Red Rock Canyon, Bonus Round!
Las Vegas NYE Travelog 5
Summerlin, NV - Thu, 28 Dec 2017, 3pm
Our hike in Red Rocks Canyon this morning (previous entry) was enjoyable. It wasn't as much fun as if we'd been able to park and hike at the Calico Rocks but we made do with second prize by hiking at Willow Spring Canyon. Still, it wouldn't be Vegas if there weren't another shot at the big prize. A bonus round, if you will.
Looping back around to the trailhead for Calico Rocks was not the right wager. We considered it, but by the time we completed the one-way loop drive through the park and came back out to the entrance station, the line of cars queued up to get in stretched literally a mile or more down the road. We continued back down the slope toward the cookie-cutter mini-mansions on the edge of town. Just before we reached civilization's dull edge, though, the chance for our bonus round appeared. A sign proclaimed "Calico Basin" along a narrow road that led to the lower, western side of the Calico Rocks. We turned off the highway to try our luck.
Our small gamble paid off. The road led through a small village and past a few trailheads. They were busy but not over-full like those in the better known park. We stopped one about as far back as we could drive, shouldered our packs, and headed off.
The colors of the sandstone around us were stunning, with deep red, brilliant orange, and pale yellow. As we walked up Ash Canyon on this lower side of the Calico Rocks we crossed a small stream, fed by springs in this otherwise desert-y area.
We followed the network of trails a mile or so up the canyon, all the while being awe struck by the blaze of colors around us.
After crossing the stream a second time the trail grew indistinct. Small rock piles, called cairns or "ducks", marked the trail as it crossed bare rock.
Shortly past this wavy rise the trail grew rougher. Hawk was at the edge of her ability as her nerves had already been jangling for a while. We turned around and headed back, satisfied with what we'd seen and hiked for the day, especially after this "bonus round". And we agreed we'd come back again later in the weekend!
Summerlin, NV - Thu, 28 Dec 2017, 3pm
Our hike in Red Rocks Canyon this morning (previous entry) was enjoyable. It wasn't as much fun as if we'd been able to park and hike at the Calico Rocks but we made do with second prize by hiking at Willow Spring Canyon. Still, it wouldn't be Vegas if there weren't another shot at the big prize. A bonus round, if you will.
Looping back around to the trailhead for Calico Rocks was not the right wager. We considered it, but by the time we completed the one-way loop drive through the park and came back out to the entrance station, the line of cars queued up to get in stretched literally a mile or more down the road. We continued back down the slope toward the cookie-cutter mini-mansions on the edge of town. Just before we reached civilization's dull edge, though, the chance for our bonus round appeared. A sign proclaimed "Calico Basin" along a narrow road that led to the lower, western side of the Calico Rocks. We turned off the highway to try our luck.
Our small gamble paid off. The road led through a small village and past a few trailheads. They were busy but not over-full like those in the better known park. We stopped one about as far back as we could drive, shouldered our packs, and headed off.
The colors of the sandstone around us were stunning, with deep red, brilliant orange, and pale yellow. As we walked up Ash Canyon on this lower side of the Calico Rocks we crossed a small stream, fed by springs in this otherwise desert-y area.
We followed the network of trails a mile or so up the canyon, all the while being awe struck by the blaze of colors around us.
After crossing the stream a second time the trail grew indistinct. Small rock piles, called cairns or "ducks", marked the trail as it crossed bare rock.
Shortly past this wavy rise the trail grew rougher. Hawk was at the edge of her ability as her nerves had already been jangling for a while. We turned around and headed back, satisfied with what we'd seen and hiked for the day, especially after this "bonus round". And we agreed we'd come back again later in the weekend!