TRIP OF THE WEEK:
Northshore Road perfect for a little winter hiking
Northshore Road in Lake Mead National Recreation Area ideal for winter hiking.
Illustration by Mike Miller/Review-Journal.
During this season of shortened daylight hours, those seeking outdoor experiences find themselves running out of light on extended outings. Close enough to Las Vegas for easy access, the Northshore Road in Lake Mead National Recreation Area provides plenty of scenery, warmer winter temperatures and a variety of short hikes well-suited to this time of year.
The Northshore Road skirts the lake through nearly 50 miles of rugged, colorful desert and mountain landscapes starting behind Frenchman's Mountain and ending near Valley of Fire State Park's eastern entrance. It provides access to lakeside developments at Callville Bay and Echo Bay.
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Access the Northshore Road from Las Vegas Valley either through North Las Vegas by following Lake Mead Boulevard east or from Henderson using Lake Mead Drive past Lake Las Vegas. From Boulder City, follow US 93 to Lakeshore Drive and the junction with Lake Mead Drive. At entry points on these approaches, expect to pay a $5 entry fee, or use one of the national parks passes.
Even if you never leave your car, this drive provides expansive views of the lake, fascinating geological formations and dramatically eroded outcroppings of colorful sandstone. The short hikes possible along this route offer even more opportunities to enjoy the desert's diversity.
Three miles of the Northshore Road separate the Lake Mead Drive and the Lake Mead Boulevard junctions. Halfway between them, hikers find a wetlands area reached by a half-mile trail. It begins at the edge of a large gravel parking area just north of the bridge spanning Las Vegas Wash. The wetlands trail angles down toward thick vegetation cut by a flowing stream, actually the treated wastewater from Las Vegas Valley. Hikers always see many kinds of birds and frequently encounter desert creatures attracted by the water and marshes.
Follow Northshore Road to the turnoff to Callville Bay with its marina, large campground and other facilities about four miles from the highway. Near the RV dump station serving the campground, look for the start of the Callville Trail, a route less than a half-mile long. Gaining about 200 feet elevation, the short, steep climb forks to reach two overlooks with panoramic views of the lake mirroring distant mountains. Connecting trails take you on longer hikes to coves on the lake.
Returning to Northshore Road, continue just past mile marker 20 to a parking area on the left.
The Northshore Summit Trail climbs from the parking area to on the top of a nearby knoll for views of distant sandstone formations known as the Bowl of Fire. The trail offers a half-mile in a figure eight loop.
One of the vivid sandstone outcroppings lies close to the highway at mile marker 27. The Redstone Picnic Area nestles against the formations. A flat trail half a mile in length swings around the picnic area among huge sandstone monoliths. Learn about the area with informational signs along the route.
Continue from Redstone past the Echo Bay turnoff to near mile marker 40 to reach Rogers Spring. This warm spring oasis of palms and cottonwoods invites picnickers. Many explore an informal trail along the runoff stream toward the lake. Others find the Rogers Spring Trail that climbs 100 feet to a scenic overlook. The three-quarter-mike trail begins to the right of the bridge spanning the little stream.
Explore winter hiking possibilities along the Northshore Road and other nearby desert areas in the pages of a new book, "The Recreational Hiker's Guide to Las Vegas Area Trails," by Chris Dempsey. A former marathon runner who retired to Las Vegas in 2000, Dempsey loves the area's year-round recreational opportunities.
Replacing his running shoes with hiking boots, Dempsey soon became a veteran of area trails. He now leads several hikes a month for local hiking clubs and the Red Rock Canyon Interpretive Association.
Recognizing a need for describing lower risk hikes of shorter length that appeal to the majority of hikers he leads, Dempsey includes 46 outings on trails from two to seven miles long. In his 200-page, soft-cover guide, he includes advise on equipment, preparedness and safety. Look for the new guide at the Red Rock visitor center and area bookstores or call Dempsey at 228-0773.
