Page 14 - magazine the rock fall 2016
P. 14
14 Friends oF red rock canyon
Take a Hike - Step Ladder Trail
Article and Photos By Norm Kresge
Ready for a good cardio workout? Be- be aware that you may see mountain bike
fore the cold weather sets in, you can get riders or horseback riders. After this struggle
in another hike at Mount Charleston at a up the east leg of the ladder, you reach a
lower level. The Step Ladder Trail is named saddle. The last time we hiked this trail there
that because it looks like the legs and top was no signage. However, when you get to
of a stepladder. The start and end make up the top,
the ground on which you’d place a steplad- turn left
der. This is one of the new trails designated and hike
when the Spring Mountain Gateway Visitor across the
Center was opened. They have started to put top of the
in signage, which is great! ladder.
There’s a
The hike can be done clockwise or photo of
counter-clockwise. I’d recommend counter- a sign at
clockwise. Start at the east side of the park- the saddle.
ing area—the Keep
side opposite walking
the rest- west until At the top of the ladder
Volunteers dedicated to the preservation of Red Rock Canyon
rooms. The you come to
beginning the old road, which is the way back.
of the trail is
signed as the Make a left when you get to the old road
Shady Hol- and follow it down the west leg of the step-
low Trail. ladder. You’ll get views of the new visitor
This is the center, the Mount Charleston Hotel, and the
trail on which Escarpment on the south side of the visitor
you start. center. The trail is not marked on the way
Continue for down, but it doesn’t have to be. There’s only
a few tenths one way to go.
of a mile and
you come to When you get near the end, the trail takes
a junction a 90 degree left turn—another old road. This
The beginning of the 2 mile descent
and the Step portion is very steep. You need to be careful
Ladder Trail. The trail makes a 90 degree and take your time going down this section.
left turn and is marked. This is where your Sometimes the best way is to walk some-
cardio will begin. The trail goes up approxi- what sideways to keep your balance and to
mately two miles. It is a multi-use trail, so keep from sliding down the hill. This is a
the Rock - Volume 7 Issue 1
