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    White Owl Canyon

    4.7 (23 reviews)

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    Gambit H.

    This was a fun hike. We went on a Saturday morning around 9am. It begins with a downhill trail and follow the rock pathway. You go through some canyons and there's a big tunnel. It is fairly easy to moderate. There were some shells along the way that the kids enjoyed looking at. Total loop is 2.2 miles round trip. We did not see any owls unfortunately.

    Kristen M.

    Nov 22, 2020 - 3.5 miles Loop Trail - 1.5hrs to complete Dog Friendly, there was only one spot that had a high drop but there was a rock the pup was able to jump on then jump down from. After you walk out of the double tunnels, climb out up the dirt hill directly to the right of them (as you come out) to the abandoned road to stay on the loop trail. (Go left on the road to stay on the trail. Your left when you are facing the lake) As other reviewers said the hardest part was the climb out at the very end where we started for sure! It is pretty steep so you get that booty burn it but it's all worth it!

    Underpass of Lakeshore road
    Niki S.

    There are two things I look for when It comes to pick up a trail: 1st, it has to be interesting or scenic 2nd, it's short (less than 6 miles round trip) This trail was rated "Moderate" and it's short (2.2 miles round trip) with 300 feet elevation change. I would think the ONLY "moderate" part of this trail is the steep 45ft slope which was hard on the knees. Coming down was easy, coming up, I made at least 3 stops:XD As everyone had already mentioned how to find the trailhead and where the trail leads to. I am not going to repeat it. Perhaps, I didn't do enough homework, I was a little confused at some point about which way to turn left. If that ever happened, follow your instinct, and follow the footprints! I made to the first culvert (tunnel) and it was starting to get dark. I had to turn on the light to make sure nothing follows me:p The trail isn't heavily trafficked on weekdays, only bumped into a group of 3 on my way into the slot canyon. It was quiet and peaceful. No cellular reception down in the slot canyon but Verizon has good coverage in most of the Lake Mead Recreation Area. Entrance fee $25 They accept America the Beautiful Annual Pass! I went to Lake Mead back to back, it started to grow on me as it's not as far as Death Valley and less crowded as Red Rock Canyon.

    Apple S.

    Really gorgeous hike and it has lots of different scenery and variations. It is quite easy just one rock you have to get off but I sit down and jumped off it was easy. Lots of shade, the tunnels are cool. The rock formations are gorgeous. Far views and many photo ops. It took us 1.5h.

    Michelle L.

    Nice hike in the Lake Mead area. Not much flora to see, but the slot canyons are pretty cool! Beginning of the trail from the parking lot is pretty steep but the remainder of the trail is pretty flat.

    Perfect photo op
    Cassandra W.

    What a beautiful hike! As someone who is not as fit as they'd like to be, I was still able to tackle this fairly easily. Be warned that you have to go up a very steep and gravely hill at the end of the loop to get back to the parking lot. I was more than a little bit winded after that. I'd recommend downloading a map of the trail off the internet before starting this loop. I have Verizon, and I lost service during the middle of my hike. This trail doesn't have the best signage, so it's good to be prepared. Overall, I'd say this trail is fairly beginner friendly if you don't have any medical issues. Do not expect easy paved paths, but there's nothing super challenging to climb over either.

    Owl!
    Cassidy W.

    The trail isn't easy to follow as mentioned by others and a good 3.5 mile round trip hike that took us about 3.5 hours to complete. You turn right and make your way up the hill almost immediately after the second tunnel and see the red rocks on uiur left! The alltrails app makes it super easy to follow the trail. Thankfully a nice person using the trail could show us our progress on the hike! Not very much vegetation, but there are beautiful formations and views of the wash as it makes its way to Lake Mead. Plus, owl sightings!!

    From the top.  You can see how the trail is pretty obvious.
    Christina R.

