Page 7 - summer 2019

6 Friends oF red rock canyon Friends oF red rock canyon 7

Getting there: Get off
the 95 Freeway at Valley
View and head south.
The Springs Preserve is
just south of the Mead-
ows Mall. Parking is
abundant. The trails open
at 9 AM. If you are a
member, you can enter at
8 AM.

Before you go, it
would be good to look
Article and Photos by Norm Kresge at their website: https://
www.springspreserve.
org/explore/trails.html It
will tell you more about
ow that the hot summer weather has town Las Vegas. The buildings open at 9:30 but the trails and you can
N begun, a short, level hike might be just for you can walk by and see them from the outside if check the map before
you. The Springs Preserve has approximately 3.5 you arrive earlier. you go. Also, the official
miles of walking trails. There are a number of dif- Mojave Max is now at
ferent trails that can be strung together to make a From Boomtown, get back on the Exploration the Springs Preserve and
good walk or you can just do something shorter to Loop by going left from the railroad station. Once along your walk, you can
get to know the place. back on the trail, you'll walk along the sound wall visit the tortoise habitat.
that separates US 95 from the neighborhoods and
No fee is required to walk the trails but a dona- the Preserve. Along the way, there are historical
Volunteers dedicated to the preservation of Red Rock Canyon
tion is recommended. If you are not a member, sites to see, rest rooms along the trail and some
you need to go to a ticket window and get a garden areas where you can sit and relax in the shade.
pass. This only gets you into the trail system—
none of the buildings. You will come to a side trail Friends of Red Rock Canyon
called the Springs Trail that's 1/4 Young Professionals
As you enter the trail system, mile long. This will link to the
you will see a derrick similar to Crossroads Trail which is about
ones used to drill for water when 1/2 mile. There are historic spots
this area had a lot of underground to see here, too, and there are a
water. Turn left and begin your number of interpretive markers so
walk along the wall of the Pre- you can learn about the history of
serve. This is called the Explora- the area.
tion Loop Trail that goes along the
perimeter of the Preserve and is a When I hiked here, I back-
total distance of 2.2 miles. If you tracked from the Crossroads
follow this for a quarter of a mile, Trail to the Cienega Trail which
you'll arrive at Boomtown 1905, is about .4 miles. This will take
a recreation of early Las Vegas. you through an area where there's photo by Gareth Pearson
There are replicas of a bank, the water and plants. It will eventually Are you a local young professional that loves adventuring and giving back
train depot, the Lincoln Hotel, and link back to the Exploration Trail at Red Rock Canyon NCA? Then this exciting new group that focuses on
there are original railroad cottages, and you can follow this around service, programs, and networking is for you!
restored and moved from down- until you get back to the entrance. Email erin@friendsredrock.org to sign up.

the Rock - Volume 9 Issue 4 Summer 2019