Red Rock Canyon KEYSTONE VISITOR GUIDE NATIONAL conservation area

Red Rock by Car

It’s not called the Scenic Drive for nothing... Welcome to Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area! Whether Please remember: you are hiking, rock climbing or just enjoying the scenery along the • Maximum speed limit is 35 mph – Please regard all posted signs. Scenic Drive, Red Rock Canyon has some of the best sights and • Share the road – Help keep you and your fellow motorists, bicy- experiences the Mojave Desert has to offer. The 13-mile Scenic clists, runners and wildlife safe. Drive offers several overlooks, parking areas and picnic areas to • Only park in designated lots – If a lot is full, please do not park off enjoy. Plan your route carefully, as the scenic drive is a one-way only the road or atop vegetation as many plants can take decades to roadway. If you miss your intended stop, don’t worry – your amenity regrow if they come back at all. fee is good for the full day and you are welcome to re-enter at the fee booth. • Have fun, be safe and enjoy your drive!

Photo: Red Rock Canyon NCA by Bureau of Land Management

If you are looking for more information, please stop by the visitor center to view exhibits, pick up more handouts and talk with staff about how you can make your visit more special. Once you get home, take a peek at our website – www.blm.gov/site-page/rrcnca.

Desert Safety Tips

Search and rescue incidents are an unfortunate but regular occur- rence in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. The Mojave Desert is an extreme environment subject to intense heat in the summer, and very cold temperatures in the winter especially during windy conditions or at higher altitudes. Your safety is your responsibility. Please read the important safety tips below: Let friends or family members know where you are going and headache, immediately get out of the sun and drink plenty of what time you expect to be back. Don’t rely on cell phones water. Dampen your clothing to lower your body temperature. during your visit as coverage in the area can be unreliable or Protective gear non-existent, especially within canyons. Leave your valuables at For hiking, select shoes that will provide a comfortable fit, ankle home. If you leave your car, take your purse or backpack with stability and protection against cactus spines. Wear clothes that you and lock your doors. Never leave valuables in plain sight provide protection against the sun (i.e. hats, loose, lightweight where they may tempt someone to break into your vehicle. long sleeves and pants, etc.) and apply sunscreen. Desert dwellers Flash Floods Watch where you put your hands and feet. Rattlesnakes, Flash flooding is a greater risk at Red Rock Canyon due to the scorpions or venomous spiders may be sheltered behind boulders smooth porous sandstone – even a relatively small amount of or under rocks and shrubs. Do not touch, collect, feed or harass rain can result in a flash flood. If it begins to rain heavily, steer these animals. clear of canyons and ravines and seek safety on higher ground to What’s Inside Water wait out the rain. Do not drive or cross over flooded roadways. Drink at least one gallon (four liters) per day if you are hiking, Lightning [2] Non-profit Partners, Rock Climbing, the day is hot or the trail is exposed to direct sunlight. Carry Passes Lightning storms frequently occur in the afternoon during the at least one gallon of extra water per person in your vehicle. summer months. To prevent lightning from striking you, avoid Bottled water is available for purchase at the visitor center. high places and seek cover in buildings or in vehicles with the [3] Hike Trail Descriptions, This is the only location where drinking water is available at Hike Ratings windows rolled up. If caught outdoors, crouch down on both feet Red Rock Canyon. with your arms wrapped around your knees and wait out the [4] Hiking Map, Additional Information, Heat storm. Hours Temperatures in Red Rock Canyon can average more than steep cliffs 100 degrees Fahrenheit during the summer months. The best Falls from cliffs have resulted in death. Loose sand or pebbles protection against heat is drinking plenty of water and limiting Photo: Indigobush (Psorothamnus fremontii) on stone are slippery. Never throw rocks; there may be hikers by Kate Sorom exposure to the sun. If you feel dizzy, nauseous or get a below you. a public land administered by the Bureau of Land Management Non-profit Partners Page [2] Charitable License Plate Shop for Red Rock If you’re a resident, you can show While you are visiting, be sure to stop in to you support the programs and services the gift shop located within the visitor center. offered at the National Conservation Your purchase supports a wide variety of Area by purchasing the Red Rock Canyon programs at Red Rock Canyon. 100% of the license plate. proceeds from your tax-free purchase help Friends of Red Rock Canyon, a volunteer 501 (c)(3) organization, support activities like free guided hikes, receives $25 the first year when you purchase your plate and $20 school field trips, maintenance of exhibits when you renew. This tax-deductible donation helps fund graffiti and signage, community outreach and much more. We appreciate removal, trails maintenance, educational field trips and more. your visit! The process is easy: go to the nearest Nevada Department of The gift shop at Red Rock Canyon is operated by Southern Nevada Motor Vehicles with your registration, photo ID and your old license Conservancy, a 501 (c)(3) non-profit partner of Red Rock Canyon. plate. The charge to switch to the new plate is $61 with a one-time processing fee of $5. Your normal renewal date will stay the same with plate renewals costing $30. Rock Climbing at Red Rock

