By Todd Schacherl
Red Rock Canyon is a jewel that is only 20 minutes from the Las Vegas Strip and has much to offer in the way of hiking, scrambling, biking and climbing.
Turtlehead
This is the most touristy hike in Red Rock and starts from the Sandstone Quarry in Red Rock. It’s about 4 miles round trip, and while the view from the top is the best part of the hike, the hike can be steep and cross scree.
Bridge Mountain
This is the crown jewel of Red Rock Canyon. Depending on where one starts, the hike is anywhere from about 6 miles out and back to 16 miles. Most people take a 4×4 up Rocky Gap Road to the trailhead. From there, it’s about a 6-mile out-and-back trip.
Calico Basin
This is part of the free area of Red Rock and a residential area. There are two areas where most folks start their hikes: Red Springs picnic area and the Kraft Mountain parking lot. There are literally hundreds of scrambling obstacles in this area, but you will probably need to hike with someone who knows where they are going to find them. The adventurous soul can just start climbing and look for fun stuff to do.
Oak Creek
From the Oak Creek parking lot, which is a dirt road and dirt parking lot, the peaks of Oak Creek Peak, Juniper Peak, Rainbow Peak and Gunsight Notch are all accessible. These hikes are not for beginners, and hiking with someone who knows these routes will make them safe and enjoyable.
Pine Creek
There are more than five peaks accessible from this parking lot in Red Rock. If peak bagging is your goal, then hiking with someone who knows the routes is a must. If hiking Fern Canyon, one of the true gems in Red Rock, that is accessible without a guide, but there is some route finding that must be done.
Willow Springs Loop
This area has petroglyphs, mines, springs, stone cabins and several environmental zones in this 7-mile loop hike.
Red Springs
This is in Calico Basin and is very popular for folks who want a short hike and a big bang for your buck. It’s very popular for picnics and barbecues. It has a boardwalk that goes to the Red Spring, as well as some petroglyphs.
First Creek
This trailhead is outside the Red Rock loop and can be a little dicey when it comes to your vehicle. Break-ins do happen here. But the reward is usually there is a lot of water once you traverse the desert approach. There is also a grotto that when full of water is quite the site with a waterfall pouring into a pool.
Kraft Mountain
Kraft Mountain is in the Calico Basin area and the big pink and white mountain to the north. This also has lots of scrambling opportunities, but even the loop around the mountain has a lot to offer. Go clockwise for a tough start up what locals call Hell Hill or Five Stop Hill. Go counterclockwise for a nice easy hike around the mountain. The loop is about 3 miles.
Where to Connect
Finding people for these routes is easier than one might think. Meetup.com, and specifically Meetup.com/VegasHikers, is a great resource to join hikes with folks who know where they are going. There are more than 27,000 members with events of varying degrees of skill levels and multiple events daily. It’s the most active group on Meetup.com. Activities include hiking, scrambling, backpacking, camping, kayaking, canyoneering and climbing. Oh, and it’s free. Just sign up.
