mountain Wilderness Area, along the Scenic Loop Road in the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. This well-maintained trail runs around White Rock Mountain and the rest of the White Rock Hills and showcases the diversity found at Red Rock. It’s 6.3 miles passes through a variety of vegetation zones with grand views across Red Rock Valley on the east side, great views of the La Madre Mountains on the west side, some particularly interesting geology, and at least one archaeological site to the south. Hiking, Birding and Photography Willow Springs Canyon/Picnic Area. The Willow Springs Picnic Area is located adjacent to a spring with large cottonwood trees about half-way around Red Rock’s 13-mile scenic loop. There are a couple of trails here. The Lost Creek Trail leads to a willow thicket, waterfall, and creek flowing from a side canyon. There is also a short trail opposite the picnic area that leads you past some Petroglyphs. Walking further up the dirt road into the canyon itself, takes you to the La Mardre Spring Trailhead. One could spend a whole day here hiking and enjoying a quiet lunch. Hiking, Rock-hounding, Birding and Photography

La Madre (Springs) Dam: The Willow Springs Picnic Area serves as the trailhead for three hikes; a short Petroglyph Trail, the Upper Willow Falls trail and the more strenuous 3.8 mile La Madre (Springs) Dam hike. The actual trailhead, about a half mile from the parking areas, is the beginning of the 47,180 acre La Madre Mountain Wilderness Area. On a clear day, with the limestone La Madre range right behind you; North Peak and Bridge Mountain to the West and the magnificent three-headed White Rock Mountain directly in front of you, this is actually some of the best scenery that you’ll find anywhere at Red Rock. Hiking, Rock-hounding, Birding and Photography

Pine Creek Canyon: The Pine Creek Trail is like a lot of the other trails at Red Rock, with several trails that crisscross through a box canyon. Most of these trails are centered around the stream that runs through the center of the canyon in the springtime or when there are heavy rains. This stream is fed by the small springs that themselves feed on the rainwater and snow melt that is stored in the porous sandstone cliffs. The mountain views from almost everywhere along this hike are  fantastic; Mt. Wilson, Rainbow Mountain, Rainbow Wall, Juniper Peak, Mescalito, and Bridge Mountain. These towering red, black and gray mountains combined with juniper, pine and various deciduous trees create wonderful “color country.” In the fall when the leaves are turning this hike can become a sensory overload and should not be missed! Hiking, Rock-hounding, Birding and Photography

Lost Creek Falls: There are two trails that lead to Lost Creek Falls, the ‘lower’ trail being the easiest. The ‘upper’ trail goes by some caves and petroglyphs. Lost Creek is a typical of the type of stream that exists in the desert. It is covered with the brush that it sustains and that brush sustains it by protecting the stream from the direct sunlight and increased evaporation. This short trail runs across Red Rock Wash and up a short canyon in the red rock cliffs to a waterfall inside the Rainbow Mountain Wilderness Area. The trail ends in a pretty little box canyon with a waterfall that flows during winter and after rainstorms. Hiking, Rock-hounding, Birding and Photography Blue Diamond Hill Trails: Blue Diamond Hill is located within the boundaries of the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, outside the fee area, east of SR-159. It is covered with dozens of mountain bike trails and horse trails that provide many miles of relatively easy hiking. The trails on the northern end of Blue Diamond Hill provide great views of the Wilson Cliffs across the valley to the west, the La Madre Mountain Range to the north, and if you make it all the way to the “Viewpoint” on the eastern edge, views of the Las Vegas valley far below. Hiking, Birding and Photography                                           First Creek Trail & Falls Hike (RRCNCA): On 12/01, Blake Smith, Robert Croke, Ron Ziance and I decided to head out to Cottonwood Valley to hike the First Creek Trail. This hike is wrestled between Oak Creek and Spring Mountain Ranch in the middle of the desert Cottonwood Valley, beneath the towering red-and-white Wilson Cliffs in the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. First Creek Canyon is home to a very well known secret: the waterfall. But most people will never see it because it’s quite well hidden. Click here for pictures and description … .                                                                            Spring Mountain Ranch State Park. Located 15 miles west of Las Vegas, via Blue Diamond Rd., Spring Mountain Ranch State Park is in the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, beneath the colorful cliffs of the magnificent Wilson Range. At an elevation of 3,740 feet, the ranch is usually 10-15 degrees cooler than the Las Vegas Valley. Today the parks’ main purpose is to preserve the historic Sandstone Ranch established in 1876. The 512-acre ranch, within the boundaries of the Spring Mountain Ranch State Park, was listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places on April 2, 1976. This old homestead has several open pastures and large lawns, a large shallow pond, several stands of trees, and a variety of old ranch buildings. Hiking, Rock-hounding, Birding and Photography