With more than 2,000 climbing routes, Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is one of the top five climbing destinations in the United States. There are two wilderness areas in the conservation area: Rainbow Rain, Rain Go Away Mountain Wilderness and la Madre Mountain Wilderness. All Sandstone becomes extremely brittle when wet and climbing of the major canyons in Red Rock Canyon are in the Rainbow wet sandstone poses an increased risk to climbers from Mountain Wilderness and all of the climbing routes located on dangerous breakoffs and injury resulting from rockfalls. It is White Rock Mountain and many crags near Kraft Mountain are best practice to wait 24-48 hours after rain before climbing, so within the la Madre Mountain Wilderness. New, bolted, fixed that the sandstone can thoroughly dry. If rain is forecasted for anchors and/or protection bolts cannot be installed anywhere your trip, consider the limestone sport crags that are located in within the National Conservation Area. Red Rock or other climbing sites around Las Vegas. Climbing Permits

� Late Exit permits (LE) provide an additional two hours � Overnight permits (ON) are only available for routes on of climbing time after the normal closure of the scenic the following walls: Mt. Wilson (1-2 nights), Levitation drive. These permits are for multi-pitch routes and are Wall (1 night), Rainbow Wall (1-2 nights), buffalo only available for the following areas: Angel Food Wall, Wall (1-3 nights), Hidden Wall (1-3 nights) and Bridge Ice Box Canyon, Juniper Canyon, Pine Creek Canyon and Mountain (1 night). Camping is not permitted at the Oak Creek Canyon. base of any route.

TO ObTAIN A late exIT OR OVernigHT Permit, CAll ˆˆName and telephone number [702] 515-5050. You may call up to seven days in advance or ˆˆType of permit, LE or ON, and climbing date(s) as late as the day of your climb. If your message is not clear, you ˆˆVehicle plate number and state will not receive a permit and you may receive a citation. Same- ˆˆVehicle description day permits are not issued after 4:30 p.m. For your safety and to ˆˆClimbing route/wall and where you will park receive a permit, the following information must be included in ˆ your message: ˆEmergency contact name and phone number

Please note: Certain types of activities are prohibited, such as target shooting. Many activities require a permit. These activities include, but are not limited to: overnight or late night exits; providing commercial services, sponsoring commercial and noncommercial guided tours, and commercial filming. Call [702] 515-5350 for more info.