    Very beautiful hike that's not too much of an effort. Great for kids and out of shape hikers like me. The trailhead isn't marked but it's pretty obvious where the trail starts. In case you don't see it, it's around the second (middle) picnic bench. You have to go down a very steep hill that has pretty loose gravel. This is the most "moderate" park of the hike. Once you get into the slot canyon, it's very easy to ambulate. Some small obstacles but not many. There are many shaded areas if you decide to go during the summer like I did. It was 9am but it was still pretty darn hot. The culverts are an interesting portion of this hike. It is a bit dark inside the longer (first) one but I didn't use a light and was able to see pretty well. And believe me I was looking. Snake + solo hike = no bueno. I didn't follow the advice to loop around, I just turned around where you could loop around after the second set of culverts [this will be pretty obvious too because it the only section that looks kind of like a ramp on the left side (SE) facing away from the culverts] because I wanted to walk through that slot canyon again. As of 6//17/18, the entrance fee to Lake Mead was $25 for 7 days. However, if you live here like I do and you think you'll come more than once, it's probably best to get the $45 all year pass.

    Janeth V.

    Love this hike! Super easy and lots of shade once you get to the canyons. Had to ask where the path was, got lost the first time. Basically: go down the hill, walk straight, go over the small hill and take the left path. Trail was clean and it was neat seeing all the seashells on the floor! There is an entrance fee but when I went (before 6am), the office wasn't open yet so we were able to pass without paying. (I have an America beautiful pass which they take as well) The passed 2 times I went (August 2020), I barely saw anyone. Basically had the trail to myself the entire time I was there. Would recommend leaving around 10/11am before it gets really hot and making sure you have enough water for when you have to climb up the steep hill from the beginning! You will need it!

    Slot play!
    Laurie V.

    Whoooooooo **owl tone** knew that this hike was here -- I sure as heck didn't. When you think of hiking at Lake Mead, I always thought just the railroad trail or the Hoover Dam. Nope, there's more than meets the eye. After pay $20 for the Lake Mead Park fees, we to a short scenic drive to a parking lot overlooking what looked like a mini Horseshoe Bend. We parked the car and proceeded to walk (tread) our way down a loose dirt/gravel/rock trail. Following our hiking leads, we walked through the dry river bed that was Lake Mead. We knew this because of all the sea shells that laid on the ground we walked upon. After walking an easy 15 minutes, we came upon a slot canyon ---- we know how much I love slot canyons -- the only slots I like to play in **hehe**lame joke*** These canyons were easily as high as the ones in Antelope Canyon but, wider to let in more light. As we walked along the way, our friends pointed out various owl nests -- hence, white owl canyon. It was kinda crazy and creepy to think that there were owls above us; especially considering the owl droppings along the wall. Yuck. After walking through the slots, it lead us to a man made tunnel, which goes under the roads of Lake Mead State Park. And another tunnel past that. Throughout this 30-45 minute hike, sadly, we weren't lucky enough to see an owls. But, so happy to have seen this hike on a beautiful sunday funday.

    A coyote on the early part of the hike.  Because of the drop in the lake level, we don't see them anymore.
    Norm K.

    Over the last 8 years, I have hiked this canyon probably 15 or more times. I do it as a loop starting at the parking area at 33 Hole along Lakeshore Road at Lake Mead. As you enter the 33 Hole area, turn left at the first side road and go to that parking area. There's a bathroom along the way in and a picnic table close to where you park. From the picnic table, take the steep trail down the hill. Go across the bottom where Lake Mead used to be and cross over a small ridge. After that ridge, turn left following the trail up the wash into White Owl Canyon. From here, you'll go through two sets of drainage pipes under the new and old roads that go along the lake's shoreline. In between, you'll pass through a meandering slot canyon of layered mud hardened and formed by water over thousands of years. Always keep your eyes both toward the top of the canyon and along the bottom. On the top, we often see an owl who'll be watching us as we near a nesting area. On the bottom of the wash, look for owl pellets--the bones and fur of animals the owls have eaten and then regurgitated. They cannot eat again until they rid themselves of this waste. As you look up, you'll also see some areas where the owls have nested over the years. I always do this hike as a loop. After the second tunnel, I climb out of the wash to the old road and walk that north for about a mile before following another wash that leads back through a tunnel and connects with the Lakeshore Trail and then follow that back to the steep hill to the car. Over the years, I've seen the lake's water level drop and ride--but mostly drop--until now the one area is totally dry. It's sad to see how the level has dropped and the egrets and heron are no longer near the trail. I find this to be a relaxing time with nature and it's a hike I've done by myself when I want to be alone and enjoy in a very quiet way.

