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Adventure to occur upcoming Winter or Spring.
This is an outer circuit exploration of Blue Diamond Hill, located on the Southern end of Red Rock Canyon in Nevada.
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.
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, the trails may or may not be marked. So, it may be difficult to define individual trails and loops on your first encounter.
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 parking area outside the Cowboy Trail Rides operation, you’d likely be stopped by fences and signs.
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.
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.
David Smith has devoted the better part of one day each week over the past 20 years to experiencing a mountain trail running adventure. He began in the Pacific Northwest with the Columbia Gorge and Cascade Mountains; then moved to Southern California and experienced the Angeles Crest mountains; then the Northeast where he experienced the Hudson River Valley and Minnewaska; finally in 2016 to Las Vegas where he is experiencing and documenting Red Rock Canyon, the Spring Mountains (Mt. Charleston area), Death Valley and beyond!
Return often to experience one new adventure each week! From the home page scroll to “Most Recent Adventures“. More about David Smith…
The trail adventures on this website require proper conditioning, preparation and safety precautions. There are many factors beyond our control including weather conditions, unstable ground, loose rocks, insects and snakes, people you may encounter, your own level of physical conditioning, the potential of getting lost just to mention a few. While this site offers guidance, helpful tips, direction and training, the reader assumes full responsibility for whatever may occur during their trail adventure. Have fun and be safe!
