Franko's Trail Map of Red Rock Canyon
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Franko’s Map of Red Rock Canyon
Franko’s Map of Red Rock Canyon is the map you want to buy if you plan on visiting Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, just west of Las Vegas. Anyone visiting Las Vegas for any length of time should make a trip out to Red Rock Canyon, which annually draws over a million tourists. Red Rock Canyon is called the rock-climbing capital of the world, and its bluffs, cliffs, and canyons are so magnificent that it must be seen to be believed. Franko’s Map of Red Rock Canyon details roads, hiking, biking, and equestrian trails, rock climbing sites, and gives loads of information all about Red Rock Canyon and its attractions.
Side One of Franko’s Map of Red Rock Canyon details the northern half of Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. Captions from Side One of Franko’s Map of Red Rock Canyon are as follows:
RED ROCK CANYON NATIONAL CONSERVATION AREA Located just 17 miles west of the Las Vegas Strip, Red Rock Canyon was Nevada's first National Conservation Area. Red Rock Canyon offers a 13-mile scenic drive, 30+ miles of trails, picnic areas, world-class rock climbing, and a visitors center with interpretive exhibits and a bookstore. The area has extraordinary geologic features, plus superb examples of Mojave Desert flora and fauna. In 1990 the status of Red Rock Recreation “Lands” was upgraded to “National Conservation Area” (NCA), the seventh to be designated in the U.S.A. Over 1 million people per year enjoy Red Rock Canyon’s spectacular desert landscape, climbing, hiking, and biking, plus interpretive programs sponsored by the Bureau of Land Management.
CALICO HILLS TRAIL Easy to moderate 2 to 6-mile hike(s) with up to 400 ft. elevation change along the base of Calico Rocks from Calico Basin to Sandstone Quarry. Accessed at either end or from either of the two Calico parking areas. Also, a connecting trail runs from the fee booth parking.
CALICO TANKS TRAIL Moderate 2.5-mile round trip with 450 ft. of elevation change. From Sandstone Quarry the trails heads north from its junction with the Turtlehead Peak trail to just past the agave roasting pit. The trail then veers up a side canyon to the right, where it follows ascending rock terraces to a large natural water tank (called a "tinaja"). Water may be present in the tanks after seasonal rains.
TURTLEHEAD PEAK TRAIL Strenuous, "must-do", 5-miler with 2,043 feet of gain. From Sandstone Quarry the trail heads north over a narrow rise, in and out of a wash, and continues along the NW side of Turtlehead Peak. Scramble up a ravine to the saddle and follow the steep ridge to the top. The trail is intermittent with loose rock.
GRAND CIRCLE ADVENTURE Strenuous 11-mile round trip hike with 1,570 ft. of ups and downs. This trail starts at the fee booth parking area, heads toward the Calico Hills Trail and onto Sandstone Quarry, then continues on to the White Rock Springs upper parking lot. From there, it heads down the hill toward Willow Springs, but veers to the left at a junction on top of the ridge. It then crosses the scenic loop drive and continues downhill to the visitor center.
LA MADRE MOUNTAIN ROCK CLIMBING La Madre North is reached via 4x4 driving and features 24 routes with 3 walls. White Rock Springs has 23 routes with 4 walls, Willow Springs East has 11 routes with 11 walls, and The Promised Land has an array of 24 routes on a total of 3 walls. Collectively these 82 routes have approximately 293 bolts and 44 anchors in place. Enjoy!
KEYSTONE THRUST TRAIL Moderate 2.2-mile round trip with a 400 ft. climb. From upper White Rock Springs parking lot take the trail north across the wash, and up the hill. After about 1/4 mile the Keystone Thrust trail "Ts" off the La Madre Spring loop to the right. Take the right fork up the stairs to where it joins an old jeep road, continuing uphill to the left. The trail traverses a low ridge, heads down into a small canyon, and then onto the Keystone Thrust Fault where the gray limestone meets the red and tan sandstone.
