Birding Around Las Vegas, Ash Meadows NWR, Point of Rocks

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Birding Around King's Pool and Point of Rocks
Birding Around Las Vegas, Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge

Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, Point of Rocks

Front of Welcome to Point of Rocks information sign	Description There are several small springs and thickets in the King's Pool and Point of Rocks area linked together with a nice boardwalk. There is one spring pool (King's Pool), but the other springs flow from the hillside and run directly into streams. There used to be a man-made pond here, but refuge personnel filled it in, sculpted the outflow streams, and revegetated the area with mesquite trees to make it similar to pre-development conditions. The area has grown into a nice mesquite thicket, and the boardwalk provides easy access. A picnic area with tables, trash cans, restrooms, and even recycling make this a desirable destination. The trail to the springs runs out behind the picnic area. From the parking lot, walk through the picnic area heading east. The boardwalk runs east to the springs area.
Boardwalk trail and dense riparian vegetation	Location King's Pool and Point of Rocks is located on the Ash Meadows National Wildlife, about 2 hours northwest of Las Vegas and about 3.4 air-miles east of the Visitor Center. From Las Vegas, drive out to Ash Meadows Visitor Center (Table 1, Site 1588). From the Visitor Center, drive east on Spring Meadows Road for about 2.3 miles to a T-intersection with Ash Meadows Road. Turn right onto Ash Meadows Road and drive south for 0.5 miles to a T-intersection with Point of Rocks Road. Turn left onto the well-graded Point of Rocks Road and drive east for about 1.5 miles to a large parking area at the end of the road.
Birders at King's Pool (view N)	Hours The refuge is day-use only: open sunrise to sunset. Fees None.
Ash Meadows Amargosa Pupfish in King's Pool	Specialties King's Pool and Point of Rocks is a good place to see desert species when they come in for water. Check the trees and shrubs for flycatchers, House Finches, White-crowned Sparrows, Chipping sparrows, Yellow-rumped Warblers, Chukar, Gambel's Quail, Mourning Doves, Crissal Thrashers, and similar species. Watch the marshy areas for and Marsh Wrens. This area is also good for finding migrants, but the species mix depends on the season, and during migration it depends on just who is moving through at the time. Review the refuge bird list for some ideas on what to expect during the time of year when you will be visiting. Be sure to look for the rare Ash Meadows Amargosa Pupfish in the spring pool and outflow streams.

Arriving at Point of Rocks Picnic Area (view east)	Access road entering the parking area (view E)
Restrooms at picnic area (view SE)	Point of Rocks Picnic Area (view east)
Front of information sign	Trail map on information sign
Back of information sign	Back of information sign
Back of information sign and covered picnic area	King's Pool Boardwalk (view southeast)
Birder's Walk section of the boardwalk beyond King's Pool	Several places along the trail to sit and listen to the birds

Fancy bridge over outflow creek	Outflow creek (watch for fish)
Outflow creek (watch for fish)	King's Pool with boardwalk spur and bench (view east)
Sign post decorated with pupfish near King's Pool	Boardwalk at King's Pool
King's Pool	King's Pool
King's Pool (view N)	Ash Meadows Amargosa Pupfish in the Kings Pool
Sign about bird life along the trail	Someone wasn't paying attention!
Boardwalk	Boardwalk
Boardwalk	Sign post decorated with an Ash Meadows Naucorid beetle
Information sign about Ash Meadows Naucorid Beetles	Ash Meadows Naucorid Beetle habitat (vegetated stream)
Deep grinding holes in limestone: evidence of long human use	Deep grinding holes (metate) in limestone
Stonehenge at Ash Meadows? (amphitheater under construction)	Finished amphitheater
Telescope at amphitheater	Grand views from amphitheater
Kings Pool during winter	Boardwalk along Naucorid Beetle habitat and grinding holes

Ash Meadows Amargosa Pupfish	Variegated Meadowhawk (Sympetrum corruptum)
Comanche Skimmer (Libellula comanche)	Blue-ringed Dancer (Argia sedula), female