Red Rock Canyon Trail

Over the years when ever we ended up in Las Vegas often on business it became a tradition to find a new hike. Sometimes if there were others involved from the business they asked if they could come along on the hikes.

One the occasion of a hike we planned along the ridge across the top of several peaks in the Spring Mountain Range near Red Rock canyon we gathered a crowed. While the crowed didn’t have much experience in the mountains this was going to be a fairly easy trail. Part of the way the trail follows an old 4 wheel drive track so even through it was long 6 or 7 miles round trip it wasn’t to steep and it was wide. It was a good trail for first timers.

So early on a Sunday morning Rich an old hiking partner ( you have seen Rich in other hikes) Margaret and I stopped at a grocery store picked up lunch (and of course a bottle of wine for the summit), then we picked up our crowed and headed for the trailhead.

It was a cool day but the sun was shining nicely as we headed off up the old Jeep trail towards the summit. The old jeep trail was easy walking and wound its way around to the back side of the summit for a couple of miles before it started a switchback assent.

The assent wound its way through a scrub pine dessert area working its way steadily toward the top of one of the peaks in the Mt Wilson area of the Spring Mountains. The pines made for great leaning posts for the folks that needed frequent rests.

Rich takes a break sitting on a rock with a beautiful scenic overlook of the old Jeep trail we followed up the canyon.

A summit photo of our hiking party (minus the photographer).

Everyone enjoyed lunch and a glass of wine on the summit with Las Vegas stretching out below us to the east.

Sitting on the summit we could see that we had made a 3 or 4 mile loop around the summit on the old jeep trail and we could now see that if we bushwhacked straight down the north side of the mountain we would cut a couple of miles off the return trip. Sounds like a good idea! So with Rich and I leading the way we set off.

Here you see a couple of newbie hikers on their first bushwhacking experience picking their way down a mountain slope without the benefit of a trail.

Soon we found our way back to the old jeep trail saving a few miles of trekking and an hour or so of time.

Ice Box Canyon

Las Vegas is an interesting city to explore even if you don’t gamble or hang out in the casinos. Some of the best hiking in the southwest can be found in the area around Las Vegas. This make it possible to do cool hikes during the day and then hang out on the strip at night

Just to the North and West of Las Vegas is a national conservation area called Red Rock canyon. Its part of a BLM area and has some great hiking trails and rock climbing areas. We have explored many of the hikes along this area.

One of the many trails along the mountains to the west is Ice Box Canyon. On this trip we had a friend Rich along and packed a lunch for a day trip into the Canyon. The canyons name “Icebox” comes from the unique features of water and canyon walls that create a much cooler environment in the canyon than the surrounding area. We parked along the Scenic Red Rock Drive in the BLM park and had lunch as a bench on the first part of the trail leading up to the Canyon. The hike is a pretty easy hike so lunch has a bottle of wine included.

After lunch we set off for the canyon in the distance between two mountain peaks.

Here you can see the entrance to the canyon. It looks almost like a crack in the face of a cliff.

Getting closer to the entrance you can feel the cool air coming out of the canyon.

At the far end of the canyon is small water fall in the wet season with a pool of water at the base,

Water trickles down from higher up in the Spring mountain chain and eventually makes it way to the valley floor

Its a neat place to spend some time. Margaret and Rich pose for a picture.

Then all of the hikers.

On the way back out of the Canyon while you are still higher up you are treated to a great view of the strange Gray and Red mountain of rocks that the BLM area is names for “Red Rock Canyon”

Back to the hot tub at the hotel in Vegas!

Arizona Hot Springs

Over the years we have been to Las Vegas many times. Even though we are not gamblers we find it interesting for a number of reasons. One of the big reasons is there is great hiking in the area. One of the most interesting hikes in the area is the “Arizona Hot Springs” located about an hours drive from the strip, across the Hoover Dam and over the Arizona State line. Any trip near the Hoover Dam and Lake Mead is always good, But this hike is spectacular. One of the best we have ever been on. Leaving early in the morning on an overcast day we arrived shortly at the dam and stopped briefly even though we have been there several times.

