colorock

[goofball]

here's a very cool day hike just outside vegas. exit I15 at the west entry valley of fire exit (by the casino/truck stop) and in a few miles is a side road right where the main road makes a bend. this is the bitter springs backcountry byway. take it ! follow signs to colorock quarry and wander away. i got there in my hyundai elantra so 2wd passenger vehicles (driven w/ care in spots) can make it. from the dead end parking area there is a path that goes up and over teh bowl there, then you can wander the valley below either out towards the standing rocks or along the face of the "colorock ridge" i'll call it. a long ridge of broken rock w/ many side canyons cutting into it. it took me ~2 hours to walk to the ridge end form the th, w/ some gawking along the way.

http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/562895013YIihdK

pretty rock

http://inlinethumb35.webshots.com/42850/2144733270044057460S600x600Q85.jpg (http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2144733270044057460HSQAgM)


valley floor

http://inlinethumb12.webshots.com/18571/2090361050044057460S600x600Q85.jpg (http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2090361050044057460pdZluk)


1st petroglyphs panel

http://inlinethumb39.webshots.com/24102/2479555440044057460S600x600Q85.jpg (http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2479555440044057460PrBNhv)


2nd petroglyphs panel

http://inlinethumb56.webshots.com/42999/2703324400044057460S600x600Q85.jpg (http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2703324400044057460ZEcuww)

the ridge

http://inlinethumb62.webshots.com/29181/2778883330044057460S600x600Q85.jpg (http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2778883330044057460pjcrhh)


water pocket

http://inlinethumb08.webshots.com/9287/2279397730044057460S600x600Q85.jpg (http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2279397730044057460clHfQD)

bighorn cave

http://inlinethumb35.webshots.com/15330/2130511160044057460S600x600Q85.jpg (http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2130511160044057460YwNuHh)

[cp0915]

That is a sweet area. And it's also the approach to Muddy Peak, one of the classic peaks of the Mojave Desert.

[Jaxx]

Verry pretty! I am going to be down there in the next couple of weeks with my small children and dogs. Would you recommend this hike for them? We will be visiting Vegas and looking for something fairly close. Right now I have some easy stuff in Red Rocks planned right now

[cp0915]

Yep. The valley you see in one of the photos is called Hidden Valley. Some very interesting sandstone bluffs on the outskirts and within the valley itself. In spring, you'll often find the tinajas full of water. Very cool.

Also, Valley of Fire State Park is very close. Great stuff there for the family, though I'm not sure if dogs are allowed.

[Jaxx]

I just double checked and read that dogs are allowed on a leash! What hikes will let us see some cool rocks, let the kids explore on the rocks, be able to see some petroglyphs. Any recommendations?

[cp0915]

Mannn, all kinds of great stuff there - a real gem of a state park. The first suggestion that comes to mind is the 'Mouse's Tank' hike. Short hike (though you can leave the beaten trail and explore as far as you want) past dozens and dozens of petroglyphs, giant lizards, and cool rocks to a tinaja full of water. The trailhead and trail are signed well. Great for families.

If you're feeling up to some exploration, you can nimbly scale the rocks to the left of the tinajas at the end of the route and drop down into Fire Canyon. A nice, little canyon with some downclimbs and one non-mandatory rappel. Some cool side slots a bit past the rappel, too.

[Win]

I've been meaning to do Bitter Springs Rd for awhile, thanks for the pics and TR.

Valley of Fire is terrific! Definetly do Mouse's Tank, go straight for about 100 ft at the end and there is a neat alcove with a nice arch above. Other than that just wander around at different stops, lots to see and beautiful colors!

Win

[Mtnman1830]

Did you see that you captured the artist in one of the panels?

[Jaxx]

Thanks guys! I was looking at the Mouse's tank. I will have to do that now. Thanks for the info.

[Sombeech]

Did you see that you captured the artist in one of the panels?

That's when the A-bomb went off, getting the "radiation shadow" :haha:

[Bo_Beck]

I've wandered around Valley of Fire a couple times and it is endless corridors of amazing rock. I really like the area.
Never been to Bitter Springs road though? Looks awesome!

[Rented mule]

Thanks! G-ball! Very nice! I never tire of Bitter Springs mining area.
Great pictures! I've been there a few times. I like to end the night when the sun goes down by going back to the res and buying some fireworks and launching them right there at the launching pads they have. Kids love to watch it! That pocket continues on the other side of VOF miles away on the other side of the park located at the Logandale Trails area.
Turn at the Logandale Chinese restaurant and head into the desert for about five miles til you hit orange sand dunes. There is a small wooden sign "logandale trails" off of the main road.

thanks! Brings back great memories! I love the Bitter springs mountain behind with the swiss cheese caves everywhere.

[goofball]

thanks rented mule. i'll have to check that area out. been out in lake mead nra area all this week. absolutely fantastic ! lots of claret cup cactus (?) blooming right now and lots of tiny little white and yellow and purple flowers poking out of that hard packed land. amazing they can make it through !

jaxx - there is great camping there at colorock quarry. plenty of space. i saw a group of nearly 20 last weekend though, spring break hs'ers. they were climbing the trad routes back side of that bowl. takes about 20 minutes +/- to hike up and over from teh parking area to get to that valley and it is easy walking if you want along the base of the ridge of all that broken rock, or out into the valey more. lots of caves and holes for the kids to hide in !

[erial]

for the kids: atatl rock in valley of fire. they'll like climbing the metal stairs to see the rock art. more rock art on a separate wall north or west , i forget, of atatl rock.

if the kids can hike a couple miles round trip, take 'em to sloan canyon which is closer to vegas. lots of rock art on boulders. not sure if pets would be okay there.