Top of the World Arch - Valley of Fire, NV

Crane's Nest Wash

Crane's Nest Wash Trail is located in Lake Mead NRA.  Turn southwest at the 8 mile marker across the Hoover Dam Bridge in Arizona.

Drive southwest through the gravelly wash  for about 4 miles to the marked campground. Although there is no sand, the gravel can be quit deep and a 4WD vehicle is necessary. There are very few places to pull off the single lane road and no where to turn around until you get to the camp ground unless you have 4WD.

Devil's Post piles can be seen on the right as soon as you enter the wash.

This castle-like formation appears on the left as you walk down the wash.  It is located about two miles down the wash from the highway.

Another castle-like formation located just before you enter the deep part of the canyon.

A pour over at the beginning of the deeper part of the canyon.

The canyon is deep and magical for about a mile before you reach Lake Mohave.

Many of the rock formations seem to be standing on their sides like they were lifted up at a 90 degree angle. 

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Deeper part of the canyon. 

Tamarisk Trees at the lake.

Lake Mohave

Sitting on the shore of Lake Mohave at the end of the trail.

Little Bird on the shore of Lake Mohave.

Lone Palm Trail - Lake Mead - Arizona

Lone Palm Tail

A difficult, but beautiful trail that takes you down to the Colorado River near the Hoover Dam. The views of the bridge over the dam, spiraling red rock formations, steep rock cliffs, and  Liberty Bell arch in the distance are spectacular. The destination can be attained via several different routes.  The routes have changed somewhat since the new bridge was put in.  Also the routes are not well marked so make sure you bring printed directions and look back on the route you take every hundred feet to remember how to return.

Even with a map we had difficulty finding our way and did some backtracking. Unfortunately we didn't make it all the way to the river.  We took the long route that descended into the canyon (wash) and then climbed back out through another wash that entered from the left.  The wash took us south along the freeway about one mile and then we descended into the main canyon following a trail that petered out on a smooth slope.

There are two other routes one that takes down the main wash almost to the end and then turns south. (This is the shorter way.) There is also another trail that takes you the same way we went but you don't go down through the canyon but say on the ridge above the canyon.

Once you get down into the canyon you have to climb up and around several dry falls that are way to high to navigate without ropes.

This is part the route around the highest dry falls on the hike.  Once you get to the bottom you can see how the dry falls which has an over hang and soft sandy floor.  It would be amazing to see these fall in a flash flood, but not advisable. The red rocks only found in this area of  the hike.

Falling the main wash down this is the first dry fall you have to circumnavigate. This is a view from the top of the first trail that goes around the dry falls. The hike down is through loose rock that break easily.  My friend fell coming back up this trail because a rock broke under her foot. Be very careful and don't hike too close together to avoid falling rocks. 

There are several other dry falls that you have to circumnavigate that take you over steep hills with loose rocks. A hiking pool helps tremendously. This hike is not that long, but the footing is unsteady so you really have to watch every step you take.

View from inside the main canyon (dry wash)

There are several small slot canyon that are fun to go through.

Steep cliff walls make great scenery.. The trail we came is up above these walls. This picture is from down in the wash. 

There are great views of Liberty Bell that is located across the Colorado River.

Travelling down the main wash. The new bridge bypass  can bee seen in the distance.

Local Fauna on the trail - Tarantula that seemed dead.

We couldn't find the wash that went back down into the main wash. Too tired to keep searching we ended up digging under the fence to get to the road so we could get to the parking area. Mark your trail as you go, it can be very confusing.