WHITE ROCK TO WILLOW SPRINGS TRAIL Moderate 4.4-mile out-and-back with a 200 ft. gain. From upper White Rock Springs parking take the trail to the west to where it splits. The trail to the right descends to a guzzler, and the trail to the left heads downhill, through a wash, over a ridge and drops you into the Lost Creek area (2 miles). From there it is a short distance to Willow Springs.
WHITE ROCK / LA MADRE SPRINGS LOOP Moderate 6-mile round trip hike, with 890 ft. of elevation change, can be started at White Rock Springs or Willow Springs, and can be done in either direction. By starting at Willow Springs, hikers can deal with the steep climb to White Rock near the beginning of the hike, rather than at the end. At a fork with a sign reading "White Rock Springs 2.2 miles," take the uphill trail to the left. Follow it to White Rock upper parking lot, continuing northwest from the lot. When the trail forks, go left and follow the trail until it intersects an old dirt road. Follow that road downhill to where it forks to the left, returning you to Willow Springs.
WILLOW SPRINGS / WHITE ROCK SPRINGS ROCK CLIMBING Willow Springs features 107 routes on the west side and 11 on the east. The climbs on Sumo Greatness Slab are interesting because they are on both sides of the petroglyphs and are accessed by the Petroglyph Wall Trail. Other superb climbing areas are shown below right on the map. Meanwhile, White Rock Springs features an array of 23 climbs, with the favorite being the delicious Angel Food Wall, with 12 routes.
LA MADRE SPRING TRAIL Moderate 3.3-mile round trip hike with 400 ft. of climbing. From the Willow Springs parking lot, walk the dirt road west up the canyon, cross a wash, and go to the right at the fork. Continue uphill to the dam, then follow the foot trail to the spring. Return to Willow Springs by backtracking.
WILLOW SPRINGS LOOP Easy 1.5-mile round trip hike with 200 ft. elevation change. From the parking lot, follow the trail by the pit toilets south. This takes you past a pictograph site and agave roasting pits, to the Lost Creek parking lot. There the trail heads to the right to where the two trails fork at Site #3. Bear right toward the Willow Springs parking lot. Part of this trail is paved for wheelchair access.
LOST CREEK - CHILDREN'S DISCOVERY TRAIL Easy 3/4-mile round trip with 200 ft. of elev. change. From the Lost Creek parking area, take the trail to the right. The Willow Springs Loop intersects this trail and shares it until it splits off at Site #3. Continue on this loop until just beyond Site #4, where another path heads uphill to a seasonal waterfall, which can be frozen solid during the winter. Return via the boardwalk. This popular trail is used by many school groups.
SMYC TRAIL Moderate 2.2-mile round trip hike, with 300 ft. of terrain undulation. Can be accessed from either Lost Creek or Ice Box Trail, and it connects these two trails as it follows the terrain at the base of the near vertical Escarpment.
ICEBOX CANYON ROCK CLIMBING Visitors to Red Rocks who take a little hike up this canyon find it has a boxed-in end. Climbers, however, do a 5th class scramble beyond and find amazing climbing on both sides of the canyon on massive walls, crags, towers and buttresses sufficient to keep climbers busy for months. Icebox Canyon has at least 71 climbs, with 188 bolts and 59 anchors waiting for you to set hand and foot on them.
ICE BOX CANYON TRAIL From the parking lot, the trail heads down across the wash and up the other side toward the canyon. The trail is well-defined as it leads you up the side of the canyon for approximately 3/4 mile. It then drops into the bottom of the canyon. Then the trail becomes a route over or around boulders as it continues upstream. The official trail ends at the large ponderosa pine tree in the bottom of the canyon (2.5 miles round trip). To reach the upper pool filled by a seasonal waterfall, be prepared for some tricky wall scrambling and a 3-mile round trip. Return to the parking lot by backtracking. 300 feet of elevation change.
DALE'S TRAIL Moderate 4.4-mile round trip with 300 ft. of climb. Accessed from either Ice Box or Pine Creek Trails. It follows the base of the escarpment and connects the two above-mentioned trails.