    Crystal C.

    Finding it is difficult because it is not on any map or kiosk. The best way to find the trailhead is to ask a ranger when arriving into Lake Mead Rec area. We were there mid afternoon in January and the weather was great. This area is partially shaded so on a chilly day be sure to bring a layer for the canyon itself. Path was clear once you arrived in the actual canyon. The path travels along what used to be a water way and is littered with shells making for a very interesting sight. The slot canyon is the nesting place for owls, however on our visit we did not see any. There are several areas which look prime for those wanting to adventure and scramble on the rocky terrain however for those just seeking a hike it is also perfect! There are two areas which you walk under the roadways through large tunnels. These are very dark so I recommend a light to make sure you don't stumble upon any undesirable critters. It was a fun path for us (2 adults and 1 child) and for those wanting a path a little less traveled it is a must!!

    Lisa M.

    This is a great scenic hike. Would be fun for families. We took dogs with us today. Usually not a hike I would take dogs. However time of day and so many people didn't think we would see any owls. We seen lots of owl poo up high on the ledges. I've yet to see an owl on my hikes here. Have seen friends photos and there is the poo so they are there. Last time I was here I seen an owl's regurgitation with bones in it (mice maybe). Next time we're gonna go early in the morning. I'm determined to see one!

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    Nice hiking trail. I recommend you download a map from Alltrail because it's easy to get lost.

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    Ask the Community - White Owl Canyon

    Review Highlights - White Owl Canyon

    Not very much vegetation, but there are beautiful formations and views of the wash as it makes its way to Lake Mead.

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    Desert Adventures - Aaah million dollar view

    Desert Adventures

    4.4(188 reviews)
    9.6 mi

    My husband and I did the full-day Black Canyon kayak tour with Desert Adventures and I seriously…read morecan't recommend it enough. I grew up in Vegas and have been on this river a ton by boat, and I've also hiked to both Gold Strike and Arizona Hot Springs. Those hikes are super rewarding but honestly brutal. This experience was completely different in the best way. Being able to get out of the river and be steps away from hot springs was amazing, and the views from the water are hands down the best. We met the team bright and early at 5:30am for launch, and everything was super smooth. They shuttled us, got us fitted for life jackets, handled waivers, and gave a quick safety rundown. Launch timing is strict because of the park service, but they made it feel easy and not stressful at all. Definitely be on time, though, because due to this strict timing, they will leave without you. The kayaks were such a game-changer. They were longer touring kayaks with foot-controlled rudders, dry storage, and actual back support. Super comfortable for me and somehow also worked great for my 6'2" husband (he had a larger boat). Since it was just the two of us, our guide Holmes customized the whole day to our pace. He took us to hidden spots I had never seen before, even as a local, and helped us avoid crowds. We did some hiking, rock scrambling, used ropes at Boy Scout Canyon, and explored hot springs that you can only get to from the river. It felt adventurous but still very safe, and he gave great tips the whole time. He also knew so much about the area. History of the Hoover Dam, plants, wildlife, etc. I learned a ton - even as someone who felt familiar with the area. This is exactly why I'm glad we didn't just rent kayaks. Having a guide made it feel like a next-level experience. We got to relax more while he handled the route and found the best spots. We got lucky with perfect early April weather. No wind, super glassy water, and we could see fish deep in the water. The 12 miles honestly felt way easier than expected, especially with how well Holmes guided us through the current so we could just float and chill a lot of the time. They also packed a great lunch, snacks, and plenty of water. You really just need a sun shirt, hat, sunglasses, swimsuit, water shoes, and sunscreen. They take care of the rest. Even though we leaned a little more adventurous, I could totally see this being doable for beginners, too. You don't need to be super athletic to enjoy it. Pickup and cleanup were easy and seamless. They handled everything while I grabbed a snack and relaxed, which honestly made it feel even more special. This was such a cool experience, and I would 100% do it again. Already recommending it to friends, and I would definitely consider doing the overnight version next time.

