Take advantage of Las Vegas’ golden season for scenic trails

Expert tips • From Jim Boone: “Maps, available at most outdoor stores and sometimes for free on the internet, are paramount for always having a sense of where you are and how to navigate. Less vital but still good to have? A whistle, in the event you lose the group, and a signal mirror, which can be helpful to Search and Rescue planes.” • From Branch Whitney, entrepreneur and hiking geek: “Always hike in groups of at least four. If someone is hurt, one person can attend to the injured hiker, while two more can seek help. Hikers should always tell someone where they’re hiking and when they’ll be home, and carry a cellphone (most peaks around the Las Vegas Valley now have service).”

Before you go, gather these essentials • Maps • Compass • Sunglasses and sunscreen • Extra food and water • Protective clothing, such as a hat, mittens, sweater and rain gear • Waterproof matches or a lighter • Candle to help start a fire • Pocket knife • First-aid kit

One foot on a slab of sandstone, the other in a pile of limestone gravel, ecologist Jim Boone surveys the landscape, snapping pictures from the peak of the Kraft Mountain Loop Trail in Red Rock Canyon.

The guru of birdandhike.com — viewed by some as the digital bible for hiking around the valley — has been writing about trails in the region and advocating for their use since moving to Las Vegas over 20 years ago.

“These lands are owned by the public, people like you and me,” he said. “They’re here for our use.”

Boone has hiked just about all of the nearly 1,000 trails in the area, although he’ll never claim he has seen it all. Between the rocky desert routes in Red Rock’s Calico Basin, the tree-lined treks up Mount Charleston and the picturesque paths surrounding Lake Mead, hiking options here are “uncommon.”

Vegas Valley Rim Trail: The trail project surrounding Las Vegas

The 113-mile vision of the Vegas Valley Rim Trail is an unbroken loop around the valley’s perimeter. In the works since the 1990s, the project has been adopted by the cities of Las Vegas, Henderson and North Las Vegas as well as Clark County, and it’s supported by agencies like the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, Southern Nevada Regional Planning Coalition and the Regional Transportation Commission.

The Outside Las Vegas Foundation has long been its facilitator, and director Mauricia Baca has seen key pieces take shape despite limited funds and the challenge of input coming from so many stakeholders. Examples include the Las Vegas Wash Trail, taking users 35 miles from North Las Vegas to Henderson’s Wetlands Park, and the 35-mile River Mountains Loop, which cuts through the outskirts of Boulder City and Henderson and around the west side of Lake Mead.

However, since the 2014 completion of a 3-mile bridge over Interstate 15 on the Wash Trail, not much has been done. Baca said progress had been slowed by the fact that 10 agencies — on federal, state and local levels of government — as well as private coalitions and nonprofits had been working to find common ground and funding to craft the valley’s largest trail. “It would truly be a long-distance trail that connects residents of the valley with our federal lands by something other than streets,” she said.

Given the remaining breaks in the proposed “marquee” pathway around the bowl of Las Vegas, Baca is hoping for completion by 2027.

“The ultimate goal is for the Vegas Valley Rim Trail to wind up, literally and figuratively, linking our other trail systems and communities together,” she said.

HISTORIC RAILROAD TUNNEL TRAIL

Level: Easy

Where: Lake Mead National Recreation Area, accessible from the Alan Bible Visitor Center or the Hoover Dam parking garage

distance: 4.4 miles

Best time of year: While the trail is pleasant during the winter months and perfect for most of spring and fall, a sign at the trailhead reads “Heat Kills,” urging hikers to stay off from June to September.

About the trail: Colorful basalt, granite and volcanic-ash peaks, dating back as far as 12 million years, encircle this nearly flat walk overlooking Lake Mead and weaving through five old railroad tunnels through volcanic ridges.

Once the foundation of a train track delivering pipe and construction equipment to builders of the Hoover Dam, the trail has since been stripped of its tracks, leaving a fine gravel path and five tunnels blasted through the mountains and reinforced with wood and concrete.

