Valley offers plenty of places to hit the trails

Some of the best hiking in the Southwest can be done in the Las Vegas Valley.

For proof, ask Branch Whitney, an avid outdoorsman who has been blazing local trails on and off since 1983. He has written some of the only guides to hiking in Southern Nevada, including "Hiking Southern Nevada" and "Hiking Las Vegas: 60 Hikes within 60 minutes of the Strip."

Las Vegas hasn't been known as a place to hike, Whitney says, but that's recently started to change. Recently, Backpacker magazine even named Las Vegas the No. 1 outdoor city in the nation.

There are three prominent hiking areas in the valley -- Lake Mead, Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area and Mount Charleston -- that provide good hiking no matter the season, Whitney says.

But that doesn't mean you should hike them all year-round. As any seasoned hiker knows, you should pick your trail based on the season.

WINTER

Lake Mead National Recreational Area: You'll have to pay the $5 per car entrance fee to the park in order to access these trails. Rangers in the fee kiosks can provide directions to the trail heads.

• Anniversary Narrows: This is one of the best, Whitney says. The hike is about two miles round-trip and beginner's level, but it can be extended for a more rigorous excursion. The narrows portion of the path is more than 100 yards long and as narrow as 6 feet. There are some old mines along the trail, but you should stay clear of those.

• The Hot Springs at Lake Mead: Another great trail but for the more experienced hiker, Whitney says. Hikers have to do some rock scrambling on the six-mile round-trip. You'll know you're at the end of the hike when you come upon several natural hot springs. Take a soak -- the biggest pool could fit 40 or 50 people -- before hiking back to the trail head. It's a popular area so expect to encounter other hikers. The water temperature hovers around 90 degrees so you don't want to try this trail during the summer.

SPRING AND FALL

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is the best place for both seasons, Branch says, as the weather is similar. The entrance fee is $5 per car or $20 for a one-year pass. A map that lists the park's trail heads is provided at the fee kiosk.

• The Fern Canyon trail: Accessed from the Pine Creek trail head, Fern Canyon is one of the more scenic trails at Red Rock, Whitney says. Expect to encounter several small waterfalls along the trail and ferns galore once you get into the canyon. It's about three miles round-trip but you can hike farther along the trail where a seasonal waterfall flows into the creek. Whitney calls this a level one beginner's hike. It involves some rock scrambling.

• Lost Creek Waterfall: If you're looking for something easy at Red Rock, try Lost Creek. The trail leads to a seasonal waterfall, the whole reason to go, Whitney says. Water is currently flowing from it, which should continue into the springtime depending on the spring thaw and snow melt, Whitney says.

SUMMER

Mount Charleston.

• Fletcher Canyon: The hikes are tougher because of the elevation in the mountain, but there are a few trails that beginners can do, Whitney says. It's best to hike it in the summer, because it gives locals a chance to escape the summer heat; temperatures can be 20 to 30 degrees cooler than in the valley. Fletcher Canyon is four miles round-trip, a bit longer than other easy hikes but well worth the effort, Whitney says. Hikers pass through some narrows where the walls are as high as 100 feet. A waterfall awaits at the end of the trail.

• Big Falls: It's a little tougher than Fletcher Canyon, because you follow a trail for only the first mile. After that, hikers must do some rock scrambling in a wash, where there's often a lot of water, Whitney says. Another waterfall is at the end of the trail. The water may make the hike harder but the end result is spectacular, Whitney says. It's about four miles round-trip.

Contact reporter Sonya Padgett at spadgett@reviewjournal.com or (702) 380-4564.