Location: Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area

Roundtrip hiking distance: 2 miles

Difficulty: Easy

Water Availability: Seasonaly you will get First Creek

This has been the most wildlife I seen on one hike! Be sure to  click the pictures to enlarge.

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Getting There: This hike is located in the Red Rock Canyon Conservation Area, but is not located on Canyon Scenic Drive. From the northern part of the Las Vegas Valley take the 215 to Charleston Boulevard. Head west for 5 miles to the entrance for Red Rock Canyon. Pass the entrance and drive 4.3 miles to the First Creek parking lot on the right side of the road. You are there, the trailhead is at the parking area. As far as you coming from the southern part of the Valley, take I-15 to the Nevada Highway 160 exit (Blue Diamond Road). Head west on Highway 160 for 10 miles, then turn right onto Nevada Highway 159. Drive 6.3 miles past Blue Diamond to the parking lot for First Creek, on the left side of the road.

Who can resist a break from the desert, and relax by an oasis of green shade trees, a creek running nearby (with seasonal waterfalls), I tell its where alot of wildlife like to come and relax. The hike to the falls you first trek over open desert and in terrain that is perfect for burros to hang out. So keeping an eye out for the the residence, they are wild. The falls are seasonal so plan your trip after mountain storms or during spring runoff for best results, if you are going for the waterfalls.

After hiking the well marked trail through the desert toward the sandstone cliffs. There is a drainage wash to the north (right) that the trail eventually decends into before reaching the falls. Keeping an eye out for Bighorn Rams amongst the cliffs would be a good idea for the ones looking for wildlife. So be sure to bring a pair of binoculars for good close up views of these wild creatures, and remember they can be territorial and they have a much harder head than I do so keep a reasonable distance.

Follow the trail across little hills and valleys as it nears the sandstone bluffs ahead. Just shy of 1 mile into the hike, the trail begins to near the wash on the north (right). Watch for a small dirt trail that veers in that direction. Follow to the wash, a good reference point to look for is a band of brown rock that crosses the wash. Water will drop over this rock and fall 20 feet down - the waterfall. I got there with no waterfall, but thats when I started to see the rams and ventured the south ridge of the canyon on the way back to the car.

But the weather was fairly mild and a stream trickling so the pools was there, that with the shade and relaxing sounds of the birds chirpping could make this portion anyones absolute favorite. So bring a lunch and soak up the surroundings. After enjoying the tranquility, this is the end of the designated trail, However the hike can be extended into the canyon. Rock scrambling required.

So hiking back I also see two rabbits that kept poking in and out of site, sometimes jumping up to three feet in the air, playing with one another. I never got the ability to snap at the right time so no pictures on them. But the Birds, lizards, insects, rams, and burro’s all in the wild and in 2 easy miles. Not to forget seeing the climbers desend the cliff.

I rate this as the most tranquil spot for anyone that needs to get away. This would definatly be enjoyable as a sunset hike however I wanted to do another trail today as well so I went to Lone Mountain.

Tags: bighorn, canyons, distances, green, head, heads, Hiking, mountain, mountaineering, national, park, rocks, trail, trailhead, trailheads, trees, trek, water, waterfalls