Exploring and Enjoying God's Creation

Thursday, March 30, 2017

Kodachrome Road - Rainbow Gardens - Las Vegas

View near Kodachrome Road at the base of Frenchman Mountain

Kodachrome Road - Rainbow Gardens

Brittlebush in bloom

Brittlebush and Barrel Cactus

Brittlebush - Kodachrome Road

Kodachrome Road

Las Vegas Bearpoppy

View from Kodachrome Road

Brittlebush in Bloom

Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Frenchman Mountain Las Vegas

This is a very steep and treacherous trail. You climb 1,788 feet from the bottom on a dirt road littered by large gravel. You have to watch every step you take, and it is very easy to slide. Take a hiking stick to help keep your balance. The trail head is 6.6 miles from the park entrance on Lake Mead Blvd or 2.1 miles from Hollywood Blvd. The views are spectacular. You can see all of Las Vegas and Henderson if you go out on the far summit.

This is not actually on the Frenchman Trail, but is a wash not far from the trail.

Prickly Poppies

Prickly Poppy leaves

View from trail to Lake Mead Blvd

Steep trail with Steep Switch Backs.

View of Mt. Charleston from Frenchman Mountain

Hikers at a summit

Mount Charleston from Frenchman Mountain

View of Las Vegas from Frenchman Mountain

Frenchman Summit

View from Frenchman Mountain

Four wheeler at the summit

A long way up. Four-wheeler coming down

Tuesday, March 21, 2017

Lava Butte Road and Wash

Lava Butte Road

Lava Butte and Prickly Pear Cactus

To find the wash drive 2 miles north of Lake Mead NRA entrance on Lake Mead Blvd. Turn left onto Rainbow Gardens and drive 4.4 miles on Lava Butte Road. There are two road signs on opposite sides of the road. Turn left onto the dirt path and park next to the road. Hike down the wash about a mile until you come to a drop off in the wash.

Sunday, March 19, 2017

Oak Creek Canyon Hike - Red Rock Canyon NCA

Oak Creek Canyon Trail is the last trail on the loop road of Red Rock Canyon. Drive the short dirt road to the trail head. The trail goes towards the canyon for about a mile, then you have to make your way up the canyon through large boulders. Some of the trail is marked, but most you just try to find the easiest way around and over the boulders.

Oak Creek Canyon Hike

Oak Creek Canyon - Cairn marking the way.

Oak Creek Canyon - Large Boulders to traverse

Making our way through the boulders

Friday, March 10, 2017

White Owl Canyon Trail - Lake Mead NRA

White Owl Canyon Trail is a short but spectacular hike to an interesting slot canyon where you can find much evidence of owls and other birds of prey. The canyon walls have many coves or indents where the birds hang out. Check out the ground below and you will find tiny skulls and bones from small animals.

The trail is less than a mile and takes you into a short but steep-walled canyon with overhangs. You can also hike in the opposite direction to the Lake.

To get to White Owl Canyon turn onto the 33 Hole parking area off of Lake Shore Drive and make the first left to the parking area. The trail starts at the back of the parking area. Follow the trail that drops down into the wash and over to the next wash, turn left back towards Lake Shore Drive and hike up towards Lake Shore drive to White Owl Canyon. (You can continue the hike by walking through a tunnel that goes under Lake Shore Drive.)

Raven flying over White Owl Canyon

White Owl Canyon, Lake Mead NRA

Overhang in White Owl Canyon

Watch a video of White Owl Canyon Trail in Lake Mead NRA

Saturday, February 25, 2017

La Madre Springs Trail - Red Rock Canyon NCA

La Madre Springs trail starts at the Willow Springs Parking lot. If you have 4-wheel drive vehicle, you can drive up Rocky Gap Road and park closer to the beginning of the trail, or you can drive up Rocky Gap Road that goes in the opposite direction of La Madre Springs trail near the trailhead sign.

This tail is a 3.6 mile an up and back hike that is mostly uphill to the dam and then back down to the trail head. The views are amazing from grey and white striated mountains in one directions, to red and white sandstone cliffs and amazing white bumping cliffs in the other directions.

You can also hike up Rocky Gap Road for some amazing views of the valley below and steep, rocky cliffs forming deep rocky washes. Keep your eyes out for deer and bighorn sheep.