ESCARPMENT BASE TRAIL Moderate to strenuous 5.2-mile, one-way hike with 900 feet of ups and downs. Actually a combination of the SMYC, Dale's and Arnight Trails, is good for one way if you can work out the car logistics between Lost Creek and Oak Creek Parking.
PINE CREEK CANYON TRAIL Easy to moderate 3-mile round trip hike which ascends 300 feet. Take the trail downhill from the parking lot, following it toward the canyon. The trail is intersected twice by the Fire Ecology Trail and by Dale's Trail, then forks near the old Wilson homestead foundation. This part of the trail is a loop and easier to follow to the left where it goes downhill, across a stream, then uphill to the intersection of the Arnight Trail. Continue up the canyon crossing the wash, and eventually return to the main trail on the opposite side of the homestead. Follow it back to the parking lot.
IRE ECOLOGY TRAIL Easy 3/4-mile round trip hike with 200 ft. of uphill. This double loop trail, accessed via the Pine Creek Trail, exits and enters the Pine Creek Trail from the south. Take the trail to the left heading toward the escarpment, across a bridge and over a rise to enter the second loop. Return across the same bridge retracing back.
RAINBOW MOUNTAIN AREA ROCK CLIMBING Pine Creek Canyon and Juniper Canyon combine for 260 named rock climbs. Amongst the many ascents at Juniper is the spectacular Crimson Chrysalis, with cracks that ascend a huge pillar on the north side of Rainbow Mountain. Starting just 200 ft. below this route is Red Rock's best trad. route, Cloud Tower. However it is Pine Creek Canyon's great variety of traditional multi-pitch routes that draws more climbers to Red Rocks than any other climbing area. Climbs are on both sides of the canyon, both forks, and on Mescalito Tower, for a total of 194 routes.
ARNIGHT TRAIL Moderate 2.4-mile round trip hike with 300 ft. of elevation change. Connects the Oak Creek parking with the end loop of Pine Creek Trail. From the parking lot, across from the Oak Creek trailhead, it heads toward the escarpment, elevating to join the Pine Creek Trail just above the loop junction. About 1/2 mile before the trail connects with Pine Creek, Knoll Trail intersects on the left.
KNOLL TRAIL This trail links the upper sections of the Arnight and Oak Creek Trails, along the base of the escarpment to eventually connect with the First Creek Trail. Combine with the Oak Creek and Arnight Trails for a 3.5-mile round trip with 300 ft. of climbing.
MT. WILSON AREA ROCK CLIMBING Between Oak Creek Canyon and Mt. Wilson there are no less than 86 routes. Oak Creek has 60 climbs at canyons and walls including: Black Arch Wall, Black Orpheus Buttress, Eagle Wall, Painted Bowl, Celebration Wall, The Triad, and Afterburner Cliff. Mt. Wilson's huge north face forms the Aeolian Wall, with other great walls and cliffs as seen to the right.
FIRST CREEK CANYON TRAIL Easy to moderate 3-mile round trip hike with 300 ft. of elevation change. Take Blue Diamond Rd (SR 159), south of the Scenic Loop terminus, for 2.6 miles to the First Creek Trailhead. The trail leads to the mouth of the canyon, following the left side of the wash for a distance; some rock scrambling required thereafter. Seasonal waterfalls can be found in the canyon.
OAK CREEK CANYON TRAIL Easy to moderate 2-mile round trip hike with only 200 ft. of climbing. Take the Oak Creek turn-off from the scenic loop drive to a small parking lot. The trail heads across the open desert to the mouth of Oak Creek Canyon.
OVERLOOK TRAIL This is not really a hike, but a 1/4-mile, wheelchair-accessible paved path to the top of a hill behind a helicopter pad by the Red Rock Overlook parking lot. It offers a marvelous view of Red Rock Canyon, as seen on Side 2 of this map.