Bighorn sheep and coyotes can often be spotted standing on surrounding mountainsides and rocky ridges. And wildlife is plentiful inside the dark tunnels, as migratory Mexican free-tailed bats and canyon wrens make their homes there from May to October. On the ground, side-blotched lizards scurry through the gravel.

Given the historical remnants, wildlife, scenery and lack of elevation gain, this is a great hike for families. But with cyclists and runners speeding through, the trail can be crowded with people traveling at different speeds. Veering off can prove dangerous, Boone said, with hillside drop-offs tumbling dozens of feet.

“It’s fine for families,” he said, “as long as everybody stays on the trail.”

KRAFT MOUNTAIN LOOP

Level: Moderate

Where: Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. The trailhead is not accessible by Scenic Loop Drive; instead, from West Charleston Boulevard, turn right toward Calico Basin, then drive to the end of the pavement and the Sandstone Road Trailhead.

distance: 3.25 miles

Best time of year: Kraft Mountain is best during the cooler months of spring and fall. If you hike during the summer, the earlier the better (starting out no later than 8 a.m.) for avoiding both crowds and heat.

About the trail: A mix of iron-blushed sandstone and gray limestone highlights this loop. The trail follows a fair incline up the mountain before a steep descent through boulders brings hikers into a valley almost painted in shades of rock.

The contrast comes from plate tectonics, Boone said.

Look closely at the beauty between the rocks, and you’ll spot one of the region’s looming threats, Mediterranean Grass.

While native plants such as creosote bush, white bursage and Mojave yucca sat undisturbed as recently as 20 years ago, they’re now surrounded by the invasive species. The sun-toasted grass made its way to the desert through cattle feed and covers entire mountainsides in Nevada and Southern California.

Boone says the prolific weed would facilitate the spread of wildfires similar to the 33,500-acre Goodsprings Fire along Highway 160 in 2005 and the 1,600-acre Scenic Fire along Red Rock Canyon’s Scenic Loop Road in 2006. Fires of that magnitude would wipe away native plants, displacing wildlife like long-tailed brush lizards and rock wrens. The ecologist gave a window of one generation before he estimated wildfires would destroy the region’s hiking ecosystem.

“All of this will one day be gone,” Boone said.

MOUNT CHARLESTON NORTH LOOP - ABRIDGED

Level: Strenuous

Where: Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, on Deer Creek Road between Kyle and Lee canyons

Distance: 5.5 miles

Best time of year: The ideal seasons are spring, when flow from Mummy Spring is higher, and fall, when the aspens at lower elevations are electric with autumn leaves.

About the trail: Climbing to the top of Mount Charleston’s 12,000-foot peak is a bucket-list experience for locals. But the beauty of its North Loop trail is that it can be shortened into a scenic 5.5-mile trek, rising about 1,600 feet to the Spring Mountains’ oldest tree and a refreshing natural spring just a half-mile off the trail.

The Raintree, one of thousands of ancient bristlecone pines on the mountain, is about 3,000 years old. Its thick trunk and long branches provide a shady spot for picnicking and snapping photos, though Boone cautions visitors not to sit too close to the fabled tree, as soil compaction and erosion could prevent the North Loop landmark from one day seeing its 4,000th birthday.

To the northwest of Raintree, Mummy Spring trickles down a thick slab of limestone, offering refreshing hydration to sun-cooked hikers. Though the temperature is generally 10 to 20 degrees cooler on Mount Charleston than in the desert below, the North Loop hits the ridge at over 10,000 feet, making sun exposure intense and oxygen thin.

A special breed of chipmunk, the Charleston Mountain Chipmunk, is found in the Spring Mountains and nowhere else, Boone said, while broad-tailed hummingbirds, dark-eyed juncos, western tanagers, finches and Clark’s nutcrackers nest in the habitat. Jackrabbits also live at medium elevations — not too high to freeze, not too low to cook.

