Turtlehead Peak with a Twist | Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, Nevada
View detailed directions and a video for hiking from the Sandstone Quarry parking area in Red Rock Canyon, NCA to the summit of Turtlehead Peak, along with tips. Also find directions for a cool alternate route to the summit. The alternate route is why this is called Turtlehead Peak with a “Twist”.
Calico Tanks | Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, Nevada
View detailed directions and a video for this artistically beautiful 5mi out and back hike to a large pond surrounded by sandstone cliffs and a spectacular viewpoint at the trail summit.
Keystone Thrust Summit from Willow Spring | Red Rock Canyon, Nevada
Summit the Keystone Thrust from Willow Spring in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. Touch Two Additional Wilderness Areas: Rainbow Mountain Wilderness and La Madre Mountains Wilderness. Route goes along the North side of White Rock Mountain, up to La Madre Spring, past Miner’s Cabin and on to Keystone Thrust summit.
Juniper Peak | Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, Nevada
If you’re looking to climb your first peak in the Rainbow Mountains, Juniper Peak is a good start. Many of the surrounding peaks dwarf it in comparison: Mt. Wilson; Rainbow Mountain; Bridge Mountain. Experience all the beauty and challenge of a Jurassic Era Aztec red rock peak in the Rainbow Mountains of Nevada. When you are facing Juniper Peak there appear to be 3 routes from the Red Rock Park side: Two narrow chutes to the left and what looks like a more gradual approach to the right. I ended up selecting the middle of these routes – the right chute of the two chutes to the left. Hindsight says that the easier, and likely the more traditional route is the more gradual climb up the slope on the right (just before Pine Creek Canyon). Route Description: 8.7 mi/ 3,909 > 6,109ft; **Some Trails, Some Wilderness** Click image or title above for more…
Middle Oak Creek Trail in Red Rock Canyon, Nevada
The videos on this page are an example of rains and flash floods in the desert. I recorded water cascading down canyon walls in the Rainbow Mountains of Nevada. It wasn’t a major life-threatening flash flood, but enough to get an idea how quickly things can change in the desert during a storm. Route Details: 4 miles RT; 300ft elevation gain; **Mostly wilderness, few trails.** Click image or title above for more…
Bonnie Springs Ranch | Red Rock Canyon
In mid-March of 2019, after about 45 years of operation, Bonnie Springs Ranch and it’s Old Nevada replica mining town, just West of Red Rock National Park, closed down. We feature Bonnie Springs Ranch here not because it is a hiking destination, but rather a long-time fixture in Red Rock Canyon. Click image or title above for more…
La Madre Mountain Eastern Approach from Red Rock Park, Nevada
The Eastern approach route will begin following the same path as the Southern approach route starting at the Sandstone Quarry parking area (Turtlehead Peak trailhead). From there head up Red Rock Wash and circle around the upper end of the Turtlehead Peak ridge system into Calico Basin, cross the upper Calico Basin, circle around the East end of the Keystone Trust and finally ascend the North side of La Madre Mountain.
It’s important to note that as with the other routes up La Madre Mountain, this route is quite the marathon and the most limiting factor will be enduring the distance and altitude gain. Image: Damsel Peak from La Madre Mt. East approach. Route description: 28 mi / 4306-8000ft; *Wilderness, No Trail* Click image or title above for more…
La Madre Mountain Southern Approach from Red Rock Canyon | La Madre Mountains Wilderness, Nevada
La Madre Mountain is 8,154ft in elevation. It is the highest central feature of the Keystone Thrust, the cliff system that spans the rear area of Red Rock Park in Nevada. The La Madre Mountain Southern approach, from a distance, looks impossible as you’re facing a sheer cliff wall between 1000 and 2000 feet high. However, as you approach the base of the cliff from Calico Basin it’s evident that there is a passage between the two peaks. The summit view is amazing featuring Las Vegas Valley with Lake Mead across and to the East, Gass Peak and the Sheep Range to the North, spectacular views of Mt. Charleston Wilderness to the East and the awesome total expanse of Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area and Calico Basin to the Southwest. Route details: 22 mi / 4306-8000ft; *Wilderness, No Trail* Click image or title above for more…
Kraft Mountain Loop | Calico Basin | Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, Nevada
Kraft Mountain Loop circles the base of Kraft Mountain located in the Calico Basin, Nevada (last turn-off before Red Rock Park). During this 3.5 mile loop you will experience navigating colorful Jurassic era frozen sand dune formations, incredible vistas of the surrounding area and some class 2-3 scrambling up and down sandstone ledges in a desert wash. It’s highly recommended that you undertake this adventure on a Fall, Winter or Spring day to avoid excessive Summer temperatures that can exceed 115 degrees. And, do not attempt this under wet conditions (rain, snow) because the sandstone you will need to traverse and climb can become as slick as ice! Route description: **3.5 Miles, 3,710 – 4,299ft Elevation ** Click image or title above for more…
Kraft Mountain – Gateway Canyon Loop | Calico Basin | Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, Nevada
On this day I intentionally set out to head up Gateway Canyon thinking it might be a short cut to Damsel Peak. Wrong! Between figuring out the best way to navigate 10-15 class 3 and class 3 barriers, I ate up so much time that I decided to just make a large loop out of Gateway Canyon, continuing all the way to Brownstone Basin at the base of Damsel Peak, and then taking Brownstone Basin down to a cross-over point back to Kraft Mountain. Many hikers have mistakenly taken this route thinking they are on the Kraft Mountain Loop. I made this very mistake on my first attempt to do the Kraft Mountain Loop! In fact, during today’s adventure, I redirected 2 groups of appreciative hikers back to the Kraft Mountain Loop. Here’s how that error happens… Route details: Approx . (12 mi.) | 3,700-5,400ft Elevation; **Some Trail, Mostly Wilderness** Click image or title above for more…