CALICO HILLS ROCK CLIMBING Las Vegas visitors circling the 13-mile Scenic Drive are surprised to look up from the scenic point parking lots and see tiny climbers against the huge rocks at Calico I and Calico II. Calico Hills rock climbing is convenient and challenging and draws a lot of rock climbers to these spots, plus others such as Great Red Book, High Class Ho, and Hole in the Pants. There are a hundred spots for bouldering in the Calico Hills as well.
KRAFT MOUNTAIN/GATEWAY CANYON ROCK CLIMBING Here we find a combined 102 climbing routes. Kraft Mountain has 15 routes, The Mall (aka The Playground) has 16 routes, Winter Heat Wall has 14 routes, Sunny and Steep Wall has 16 routes (and 101 bolts plus 14 anchors), Cannabis Crags has 10 routes, and the rest combine for 31 routes. All together there are 312 bolts and 57 anchors.
HORSEBACK RIDING Equestrians may use dirt roads and two-tracks, and some designated foot trails in the 13-mile Scenic Drive area. Riding is prohibited on paved roads unless crossing is necessary or if the road is closed. Inquire at the visitor center for more information about trails open for horseback riding.
BICYCLING AT RED ROCK CANYON Bikes are allowed on all paved or unpaved roads and two-tracks, but not on designated hiking trails in the 13-mile Scenic Drive area. However, the Scenic Drive itself is an excellent and popular road ride, especially amongst those bicycle enthusiasts who ride Charleston Bl. as part of a long ride, even as far as from downtown Las Vegas. All bikes are obligated to follow motor vehicle road rules on the Scenic Drive and highway; particularly those laws relating to one-way travel on the Scenic Drive, interrupting automotive traffic by riding abreast, and slow traffic keeping right. Mountain biking is allowed on trails in the Cottonwood Valley, located about 10 miles to the south of Red Rock Canyon along Highway 160.
DOWNTOWN LAS VEGAS TO RED ROCK BIKE TRAIL Road bicyclists enjoy this route from almost anywhere in Las Vegas to Red Rock Canyon. A wide bike lane follows Alta Dr. to Desert Foothills Dr., where you jog left over to Hwy. 159, which is Charleston Bl., for a ride through Red Rock Canyon.
RED ROCK CANYON VISITOR CENTER The beautiful 7,600 square foot facility is in an amazing setting and is the best place to start your visit to Red Rock Canyon. It provides information and interpretation about recreation opportunities, wildlife, wild horses and burros, vegetation, geology, and cultural resources in the National Conservation Area. It also has:
Exhibit Area - Where you can watch a pair of chubby chuckwallas dine on their favorite vegetables, plus see all about the nature and culture of Red Rock Canyon.
Bicycle Pavillion - Where Red Rock's numerous bicyclists can assemble, rest, picnic, or visit the lookout.
Gift Shop - Where you can get a quality souvenir of your visit to Red Rock Canyon.
MOTORCYCLING RED ROCK CANYON On weekends groups of sports bikers and Harley riders congregate for a ride along Highways 159 and 160. The Red Rock Canyon Overlook (pictured) is the favorite gathering place for the motor-cyclists before getting on the road for a few more exhilarating miles.
RED ROCK CANYON CAMPGROUND Access to the campground is open 24 hours a day. There is no check-in, however, payment of fees must be made within 30 minutes of arrival at a self-registration station. The campground is closed late May to early September for the summer season. The campground will be closed each year in June, July, and August due to low use and extreme heat.
MOENKOPI LOOP Easy, 2-mile hike, with 300 ft. elevation change, past Triassic fossils and desert flora starting at the Visitor Center just west of the weather station. The trail traverses a prominent limestone ridge with panoramas of the Wilson Cliffs, and trail connections to the Calico Hills.
COWBOY TRAIL RIDES Visitors to Red Rock Canyon or Las Vegas may book a wonderful tour atop a horse with Cowboy Trail Rides. Call (702) 387-2457 to reserve one of their excursions, which range from 1 hour long to all day, either on the Blue Diamond Hill trails, or across the highway in Red Rock Canyon. Either way, the excitement of the ride and the scenery will never be forgotten.