Passes

 Daily pass: $7 Daily passes for Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area are valid for the entire day, to include re-admittance to the Scenic Loop Drive.  Red Rock Annual Pass: $30 Yearly pass for Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. Does not include overnight stays in the developed campground.  America the Beautiful annual Pass: $80 The America the Beautiful pass is an interagency pass that will be honored by the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management and Bureau of Reclamation. Does not include stays in the developed campground  America the Beautiful Senior Pass: Price of Senior Pass going to $80, buy it now for $10 Lifetime pass for U.S. citizens who are 62 and older to national parks, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Wildlife Refuges, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Reclamation and Bureau of Land Management sites. Pass provides 50 percent discount on campground fees.  America the Beautiful Access Pass: Free Lifetime pass for U.S. citizens with a permanent disability to national parks, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Wildlife Refuges, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Reclamation and Bureau of Land Management sites. Pass provides 50 percent discount on campground fees.  America the Beautiful Military Annual Pass: Free Yearly pass available for active duty military and their dependents that will be honored by the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Bureau of Reclamation. Does not include stays in the developed campground.  Every Kid In a Park! Annual Pass: Free 4th graders and their guests receive free access to federal lands and waters for one year. Visit www.EveryKidInAPark.gov to complete an online activity, and download a personalized paper voucher. The paper voucher also can be exchanged for a more durable, Interagency Annual 4th Grade Pass at certain federal lands or waters sites.

Photo: The Climb by Christine Rasmussen Red Rock Canyon Page [3]

Photo: Bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis nelsoni) by Gregory Mclemor

