The “No Entrance Fee” Calico Basin Red Springs at Red Rock Canyon is stunning!
Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is a breathtaking site managed by the Bureau of Land Management, located on the western edge of the Las Vegas Valley. Visitors can access the Calico Basin Red Springs area free of charge, whereas the main entrance to the park requires a National Park fee. The Calico Basin area is named after the numerous natural springs that provide water to the abundant vegetation and attract various wildlife species. It boasts stunning red and white sandstone cliffs and is encased by the gray limestone La Madre Mountains to the north, the red sandstone Calico Hills to the west, and a desert ridge to the south. The base of the red sandstone cliffs is home to three springs with permanent water – Red Spring, Calico Spring, and Ash Spring – while water also runs in washes north and south of the springs during the winter months. The area is home to large trees, such as cottonwood and ash, as well as shrubs like live oak, honey mesquite, and Saltgrass meadows that thrive around the area thanks to the water provided by the springs. Visitors can enjoy the beautiful marshy grassland that is fed by the outflow of Red Spring, which flows from a shallow tunnel in the rocks at the end of the road. The parking area provides amenities such as picnic tables, fire grills, trash cans, and restrooms for visitors.
Location: East of the Visitor Center and Scenic Loop on Calico Basin
Hike length: ½ mile round trip
Difficulty: Easy; wheelchair accessible
Estimated Minimum Hike Time: 30 minutes
Facilities: Four vault toilets, two near the picnic area and two across the parking lot. No water is available.
General Description: This boardwalk hike starts in a picnic area and then leads to a loop near Red Spring. There are several stops with wayside signs along the trail.
Directions:
To get to Red Spring from downtown Las Vegas, you need to take Charleston Blvd west for 3.8 miles. You will need to turn right onto Calico Basin Road and continue driving north and then west for about 1 mile. When you reach the point where the paved road makes a 90-degree turn to the right, you should turn left and proceed through the gate to enter the picnic area. Red Spring is located on the far side of the boardwalk.
