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This page last updated on 03/32/2018
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Because describing hikes in this area can be somewhat difficult, I have divided this post into three distinct sections; Section I, titled Ash Creek Spring; Section II, titled Calico Spring; and Section III, Red Spring & Picnic Area. Refer to the map in (Fig. 02) above. In general, the entire area shaded in green is referred to as Calico Basin, a colorful desert area tucked between the gray limestone La Madre Mountains to the north, the red sandstone Calico Hills to the west, and a desert ridge to the south. Within the basin there are actually three springs with permanent water that emerge from the base of these red and white sandstone cliffs: Red Spring to the south, Calico Spring in the middle area, and Ash Creek Spring to the north. The Red Spring Picnic Area, containing Red Spring itself, is a small saltmarsh meadow surrounded by a wooden boardwalk.
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SECTION II – ASH SPRING
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03/08/2016 Trip Notes: Today, myself and three hiking partners, Harvey Smith, Blake Smith and Bob Croke, hike the trails to Ash Spring, the third of three natural springs found at Calico Basin. Though we didn't find anywhere near the number of spring blooms as we did on the previous trip below, we still got some nice pictures. Click here for pictures and a description of this hike ... Ash Spring @ Calico Basin - 03/08/2016 Trip Notes.
04/18/2015 Trip Notes: Today, fellow hiking partner Blake Smith and I decided to take a morning hike to the Northern area of Calico Basin which encompasses Ash Creek Spring (Fig. 01). Due to the number of pictures I took on this hike, I have created a separate page to describe it. Here is the link to view pictures and information about this hike … Ash Spring @ Calico Basin. | ||
SECTION III – CALICO SPRING
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| 10/28/2012 Trip Notes: On another trip with the rock-hounds from the Heritage Park Senior Facility, I visited this area for the third time this year. On today’s visit we made it our only stop, providing us with much more time to hike the area than we have had in the past. After driving to the northern end of the basin, we hiked along a dirt road to the edge of the red and white sandstone mountain range. On the right we passed an area where someone had created a geoglyph, a sizable circular pattern out of stones (Fig. 04), similar to a “crop circle”. From here, the majority of the group continued northwest, while I headed south along the western ridge of the range towards Angel Pass (refer to map). On the way to Angel Pass, I passed a couple of interesting rock formations (Figs. 05 & 06). I titled the first one, “Desert Flower Pot”, as it had some grasses growing right out of some natural holes in the rock. The second one, a piece of rock that had fallen down the mountain side and landed on its peak, reminded me of a spinning top, thus the title, “Spintop”. | ||
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| I finally reached Angel Pass (Fig. 07). I have since learned that hiking (scrambling) to the top of this pass and beyond takes you to Calico II in Red Rock National Park. (refer to the map above) Once I finally reached this spot, the trail led me into a wide wash (Fig. 08) that was filled with a variety of shrubs and small trees, plus several areas of standing water (Figs. 09-14) that were eminating from Calico Spring. As you can see from these pictures, the colors and striations in the rock formations along this area were outstanding. After viewing these pictures, I’m sure you can see why I was a little late in getting back to the van – sorry! | ||
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SECTION III – RED SPRING & PICNIC AREA
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| 10/18/2012 Trip Notes: After hiking the areas noted above, everyone ended up at the main picnic area which acts as a trailhead for several short hikes. Several of us hiked a trail that headed south along the east side of the board walked meadow. At the southern most end the trail headed up a gravel wash that can be seen just above the trees on the right side of (Fig. 15) above. This is actually the return of the 3.5 mile Guardian Angel Pass trail. We then walked along the entire top of this east to west ridge-line taking pictures in every direction. The view in (Fig. 16) is looking north, back towards Red Spring and the meadow. The next picture (Fig. 17) was taken from the west end of the ridge looking southwest towards Red Rock Canyon. On our way back, we stopped at the small cave (Fig. 18) that is the source of Red Spring. Click the following link to view additional pictures of the spring … Red Spring. While visiting this area we observed numerous butterflies, humming birds and sparrows (Fig. 19) that were enjoying the lush plant life around the spring. | ||
