Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
The Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area in Clark County, Nevada, is an area managed by the Bureau of Land Management as part of its National Landscape Conservation System, and protected as a National Conservation Area. It is about 15 miles (24 km) west of Las Vegas, and is easily seen from the Las Vegas Strip. More than three million people visit the area each year.[2]
The conservation area showcases a set of large red rock formations: a set of sandstone peaks and walls which were formed by thrust faults including the Keystone Thrust. The walls are up to 3,000 feet (910 m) high, making them a popular hiking and rock climbing destination. The highest point is La Madre Mountain, at 8,154 feet (2,485 m).
A one-way loop road, 13 miles (21 km) long, provides vehicle access to many of the features in the area. Several side roads and parking areas allow access to many of the area trails. A visitor center is at the start of the loop road. The loop road is also popular for bicycle touring; it begins with a moderate climb, then is mostly downhill or flat.
The Rocky Gap Road in Red Rock Canyon NCA is a side-canyon accessible only by an unmaintained primitive road from the scenic loop which mostly only off-road or high clearance vehicles can access. State Route 159 cuts through an the Cottonwood Valley, also a sidetrail of the Old Spanish trail. The Wilson Cliffs, a massive escarpment, can be seen to the west from SR 159.
Toward the southern end of the National Conservation Area are Spring Mountain Ranch State Park; Bonnie Springs Ranch, which was recently sold (2019) and closed to the public, which includes a replica of a western ghost town; and the town of Blue Diamond.
The Red Rock area has a complex geological history, which over millions of years, helped create the region's dramatic landscape.
The Red Rock area was under an ocean basin during the Paleozoic Era 600 million years ago. Up to 9,000 feet (2,700 m) of limey sediments were deposited and eventually lithified to limestone.[10] During the Mesozoic Era 250 million years ago, the earth's crust started to rise due to tectonic shifts, and marine shales and sandstones were deposited. As the basin became isolated evaporite formations of salt and gypsum were deposited. Oxidation of the iron minerals in the sediments resulted in the red colors of some of the rocks. Deposition by streams and in swamp environments resulted in the formation of petrified wood in the area.[10]
By 180 million years ago, the climate continued to change and the area became a desert with vast expanses of huge shifting sand dunes. These dunes accumulated over a broad area, up to 0.5 miles (0.80 km) thick, and were lithified, cemented with calcium carbonate and iron oxides. They developed as the colorful Aztec Sandstone.[10]
During a mountain-building period called the Laramide orogeny around 66 million years ago, the Keystone Thrust Fault developed. The Keystone is part of a series of thrust faults which ran through much of western North America and through the Red Rock Conservation Area.[11] The movement of this fault forced the older gray sedimentary rock over the younger red rocks, forming the varicolored landscape that can be seen in the mountain today. The thrust is exposed over a distance of 13 miles (21 km) along the Red Rock escarpment.[10]
The Lee Canyon thrust plate may contain over 4,000 ft (1,200 m) of terrigenous rocks at the base. The Wheeler Pass thrust may contain at least 11,000 ft (3,300 m) of these rocks as well.
Moenkopi Loop: Open country trail with Triassic fossils and desert flora. Begins at the visitor center, west of weather monitoring station. There are panoramic view of Wilson Cliffs. Trails connecting to the Calico Hills area. Difficulty: easy. Distance: 2 miles (3.2 km) (loop).
Calico Hills: Runs along base of Calico Rocks, through Calico Basin, to Sandstone Quarry. Accessible from either Calico parking areas. Side trail runs to fee booth parking lot. Difficulty: easy to moderate. Distance: variable (depends on access point).
Calico Tanks: Trail heads north, from Sandstone Quarry, and meets Turtlehead Peak Trail. Trail runs up a side canyon and rock terraces finally ending at a large natural water tank. Difficulty: moderately strenuous (rock scrambling and route finding skills recommended). Distance: 2.5 miles (4.0 km) round trip.
Turtlehead Peak: From Sandstone Quarry, this trail runs north, then continues along the northwest side of the actual Turtlehead Peak. Difficulty: very strenuous. Distance: 5 miles (8.0 km) round trip.
Keystone Thrust: From the upper White Rocks Springs parking lot, the trail runs north. This trail then branches off from the La Madre Springs loop, joins an old jeep road, and continues uphill to the left. Views include the Keystone Thrust Fault where gray limestone meets red and tan sandstone. Difficulty: moderate. Distance: 2.2 miles (3.5 km) round trip.
White Rock to Willow Springs: From the White Rock Springs upper parking lot, the rail runs west and splits to the right down to a man made water hole (guzzler). The trail goes downhill, through a wash, up a ridge, arriving at the Lost Creek area, then Willow Springs. Difficulty: easy to moderate. Distance: 4.4 miles (7.1 km) round trip.
White Rock/La Made Springs Loop: Accessible from either White Rock Springs or Willow Springs, and can be done going either direction. Difficulty: moderate. Distance: 6 miles (9.7 km) round trip.
