Page 6 - winter 2015 magazine

By Norm Kresge

Don’t let the name Children’s Discovery Trail lull you There is a series
into thinking this is a trail meant only for kids. This is of rock steps. Be
one of the most diverse trails in Red Rock Canyon and careful with these.

lets the hiker see some very different things. With the fine sand
that erodes from
From the parking area, take the trail that is farthest
the sandstone
from the bathrooms. This will give you a nice loop of
cliffs, the steps
about 3/4 of a mile. There will be some uneven ground
and you will hike over some good-sized rocks. The trail can be very slip-
ascends gently until you get near the base of the cliffs. It pery. Eventually,
you’ll make your
then twists back and
way into the grot-
forth through some A small cave leading to the grotto
scrub oak and there to. It’s a cool spot Photo by Pat Williams
to have a snack,
are some rock steps.
and it is special when we’ve had rain or snow melt and
On the way, at there is some water coming down the falls.
marker #4, there is a
fenced area. If you Retrace your steps

look on the upper left to the turnoff you
took, stay to the
side of the sandstone,
Pictographs on the Lost Creek Trail right and head back
Photo by Norm Kresge you may be able to see to your car. On the
the pictographs left by
Native Americans. Depending on the light, they can be way, you’ll come to
the boardwalk that
difficult to find.
was built by Friends
From here, the of Red Rock Canyon
trail winds near to protect the ripari-
some large sand- an nature of Lost
stone boulders. Creek. There’s an
Eventually, you interpretive marker
come to a place that’s a must read
where the trail and you can see Lost

turns left to go Seasonal Waterfall in the Grotto Creek. Why is it Lost
Photo by Norm Kresge
back to the park- Creek? For a short
ing lot. You can distance, this underground stream comes above
Steps leading to the grotto
also turn right and Photo by Norm Kresge ground. It then disappears again—hence Lost Creek.
go to the grotto. The grotto is the area where the seasonal
waterfall is located. The trail here is easy to follow.
(Continued on page 15)
Page 6