Red Springs Desert Oasis at the base of the Calico Hills in Calico Basin, Nevada, is an amazing hike nearly everyone can enjoy. The amazing part is the lush, spring-fed vegetation in the midst of a surrounding desert. There’s a half-mile board walk, wheel-chair accessible, that brings the entire oasis within easy reach. Both the elderly and families with toddlers can easily enjoy this desert oasis experience.
If you’re a serious walker, the boardwalk makes a great alternative to walking on boring asphalt neighborhood roads. You could do laps and extend your walk for a few miles.
Red Springs Desert Oasis makes for a great starting point for additional adventures in the Calico Basin and Red Rock Canyon. At the base of the beautiful painted Calico Hills there’s a view that extends for miles across the desert. You’re also at the unmarked trailheads for The Grand Staircase of Calico Hills. Some additional outstanding adventures from this point include:
From Hwy 215 in the Summerlin area, take the Charleston Blvd exit, turn upward (West) on Charleston Blvd, toward the mountains. Charleston Blvd becomes Blue Diamond Rd. (Hwy 159) as you leave the city. Take the Calico Basin exit off Hwy 159 (right turn) onto Calico Basin Road. Continue on Calico Basin Road about 1/2-mile to Red Springs Desert Oasis parking, picnic and trailhead area. Park at the Red Springs Desert Oasis parking area (primitive restrooms, nice picnic grounds available). Note: If you’re going on an extended hike, they close the gate locking all remaining cars in at 8:00pm, so in that case park outside the gate.
The well-developed Red Springs Desert Oasis Boardwalk begins at the picnic area. As you head up the nice ramp, take time to read the attractive interpretive displays both on the ramp and along the half-mile boardwalk loop above. Notice the huge trees in the Red Springs Desert Oasis area, very uncharacteristic of a desert environment. These are:
The huge meadow in the center of the boardwalk loop is populated primarily by Desert Saltgrass.
This brief well-signed boardwalk is actually a great introduction to some of the varieties of vegetation you’ll find elsewhere in the Calico Hills, in the Eastern Rainbow Mountains Canyons, and throughout the Mojave Desert. These varieties thrive where there is a spring-fed water supply.
As you stroll along the boardwalk you’ll also see beautifully etched sandstone boulders and even a petroglyph boulder.
Enjoy this peaceful, very accessible boardwalk within 5 miles of the Las Vegas Metro Area. You’ll want to return often for a picnic or a desert walk! Â
