Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Blue Diamond Hill Viewed from Rainbow Mountains Upper Crest Ridgeline Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada View from Blue Diamond Hill High Eastern Ridgeline Toward Red Rock Canyon Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Fossil Canyon Trailhead and Entrance to Cowboy Trail Rides Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Heading East from the Trailhead on an Equestrian Path Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada View of the Northeastern Corner of Blue Diamond Hill from Below Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Early Morning Rainbow Mountains View from Southeast of Blue Diamond Hill Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Back at the Main Approach Heading for Bomb Voyage/Muffin Trails Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Skull Canyon Entrance Viewed While Ascending Bomb Voyage/Muffin Trails Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Lower Bone Shaker Trail Ridge Viewed Across Skull Canyon Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Red Rock Canyon View While Ascending Bomb Voyage/Muffin Trail Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada View to First Upper Ridge High Point from Bomb Voyage/Muffin Trail Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Larger View of Red Rock Canyon. Rainbow Mts. Keystone Thrust Cliffs, Calico Hills Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Arrival at First Eastern Upper Ridge High Point Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Continuing Past Distinctive Rock Formation That Marks the Ridge High Point Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Rainbow Mountains & Keystone Thrust Backdrop to Northeastern High Ridge Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada View East to Red Rock Campground, Las Vegas Valley and Beyond Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Calico Basin & Keystone Thrust Form Background to Ridgeline Rock Formations Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Ridgeline is Like a Rock Garden. Rainbow Mountains Background Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Many Rock Pillars Along the Way. Las Vegas Valley Far Background Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Rock Surface Marked with what Could Be Ancient Sea Life from Ocean Bottom Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada View South Along Eastern Ridgeline Toward Radio Tower. Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Beautiful Rugged Desert Vegetation on Upper Eastern Ridge. Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Closer View of Radio Tower Hill in Distance. Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Indecision Peak, Mt. Wilson, Rainbow Mountain Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada View Back to Calico Hills, Calico Basin and La Madre Mt Cliffs Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada High Ridge Furthest East (Left). View South. Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Summerlin, Cheyenne & Lone Mts., Gass Peak in Background. Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Cross-Over to High Eastern Overlook Ridge. Las Vegas Valley & Strip Background. Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Northern Extension of Eastern Overlook Ridge Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Vegas Strip Through Ridgeline Opening. Overlook Ridge Trail Heads South (Right) Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada View South Along Overlook Ridge Trail to Radio Tower. Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Note Long Lower Ridgeline South Above Ft. Apache Road Area. Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Red Rock Campground and Fire Station Below. Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Close-up View of Red Rock Canyon Campground Below, East. Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada View North Along Ridgeline Toward Red Rock Canyon and Calico Basin Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Little Red Rock (Left); Summerlin Ridge and Urban Expansion; Sheep Range Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Mt. Charleston Wilderness in View: Griffith Peak (Left), Mummy Mt. (Right) Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Fossils Embedded in Rock on Upper Eastern Ridge. Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada More Fossils on the Upper Eastern Ridge Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada More Pillars and Desert Rock Garden Scenery on Upper Eastern Ridge Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada View Back North Along Far Eastern Ridge. Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada North Along Eastern Ridge. Rainbow Mts. Charleston Wilderness, Keystone Thrust Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Overlook Ridge Trail Stretching South Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Overlook Ridge Trail Stretching North Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Rugged High Desert Scenery Along Eastern Ridgeline Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Keystone Thrust Cliffs to North. Large Sprawling Ridgeline Cactus Plants Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Las Vegas Strip Background to Slow-Growing Ridgeline Cactus Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada More Eastern Ridgeline Majestic Pillar Formations Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Just Passed the Radio Tower on Overlook Ridge Trail Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Heading Downward Around Radio Tower Trail Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Lower Radio Tower Marks Split to Bone Shaker Trail Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Now Descending Rugged Bone Shaker Trail Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada View Down Upper Skull Canyon From Bone Shaker Trail Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Upper Skull Canyon View with Upper and Lower Radio Tower Background Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Cowboy Canyon Stretches Along West Side of Bone Shaker Trail Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada View Down Skull Canyon Toward Red Rock Canyon Visitor Center and Beyond Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Composite Rock Pillars on Bone Shaker Trail Ridge, Cowboy Canyon Background Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Lower Skull Canyon View While Descending Bone Shaker Trail Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Imagine Riding a Mountain Bike Down This Stretch of Bone Shaker Trail! Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada View Across Skull Canyon to Bomb Voyage/Muffin Trail and High Eastern Ridge Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Equestrian Loop Hill, Calico Basin Background. Calico Hills, Kraft Mt, Damsel Peak Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Final Descent Toward Equestrian Ridge and Fossil Canyon Trailhead Parking Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Parting View Up Skull Canyon from Near Base of Bone Shaker Trail Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada Back at Trailhead and Cowboy Trail Rides Corral. Blue Diamond Hill from Rainbow Mountains Upper Crest Ridgeline | Blue Diamond Hill | Red Rock Canyon, Nevada View from Blue Diamond Hill High Eastern Ridgeline Toward Red Rock Canyon | Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill | Red Rock Canyon, Nevada Fossil Canyon Trailhead and Entrance to Cowboy Trail Rides | Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill | Red Rock Canyon, Nevada Heading East from the Trailhead on an Equestrian Path | Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill | Red Rock Canyon, Nevada View of the Northeastern Corner of Blue Diamond Hill from Below | Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill | Red Rock Canyon, Nevada Early Morning Rainbow Mountains View from Southeast of Blue Diamond Hill | Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill | Red Rock Canyon, Nevada Back at the Main Approach Heading for Bomb Voyage/Muffin Trails | Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill | Red Rock Canyon, Nevada Skull Canyon Entrance Viewed While Ascending Bomb Voyage/Muffin Trails | Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill | Red Rock Canyon, Nevada Bone Shaker Trail Ridge Viewed Across Skull Canyon | Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill | Red Rock Canyon, Nevada Red Rock Canyon View While Ascending Bomb Voyage/Muffin Trail | Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill | Red Rock Canyon, Nevada View to First Upper Ridge High Point from Bomb Voyage/Muffin Trail | Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill | Red Rock Canyon, Nevada Larger View of Red Rock Canyon. Rainbow Mts. Keystone Thrust Cliffs, Calico Hills | Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill | Red Rock Canyon, Nevada Arrival at First Eastern Upper Ridge High Point | Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill | Red Rock Canyon, Nevada Continuing Past Distinctive Rock Formation That Marks the Ridge High Point | Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill | Red Rock Canyon, Nevada Rainbow Mountains & Keystone Thrust Backdrop to Northeastern High Ridge | Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill | Red Rock Canyon, Nevada View East to Red Rock Campground, Las Vegas Valley and Beyond | Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill | Red Rock Canyon, Nevada Calico Basin & Keystone Thrust Form Background to Ridgeline Rock Formations | Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill | Red Rock Canyon, Nevada Ridgeline is Like a Rock Garden. Rainbow Mountains Background | Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill | Red Rock Canyon, Nevada Many Rock Pillars Along the Way. Las Vegas Valley Far Background | Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill | Red Rock Canyon, Nevada Rock Surface Marked with what Could Be Ancient Sea Life from Ocean Bottom | Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill | Red Rock Canyon, Nevada View South Along Eastern Ridgeline Toward Radio Tower. | Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill | Red Rock Canyon, Nevada Beautiful Rugged Desert Vegetation on Upper Eastern Ridge. | Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill | Red Rock Canyon, Nevada Closer View of Radio Tower Hill in Distance. | Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill | Red Rock Canyon, Nevada Indecision Peak, Mt. Wilson & Rainbow Mt. from the High Eastern Ridge | Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill | Red Rock Canyon, Nevada View Back to Calico Hills, Calico Basin and La Madre Mt Cliffs | Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill | Red Rock Canyon, Nevada High Ridge Furthest East (Left). View South. | Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill | Red Rock Canyon, Nevada Summerlin, Cheyenne & Lone Mts., Gass Peak in Background. | Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill | Red Rock Canyon, Nevada Cross-Over to High Eastern Overlook Ridge. Las Vegas Valley & Strip Background. | Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill | Red Rock Canyon, Nevada Northern Extension of Eastern Overlook Ridge | Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill | Red Rock Canyon, Nevada Vegas Strip Through Opening. Overlook Ridge Trail Heads South (Right) | Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill | Red Rock Canyon, Nevada View South Along Overlook Ridge Trail to Radio Tower. | Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill | Red Rock Canyon, Nevada Note Long Lower Ridgeline South Above Ft. Apache Road Area. | Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill | Red Rock Canyon, Nevada Red Rock Campground and Fire Station Below. | Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill | Red Rock Canyon, Nevada Close-up View of Red Rock Canyon Campground Below, East. | Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill | Red Rock Canyon, Nevada Little Red Rock (Left); Summerlin Ridge and Urban Expansion (Center); Sheep Range (Background) | Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill | Red Rock Canyon, Nevada View North Along Ridgeline Toward Red Rock Canyon and Calico Basin | Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill | Red Rock Canyon, Nevada Mt. Charleston Wilderness in View: Griffith Peak (Left), Mummy Mt. (Right) | Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill | Red Rock Canyon, Nevada Fossils Embedded in Rock on Upper Eastern Ridge. | Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill | Red Rock Canyon, Nevada More Fossils on the Upper Eastern Ridge | Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill | Red Rock Canyon, Nevada More Pillars and Desert Rock Garden Scenery on Upper Eastern Ridge | Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill | Red Rock Canyon, Nevada View Back North Along Eastern Ridge. | Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill | Red Rock Canyon, Nevada View North Along Eastern Ridge. Rainbow Mts. Charleston Wilderness, Keystone Thrust Skyline | Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill | Red Rock Canyon, Nevada Upper Desert Garden View South Along Eastern Ridgeline | Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill | Red Rock Canyon, Nevada Overlook Ridge Trail Stretching North | Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill | Red Rock Canyon, Nevada Rugged High Desert Scenery Along Eastern Ridgeline | Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill | Red Rock Canyon, Nevada Keystone Thrust Cliffs to North. Large Sprawling Ridgeline Cactus Plants | Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill | Red Rock Canyon, Nevada Las Vegas Strip Background to Slow-Growing Ridgeline Cactus | Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill | Red Rock Canyon, Nevada More Eastern Ridgeline Majestic Pillar Formations | Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill | Red Rock Canyon, Nevada Just Passed the Radio Tower on Overlook Ridge Trail | Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill | Red Rock Canyon, Nevada Heading Downward Around Radio Tower Trail | Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill | Red Rock Canyon, Nevada Lower Radio Tower Marks Split to Bone Shaker Trail | Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill | Red Rock Canyon, Nevada Now Descending Rugged Bone Shaker Trail | Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill | Red Rock Canyon, Nevada View Down Upper Skull Canyon While Descending Bone Shaker Trail | Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill | Red Rock Canyon, Nevada Upper Skull Canyon View with Upper and Lower Radio Tower Background | Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill | Red Rock Canyon, Nevada Cowboy Canyon Stretches Along West Side of Bone Shaker Trail | Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill | Red Rock Canyon, Nevada View Down Skull Canyon Toward Red Rock Canyon Visitor Center and Beyond | Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill | Red Rock Canyon, Nevada Composite Rock Pillars on Bone Shaker Trail Ridge, Cowboy Canyon Background | Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill | Red Rock Canyon, Nevada Lower Skull Canyon View While Descending Bone Shaker Trail | Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill | Red Rock Canyon, Nevada Imagine Riding a Mountain Bike Down This Stretch of Bone Shaker Trail! | Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill | Red Rock Canyon, Nevada View Across Skull Canyon to Bomb Voyage/Muffin Trail and High Eastern Ridge | Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill | Red Rock Canyon, Nevada Equestrian Loop Ridge with Calico Basin Background. Calico Hills, Kraft Mt, Damsel Peak | Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill | Red Rock Canyon, Nevada View Up Skull Canyon from Near Base of Bone Shaker Trail | Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill | Red Rock Canyon, Nevada Final Descent Toward Cowboy Trail Ridge and Fossil Canyon Trailhead Parking | Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill | Red Rock Canyon, Nevada Back at Trailhead and Cowboy Trail Rides Corral. | Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill | Red Rock Canyon, Nevada