RAINBOW MOUNTAIN Pine Creek Canyon has 194 climbing routes, and Juniper Canyon has 66. Cloud Tower, shown here, features two of the most famous climbs in Red Rocks - Crimson Chrysalis, and The Cloud Tower. It has a 1,000 ft. vertical, with 9 pitches and takes most of a day to ascend.
ICE BOX CANYON A dozen walls with over 70 climbs attract climbers to this awesome canyon in the Rainbow Wilderness Area. Within the Rainbow area are a dozen separate climbing areas with a total of 746 named climbs, with over 2,000 bolts in place and 800 anchors for your convenience here in Red Rock Canyon.
WILLOW SPRINGS EAST and WHITE ROCK SPRINGS Actually within the La Madre Mountain Wilderness, the Springs areas collectively feature 34 routes including the two shown here on an out-of-the-way monolith called The Dark Thumb. Most of these climbs are accessed off of the 13-mile Scenic Drive.
LA MADRE MOUNTAIN This area features over 200 rock climbs up dozens of walls, at Kraft Mountain, Gateway Canyon, La Madre North, White Rock Springs, Willow Springs East,and The Promised Land. Here, a climber descends from the awesome white rock wall at The Promised Land.
CALICO HILLS Climbers ascend the rocks right in front of the Calico I and Calico II parking lots for a million tourists to see. It is part of the spectacle of the 13-mile Scenic Drive. From the Sandstone Quarry Parking tourists can get a feel for the rocks themselves with short hikes into the Canyon or up onto the red rocks.
KRAFT MOUNTAIN On the NW side of the Calico Hills there are 18 walls to climb with over 100 routes in Gateway Canyon and on Kraft Mountain. Shown is The Mall, also called The Playground, which by itself has 16 ascents. Climbers and hikers enter this scenic funland via a trail at the end of Sandstone Drive.
Here are the descriptions on Side Two of Franko’s Map of Red Rock Canyon. Side Two shows the southern half of the Red Rock National Conservation Area:
SPRING MOUNTAIN RANCH STATE PARK Spring Mountain Ranch sits right in the middle of Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, beneath the crayola cliffs of the magnificent Wilson Range. Springs here provided water for Paiutes and later for early settlers. This oasis was made into a combination working ranch and luxurious retreat by a string of prominent owners, such as Howard Hughes. Visitors today enjoy a picnic beneath ancient trees, and, at 3,800 ft. elevation, Spring Mountain is 5 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than Las Vegas.
BONNIE SPRINGS OLD NEVADA The Wild West still exists in this replica of an 1800's mining town at Bonnie Springs Ranch. It has creaky wooden sidewalks, saloons, stagecoaches, a Boot Hill Cemetery, a wedding chapel, a jail, and a hanging gallows. This family place also has a petting zoo, where you can get cozy with a llama, cowboys and cowgirls, and on weekends and holidays, a miniature train ride, and a "posse" show where you and your kids can even help track down the "bad guy". You'll see actors having a gunfight in the streets and an 1830's melodrama. In addition to the gunfights and cowboys, there's a wax museum with figures from Nevada's frontier history, and great home-style breakfast, lunch and dinner in the Bonnie Springs Ranch Restaurant, plus plenty of shopping. There is a parking/entry fee, but it is definitely worth it.
BLUE DIAMOND This is one of the most quaint little towns in Nevada, yet it is just 15 miles from Las Vegas. This self-contained village was established as a company town in the 1940's for the employees of the Blue Diamond Mine, which is across the street. The gypsum mine is still active and is still the principal employer here. Blue Diamond is a rare town in that it has escaped the over-development and glitz of Las Vegas. Mountain bicyclists (shown at right) gather at McGhie's Bike Outpost as a starting point to ride the superb singletrack track trails that lace the hills and dales of this area. Mountain bike rentals are available, and rides range from easy to advanced.
