Overview

This easy, 1.5-mile loop trail starts at the Visitor Center and circumnavigates Banshee Peak. The trail wanders east and south down a sandy wash, heads west around the south side of Banshee Peak, turns back to the north, climbs up through the Hole-in-the-Wall cleft (Banshee Canyon) using the ringbolts (Rings Trail), and then follows the road for 0.2 miles back to the Visitor Center. There are some interesting petroglyphs along the trail in the southeast corner of the loop.

Although easy, this trail requires a 3rd-class scramble up the ringbolts in Banshee Canyon, which is somewhat awkward and not suitable for all hikers.

Link to map.

Watch Out

Other than the standard warnings about hiking in the desert, ...this is a pretty safe hike except that hikers could fall on the steeper, 3rd-class sections of the Rings Trail. Ringbolts provide hand- and foot-holds, but hikers could fall as much as 10 feet if not being careful. Watch the kids at the overlook. The ringbolts are a bit awkward and require some balance and agility, especially the upper set.

While hiking, please respect the land and the other people out there, and try to Leave No Trace of your passage. Also, even though this is a short hike, be sure to bring what you need of the 10 Essentials. Please don't touch the petroglyphs - oils on your hands will damage the artwork.

Getting to the Trailhead

This hike is located in Mojave National Preserve, about 2 hours south of Las Vegas. From town, drive out to the Hole-in-the-Wall Visitor Center, which is about 85 miles from town. The Hole-in-the-Wall Visitor Center Trailhead is located at the far end (east end) of the Visitor Center parking lot. Park here; this is the trailhead.

Alternatively, hikers can continue farther down Hole-in-the-Wall Road to the Rings Trailhead, then start the hike by walking back to the Visitor Center. The trail is a loop, so either trailhead is fine.

The Hike

From the trailhead (Table 1, Waypoint 01) in the southeast corner of the Visitor Center parking lot, the trail runs east and down along the wash. This part of the route runs parallel to the Visitor Center access road. Shortly, the route arrives at a barbed-wire fence (Wpt. 02). After squeezing through the gate, the route drops into and runs down the wash. In this cool, north-facing area, the vegetation is relatively lush. Remember this, and later compare it with the hot, south side of the hill.

Staying up against the base of the hills, the wash curves around the corner and bends south. There are some nice California Barrel Cactus along this east-facing hillside.

The route leaves the wash along the southeast corner of the hills and starts to turn the a corner, curving to the west. A sign adjacent to large boulders at the corner announces some amazing petroglyphs (Wpt. 03). Enjoy and photograph the ancient art work, some of which may be as much at 10,000 years old, but don't touch. Oils on your hands (the same oils that leave fingerprints) will damage the artwork. Link to photos of more petroglyphs at this site.

Turning the corner, the trail heads west across desert flats. This part of the route runs parallel to Wild Horse Road. Notice the sparse vegetation here; some of this is due to over-grazing by cattle and horses, but much is due to the hot and dry conditions on this south-facing slope.

Still staying against the base of the hills, the route begins bending north as it passes an old road and traditional camping area.

Following the wash north along the base of the hills, the route runs north and approaches Banshee Canyon. The trail stays along the base of the cliffs, eventually reaching a trail junction with the Barber Loop Trail (Wpt. 04).

Staying right at the trail junction, the trail follows the wash up into Banshee Canyon (Wpt. 05). Watch for the cleft on the north (left) side of the canyon, which is the Rings Trail. A cleft to the right is impassable to mere mortals.

Ascend the Rings Trail to the road (Wpt. 6). For details of this section, which might be the more interesting part of the loop, see the description of the Rings Trail.

The trail follows the road around to the right for 0.2 miles back to the Visitor Center, completing the loop.