The first phase of the new Red Rock Legacy trail has been completed and open for your enjoyment. It…read moreis only 1.1 miles. This is the first phase of five phases. This trail begins in Summerlin and the plan is to end at Blue Diamond or beyond. Phase five is still being analyzed. This is a multi use trail for walkers, hikers, wheelchairs and cyclists. This will keep people safely off of SR 159. A great way to enjoy the beauty of Red Rock Canyon. Parking for the first phase can be found directly across the street on the corner of Sky Vista and SR 159. Check it out!

Mummy Mountain is the second highest peak in the Charleston area. It gets its name from its…read moreresemblance to a mummy, from different view points, especially from US 95, it looks like a mummy lying down. There are several ways to get to mummy, and there are several different points of interest. Mummy's knee, toe, chin, belly. The route I took for Mummy Mountain, aka Mummy's Tummy or Belly is starting at Trail Canyon. Starting out at the Trail Canyon Trailhead, you hike up two miles, and 1500 feet of elevation gain. Once you get to the saddle, you will follow the North Loop Trail, you will pass Cave Springs, which is a horse trough that has water piped into it, usually year round, and then you will start hitting the switchbacks, this is probably one of my favorite areas because of the quacking aspen trees. You will then come across a large tree that has the letter "B" carved into it, for Burntree. This is your way point to turn off, you will see the scree slope that you will be climbing up. From here, you will have 600 feet of scree to scramble up, hiking poles were really helpful here. You will definitely be feeling the burn going up this. Once you reach the top, look for the cairns that will lead you to a semi trail. You will hit yet another scree shoot, this one required some scrambling as well. I enjoyed this section the most. Once you hit the summit, you will feel like you had an awesome cardio and circuit workout. The views were great. This is a strenuous hike. Between the elevation gain and the scree shoots, you most certainly need to come prepared. Quick stats: Trailhead: Trail Canyon Distance: 8.5 miles - up and back Elevation gain: 3,732 feet Elevation of peak: 11,542 feet Bring lots of water, hiking poles and rain gear if coming during monsoon season.

WELL this one was hard my legs and lungs did not want to do what I wanted them to do, this not for…read morebeginners unless you are very fit. Man, I thought I came close to god during times of skeptical breathing, but powered through and got thru. This is a pretty tough hike it is steep and rocky and you will loose your footing in the beginning of the trail, it then leads to a heavily forested the incline felt incredibly steep switchback trail into a rocky switchback trail. It is a strenuous to difficult trail be prepared and trained and have water. There are especially steep slopes near and past the main summit. When you see everyone leaving for back home you should go on. If you do decide to it gets better then it gets worse or better depends on the point of view. For me with my fear of heights both... The views past the point of main travelers is amazing peaceful views of gullys, ravines, valleys, cliffs, so worth it You will gain about 1900' and 7 mile if you go to raintree 8.5 round trip to raintree, this is the second highest peak in the NV area but you are not going to the top. There are a couple of spots that are extremely narrow and very difficult but not enough to just skip it. There were a few points I was done, but I kept on the views were amazing. The switchbacks are killer but when you get to the summit, WOW. The views become amazing as if they were not already. It becomes somewhat flat and soon you will run into raintree if you planed for it you can the go down the other side (my last review) or go back down. So here is my gripe for this one. On our end decent close to the bottom you cant help but notice a rescue chopper circling us. We were wondering "well we haven't been gone the long" kept going down and the chopper kept circling us?! Finally we see why, a group of amazing rescue workers are headed up the trail. These men were trudging up the hill to rescue a man and his horse who got off trail and fell down. These men had a VERY LONG WAY TO GO. To save some guy who, well I wont get into my personal thoughts. All I am saying is your safe Hike it, have fun train, be prepared and enjoy the amazing views!