OLD SPANISH TRAIL This historic trail is officially known as "the longest, crookedest, most arduous pack-mule route in America". The Old Spanish Trail was established by 1829 as a link from Santa Fe, New Mexico to Los Angeles, California. Mexican, Spanish, and American traders traveled its 1,120 miles, carrying wool products west and returning east with California livestock. Las Vegas, with its green meadows and flowing springs in the middle of the desert, became a key stopover. One traveler, Solomon Carvalho, wrote, "If it were not for this 'blessed water,' it would be almost impossible for man to travel across these deserts."
FIRST CREEK CANYON TRAIL Easy to moderate 3-mile round trip hike with 300 ft. of elevation change. Take Blue Diamond Rd (SR 159), south of the Scenic Loop terminus for 2.6 miles to the First Creek Trailhead. The trail leads to the mouth of the canyon, following the left side of the wash for a distance; some rock scrambling required thereafter. Scenic seasonal waterfalls cascade in the canyon.
FIRST CREEK CANYON ROCK CLIMBING As you hike into First Creek Canyon, you come across seven superb climbing walls, all on the south side of the canyon, with over 30 routes. You'll love Lotta Balls Wall, with its 8 routes, 15 bolts and 9 anchors, and, further up the canyon, Slippery Peak Apron, a smooth varnished slab with 3 routes, 12 bolts, and 2 anchors. More great climbing is found at Indecision Peak, Alcohol Wall, Romper Room, First Creek Slabs, and Raven Tower.
LANDMINE LOOP TRAIL This ride was named by mountain bikers who were warning each other about horse droppings left behind by equestrians or wild horses who also use this trail. When they see a large deposit left by a horse, they yell out "landmine!" to the following mountain bikers. This 8-mile loop begins in Blue Diamond or at the trailhead just up Highway 159, and is typically ridden counter-clockwise. You'll climb 400 feet circling the mountain west of Blue Diamond. On the far side the view of Black Velvet Peak, Windy Peak, and the Sandstone Bluffs is stupendous. At the approximate halfway point, where the trail intersects with the Inner Loop Trail, there is one of the world's largest yucca trees. Also at this point, there are several trail options where you can take a route up Black Velvet Canyon, or various other trails to make this a longer and more interesting ride.
BLACK VELVET CANYON ROCK CLIMBING As you scramble up into the canyon, The Monument, Desert Gold Area, and Sandstone Mountain are the first climbs you come to on your right and have a total of 17 routes. Further into the canyon you'll encounter Burlap Buttress, marked by a huge arch on the wall to your right. Then, you see it...on your left is the immense black wall called Black Velvet Wall! This epic façade forms the northeast face of Black Velvet Peak and features one of the greatest concentrations of classic, multi-pitch routes in the world. Its famous routes include Epinephrine, Prince of Darkness, and Yellow Brick Road. The wall is reached via a hike into the canyon on the Black Velvet Trail. The wall dominates your view to the south when you enter the wash. All told, Black Velvet Wall has an astounding 19 routes, with 270 bolts and 64 anchors. Just past this wall is the fabulous Black Velvet Tower, featuring another 11 routes. About 200 yards further you will see a fixed line ascending a water-streaked slab on your left. This is the access to Western Spaces Wall and Black Velvet Peak West, which have a combined 10 routes.
WHISKEY PEAK ROCK CLIMBING Whiskey Peak is an immense buttress looming before the southern entrance to Black Velvet Canyon. Access trails to Wholesome Fullback, Frogland and the Rad Cliffs/Whiskey Peak Gully branch off to the southwest up the slope to the base of Whiskey Peak. Another trail skirts the base of the buttress providing access to climbs. The Schwa is further south and is accessed by scrambling along the base of the escarpment from the Rad Cliffs, or via a hike along the Black Velvet Bike Trail. All together there are 58 climbs. Ixtlan Wall alone has 14 routes with 76 bolts and 22 anchors in place, and Wholesome Fullback has 8 more with 51 bolts and 10 anchors. This is a fantastic collection of rock climbs.