SAFETY TIPS FROM SEARCH AND RESCUE

When hikers forget or ignore safety guidelines, the consequences can be deadly. Metro Police Search and Rescue Officer Jason Connell, a three-year officer with the North Las Vegas airport-based force, said the department had responded to 108 calls from January through August, mostly for injured and displaced hikers. Eight of those calls were for people who eventually died.

Connell said Search and Rescue, which features nine full-time police staffers and about 50 trained volunteers, responds to just about all emergencies “off the pavement” of Clark County’s metropolitan area, as well as parts of northern Arizona. Calls cover everything from lost hikers to injured ATV riders.

“Anything mountain rescue, anything related to diving, we’re on it,” Connell said. “Really, this phone rings 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”

Rescue calls, averaging 15 to 20 a month during spring and fall, can drop to single digits during summer and winter thanks to harsher weather. Connell said the department responded to just six calls in July, compared with 28 in March.

Many calls come at night, from hikers who veer off established trails trying to take shortcuts, Connell said, adding that hiking during daylight hours and staying on trails are key to a safe, enjoyable hiking experience. He also advised that hikers choose trails compatible with their skill level, hike with people at a similar level and dress for the weather — and don’t forget to pack for the potential weather. “We’ve done rescues on Mount Charleston where people are wearing light jackets and yoga pants while walking through the snow. When people get off the trail and it gets dark, it becomes cold real, real fast.”

In the event hikers find themselves lost, stranded or endangered, Connell said they should have no shame in calling the free-of-charge rescue service.

“If you get hurt, lost, stuck, any of the above, don’t worry about it, don’t make it worse,” Connell advised. “We’re not going to get mad; we don’t charge money and there’s nothing punitive. If you think you’re in a position where continuing could potentially make things worse, then by all means, call for help.”

THREE MEETUPS FOR HIKING JUNKIES

• Vegas Hikers: With over 12,000 members, multiple hikes each day and 5,500 past meetup events, Vegas Hikers is the valley’s largest online group of hiking enthusiasts. Described simply as a bunch of active people who share a love of the outdoors and the beautiful desert Southwest, Vegas Hikers’ excursions are normally capped at 10 to 30 people, and most hikes have a wait list in case someone drops out. The group operates under five principles:

1. All are welcome

2. We hike together

3. We come prepared

4. We’re all adults

5. We appreciate the outdoors

• Hiking Las Vegas: Dubbed “the hiking group that changes people’s lives,” Branch Whitney’s Hiking Las Vegas has nearly 2,300 members, offers two hikes per day and has hosted 4,000 meetups. Whitney’s “52 Peak Club” challenges hikers to climb his 52 most interesting Las Vegas hikes of different difficulty levels. Hikers of Whitney’s recommended trails collect a playing card for each trail they complete, with a goal of amassing an entire card deck.

“It’s very challenging, and for many of the 121 people who have completed it, it’s a life achievement,” Whitney said. “It’s a way for people to build confidence and promote healthy living while exploring our beautiful outdoors.”

• Hiking with a Purpose Las Vegas: The 600-member meetup, founded by Jim Boone in January, is focused on removing the markers left by miners during the 1970s through the turn of the new millennium.

The hollow PVC attracts birds and other wildlife looking to nest inside, Boone said, and the animals get stuck and die. He estimates there are still dozens of illegal mine markers across Nevada trails, especially in Gold Butte. State legislation passed in 2011 encourages the public to take down and leave the pipes.

The challenge is finding those off the beaten path. Hence the “off-trail and exploratory” nature of many of the group’s excursions, which happen about once a month.