My current gig requires a certain level of fitness for pounding one leg and then another leg many…read moretimes over and over into the pavement. In my youth I could run like a gazelle....well, maybe a gazelle with a cheetah attached to one leg. This is not the case now. At this stage in my life, I run like a hippo, who is capable of quick speeds over short distance...a sprint that in short order becomes a lumbering trot. At 260 lbs, I have built myself up over the years in a different way, but I want to be better at running.....I really do. Never really heard or knew much about trail running. I had seen some trail running crazies while out and about in the Mojave and other difficult places. I have even seen them ditty bopping up to the peak of Mt. Charleston. I thought of this type of physical fitness activity as hardcore...and sometimes just plain insane. Since arriving at my current assignment, I have often heard from the more cardio fit coworkers spinning tales of being out in nature and getting after it on dirt trails. The conversation extended into trail shoes, playlists, trail names, fitness watches, and phone apps. Though I was never really a part of the conversation, I eavesdropped and a statement struck a cord with me. It was said trail running makes you a better runner on the hard top. Really? I love nature. I like fitness. I want to be a better runner. I then heard about Law Dawg Trail Tours (LDTT). For $30 bucks, LDTT would come and pick you up (house, hotel, etc.), and guide a trail running trip for you. I hopped on the computer and scheduled a trip. I spoke with the owner/operator, Josh about the when and the wheres. Josh is clearly passionate about trail running, trail running in Southern Nevada, and wants to share what he knows with others. He informed me the trail we would be taking did not require trail shoes, and my current go fasters would be fine enough. We set a date to go run the Calico Basin Trail and made arrangements for him to pick me up at my house at 7:00 in the morning on a Saturday. I woke up to a torrential downpour occurring outside. I was good to go, but was not sure if LDTT would be. I checked my phone and there was not text or phone message. Then I received a text at approximately 6:30, letting me know Josh was on his way. At 10 minutes till there was a light knock on the door. Much appreciated as it did not wake up the GF. I stepped out into the rain and placed my gear in an immaculate (minus being wet) looking Toyota FJ. Josh asked me I wanted a water or a snack but I was content with my bulletproof coffee. Off we went into the cloudy, rain soaked morning. While driving to the trail head, Josh threw out multiple factoids about Vegas, and that transitioned to factoids about the Red Rock area when it's beauty came into view. It helped cut the edge off nervous excitement I was feeling. When we arrived at the trail head, the rain was a still coming down. Josh gave a quick brief on the trail and running tips on how I should attack it. He threw some water, first aid kit, and other gear in a back pack and pointed the way. With a beep of his watch, we were off. We chatted about this and that as I enjoyed the cold, wet morning. With the first splash of a puddle, I was immediately reminded of my childhood and looked for every puddle to splash in after that. With every step I enjoyed my rising heart rate enjoying the surroundings. The desert a majority of time is one tough bitch. When in the desert during rain, you get to see and experience it's almost softer side. Water can most certainly invigorate and/or weaken just about anything, including the Mojave. The trail split this way and sometimes that way, Josh was behind me giving direction...tips on the value of duct tape, and.......more factoids! We would eventually summit a rather large hill after an approximate 500 foot elevation gain. I would imagine this vantage point offers a great view of valley below, but not on this day. The valley was sacked with moisture laden clouds. Not to matter, the clouds hanging around the Red Rock area, made for a beautiful and seldom seen landscape. After a photo op, we headed back down to complete this 3.5 mile trail. After much fun, many puddles, and spying a lone jack rabbit, we ended up back at the FJ and with a beep of the watch...we were done. With a huge smile on my face, I swapped out gear for some dry stuff. One thing I noticed as I was throwing on my flip flops, was that my knees, hips, and lower back weren't as sore as when I normally run on the streets. LDTT is punctual, knowledgable, friendly, and more than reasonably priced. I would imagine even a Uber/Lyft from anywhere on the Strip is going to be a pricey proposition. But to be picked up on the Strip or any other area of the Vegas for that matter, and taken to whatever trailhead you desire on the website, and guided after that...It just can't be beat!! I am now a convert!

I recently had the pleasure to go on a great trail adventure with Law Dawg Tours. What an amazing…read moreexperience!!! Josh picked me up, in the cleanest vehicle I have ever been inside, immaculate!!! While on the way out to beautiful Red Rock Canyon we engaged in a variety of conversational topics. Josh is very knowledgeable about fitness, nutrition, and trail running. Upon our arrival at the Calico trail, Josh gave me the run down on what to expect and see along the moderately rugged path. Josh had great information about the area, the landscape, and some of the critters we may see along the way. We began our run, all along the way Josh made sure it was a comfortable pace for me, which is not real fast, but I could pass a desert tortoise if put to the test. The highlight of the 3 mile trail was getting to the top of the mountain we had circled along the way. What a view!!! The beautiful red cliffs to the west and the Las Vegas valley to the east!! What a great experience with a great tour guide!! I highly recommend Law Dawg Tours to anyone of any skill level to go out and set a path on these amazing trails!!

Red Springs is one of my favorite spaces right next to Red Rock. The great advantage here is that…read morethere is no fee to enjoy it and parking is free (for now). I like coming here in the fall when the many trees here are changing color; it makes me feel like we do have an autumn even in the desert. The boardwalk that traverses the space is nice for strolling and you have excellent views of some of Red Rock without having to drive into the loop.