    Desert Adventures is great! We did a self led excursion…read moredown the Colorado river but used this company to drop us off and pick us up! They provided a large trailer with ample shelves and space to put are gear onto. A safety speech was also given. This company has special authorization to enter the Hoover Dam property and take people down to launch from the entrance of the Hoover Dam. They instructed you to move quickly as there was a time limit for getting everyone/everything Into the water and away from the area. The next day, they were prompt with their pick up and helped us load our gear back onto the trailer. I would definitely use this company again and recommend them to others.

    Photos
    Desert Adventures - Launch at Hoover Dam

    Launch at Hoover Dam

    Desert Adventures - On the Colorado River. Our second night of the Bighorn Classic 3-day river trip.

    On the Colorado River. Our second night of the Bighorn Classic 3-day river trip.

    Desert Adventures - Fun day, fun times!

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    Fun day, fun times!

    Historic Railroad Trail - Hoover Dam

    Historic Railroad Trail

    4.6(170 reviews)
    7.5 mi

    Hey Yelpers! This is…read morea super easy mostly flat hiking trail with the most beautiful views. This is the best time of the year to hike it, too. You can easily drive into the parking lot like you are heading to the visitor center, but drive past it down to the restroom parking lot close to the trail and it's perfectly marked for easy no brainer adventure. About half way or an hour in there is another restroom with a covered picnic table for a break. Then you can continue on down to the Boulder Dam. There are amazing views there as well as awesome retro restrooms , memorials, and water. There used to be a cafe. I forgot to look if they are still open. Before the dam is a parking structure. You can take the stairs or an elevator. We usually start our hikes about 8 am. The restrooms were still clean and stocked. I bring hand sanitizer. Be sure to bring water and a snack just in case. Dogs are welcome but please pick up after them and keep them on a leash. The later it gets the more busy it gets. I like to go here at least once a year. It's just so nice to get out into nature and experience Nevada. Parking is free. You can check out the visitor center while you are there. They have cool stuff. I recommend this trail. Check it out!

    Free Parking this is the beginning 1 mile until you hit the 1st rail tunnel. You are walking…read morebasically on the removed railroad tracks where the rail cars were used to remove and bring in materials to build Hoover Dam. Walk, Jog, or bike love this spot for the beauty and the history. $25 to enter lake Meade State Park if you choose to go in if you have a pass it's free. Hoover Dam Hotel Casino and Hoover Damn are also in the area to visit to see the sights along with the small town of Boulder City which offers restaurants bars and small shops & antiques.

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    Historic Railroad Trail - Almost made it to the Hoover Dam

    Almost made it to the Hoover Dam

    Historic Railroad Trail - @Historicrailroadtrail #Historicrailroadtrail

    @Historicrailroadtrail #Historicrailroadtrail

    Historic Railroad Trail

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    Shoreline Trail - One of the cool rock formations on the hike

    Shoreline Trail

    4.5(4 reviews)
    0.9 mi

    I hike part of the Shoreline Trail several times each winter when the temperatures permit. The…read moreShoreline Trail stretches from the former Las Vegas Bay boat launch area to the 3 Islands Overlook at 33 Hole about 2 miles south. When I hike this trail, it's because I'm hiking through what's known as White Owl Canyon and after going through some pipes to get to the old road, I return to the car by joining the Shoreline Trail about a mile from the parking area for 33 Hole and the 3 Islands Lookout. Some volunteers have done some nice work over the last couple of years by placing boulders along the trail so one knows where to go. This section has changed over the 7 years or so that I've been hiking the trail. The boulders work now because the level of the lake has fallen so much there's little danger that the trail will be covered by water and the rocks become useless. In fact, it has been very discouraging to watch the level of the lake drop so much that you now have to leave the trail to get to the edge of a stream that was once the lake. It is nice to see the water fowl and it's a pleasant hike when temperatures permit.