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05/20/2012 Trip Notes: Even thought we've had one of the driest winters and spring on record, the natural springs in this area continue to keep the relatively small Red Spring valley lush and green. As I hiked a trail that headed north, away from the Red Springs meadow, I stole a quick look back and snapped this picture which captured the lushness of the salt grass meadow below. Click the following link to view pictures of the spring, located behind the clump of trees in the far right of the above photo, that feeds this area ... Red Spring. Notice the stark color contrast between this picture and the one at the very top that was taken in late winter. By arriving early in the morning, I was hoping to capture some pictures of the Black-tail Jackrabbits that inhabit this area. Even though I made two sightings, I was unable to get any pictures before they scurried off with amazing speed. A walk around the boardwalk before leaving did however produce a few ‘bird’ pictures. I don’t pretend to be a bird expert, I tried my best to identify the pictures below. Left to right: A male Phainopepla (Phainopepla nitens), Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus), Black-throated Sparrow (Amphispiza bilineata), Western Kingbirds (Tyrannus verticalis), Black-chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri). |
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The first picture below shows the fruit of a Velvet Ash (Fraxinus velutina) tree. The middle picture is a Yerba Mansa. On the far right is a rare Alkali Mariposa Lilly (Calochortus striatus). Click here to learn more ... Velvet Ash (Fraxinus velutina), Yerba Mansa (Anemopsis californica) and Alkali Mariposa Lily. |
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05/10/2012 Trip Notes: Again, I stopped here with the rock-hounds from the Henderson Heritage Park's Senior Center for what was probably my fourth visit to this area. Instead of walking the wooden boardwalk, I hiked a trail that headed north, away from the Red Springs meadow. As I walked through the lush green clump of cottonwood trees, ash trees, shrub live oak, and honey mesquite at the beginning of this trail, I captured several colorful pictures of some blossoming vegetation and plant life strewn along the hillside just above the parking lot. Top left is the Alkali Mariposa Lilly (Calochortus striatus); top right is the Prickly Sow Thistle (Sonchus asper). Click these links for more info: Alkali Mariposa Lily and the Prickly Sow Thistle. |
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Walking as far as time permitted, I ended up with the picture below as my final view. If you look closely just to the right of center, you can see Turtlehead Peak in the distance. The trailhead for the very difficult hike to the summit of this peak actually starts at Sandstone Quarry inside the Red Rock Park. The four pictures below this give you an idea of some of the wildlife that I passed along the way. Unlike the desert chipmunks who posed and waited patiently for me capture several pictures, the two long eared black-tailed jackrabbits took off so fast that I was lucky to even capture this poorly focused distant shot of one of them. For more info go to Black-tailed Jackrabbit (Lepus californicus). |
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03/03/2011 Trip Notes: On this brief stop with the rock-hounds from the Henderson Heritage Park's Senior Facility, the parking lot was nearly full. With the 'tons' of kids running around, it was difficult to capture any wildlife pictures. I spent most of the time walking the wooden boardwalk that encircles the entire parameter of the small saltmarsh meadow. A walk around the wooden boardwalk (below left) will provide you with a variety of interesting views and subjects. There are hundreds of fascinating rocks like the one pictured (below right), that were ‘pitted’ when iron oxide was concentrated as water moved through the rock many thousands of years ago. This area of the Calico Hills is filled with sandstone rocks where iron oxide or 'rust' formulated concretions. Concretions, a word derived from the Latin word con meaning together and cresco meaning to grow, are growths of different mineral matter that develop in a host rock. It is unclear why they begin to form. However, once the process starts, the iron continues to concentrate there. (click the rock above to enlarge) The red spots form when the concentrated iron oxide moved through the rock. Iron spots harder than the sandstone form a 'bump' as the softer exposed sandstone wears away. Sometimes, after thousands of years of weathering, the concretions break free. These small stone balls are iron nodules that are commonly called Indian Marbles. |
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As you can see from the pictures below, some showed the layers of thousands of years of compression, while others displayed petroglyph's left by ancient visitors to the area hundreds of years ago. Click the following link to see more petroglyph's at Red Springs ... Petroglyphs at Red Springs. |
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(OPTION 1) Each show is designed to run automatically in place, without leaving the current browser window. If the show is not already running, just click the large "Play" button in the middle of the picture and let it run. (OPTION 2) Running the cursor over the picture being shown will PAUSE the show and bring up a navigation bar at the bottom of the slideshow window with Pause, Forward and Back buttons, allowing you to start, stop or manually forward or back up pictures one at a time. |
| Slideshow Description: The slideshow above contains 107 pictures that were taken at the Red Spring and Calico Basin area over four different visits. |