Great place to visit. When you need God. What happens in darkness always comes to light.read more

Even if you're a local, Hike This! is worth your time. We booked our hike in March, and had to…read morepush it back a couple of times due to a scheduling conflict on our end and crazy spring weather. Neil was very accommodating in getting our dates changed and we ended up with our hike on a beautiful day. Neil has been hiking Red Rock for quite some time now and knows a lot about the area. If you need backpacks and supplies he is fully prepared. The scramble offers enough difficulty to leave you feeling like you were challenged and enough easier spots to slow down and enjoy the views. Speaking of which, the views from the peak are amazing. I would definitely recommend Hike This! for couples, families, or even company outings.

Neil from Hike This! offers customized private hiking and rock scrambling tours of Red Rock Canyon…read morethat are not to be missed. Red Rock Canyon is a 20 minute drive from the Strip, and is an amazing destination for the outdoors enthusiast or for those looking to see the natural beauty that lies beyond the glitz and glam of the casinos. My boyfriend was planning on playing poker tournaments during the day, and I wanted to take the opportunity to explore Red Rock Canyon. Since I was going to be doing this solo, I wanted to find a guided tour, and I'm so glad that I stumbled upon Hike This! to take me on a private one-on-one Rock Scramble. Neil, owner and guide of Hike This! is an absolute delight: super warm and friendly and very professional. He picked me up directly in front of the hotel I was staying at and provided a pack, snacks, water and sunscreen for our excursion. Neil asked me about my fitness level and my hiking experience before we began heading off trail to rock scramble. Throughout the scramble, Neil carefully assessed how I was doing to make sure that I was comfortable with what we were doing. I'm pretty outdoorsy and fit, so we went scrambling all over the sandstone and did some technical hand over foot climbing to ascend to this gorgeous overlook of the canyon. The sandstone offers some of the best footing around: it's super grippy, and I became very confident climbing up and down it. At the top, we had a snack (apples, cheese and granola bars) before climbing back down. Along the way, Neil was taking photos of me which he emailed to me later that day. The photos are professional quality, and it was fantastic to be able to share action shoots with my boyfriend. We spent about 3 hours hiking and scrambling before hopping back in the car and taking the rest of the scenic loop of the park before heading back to the hotel. If you're looking for a unique and exciting way to explore Red Rock Canyon, look no further than Neil at Hike This! He's a wonderful and experienced guide and is a delight to hike with. His excursions are incredibly popular and book quickly, so make your reservation soon!

It is absolutely stunning over here! This is the second time I've hiked this and I love it…read more It's about a 35 minute drive from the strip. There is an entry fee of $22 but they do have a discount for military. You can also make reservations online. There's plenty of parking and the entry fee includes a scenic drive as well. Make sure you come early to beat the heat and don't forget your water. Do I recommend this hike? Absolutely! What are you waiting for.

Second time here. It is impossible to tire of this magnificent feat of nature…read more The trails are "fairly" arduous but I managed to do them with my two fake knees. This is a spiritual and sacred place.

Didn't know that Red Rock Canyon requires a timed park pass for entry. Had to settle for the Red…read moreRock Canyon Overlook instead. Located just a few minutes drive from Red Rock Canyon, it was perfect for a quick stop while we explored the area. Limited parking, but we found a spot early on a Saturday morning. Lots of bikers which occupied much of the parking area. Great views on a sunny weekend morning. Perfect to snap a few photos before heading to Cactus Joe's and the state park.

It was a very cold day. Just stopped to take photos did not dress properly so we left. Wish we had…read moremore time.

Amazing hike! Short (for a difficult hike), adventurous, challenging, and real fun with a view…read morethat's more than worth the journey it'll take you to get up there. I did this hike on MLK day with perfect hiking weather. We ended up going extra long on the Rocky Gap road, but the weather actually made it a pleasant walk. You're in a canyon with gorgeous views of La Madre and Red Rock mountains. We actually missed the beginning of the actual North Peak trail, which would have saved us about 3 miles total. However, we did take that missed trail on the way back and it was a lot steeper and rough! It would have probably taken us about the same time going up on that trail. The view at the end was absolutely magical. Surprisingly, there was just about no wind at the peak, so it made for a pleasant extended stay. There is also an ammo can with a journal to log in your accomplishments. There is some fun scrambling at the last stretch of the hike once you can see the peak in view. The great part about taking on these difficult hikes is that there's likely to be nobody on the trial so that you may be in more intimate with nature.