[John Morrow]

Less than 30 miles driving out from Las Vegas in three different directions to three vastly different landscapes. Nov 17: Lostman Canyon descent to the Colorado River, Lake Mead National Recreation Area, AZ. This is a little known canyon north of the famed AZ Hot Springs/White Rock Canyon loop and starts from that trailhead. Hot spring searching, we discovered a hot seep but too little water to pool into a soaker. Still, great scramble descending on this one. A Class 5 dryfall has a bypass on a steep slope. We descended the slope and returned ascending the dryfall. The final dryfall to the Colorado River gravel beach is probably Class 4, just takes a bit of effort to work out the moves in a chimney like dryfall. Starting out:

Lake Mead National Recreation Area, AZ

Secret Canyon across

Lil' dryfall

Lake Mead National Recreation Area. Heard it also called Girl Scout Canyon.

Bigger dryfall downclimb

Lake Mead National Recreation Area, AZ

Easy dryfall

The final two dryfalls to the river described above:

Lake Mead National Recreation Area, AZ

Bypass Class 3, loose

Final downclimb

River!

Up the bottom drop

Vic works it out

Al gives us the beta

Vic's turn

The rest of the return:

Reverse

Liberty Bell Arch

Verticality under 2000 ft alt!

LostmanCany

Nov 19: Bonanza Trail, Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, NV. From a trailhead in Lee Canyon my goal was McFarland Peak. Having read no trip reports, and just the minimal description in Rambles and Scrambles, I peeled off the trail too early and missed the summit gully...oh well, next time. Divide Peak 10067' was my consolation, a mere 100 feet vertical above the height of the trail. Still, a great day among the fantastic bristlecone pines known to this range and expansive views all around.

Junction and Twin Sisters distant

Sierras! Mt Charleston Wilderness, NV

Twin Sisters; Mt Charleston Wilderness, NV

Mount Charleston Wilderness, NV

Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest

Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest

Big Ponderosa Pines

Mummy Mountain close up

DividePkSpringMtns

Nov 20: Return to Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area for some hiking and search for rock art. This is known as the "Kraft Mountain Loop" and has a designated trailhead for such. I extended it up to the head of Gateway Canyon (lower part is on the loop) for a quick descent into Brownstone Canyon befroe retracing my steps. Yes, the rock art is quite special and extensive. Sample here.

Enter Gateway Canyon; La Madre Mountains Wilderness, NV

Upper Gateway, La Madre Wilderness NV

Gateway Canyon color; La Madre Wilderness NV

BS Picto 1

BS Picto 2

BS Picto 3

BS Picto 4

BS Picto 5

BS Picto 6

BS Picto 7

BS Pet 1

BS Pet 2; La Madre Wilderness NV

Brownstone Canyon; La Madre Wilderness NV

Back to Gateway

Gateway H2O!

Fun dryfalls

Middle Gateway; La Madre Wilderness NV

Lower Gateway texture, La Madre Wilderness, NV

Gateway dryfall downclimb

Parting Petroglyph

KraftMtnLoop

[neek]

With every report from you, I inch closer to booking a flight to Vegas. All the rain up here isn't helping.

[AlpineRose]

Go for it, neek. I love, love, love hiking near Las Vegas. Red Rocks, Spring Mountains, Valley of Fire. Just the regular hiking for mere mortals is amazing. There is even a ski area in the Spring Mountains. Driving to all three of those areas is comparable to Seattle to Snoqualmie Pass. For the traditionalists, there are Green Trails maps for both Red Rocks and Spring Mountains. There is an outdoor community there, but naturally it's completely overshadowed by the bling. Flying to LV from Seattle is easy and cheap.

[Magellan]

Great stuff!

[JPH]

Most people look at you sideways when you say that you went to Vegas and went hiking...they just don't get it! The nice thing about the Arizona Hot Springs loop is the jumping rocks on the river.

Nikki Jump

[ree]

THANK YOU!!! Love your trip reports. They're giving me all sorts of ideas. Dang you are good at spotting the rock art. I know you have to keep your eyes peeled for it. Most people associate LV with the Strip, but there is a lot around the surrounding areas to explore.

[uww]

Thanks! Great trip and report.

[John Morrow]

[Rainie Too!]

A worthy obsession..... and not your only one, no doubt.

[suziq999]

Thanks so much for posting. I'm heading to LV/red rock area this spring and was searching for inspiration. I certainly found it! Much appreciated.