MUD SPRINGS CANYON ROCK CLIMBING By virtue of being difficult to access, climbing Mud Springs Canyon, Global Peak, or Waffle Wall is relatively rare. Access to the fabulous face of Waffle Wall is gained only after a multi-hour hike and dangerous scramble up slabs and rocks. Mud Springs has at least two climbs, but this area remains obscure to most climbers. Global Peak, however, possesses one of Red Rock's true classic climbs, Chuckwalla. To get there you will be tested with unprotected 5th class climbing and other tricky sections before reaching the base of the sheer northeast face of Global Peak.
WINDY PEAK ROCK CLIMBING Windy Peak forms the southern side of Mud Springs Canyon, and its climbing walls are located on the north, east, and south sides of the mountain. These sites are accessed on the north side of Highway 160 via old jeep trails that are used by mountain bikers and equestrians. There is just a single climb on Windy Peak's north side called Windy Peak North, which ascends a huge chimney in the middle of the northeast-facing wall. Unkown Windy Peak North Wall is a buttress on your left as you approach Windy Peak North. Windy Peak East comprises 7 routes, with 6 bolts and 1 anchor. Windy Peak South is a massive face with 11 routes. It is reached via mountain bike/equestrian paths, strenuous hiking over a scree field, and scrambling up sloping slabs. Just getting there is a challenge.
LATE NIGHT TRAIL Heading west on Highway 160, just past the highway signs marking the entrance to Red Rock Canyon NCA, turn right onto a dirt road called Bonnie Springs Rd. Look for a small turnout on the left at 0.6 miles and park here. This intermediate rated is offers stupendous views of Windy Peak and Sandstone Bluffs. Some mountain bikers ride here at night under the light of a full moon.
SOUTHERN OUTCROPS ROCK CLIMBING At the southern end of the Red Rock Wilderness are two climbing areas known as Illusion Crags, and Chocolate Rocks. Illusion Crags is separated into left and right sides by a wide gully. Illusion Crags Left has 7 routes, whereas Illusion Crags Right has a whopping 19 routes and is the only climbing area in the Southern Outcrops that has existing bolts. Chocolate Rocks, which is named for its delicious color, is located on a south facing buttress and has 10 routes for your enjoyment.
BADGER PASS LOOP A tunnel under the highway leads past the first trail intersection (New 33 Trail) and up an easy grade, climbing 480 feet over almost 3 miles. After staying left for a couple of intersections, go right up to Badger Pass for a great view and a nice 200 ft. descent. Turn right or go straight where Badger Pass Loop joins New 33 Trail. There are lots of choices. After going under the highway again, turn right toward the trailhead and you're done, or not! Actually, after going just 6 miles or so, you'll probably want more, and this part of the Blue Diamond trail system links to lots of other singletrack trails. The country here is wide open, so it is just about impossible to get lost.
COTTONWOOD VALLEY RACE COURSE Begin at the same trail-head as Deadhorse Loop. This popular loop was designed as a race course, and covers a total distance of 5.7 miles. Many riders who choose this trail do multiple laps against the clock.
DEADHORSE LOOP TRAIL From Highway 160, turn onto Cottonwood/Goodsprings Rd, and park at the trailhead 0.6 miles down. The out-and-back loop is about 14 miles, going as far as the Wilson Tank Overlook, with views of Las Vegas. The ride features 3 strenuous climbs, and 3 thrilling descents, including the fun "Three-Mile Smile", down Red Valley. "Deadhorse" is at the 5.8 mi. point.
COTTONWOOD VALLEY MOUNTAIN BIKING Although horsemen were the first to blaze this fabulous trail system, mountain bikers seem to dominate the enjoyment of these fun and scenic trails. The parking lots along Hwy. 160 are convenient starting points for bicyclists and hikers alike, plus they are set up to accommodate horse trailers.
CHOCOLATE ROCKS Like so many of the climbing areas at Red Rock Canyon NCA, this spot shows how a climbing area may feature numerous named climbs. Some climbers go to a spot like this for the day and tackle almost all of the climbs. There are around 1,700 named rock climbs for you to ascend in Red Rock Canyon NCA.