Hiking Trail Descriptions trail name level of difficulty and gain approximate round-trip time and distance 1. Moenkopi Easy 300 ft [90 m] 1.5 hours • 2 mi [3.2 km] This trail starts to the west of the visitor center near the picnic area. It offers panoramic views of the Calico Hills, the and La Madre Mountains. 2. Calico Hills Easy - Moderate 400 ft [120 m] 1.5 - 3.5 hours • 2 - 6 mi [3.2 - 9.6 km] This trail can be accessed by parking at either Calico I, Calico II, the visitor center or Sandstone Quarry. This trail offers access to sport climbing areas and the best close-up views of the Calico Hills. 3. Calico Tanks Moderate 450 ft [140 m] 2 hours • 2.5 mi [4 km] This trail starts at the Sandstone Quarry parking lot. It winds through a wash and there may be seasonal water present in a natural tank [tinaja] at the end. 4. Turtlehead Peak Strenuous 2,000 ft [600 m] 3.5 - 4.5 hours • 5 mi [8 km] Beginning at the Sandstone Quarry parking lot, follow the trail across the wash and through the sandstone rock formations and up the gulch toward a prominent rock formation at the saddle. Once you are above the rock formation, the trail splits, forming a loop that takes you to the summit and brings you back to the rock formation. 5. Keystone Thrust Moderate 400 ft [120 m] 1.5 hours • 2.2 mi [3.5 km] This trail is accessed from the upper White Rock parking lot. It takes you to the most significant geologic feature of Red Rock Canyon - the Keystone Thrust. 6. White Rock - Willow Spring Easy - Moderate 200 ft [60 m] 2.5 hours • 4.4 mi [7 km] This trail starts at either the upper White Rock parking lot or at the Willow Spring Picnic Area. Watch for wildlife that rely on these year-round springs. 7. Grand Circle Loop Moderate - Strenuous 1,095 ft [334 m] 5 - 6 hours • 11.3 mi [18.2 km] The Grand Circle Loop trail is a combination of trails that will take you from one point and bring you back to that point. You may start this trail from five different points, but we recommend you start it from the visitor center. See the Information Desk for a detailed description. 8. White Rock / La Madre Spring Loop Strenuous 890 ft [270 m] 3.5 hours • 6 mi [9.6 km] This trail can be started at three places: the upper White Rock parking lot, the Lost Creek Trail parking lot or Willow Spring Picnic Area. The north side of White Rock is one of the best areas for viewing bighorn sheep. You can connect to the La Madre Spring Trail to see a year-round spring. 9. Willow Spring Loop Easy - Moderate 200 ft [60 m] 1.25 hours • 1.5 [2.4 km] This trail can be started at either the Willow Spring Picnic Area or Lost Creek Trail parking lot. The trail passes several pictograph and agave roasting pit sites. 10. La Madre Spring Moderate 400 ft [120 m] 2 hours • 3.3 mi [5.2 km] This trail starts at the Willow Spring Picnic Area. The first segment involves walking up part of the 4x4 Rocky Gap Road. These springs are a good place to watch for wildlife, including desert bighorn sheep. 11. Petroglyph Wall Trail Easy 26 ft [7.9 m] 30 minutes • .15 mi [.24 km] The trail starts across from the Willow Spring picnic area near the Juniper fence turn around. The Petroglyph Wall is across the wash adjacent to a large Juniper tree. 12. North Peak Strenuous 2,442 ft [744 m] 5 hours • 10 mi [16 km] Starting at the Willow Spring parking lot, proceed up Rocky Gap Road to the summit and take the Trail to the North Peak junction 1.10 miles. When you get to the summit, enjoy the view and then follow your tracks back down to Willow Spring. 13. Bridge Mountain Strenuous 2,412 ft [744 m] 6 - 7 hours • 14 mi [22.5 km] The trail begins at the Willow Spring parking lot; from there proceed up Rocky Gap Road to the summit and take the Bridge Mountain Trail to Bridge Mountain. There is a class four rock scramble that must be traversed to get to the peak. See the Information Desk for a detailed description. 14. Lost Creek - Children’s Discovery Easy - Moderate 200 ft [60 m] 55 minutes • 0.75 mi [1.2 km] This moderately easy trail is a wonderful place to explore because of the variety of plant life and a number of cultural sites. Depending on the season, there may be a waterfall [based on recent rain or snow pack.] Also look for a pictograph and an agave roasting pit site. [Combination rocky, uneven terrain and boardwalk trail.] 15. SMYC Moderate 300 ft [90 m] 2 hours • 2.2 mi [3.5 km] This trail can be accessed from either the Lost Creek or Ice Box Canyon trails. It follows the terrain at the base of the escarpment and connects the two trails. 16. Ice Box Canyon Strenuous 300 ft [90 m] 2 hours • 2.6 mi [4.1 km] The parking lot for this trail is at mile 8 on the 13-Mile Scenic Drive. This trail crosses open desert then enters the canyon. To access the canyon requires some tricky boulder hopping all the way to the back where you may find a waterfall based on recent rain or snow pack. 17. Dale’s Moderate 300 ft [90 m] 2.5 hours • 4.4 mi [7 km] This trail can be accessed from either the Ice Box Canyon or Pine Creek Canyon trails. It follows the terrain at the base of the escarpment and connects the two trails. 18. Pine Creek Canyon Easy - Moderate 300 ft [90 m] 2 hours • 3 mi [4.8 km] This trail takes you across the open desert, past an old homestead site and into the meadow. A one mile loop will bring you back to the homestead. From there, follow the trail for one mile back to the parking lot. 19. Fire Ecology Easy 200 ft [60 m] 55 minutes • 0.75 mi [1.2 km] This trail branches off the Pine Creek Canyon Trail. It is a short, figure eight trail that goes through a stand of Ponderosa Pine where a prescribed fire took place. 20. Arnight Moderate 300 ft [90 m] 1.5 hours • 2.4 mi [3.8 km] This trail can be started at the Oak Creek Canyon parking lot or by hiking the Pine Creek Canyon Trail. It connects the Oak Creek parking lot with the end loop of the Pine Creek Canyon Trail. 21. Knoll Moderate 300 ft [90 m] 2.5 hours • 3.5 mi [5.6 km] The shortest and easiest way to access this trail is by taking the Oak Creek Canyon Trail. This trail links the upper section of the Arnight Trail with the Oak Creek Canyon Trail, following the base of the escarpment. 22. Oak Creek Canyon Easy - Moderate 200 ft [60 m] 1.5 hours • 2 mi [3.2 km] From the Scenic Loop Drive, turn onto the dirt road leading to the Oak Creek parking lot and start the trail from there. The Oak Creek trail heads through open desert and is a good wildflower viewing site during the spring. 23. Oak Creek Cutoff Easy 187 ft [57 m] 3 hour • 4 mi [6.4 km] From the trail head off SR-159 at mile marker 8; walk through the opening in the fence and follow the trail across the open desert toward the escarpment and the juncture of the Oak Creek Trail. 24. South Oak Creek Easy 331 ft [101 m] 3.5 hour • 5 mi [8 km] From Old Oak Creek trail head located off SR-159, walk down the old campground road to the trail head sign. Proceed through the tree line and into the open desert. The trail loops around Potato Knoll and returns to the trail head in approximately five miles. 25. First Creek Canyon Easy - Moderate 300 ft [90 m] 2 hours • 3 mi [4.8 km] This trailhead is on SR-159 [W. Charleston Blvd.] 2.6 miles [4.1 km] southwest of the exit to the 13-Mile Scenic Drive. The trail leads to the mouth of the canyon. Seasonal streams may be seen flowing through the trees from the trail. 26. Kraft Boulders Easy 50 ft [15.2 m] 1 hour • 1.5 mi [2.4 km] From Ash Spring to Kraft Rocks the trail crosses a ravine and the rocks are visible. HIKING RATINGS - Ratings are based on the general ability of a person who hikes frequently. Your ability may differ from the ratings standard used at Red Rock Canyon. Difficulty may also be affected by weather, the condition and steepness of the trail, having enough water and your physical condition on a given day, among other things.

