Overview | Red Bluff Tower Above Lake Las Vegas, Nevada

Video, Narrative and Slide Guides coming late December 2024.

The Spectacular View from Red Bluff Ridgeline

Between Henderson and Lake Las Vegas there exists a little-known ridgeline with a spectacular view. It’s Red Bluff Ridgeline. To stand on this ridgeline is to experience an eagle’s view of Las Vegas, including one of the best views of the Strip anywhere. But that’s not all. Beyond the Strip is the entire length of the Spring Mountains including the Rainbow Mountains above Red Rock Canyon, the La Madre Mountains and Potosi Mountain. And that’s just to the West. To the East, you’re looking down on Lake Las Vegas, a huge portion of Lake Mead National Recreation Area North of Hoover Dam and points in Arizona including Fortification Hill, Mt. Wilson and its long ridgeline. There’s a lot more to be seen from the awesome vantage point of Red Bluff Ridgeline, but the points just listed are a great start.

The Mysterious Las Vegas Wash

We almost forgot to mention one of the most incredible views from Red Bluff Ridgeline: The Las Vegas Wash. Curiously, this is a 12-mile-long year-round fast flowing river in the desert! And as you ascend Red Bluff Ridgeline, views of the Las Vegas Wash, almost immediately below, rapidly expand. The wash itself has the feel of a remote bird sanctuary. From way above on Red Bluff Ridgeline, you can actually hear the waterfowl talking in the wash below. At first they sound almost like human voices.  

The Las Vegas Wash mysteriously emerges from beneath the desert floor. It spills out, full-blown and roars 12 miles into Lake Las Vegas before continuing on to Lake Mead and ultimately heading down the Colorado River through Black Canyon and beyond.Turns out this mysterious wash, referred to as “The Kidneys of Las Vegas”, empties and cleansa a good portion of the run-off from the Las Vegas Valley including:

• Duck Creek
• Las Vegas Creek
• Flamingo Wash
• Pitman Wash
• Monson Channel
• Sloan Channel
• Meadows Detention Basin
• Tule Springs Wash

The Convenience of Red Bluff Ridgeline’s Location

One of the greatest features of Red Bluff Ridgeline is its convenience to Las Vegas area residents. The entrance point is a nice park, Terraza Park, located on Galleria Drive just a mile from Lake Las Vegas. The park connects with a beautiful network of paved walking and bicycle trails weaving along and around the Las Vegas Wash area. Its convenience makes Red Bluff Ridgeline a great daily workout location.

The Stone Towers on Red Bluff Ridgeline

Speaking of daily workouts, this brings us to the stone towers on Red Bluff Ridgeline. You’ll notice huge stone blocks scattered on and around Red Bluff Ridgeline. The stone blocks look as if they were once the bottom of a lakebed, now broken up and covering the area. These are the building blocks of the towers on Red Bluff Ridgeline. Two towers stand out. On my first ascent of the ridgeline I came across a tall pillar of a stone tower that actually had a summit box you could sign. Over the next six months of daily workouts, adding just a few building blocks each day, I erected the second stone tower on a wide plateau a little further up the ridgeline. The tower’s dimensions are about 15ft high by 40ft wide with four wings pointing to the four compass points and doubling as pathways to the summit of the tower. This was back in 2016 when I’d first arrived from Connecticut and fell in love with the area. 

My Nickname for Red Bluff Ridgeline

During Summer morning workouts I was caught more than once in a thunderstorm on Red Bluff Ridgeline with the lightning and the booming sounds of thunder all around. So, at this time, before I discovered the ridgeline already had a name, I nicknamed it “Lightning Ridge”, a name you’ll hear in the video.

Best Time of Year toBes Ascend Red Bluff Ridgeline 

As with any outdoor activity in the Las Vegas area, you want to avoid the Summer months when temperatures can easily rise to 120 degrees and above. However, mornings and evenings are okay even during the Summer. Fall, Winter and Spring are paradise!

Directions to Trailhead | Red Bluff Tower Above Lake Las Vegas, Nevada

The trailhead starting point at Terraza Park is located on Galleria Drive just a mile West of Lake Las Vegas, Nevada. Galleria Drive can be accessed from Highway 11 in Henderson, exit 64B. 

Narrative Guide | Red Bluff Tower Above Lake Las Vegas, Nevada

Getting Your Bearings

First, get your bearings as you stand in Terraza Park. Notice the Las Vegas Wash flowing in an East/West direction immediately below the park. Identify the large walking bridge crossing the wash to your left (West). Across the wash, above and beyond the bridge further West notice a large volcanic ridgeline. This is Red Bluff Ridgeline. Also notice a well-defined network of asphalt walking/biking trails on both sides of the wash toward and beyond the bridge. The connection to the trail toward the bridge is on the West end of Terraza Park.

From Terraza Park to Red Bluff Ridgeline Trailhead

Now head down the walking path along Las Vegas Wash to the bridge. As you cross the bridge, pause to notice that amazing wash roaring below. The wetlands is truly beautiful. See how many birds, turtles and other creatures you can identify in the wetlands. Cross the bridge, continuing on the asphalt path as it ascends the slope across the wash, circling to the left (West) to continue along and above the wash. Notice the large flat stone blocks scattered on the slope. These flat blocks look like huge pieces of a broken-up ancient lakebed. It appears the area was originnally a flat lake that dried up, then was pushed upward when the surrounding ridges were formed.