Overview | Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada

This is an outer circuit exploration of Blue Diamond Hill, located on the Southern end of Red Rock Canyon in Nevada. The first exploration is a circuit of the Eastern Region of Blue Diamond Hill. The second exploration is a circuit of the Western region of Blue Diamond Hill. 

Views from Blue Diamond Hill

Grand views from the high areas include Red Rock Canyon, Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Potosi Mountain, La Madre Mountain Wilderness/Keystone Thrust Cliffs, Calico Hills, Las Vegas Valley.

Trails on Blue Diamond Hill

There are a variety of multi-use trails including hiking, mountain biking, equestrian and 4WD. Since the trails are multi-use, they tend to have more gradual inclines. However, the network of trails on Blue Diamond Hill interconnect, crisscross and intertwine. In addition, it appears the trail system is somewhat dynamic and evolving over time. To make things even more interesting, none of the trails in the Blue Diamond Hill trail system are marked. So, it may be difficult to define individual trails and loops on your first encounter. You will at first guess which trail you are on before later becoming familiar with the trail system. Of course, if you use GPS, you might avoid a bit of wandering, but may also miss some discoveries along with missing a greater organic familiarity with all of Blue Diamond Hill. 

Private Lands on Blue Diamond Hill

One additional complicating factor: The Southern region of Blue Diamond Hill is privately owned by a few companies: Maverick Helicopters; Gypsum Materials Resources LLC; Blue Diamond Hill Gypsum. Additional areas are privately owned. In fact, if you tried to access Blue Diamond Hill from just about any other area than the Fossil Canyon parking area outside the Cowboy Trail Rides operation, you’d likely be stopped by fences and signs.

Suggested First Time Strategy

For the reasons noted above, it may be a good first-time strategy to make a wide outer circuit of the trail system along with noting the private and public areas. Look around and get a big picture impression of the lay of the land. Then return to begin to systematically explore individual trails and loops in the trail system. I took the outer circuit in a clockwise direction initially because this led to the higher elevation perspective early on. 

Trails, or sections of trails included in the first and second explorations of the outer circuit are…

First Exploration:

  • Bomb Voyage (section)
  • Muffin (section)
  • Overlook Ridge (entire trail)
  • Radio Tower Trail (entire trail)
  • Bone Shaker Trail (entire trail)

Second Exploration:

  • Litter Box (entire trail)
  • SARS (section)
  • Kibbles-N-Bits (entire trail)

Some trail names I’ve seen on maps include (None of these trails are marked.):

  • Bob Gnarly
  • Bomb Voyage
  • Bone Shaker
  • Bunny
  • Cat-in-the-Hat
  • Cave Canyon
  • Cowboy Cave
  • Echo Canyon
  • First Finger
  • Fossil Canyon
  • Kibbles-n-Bits
  • Litter Box
  • Muffin Rocks
  • Overlook Ridge
  • Radio Tower
  • Rock Garden
  • SARS
  • Second Finger
  • The Back Bowl
  • Three Amigos
  • Jeep Trail

Trailhead Directions | Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada

Take the Charleston exit off Hwy 215 in Las Vegas. Head up toward the mountains (Red Rock Canyon). You’ll pass Calico Basin and then the Red Rock Canyon entrance. Just a bit beyond that watch for the Cowboy Trail Rides on the left.

Park in the Fossil Canyon Trailhead area on the South (left)  side of Highway 159 outside the Cowboy Trail Rides operation.

Adventure Description | Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada

It took me two times to actually pick out the route for a complete outer circuit of the Blue Diamond Hill trail system. This is in part due to the fact that there are no trail markings and that I navigate by the feel of the land vs. GPS.

In the initial exploration (below) I made a clockwise circuit of the Eastern region of Blue Diamond Hill, taking the Muffin/Bomb Voyage trails to the Overlook Ridge Trail to the high radio Tower, then descending to the Bone Shaker Trail and cutting through Blue Diamond Hill on that trail to the Fossil Canyon parking area. I thought I was still on the outer circuit below the radio tower, but to actually remain on the outer circuit I would have needed to continue on Overlook Ridge to the Maverick Helicopters wind sock before descending to the West.

So, following one of my best navigation strategies, in the second exploration I reverse the circuit direction and take the circuit in a counterclockwise direction from the Fossil Canyon parking area.  

Initial Exploration – Eastern Circuit of Blue Diamond Hill

This adventure begins at the Fossil Canyon parking area outside the Cowboy Horseback Ride operation and heads East (downhill), paralleling Hwy 159 on an equestrian trail which later becomes a mountain bike/hiking trail heading toward Red Rock Campground. The benefit of this little detour is locating the bike route and observing the Eastern side of Blue Diamond Hill from below. Approaching Blue Diamond Hill from the South, we connect with the hill’s trail system and take the Muffin/Bomb Voyage Trail up the Northeast side of Blue Diamond Hill. Once on the upper ridge we angle further East to the Overlook Ridge Trail. After taking another brief detour off trail North on the ridge we reconnect with the Overlook Ridge Trail and take that to the upper radio tower. We then descend West on the Radio Tower Trail. Finally, we cut through the mid-section of Blue Diamond Hill on the Bone Shaker Trail to return to the parking area.

Activity on the Blue Diamond Hill Trail System

Curiously, on this last Saturday of January, I did not see a single mountain bike on the trail system, though there were many tire tracks. This may have been due to a starting temperature of 31 degrees at the trailhead! The horses were also missing on the trails today. However, there were hikers and runners.

Path from Red Rock Campground Area to Blue Diamond Hill

There is a good path that roughly parallels Highway 159 between the Red Rock Campground and Blue Diamond Hill. It appears this pathway is primarily used by foot and mountain bike traffic. One could stay at the campground and tackle the various runs on Blue Diamond Hill by mountain bike over one or more days. As you approach the Cowboy Horseback Riding outfit, circle around the South side of the hill just East (below) the parking area there to access the Blue Diamond Hill trail system. Note that there is an equestrian trail circling the hill. However, it’s possible to stay on a firmer bike trail all the way as long as you bypass the hill to the South (left) between the smaller hill and Blue Diamond Hill.

