Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area - Petroglyph Wall Trail

Our February 2015 trip to southern Nevada and southern California continued with a short walk to some ancient petroglyphs in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. The trail is in the Willow Springs area across the road from the picnic area. The trail starts near the gravel trailer turnaround area.

Sign

Large trees only grow near water sources like Willow Springs

Juniper Pine

Switchback in the trail

Looking up the wash toward Willow Peak

The trail is surrounded by underbrush

Prickly Pear Cactus

Pictograph or rock painting

Petroglyphs or rock carvings

Typical country for Desert Bighorn Sheep

Does anyone else see a face in the rock?

Looking down the wash

Thanks to Jeanne at Red Rock BLM for identifying this Yerba Santa in the wash

A closer view of Yerba Santa

Looking up the wash toward Willow Peak

An unnamed canyon

White Rock Hills

A daily entrance fee of $7 per vehicle is collected at Red Rock National Conservation Area. An annual pass for Red Rock is available for $30. Another option is to purchase the America the Beautiful - National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass valid for one year for $80. A lifetime Senior Pass is available for $10 for those 62 years of age or older.

The park website is http://www.nv.blm.gov/redrockcanyon.

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area - Willow Springs

Our February 2015 trip to southern Nevada and southern California continued with some more exploring around the Willow Springs area of the Red Rock Canyon National conservation Area.

A daily entrance fee of $7 per vehicle is collected at Red Rock National Conservation Area. An annual pass for Red Rock is available for $30. Another option is to purchase the America the Beautiful - National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass valid for one year for $80. A lifetime Senior Pass is available for $10 for those 62 years of age or older.

The park website is http://www.nv.blm.gov/redrockcanyon.

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area - Sandstone Quarry Area

Our February 2015 trip to the southwest continued with some hiking in Red Rock Canyon just west of Las Vegas, Nevada. We just walked a short distance from the parking area to the old quarry and a bit farther for a total distance of about ½ mile.

The trails are well-signed

Early morning shadows

The Sandstone Bluffs of the Spring Mountains

Quarry Rock in the Calico Hills

6323' Turtlehead Mountain

Checkered sandstone of Quarry Rock

Sandstone Quarry

Rock was last harvested over 100 years ago

Left over blocks from the quarry

Turtlehead Mountain and sandstone blocks

These blocks were likely too large to have been quarried

Shade and water provide opportunities for many plants

The trail is fairly wide and well marked

Light and shadow

Looking back at Quarry Rock

Yes, those are people walking up the rock

Changing light brightens the Sandstone Bluffs

Another view across the wash

A daily entrance fee of $7 per vehicle is collected at Red Rock National Conservation Area. An annual pass for Red Rock is available for $30. Another option is to purchase the America the Beautiful - National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass valid for one year for $80. A lifetime Senior Pass is available for $10 for those 62 years of age or older.

The park website is http://www.nv.blm.gov/redrockcanyon.