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Gateway Canyon
Category: Active Life Hiking Hiking [Edit]
4701 N Torrey Pines DrLas Vegas, NV 89130
Neighbourhood: Northwest
(702) 515-5000
One review for Gateway Canyon
1 review in English
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Review from Norm K.
12/21/2010 7 photos
This is a super loop hike in the Calico Basin area of the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. It's 3.3 miles and I would classify it as moderately strenuous. However, this is NOT for the novice hiker. There are some areas that are difficult to traverse if you haven't done the hike before, so use good judgment in your decision to attempt this hike.
To get to the trailhead, turn right off SR 159 on Calico Basin Road. At the end, make a right on Calico Drive and then a left on Assisi Canyon Avenue, and then a right on Sandstone Drive. There is a gravel road on the left near the cul de sac at the end of Sandstone Drive. Park here.
The trailhead is at the cul de sac. Follow the well worn trail down a wash and up the other side. After a bit, follow an old road to the left. You can see the trail as it narrows and becomes a footpath going off this road. The trail gains nearly 500 feet in elevation as it goes along the base of Krafft Mountain. Getting to the saddle is a bit of a task for some who are not used to hiking, but if you make it, you'll be rewarded with some excellent scenery. The saddle is exactly one mile from where you begin the hike.
At the saddle continue following the trail toward the wash below. We call this area Candy Cane Canyon because of the striped sandstone. Partway down to the wash, there is a junction and the harder way to Gateway goes to the right. If you don't like sliding down sandstone on your butt, stay on the main trail until you get to the wash and then turn right. If you do make the right at the junction, you're really in for some lovely rock formations. It is one of the nicest places in Red Rock. The trail is fairly well defined here, and at the end you will come to a drop off. I take the right side and usually run down the sandstone to the wash. Most people I take on this hike do the butt slide. Once in the wash, turn right. Once in the wash, you are in Gateway Canyon.
From here, you rock scramble, boulder hop, and do some serious boulder down climbs. This is where it's tough for the novice hiker. There are three areas where you have to get down from higher levels. Generally, if you stay on the right side, you can figure a way to get down, but use care! The last down climb has a walk around on the left you must use when there's water in the pool below unless you're willing to get wet.
Eventually the trail comes out of the wash and around the east side of the mountain and you're on the way back to the car. You can even see part of the Strip through a notch in the ridges.
For more detailed instructions and GPS coordinates of this hike, see my description on EveryTrail at http://www.everytrail..... Think carefully before attempting this hike. It really is tricky in parts!
Happy hiking!Listed in: Hiking Red Rock Canyon