From Arizona Hot Springs

Water in Lake Mead seems to be down quite a bit from the high water mark on the rocks

From Arizona Hot Springs

Looking over the dam at Black Rock Canyon below and the Colorado River. Just a mile or two further down the river is where our hike is going to take us today.

From Arizona Hot Springs

A mile or two after crossing the dam is a small pull off on the west side of the road. Its easy to miss. There is room to park a couple of cars and the trail begins here.

From Arizona Hot Springs

The cameraman is packed up and ready for a new adventure.

From Arizona Hot Springs

The sign says it 2.8 miles to the Hot Springs. The river is about 2 miles from the road then south following the river for just under a mile. You can see the canyon and the river in the distance.

From Arizona Hot Springs

The trail is really a wash where heavy rains collect and run into the river.

From Arizona Hot Springs

Farther in it starts to become obvious that from time to time a lot of water runs down this little trail. If you read the sign at the beginning of the trail it said “area is susceptible to flash floods”. We definitely do not want to be in the this wash if it starts to rain hard! We are keeping a close eye on the clouds overhead.

From Arizona Hot Springs

As we get closer to the river the canyon walls get higher.

From Arizona Hot Springs

Check out the size of this rock washed downstream!

From Arizona Hot Springs

We have arrived at the river! Man look at the color of that water!

From Arizona Hot Springs

Following along the river for a while some beautiful vegetation surrounds the trail. These trees were so cool they required a pause and a photo session.

From Arizona Hot Springs

From Arizona Hot Springs

Farther down the river a scene presents itself that makes for one of the nicest photographs I have ever taken. To this day I use this photo for the desktop on my computer.

From Arizona Hot Springs

The water, sand and black rock are amazing!

From Arizona Hot Springs

Looking back upstream towards the dam.

From Arizona Hot Springs

The turn towards the Hot springs from the river is a bit hard to find, because there is not water running into the river. All the water seeps into the ground before it gets tot he river during this time of the year. A little way up the wash we come across this scene. We found it!

From Arizona Hot Springs

The water running over the water fall next to the stainless steal ladder is hot maybe 90 degrees just perfect for taking a shower. What an amazing natural resource. The ladder is wet and slippery, but it is the only way to get to the hot spring.

From Arizona Hot Springs

Working you way further up the cave like canyon you can see the first of several pools of hot water. People have used sand bags to dam up the water to create soaking pools.

From Arizona Hot Springs

The hot water is irresistible. Even though we did not bring a swimming suit!

From Arizona Hot Springs

From Arizona Hot Springs

After a quick soak we got dressed and continued up the wash exploring

Here and there along the walls of the deep wash are holes in the rocks where very hot water pour out of. The water is so hot that you will get burned if you touch it. It seeps into the gravel along the floor of the wash and runs towards the river. When there is a rock floor it collects into pools of clear hot water.

From Arizona Hot Springs

From Arizona Hot Springs

There is a series of 3 pools each a foot to 2 feet deep. Each of the pools gets hotter as you move higher in the canyon. All of them are crystal clear and inviting.

From Arizona Hot Springs

From Arizona Hot Springs

You just have to get in and play!

From Arizona Hot Springs

A natural hot water slide!

From Arizona Hot Springs

The gravel under your feet here is so hot it almost burns. To do this right you really need some sort of water shoes

From Arizona Hot Springs

More extremely hot water spurting out of the rocks, along with beautiful calcium formations.

From Arizona Hot Springs

You can see the steam rising from the hot water up the steep walls of the canyon.

From Arizona Hot Springs

After an hour or two of playing in the water we made our way back out to the river and started back towards the dam.

From Arizona Hot Springs

As we make our way along the bank a tour on the river passes us.

From Arizona Hot Springs

Looking back towards the wash leading to the hot springs the tour of people has landed. Looks like they are going up to the Hot springs. They will certainly enjoy it, and they didn’t even have to walk the 6 miles in and out!

From Arizona Hot Springs

A break at a scenic spot along the river provides the opportunity to use a small tripod and remote to take a picture. A little Photoshop work on this picture and it ultimately became part of the banner on our web site at Irishandscott.com

From Arizona Hot Springs

Even though the day was overcast and lighting was bad this hike provided some of the best photographs I have even taken. It also provided some of the best memories I’ve ever had.

Some days you just get lucky!