EASY: Minimal uphill MODERATE: Uphill sections STRENUOUS: Generally, sections and some include up to 500 feet of lots of uphill sections (and uneven terrain. elevation gain; single digit later downhill); possibly mileage; uneven terrain and more than 1,000 feet of some rock scrambling. elevation gain; double digit mileage and/or difficult terrain and rock scrambling.

Keystone Visitor’s Guide Hiking Map Page [4]

8 Keystone La Madre Thrust 4 Spring 5 Turtlehead 10 High Point Peak Overlook White Rock ele. 4,771ft (1,445m)

Rocky Willow Spring 6 3 Gap Picnic Area Kraft Boulders Road 26 Petroglyph Calico 11 9 Tanks Wall Trail 7 Ash Spring Grand Circle Loop 2 14 (1, 2, 6) Calico II Lost 15 Creek Red Spring/ Scenic Calico I Calico Basin 16 To Las Ice Box Vegas Canyon 2 17 Red Rock 12 North Wash Overlook 1 To Lovell Peak Canyon 13 VISITOR CENTER Bridge Mountain Drive Red Rock FEE (one way road) ele. 3,720ft (1,127m) Campground 18 STATION Pine Creek 13 mi (20.9 km) Canyon 19

Red Rock Overlook Cowboy Trail Rides 20 21 Scenic Drive Exit 22 Oak Creek 23 Cutoff Oak Creek Canyon South Oak 24 Creek 159

Camping Area Picnic Area Wheelchair Access First Creek 25 Canyon Restrooms

Parking Scenic Drive Hiking Trails Spring Mountain Dirt Roads Ranch State Park 4x4, high clearance road To Blue Diamond Bonnie Springs Ranch MAP NOT TO SCALE

Red Rock Canyon Contact Information Additional Information www.blm.gov/site-page/rrcnca Emergency or Fire hours of operation [702] 293-8932 or 911  Visitor Center 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. BLM Southern Nevada District Office  [702] 515-5000 13-Mile Scenic Drive, Red Rock Overlook on State Route 159 and Red Spring Red Rock/Sloan Admin Office November - February 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. [702] 515-5350 March 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Climbing Permits April - September 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. [702] 515-5050 October 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Gift & Book Store [702] 515-5379 Friends of Red Rock Canyon [702] 515-5360 Red Rock Campground friendsofredrockcanyon.org Southern Nevada Conservancy Hikes The campground is open seasonally Labor Day – Memorial Day and is accessible 24 hours a day. Individual [702] 515-5367 and RV/Group campsites are available on a first come, first serve basis. There are no day-use sites. For more redrockcanyonlv.org information visit recreation.gov. BLM/NV/LV/GI/12-15+1800

Red Rock Canyon