HIKE THE DIFFERENT HABITATS AROUND THE VALLEY

Spring Mountains National Recreation Area

Directions: Take U.S. 95 north to exit 90A for Rancho Drive; turn left onto West Lone Mountain Road, then right onto North Torrey Pines Drive

Description: The Spring Mountains are home to Mount Charleston, and the greater recreation area covers 316,000 acres of snow-capped peaks and high-elevation hiking. Some plants and animals found there don’t exist anywhere else. Mount Charleston is the quintessential escape for Las Vegans who may have forgotten what real trees look like.

Activities: biking, hiking, running, rock climbing, canyoneering, bird watching, snowshoeing, skiing, camping

• • •

Red Rock Canyon National

Conservation Area

Directions: Drive west on West Charleston Road; the entrance will be on the right, 5 miles after the intersection of West Charleston and Sky Vista Drive

Description: In 1990, Red Rock Canyon became the seventh land mass in America to be named a national conservation area. It features red-and-white sandstone mixed with grey limestone, a result of crashing plate tectonics beneath the Earth’s crust. It’s a world-class destination for rock climbing, with more than 2,000 routes dotting cliffs that can be thousands of feet high.

Activities: biking, hiking, running, rock climbing, canyoneering, horseback riding, scenic driving, camping

• • •

Cottonwood Valley

Directions: From I-15 southbound, take Blue Diamond Road west for 24.4 miles, then turn left on Castalia Street

Description: Nestled against Mount Potosi and the Red Rock Escarpment, Cottonwood is an eyeful of desert beauty framed by ancient red sandstone. Wild burros and mustangs might occasionally trot the trails beloved by mountain bikers and runners, which amount to about 125 miles of interconnecting paths that range widely when it comes to difficulty — but not when it comes to scenery.

Activities: biking, hiking, running, bird watching

• • •

Lake Mead National Recreation Area

Directions: Take the 215 Beltway east to U.S. 93 South through Boulder City. The road becomes Nevada Way and leads to the recreation area

Description: Two lakes and hundreds of plant and animal species spanning 1.5 million acres in Nevada and Arizona. This is Lake Mead, so much more than the official swimming hole of Las Vegas. Celebrate the 100th year of the National Park Service by revisiting its refreshing waters or discovering them for the first time. And join in efforts to conserve this great resource with volunteer cleanup on Public Lands Day Sept. 24.

Activities: biking, hiking, running, swimming, paddle-boarding, boating, fishing, camping

• • •

Clark County Wetlands Park

Directions: From Boulder Highway take South Broadbent Boulevard northeast, then turn right onto Wetlands Park Lane

Description: The nature preserve boasts 210 acres of wildlife habitat, complete with tall trees and woodlands, streams and ponds and the familiar desert scrub. It’s home to hundreds of animal species you can learn about through interpretive wayside exhibits or guided walks for groups, and more opportunities for educational fun await at the park and Wetlands Nature Center.

Activities: biking, hiking, running, horseback riding

• • •

Bootleg Canyon

Directions: Take U.S. 93 south into Boulder City and turn left onto Veterans Memorial Drive, then left on Yucca Street

Description: The International Mountain Bicycling Association counts this trail system among “the man-made wonders of Southern Nevada.” More than 30 miles of downhill and cross-country trails were cut by local Brent Thomson, and they host pro races and casual rides. Runners and hikers also flock to the challenging terrain, as the expansive views of the valley at the top are worth the climb.

Activities: biking, hiking, running, ziplining

• • •

Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area

Directions: From St. Rose Parkway, go south on Executive Airport Drive, which becomes Via Inspirada, then Bicentennial Parkway; turn right on Via Firenze, left on Savella Avenue, right back onto Via Firenze, right on Democracy Drive (unpaved), then left onto Nawghaw Poa Road

Description: Nearly 50,000 acres offer geological features, including over 300 rock art panels showcasing more than 1,700 petroglyphs. They were created by early inhabitants of the valley, going back to 5500 BC, but the modern experience of Sloan Canyon is about the McCullough Hills Trail, which winds through the rising landscape from Henderson to Anthem over more than 8 miles.

Activities: biking, hiking, running, horseback riding, bird watching