    YELP 365 CHALLENGE 2014-(313/365) "A Hiking We Will Go! "…read more Any time there's a chance to explore the outdoors, it's an automatic 5 stars for me. Add to that, a bunch of great people and our resident hike expert Norm leading the pack, you got yourself one heck of an excursion! There were 10 of us on this chilly morning and it was my first time inside the Lake Mead Area. The views here are so breathtaking, pictures and reviews don't do any justice...you gotta get out there and experience this yourself! This hike is about 3 miles and involves different elevations, a bit of rock scrambling, going through a few tunnels and a brief time inside owl canyon where we saw great rock formations, and even an owl who was guarding his/her huge nest nearby. there were also tons of clam shells scattered around and old Budweiser and Coors cans from the peel tab era. There also was a random wood frame kinda thing during our hike which made all of us clueless as to why anything was being constructed. After a short walk on the paved road way, we looped around and began the trek back to our cars along the rock formed trail taking in the awesome scenery and a last scramble up the same hill we first went down back to the parking lot. Thanks again Norm for another great hike, and we'll join you on the trail once again for your next hike! ALOHA!!! Shaka Meter: \uuu/ \uuu/ \uuu/ \uuu/ \uuu/ 5

    Photos
    Shoreline Trail - Inside the Tunnel. Up ahead .... Norm, Terri & Mel

    Inside the Tunnel. Up ahead .... Norm, Terri & Mel

    Shoreline Trail - Great short hike

    Great short hike

    Shoreline Trail

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    River Mountain Trail

    River Mountain Trail

    4.8(6 reviews)
    8.5 mi

    We have lectric bikes and boy did we take em out for a Spin!…read moreWe rode the entire 35mile loop. It took us about 5 hours with one of them Being breaks. Even with help this trail is a beautiful beast. Steep hills and a steady gradual I cline in the middle. It sure was beautiful though. Great views. Some nature. Just some chipmunks and lizards mostly.

    This is one of the few cycling trails in the extended Las Vegas Valley that allows you to ride for…read moremiles while separated from cars (another is on the west side of the 215 Beltway). It is a 34 mile loop including almost 3,000' of climbing--both long, slow grades (up to Boulder City) and very steep, short hills (The Three Sisters). Road cyclists regularly take advantage of the well-paved path. You will also see pedestrians walking along the way. The path passes the edge of Boulder City at Bootleg Canyon, goes behind Railroad Pass Casino, passes Lake Las Vegas, and enters Lake Mead National Recreation Area. It continues along the main road in the park, then starts the uphill slog just before the park's Visitor's Center. There, it crosses the park road and the path continues up to Boulder City. Accept on part of the climb to Boulder City where the path is in the flood channel, it is in pristine condition with nicely paved asphalt. There are not many water stops which is a problem for summer workouts. You can get water at Bootleg Canyon, the water district (just past Railroad Pass Casino), and two places in the park (including Boulder Beach). Except for the water district and one of the Lake Mead stops, there are bathrooms at each of the water stations. There is also a bathroom on the path by the Visitor's Center. Almost all riders go in a clockwise direction. I prefer this direction because it is really uncomfortable coming down the flood channel at speed. There are lines in the cement that cause little bumps that are both a problem in the nether-regions and they slow you down. A great workout is to do the loop clockwise and then counter-clockwise. If doing this, you may want to do the CCW-Boulder City-to-the-Lake section on the highway instead of in the storm drains. Other than the flood channel, what I don't like about the RMT is its curviness on the lake side. There are some excellent descents and ascents, but there are usually compact turns at the bottoms of the hills so you lose your speed before having to climb the next hill. And, you can't maintain your speed through the curves because many of them drop 100' to the desert floor below. The views are wonderful. You see the lake during a third of the trek and the Las Vegas skyline during another third. Caution: This is a HARD ride and water is not quickly accessible. Carry MUCH MORE water than you think you'll need. I experienced true thirst only once in my life and it was on this path. Also, I've had to stop on more than one occasion to give others desperately needed water.