Continue along the path as it reaches a high point. Near, and at the high point notice the Red Bluff Ridgeline above to the West. See if you can pick out the two stone towers on the ridgeline. These are your goal. Also, take time to notice the Las Vegas Wash, now stretching out below to your left (South).

From its high point the path begins to descend angling toward the wash below. Where the path levels out closer to the wash, notice an unpaved pathway branching off to the left and heading just above the wash and back to the bridge. Later, on the return trip to Terraza Park, you can take this path, turning your adventure into a large loop. But for now, continue past the unpaved path where soon, on your right, you will see the unmarked Red Bluff Ridgeline trailhead. Some vehicle barrier metal posts and a pathway beyond are the only signs that this is the trailhead.

Red Bluff Ridgeline Trailhead to the Ridgeline Summit

Take a right off the asphalt path to begin ascending the trail beyond the barriers. Soon you’ll notice a trail split. No worries. Both directions lead to the same ridgeline summit approach. I took the right split to add another loop to this adventure. The left split is actually more direct and well-defined. But the right split offers some nice variety. The right split appears to be an old unpaved road. It makes a wide circle, offering expanding views of Lake Las Vegas and beyond during the ascent. Get used to using the large stone blocks as stepping stones. More of that to come!

As you round the first high point, watch for where the two trail splits meet up and then ascend to the ridgeline summit. At the ridgeline summit the views become incredible with the Las Vegas Valley to the West and Lake Las Vegas, Lake Mead and points beyond in Arizona to the East!

Ridgeline Summit to the Stone Towers

Now take a right along the ridgeline summit as the route continues to ascend. There are a couple steep ascent points along the way. There are also a couple narrow stretches with drop-offs to either side. The second narrow stretch can be a bit scary at first as you jump from one huge flat stepping stone to another, wondering is the stone you’re on might dislodge and escort you down the steep slope below! In one place you can actually feel a stone shift as you step on it. All this aside, I’ve found the stones fairly stable. Proceed at your own risk!

Immediately following the second narrow stretch the ridgeline quickly ascends to the first stone tower. I have no idea of the origin or history of this first stone tower, but it’s pretty impressive and commands a spectacular view to the East and West. At one time there was a summit box you could sign. I last saw the summit box about nine years ago during my initial workouts on the Red Bluff Ridgeline. It seems to have disappeared.

The second stone tower is clearly visible beyond on the ridgeline.

The Second Stone Tower

Since I erected the second stone tower, I can give its history and composition. As mentioned earlier, I erected the second stone tower back in 2016. On this, my first return visit it remains in roughly the same condition I left it nine years ago. 

The Central Column

The central column of the tower is a vertical cylander about 12-15ft tall and about 6-7ft in diameter. It’s all made of the surrounding flat lakebed stones, just a few added each day over a six month period. The stones are all angled inward so that the force of the weight leans toward the center of the cylandrical tower creating stability. You can easily stand on the tower summit (again, at your own risk). I left the summit flat nine years ago as a great observation point. In the intervening years people have added additional stones to the summit, increasing its height by a couple feet, but making it harder to stand there on the now wobbly surface. No problem, I’m happy others have added to the tower. My only suggestion is to notice the even construction below and try to angle additional stones inward and keep the top flat as a good observation point.

The Tower Wings

The four wings of the tower point to the four compass points: North, South, East and West. Again, I tried to angle the stones inward for stability. Each wing slopes to the summit, but I never finished the wings. They end about 3 feet below the tower summit, so there’s that last little climb! Not too difficult. You’ll appreciate the stones are angled inward toward the center of the tower helping prevent them from dislodging on you as you ascend the last 3 feet. No guarantees! It’s worked for me. Just be careful!

Return to Terraza Park

Descending the Red Bluff Ridgeline, I took the more established trail (remember the trail split) just below the summit’s final approach. It’s the trail to the right. It’s become far better defined and well-established in the intervening nine years. Upon arriving on the asphalt pathway below, head back toward the bridge, but consider the nice wide unpaved path splitting off to the right and continuing toward the bridge. This path is right above the Las Vegas Wash and will give you the best views of the wash and its surprisingly beautiful and well-populated bird sanctuary. Continue on this alternate path which leads to the bridge and ultimately back to Terraza Park beyond.

A Great Daily Workout

This entire loop adventure to Red Bluff Ridgeline is so convenient to the Las Vegas Metro Area, that it makes a great, interesting daily workout route–a fantastic alternative to walking or running on crowded, noisy city streets.

Potential Extreme Adventures from Red Bluff Ridgeline

I forgot to mention, you can see, and potentially approach Lava Butte and Frenchman Mountain from the Red Bluff Ridgeline. They are clearly visible to the North. In addition, you could make a larger loop of the ridgeline adventure since the ridgeline itself circles around beyond the towers and back down to the Las Vegas Wash. I have not tested out these additional adventures on the Red Bluff Ridgeline, and some of the terrain along the way looks rather extreme. Future adventures for you and I!