Overview

The Cat-N-Hat Trail is one of the Blue Diamond Hill Bike Trails. This trail runs parallel to the Fossil Trail for 0.51 miles and provides a steeper alternative to the Fossil Trail that avoids travel along the steep edge of Fossil Canyon.

This hike is in Mojave Desert Scrub country with lots of cactus, birds, and lizards. See the Blue Diamond Hill Bike Trail Overview for details.

Link to trail map.

Watch Out

Other than the standard warnings about hiking in the desert, ...this is a fairly safe trail. The Blue Diamond Hill Trails were designed for mountain bikes, so the grades are generally easy (this trail is steeper than most on this part of the hill), but watch for bikers careening down the trail.

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 hike is short, be sure to bring what you need of the 10 Essentials.

Getting to the Trailhead

This hike is located in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, about 30 minutes from town, but not on the Scenic Loop Road. Drive out West Charleston Blvd, past the entrance to the Scenic Loop Drive, to the Cowboy Trail Rides Trailhead on the left. Park here; this is the trailhead.

The Hike

From near the middle of the Fossil Trail (Wpt. 02), at a point shortly before reaching the edge of Fossil Canyon, the Cat-N-Hat Trail forks off to the right and runs south, eventually climbing onto the top of the ridge. After leveling out, this trail forks (Wpt. 08).

The left fork runs about 0.1 miles to reconnect with the Fossil Trail at a point beyond the precipitous edges of Fossil Canyon (Wpt. 04). The right fork continues up the ridge until reaching another trail junction (Wpt. 43). Here, hikers can take either fork because both continue up the right to connect with the Jeep Trail (Wpt. 44).

From the end of the Cat-N-Hat Trail, consider turning around and walking back to the trailhead, making a loop back down the Fossil Trail, or continuing up on one of the other Blue Diamond Hill Bike Trails.