Best Winter Hikes in Red Rock

A few years ago I and others realized there was a great need to find routes in Calico Basin.Why? Since most of these routes are east facing and none of them reach high elevations, they would be the first routes to be free of snow and ice.

Many of these routes are scrambling hikes, so you need to wait at least 24 hours after it rains and even longer if snow is melting. Normally it does not take long for snow to melt in the Calico Basin area. However, you must be careful of rock breaking.

Here's a list of hikes in the Calico Basin/Kraft Mtn. area:

Calico Tank Peak East Face route
Calico Tank Peak Red and White route
Turtlehead Jr./Red Cap Double Slot route
Calico Hills Loop
Calico Hills Traverse
Kraft Mtn Loop
Kraft Mtn. Up and Across
Kraft Mtn. Up and Over
Kraft Mtn. East route
Twin Tanks
Gray Cap Peak

All of these hikes are relatively short and most have lots of scrambling. Since all of these hike start in Calico Basin there's no entrance fee and no driving the Scenic Loop!!!

The Kraft Mtn. East route hike is new. It has some fun scrambling and avoids loose rock. I believe this is the best route on the mountain.

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Red Rock Canyon - Hiking Coming to an End - Lake Mead Hikes Starting

With the forecast for temperatures in the low 40's for Vegas, Red Rock will have lots of ice due to all the rain. I do not recommend any scrambling hikes once the cold weather sets in. Instead I would head out to Lake Mead area. It's always warmer out there and almost never has ice or snow.





Here are some of the better Lake Mead Hikes:

• Northshore Peak
• Hamblin Mountain
• Dry Falls Loop Peak
• Fortification Hill
• Bowl of Fire

Although the peaks around Lake Mead are not high, they do offer some nice views. There's no death defying scrambling or crowds.

Challenge: Can you name all seven peaks in the photo above? 

Status of Red Rock Canyon

As of yesterday (12-24) the Scenic Loop Drive was opened, but the following areas were closed:

• The gravel road to Keystone Thrust Trailhead.
• All of Willow Springs.
• The gravel road to Oak Creek Trailhead.

With the chance of rain tomorrow (12-26), I can only guess if those areas along the Scenic Loop Road will be open.

Mt. Charleston has received over two feet of snow in the last 48 hours. All roads are opened as I write this.

Once in a Lifetime Flood at Red Rock Canyon!

This is the most rain I have ever seen in the 27 years I have lived in Las Vegas. Yesterday (12-21), I hiked into Oak Creek Canyon. I have never seen so much water. The video below tells the story. It would be impossible for anyone to hike through the canyon. It really was a river.

Red Rock Canyon will remained closed at least through today. You can't even drive to the fee booth -- it's blocked by a gate. Yesterday SR159 was closed before Calico Basin, so you couldn't even drive into the basin. As I was driving south on SR 159 toward SR 160, it looked like they were closing SR 159 near the intersection with SR 160. IOW, there's no access to Red Rock Canyon. I also believe they can close the road into Black Velvet Canyon via a gate. I will keep you updated as to when Red Rock will reopen.

The forecast for today is calling for at least 0.50 inches of rain and up to one inch is possible. To give you an idea of how much rain that is Las Vegas normally receives four inches of rain in a one year period! Vegas might get 25% of its annual rainfall in one day.

All roads in Mt. Charleston are also closed as I write this.

Rock Scrambling Video

Trying out this new online service .

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.