Connecting with the Blue Diamond Hill Trail System

If you skipped the detour to the East, you could quickly head from the Fossil Canyon parking area on Highway 159 toward Blue Diamond Hill and into the trail system. If you’re circumventing Blue Diamond Hill in a clockwise direction, head for the canyon on the East side of the hill. It’s the closest canyon to the parking area. Stay to your left to ascend Blue Diamond Hill on the Muffin/Bomb Voyage Trail. The trail is excellent, with a gradual incline, though in a few places there are some shallow rocky ledges to navigate. The rapid ascent quickly reveals an expansive view of Red Rock Canyon, the Rainbow Mountains, La Madre Mountain cliffs, Turtlehead Peak and Calico Hills. These views are lit up best during sunrise and early morning hours.

Summiting Blue Diamond Hill’s Eastern Ridgeline

You’ll arrive at a prominent rocky bluff on the beginning of the upper ridgeline summit where views to the East of the Las Vegas Valley, Gass Peak, Muddy Mountains, Frenchman Mountain, Sunrise Mountain and points beyond begin to open up. These views are lit up best during afternoon and sunset hours.

From the Blue Diamond Hill Eastern Ridgeline Summit to the Overlook Ridge Trail

Continue on the Eastern ridge system toward a radio tower that is faintly visible to the South. The ridgeline trail is very good and easy to follow. As you continue, all the views mentioned earlier open up further, along with views into the Mt. Charleston Wilderness (Griffith Peak to Mummy Mountain). You’ll notice another ridgeline further to the East on Blue Diamond Mountain. The trail dips down and crosses over from the ridge you are on to the ridge further East. It’s worth while to go off trail for a bit and head North (left) along the Eastern ridge. There are some spectacular views from the ridge, a beautiful rugged combination of rocks, cliffs and desert plant life and many fossils embedded in the rocks. This is also a place of wilderness solitude. Few, if any, people take the out and back excursion North along this ridge.

Eastern Blue Diamond Hill Ridgeline to the Upper Radio Tower

Eventually, turn back South to retrace your way to the main trail, which now becomes the Overlook Ridge Trail, heading toward the upper radio tower. Watch for impressive pillars along the cliff line during this stretch.

Arrival at the Radio Tower and Choices from There

The radio tower offers perhaps the best expansive 360 degree view from anywhere on Blue Diamond Hill. The Maverick Helicopter operation becomes visible to the South along with the gypsum mining area. If you’re making a wide circuit of Blue Diamond Hill continue South toward the wind sock over Maverick Helicopters before turning West and beginning your descent of Blue Diamond Hill.

Descending Radio Tower Trail to Bone Shaker Trail

On this adventure I headed West straight down from the upper radio tower on the Radio Tower Trail. A bit before the lower radio tower you’ll see a cairn and a trail angling off to the right. This trail will lead to the Bone Shaker Trail which takes you all the way back to your starting point at the parking area on Highway 159.

Experiencing the Bone Shaker Trail

The Bone Shaker Trail cuts through the mid-North/South section of Blue Diamond Hill along a descending ridge between Cowboy Canyon to the West (left) and Skull Canyon to the East (right). The canyons are impressive and the trail is well named. As you reach the Northern area of the ridge, the angle of descent increases and you’ll find yourself descending a rocky slope in many places. To me, it’s impossible to imagine riding a mountain bike, or anything on wheels, down this steep rocky section, but you’ll see mountain bike tracks. “Bone Shaker” is well named! As you progress North along the Bone Shaker Trail, you’re facing spectacular views of Red Rock Canyon and the Keystone Thrust cliffs of the La Madre Mountains Wilderness. Eventually, after the steepest final descent, you’ll reconnect with the lower pathway just South of the Fossil Canyon Trailhead parking area on Highway 159 where you began.  

Summary
Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada
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Eastern Outer Circuit | Blue Diamond Hill, Nevada
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Blue Diamond Hill, on the South end of Red Rock Canyon in Nevada has a great network of multi-use trails including hiking, running, mountain biking and equestrian. We make a wide outer circuit of the Eastern trail system as an initial introduction. The spectacular 360-degree views from Blue Diamond Hill include Red Rock Canyon, the La Madre Mountains, Rainbow Mountains, Las Vegas Valley and much more!
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LasVegasAreaTrails.com
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