White Rock Mountain Loop Trail, one of the many trails that can be seen by visitors to Red Rock.
Lost Creek Children's Discovery Trail: Beginning at the Lost Creek parking area, the trail intersects with Willow Springs loop and shares it until the split at Site #3. Continue on the loop, past Site #4, where another path leads to a seasonal waterfall. Difficulty: easy. Distance: .7 miles (1.1 km) round trip.
Willow Springs Loop: From the parking lot, the trail runs south. Views of a pictograph site and Agave roasting pits can be seen. Passing the Lost Creek parking lot, the rail runs right, past Site #3, and on to the Willow Springs Parking Lot. Difficulty: easy. Distance: 1.5 miles (2.4 km) miles round trip.
La Madre Springs: Beginning at the Willow Springs parking lot, take the dirt road west and up the canyon. After crossing a wash, veer right at the split, continue uphill to a dam, follow the trail to the springs. Difficulty: moderate. Distance: 3 miles (4.8 km) round trip.
Smyc Trail: Accessible from the Lost Creek or Ice Box Trail, this one runs at the base of the escarpment and connects both trails. Difficulty: moderate. Distance: 2.2 miles (3.5 km) round trip.
Ice Box Canyon: The trail begins at the parking lot, goes across a wash and toward the canyon, this portion is well defined. It then drops down the canyon, where routing around or over boulders may be required. A ponderosa tree can be found at the official end of the trail but an upper pool filled with seasonal waterfall can be found .25 miles (0.40 km) further. Difficulty: moderately strenuous. Distance: 2.5 miles (4.0 km).
Dale's Trail: This trail can be accessed from either Ice Box Trail or Pine Creek Trail. It follows the terrain at the base of the escarpment and connects the two above mentioned trails. Difficulty: moderate. Distance: (4.4 miles (7.1 km) round trip)
Pine Creek Canyon: From the parking lot, the trail runs downhill toward the canyon. The trail does get intersected at two points by Fire Ecology Trail and Dale's Trail, then forks near Old Wilson homestead foundation. The trail runs left, goes downhill, crosses a stream, then uphill toward an intersection with Arnight Trail. After crossing a wash, the main trail will reemerge on the opposite side of the homestead. Difficulty: moderate. Distance: 2.9 miles (4.7 km) round trip.
Fire Ecology Trail: The entrance and exit to this trail are accessed from the Pine Creek Trail. The trail runs left toward the escarpment, over a bridge and rise, then the second loop is entered. Return across the same bridge. Difficulty: easy. Distance: .75 miles (1.21 km) round trip.
Oak Creek Canyon Trail: This trail originates at the Oak Creek turnoff from the scenic drive loop, there is a parking lot available there. The trail begins in open desert and heads toward the mouth of Oak Creek Canyon. Difficulty: easy. Distance: 2 miles (3.2 km) round trip.
Arnight Trail: From the parking lot, the trail runs toward the escarpment, is intersected by Knoll Trail, then joins Pink Creek Trail just above the loop junction. Difficulty: moderate. Distance: 2.4 miles (3.9 km) round trip.
Knoll Trail: This trail follows the base of the escarpment and connects with First Creek Trail. Difficulty: easy to moderate. Distance: 1.9 miles (3.1 km) one-way. A hike on this trail can be connected with Oak Creek and Arnight Trails for an increase of distance to 3.5 miles (5.6 km) round trip and difficulty increases to moderate.
First Creek Canyon Trail: This trail begins off Charleston Blvd., or State Route 159, 2.6 miles (4.2 km) miles south of the scenic loop. It heads toward the mouth of the canyon, down the left side, then over boulders. Seasonal waterfalls can be seen within the canyon. Difficulty: moderately strenuous. Distance: 2.5 miles (4.0 km) round trip.
Grand Circle Adventure: Originating at the fee booth parking area, this trail runs across several other trails. It heads toward Calico Hills Trail, onto Sandstone Quarry, the White Rock Springs parking lot, down the hill toward Willow Springs, passes over a ridge and across scenic loop drive, then downhill toward the visitor center. Difficulty: strenuous. Distance: 11 miles (18 km) miles round trip.
Escarpment Base Trail: This trail combines SMYC, Dale's, and Arnight trails. It can be accessed from the Lost Creek or Oak Creek parking areas, run one-way or round trip. Difficulty: moderate to strenuous. Distance: 5.2 miles (8.4 km) miles one-way (car pool or shuttle required), 10.4 miles (16.7 km) miles round trip.
Overlook Trail: A paved path leads up a small hill behind a helicopter pad. Views of Red Rock Canyon and the escarpment can be seen. Difficulty: easy (wheelchair accessible). Distance: .25 miles (0.40 km) round trip.
Bridge Mountain Trail: Accessible from the summit of Rocky Gap Road. Difficulty: challenging.
Matthew Ginnow, Matt Ginnow
