Red Rock schedule extended

Fear not, hikers and bikers, the Red Rock scenic loop will continue its normal hours of operation.

Bureau of Land Management officials reversed themselves Thursday and decided to keep the 13-mile loop open until 8 p.m. through September and 7 p.m. through October.

Just four days ago, the agency was closing the loop at 5 p.m. -- which is the winter schedule -- citing a drop in visitation. A BLM press release dated earlier this week said the closing time of the scenic drive was "adjusted seasonally based on daylight and visitation."

It was unclear Thursday how much visitation is down, said Hillerie Patton , BLM spokeswoman.

But hikers who complained about the shortened hours said the triple digit heat that scorched the valley this summer was at least partially responsible for the decreased number of visitors. According to the National Weather Service, Las Vegas recorded the hottest month on record this year, with average temperatures reaching 96.2 degrees in July.

Complaints from more than a dozen hikers who felt shortchanged by the earlier hours influenced the decision to maintain normal hours, BLM officials said.

"We hear and understand the concerns expressed by people who visit Red Rock," Tim Wakefield, BLM Red Rock Canyon assistant field manager, said in a statement released to the media. "Evening visitation had slowed, so we moved to seasonal hours of operation a few weeks early; however, people have made it clear they do intend to recreate after 5 p.m. during September and October."

Branch Whitney, a local hiking author, said hikers were upset about the earlier hours because of other recently imposed restrictions that include limiting groups to 12 or less and a fee increase that began in May, which raised park entry prices for the first time in 10 years on cars and motorcycles.

The park also started charging pedestrians and bicyclists for the first time, Whitney said.

"When the fee was raised, one of the reasons they did it was to expand visitor hours," he said. So the earlier closing time "made no sense."

BLM officials sought the fee increase for growing crowds of visitors and less federal funding for daily operations and public safety. In 2008, entrance fees brought in $1.9 million for park maintenance and operations. The increased fees are expected to bring in as much as $986,000 more annually.

Alan Gegax , a member of a local hiking group, said he contacted BLM officials to keep the gates open during normal hours.

"Now that the weather is nice, people want to go out there," Gegax said. "If they would have closed it after 5 p.m. during July and August, nobody would have noticed. This is prime time weather for hiking right now."

The agency is waiving entrance fees Saturday to celebrate National Public Lands Day.

Contact Kristi Jourdan at kjourdan@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0279.