    Photos
    River Mountain Trail - Parking lot.

    Parking lot.

    River Mountain Trail - Boulder City rest area

    Boulder City rest area

    River Mountain Trail

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    Boy Scout Canyon - This is a narrow spot in the hike.

    Boy Scout Canyon

    4.8(5 reviews)
    9.1 mi

    Boy Scout Canyon can be a 4 or 8 miles round trip depending on the vehicle you have and how far you…read morewant to hike. I've done it both ways and I prefer the shorter version. To get there, drive to Boulder City and continue straight on Nevada Way to Utah Street. Do NOT head for Hoover Dam. Make a right on Utah Street and follow it until it ends at the Boulder City garbage transfer area. Turn right onto a graded road and follow it for less than a mile. You'll see a left turn for a gun range. Turn left here and follow this road for a short time. There is another turn to get to the gun range. DO NOT take that left turn. Continue to the next left and then go down a steep hill that runs along the south side of the gun range. You'll soon enter the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. Inside the fenced area is where you park if you do not have a 4x4. This will make your hike 8 miles round trip. If you do have a 4x4, continue driving down the wash for another two miles. The rocks are sharp in places and close to each other, so drive this with care. At the end of the 2 miles, you'll come to the trailhead--a place that's wired off so vehicles can't go any more. Park here. From here, follow the wash as it heads to the Colorado River. The rock formations are amazing and the views are great! At about 1/3 mile from the trailhead, you come to a 15 foot dry fall that's easy 3rd class. The best side to scramble down is on the left as you're looking down the wash. Take care, but this isn't a hard down climb. As you near the end of your wash, the canyon narrows and soon you come to the end of this part of the hike. The end is a 20 foot dry fall you can only get down using ropes. There are some hooks in the rock above, but I would not recommend you do this. At the bottom of the dry fall is a pool like area in which I've never seen water. Beyond this small pool is a high pour over that's more than a 300 foot drop. Enough said. You don't need to explore down there! The next part of the hike entails retracing your steps about 3/10 of a mile. Look to your left as you're hiking back and you'll see a use trail leave the wash and go up a hill. Follow this trail which has some ups and downs and eventually it will lead you to a magnificent view of the Colorado and the Black Canyon Wilderness area. This is a good place to have a snack and take photos. When you're done, go back to the wash and head back to your car. This is a great hike with lots of pretty vistas. Wear hiking boots and take water. A Camelbak is best! Happy hiking!

    I did a little UYE hiking action with Norm K and August C last weekend. I won't reiterate all of…read morethe useful information that Norm has already listed. If you need directions to the trailhead, I refer you to his excellent review. I found this hike to be pretty easy. There is one scramble down (and back up) a 15-foot spillover in the wash. Other than that, it's a very gradual descent toward the Colorado. You don't actually make it all the way to the river on this hike. There is a 25-foot dry fall that basically serves as the end of this out-and-back hike. Even if you decide to brave that drop, Norm says there is a 300-foot drop waiting for you just moments ahead of that. Instead of pressing downward, we backtracked and found our way up to a ridge where we had a great view of the river and the Hoover Dam bypass bridge. All told, we hiked about four miles. Of course, the hike could have been longer if we didn't drive the two miles down the wash until the point where they prohibit vehicles. That's probably the one thing that would prevent me from doing this hike again. Most of the "road" is fine, but there may be parts where having a 4x4 is recommended. I probably won't ever do this hike again, but it was an enjoyable morning and I'm grateful that I can cross it off my (nonexistent) list.

    Photos
    Boy Scout Canyon - The wash narrows as your near the first 20 foot dry fall and it's quite pretty!

    The wash narrows as your near the first 20 foot dry fall and it's quite pretty!

    Boy Scout Canyon - This is Boy Scout Canyon.  That's about 500 feet down.

    This is Boy Scout Canyon. That's about 500 feet down.

    Boy Scout Canyon - The Colorado from the side trail overlook.

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    The Colorado from the side trail overlook.

    White Owl Canyon - hiking - Updated May 2026

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