WINDY PEAK SOUTH The south face of Windy Peak is massive and beautiful. Like this one, many of the trails that lead to the climbs are a bit obscure. You will have to follow traditional old rock pile cairns, which manage to mark the route sufficiently to get you to the base to these and other great climbs in Red Rock Canyon.
GLOBAL PEAK This 800 ft. monolith is home to the famous world-class rock climb, Chuckwalla. This all-day climbing adventure is awesome, scary and beautiful all at the same time. The nearly-perfect straight line up the wall has six pitches, with strategically placed bolts and anchors to aid your advanced climbing skills.
WHISKEY PEAK The climb known as Frogland is deservedly popular, and takes climbers 3 to 4 hours to ascend its 700 ft. and six pitches. Note that the biggest obstacle you will probably encounter is the crowds of people coming here. Some of the nearby routes are equally great and often overlooked.
WILSON TANK VIEW Horsemen and mountain bikers who make it as far south as Wilson Tank are treated to an awesome view of the Las Vegas Strip looming in the distance.
BLACK VELVET CANYON Black Velvet Wall features the awesome 1,200-ft. Prince of Darkness, with 6 pitches, which is one of the best classic face climbs in the USA. Equally incredible is the 1,200 ft. Dream of Wild Turkeys, with 11 pitches. Yellow Brick Road is a two-pitch, more direct variation of Dream of Wild Turkeys.
FIRST CREEK CANYON 31+ climbing routes are on the left side of First Creek Canyon. Entering the canyon you will first encounter Indecision Peak, the name of the big peak, and also the name of a pillar for climbing, then Lotta Balls Wall, Alcohol Wall, Romper Room, First Creek Slabs, Raven Tower, and Slippery Peak Apron.
MOUNT WILSON Aeolian Wall shown here is the north face of Mount Wilson. It is the first rock climbing area that you come to once you get out of the 13-mile Scenic Drive. There are 8 routes with 116 bolts and 36 anchors across this immense mountain. Mount Wilson rises 3,000 feet vertically to 7,070 ft. elevation.
OAK CREEK CANYON Eagle Wall has two of Red Rock's best, most popular, world-class climbing routes - Eagle Dance and Levitation 29. The varnish (dark) rock in the middle of the wall has the appearance of an eagle with wings spread. These 1,000- ft. climbs are so big that an overnight bivy permit may be required.
RED ROCK CANYON NCA ROCK CLIMBING Rock climbing enthusiasts know Red Rock Canyon as the rock climbing capital of the world! With ideal climbs for all levels on perfect sandstone cliffs, climbers have a whole lifetime of climbs to tackle. Calico's 1 & 2, and Sandstone Quarry are the favorites of sport climbers, while the main escarpment rock has a superior cementing factor with quality sandstone. Black or varnished rock is typically the hardest. Class V routes here range from 5.0 to 5.14. The park offers hundreds of established sport and traditional climbs, from grade I (1-2 hours) to grade VI, which means spending 2 or more nights on the climb (with the required parking permit, of course). There are over 1,700 named rock climbs in all. Although there are a large number of names and locations of climbs appearing on both sides of this map, this represents only a fraction of all the climbs that are available.
WATER CONSUMPTION Many rock climbing routes in Red Rock Canyon NCA require lengthy and even strenuous hiking and scrambling to reach them. You must plan well for water consumption. Even if it is not scorching hot, the air is still dry. Always bring a surplus of water to stay hydrated.
OVERNIGHT PARKING PASSES The Scenic Drive is open 6am to 5pm in the winter and 6am to 8pm in the summer. If you are a climber needing access to the Drive after hours, call (702) 515-5050. A three hour late pass can be issued, depending on the climbing route, and overnight passes are issued for Grade V routes. This allows you overnight parking along the loop for the specified number of days. If you leave your vehicle parked along the scenic loop without a permit, your vehicle will be cited and may be towed. Overnight camping is allowed at the Red Rock Canyon Campground, but camping along the base of the main escarpment or in the canyons is prohibited. However, camping is also allowed on bivies on specified routes.
