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Gun Range Ridge Loop Trail
Hiking Around Las Vegas, Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
Gun Range Ridge
Gun Range Ridge Loop Trail
Public Trailhead parking area (view S)

Overview

A number of nice use-trails have been established in the Red Rock Canyon Campground Area. The Gun Range Ridge Loop (2.6 miles round trip) runs east from the public trailhead towards Gun Range Ridge, then makes a long loop south and back around to the trailhead, following the paved road at the end. Except for crossing one wash, this loop is gentle and easy with broad expansive views. After hiking this loop, consider hiking one of the other short or long loops in the campground area.

This hike is nice because it is close to town and not on the Scenic Loop Drive. This makes it free, a quick little get away from town, and it minimizes time driving to and from the trailhead.

Link to map.

Gun Range Ridge Loop

Watch Out

Other than the standard warnings about hiking in the desert, ...this hike is about as safe as hiking in the desert can be, but watch out for dog poop near the trailhead. Watch for vehicles on Moenkopi Road on the way back: the speed limit is low, but drivers don't necessarily drive slowly.

While hiking, please respect the land and the other people out there, and please try to Leave No Trace of your passage. Also, even though this hike is short and close to civilization, be sure to bring what you need of the 10 Essentials.

Gun Range Ridge Loop
Trailhead (gate through fence) (view NE)

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. For non-campers, drive out West Charleston Blvd to the Moenkopi Road Trailhead, which is located along the Moenkopi Road. Park here; this is the trailhead.

For campers, continue into the campground, park at your campsite, then walk out into the desert and pick up the trails.

Gun Range Ridge LoopStarting out; Gun Range Ridge in the distance (view E)

The Hike

From the public trailhead (Table 1, Waypoint 17), the Gun Range Ridge Loop Trail crosses the road, passes through the fence at a man-gate, and heads east across the desert. Initially the trail runs through an old burn area with little vegetation.

In the burn area, the vegetation is sparse, but it is coming back. Common species here include big galleta grass, common Mediterranean grass (a weed), tumbleweed (another weed), and five-needle prickly leaf, a native species with little yellow flowers that I have growing in my yard. Unfortunately, too many inconsiderate dog owners let their dogs poop on the trail along here, so watch your step.

Past the burn area, the trail approached the first Joshua trees. Adjacent to the first Joshua tree almost close enough to touch from the trail, the trail forks (Wpt. 18). The Gun Range Ridge Loop Trail stays right and heads south.

Gun Range Ridge LoopHiker crossing the old burn area on the desert flats (view E)

From the fork, the trail bends southeast and runs out to a second fork (Wpt. 19). The more heavily used Gun Range Ridge Loop Trail takes a hard left turn here, while a little used path continues straight to an old road, which also is little used.

In the unburned area, the vegetation is diverse, but typical Mojave Desert Scrub habitat type with lots of creosote bush and white bursage, plus Nevada ephedra, spiny menodora, desert globemallow, littleleaf ratany, and galleta grass. Also watch for beavertail cactus, matted cholla, pencil cholla, and silver cholla.

Staying left (Wpt. 19), the trail runs east-southeast until merging with an old road (Wpt. 21). The old road to the right has been used for a trail, but it is now little used.

Staying left on the old road, the Gun Range Ridge Loop Trail runs northeast along the edge of a low caliche cliff that drops off into a shallow wash. Atop the rocky edge, the soil is shallow and the vegetation is somewhat different from the surrounding desert. Growing along here are lots of indigo bushes, a few pincushion cactus, and lots of cryptobiotic crust.

Gun Range Ridge Loop
Trail forks; route stays right (note shadow of Joshua Tree; view NE)

The old road along here follows the edge of the wash, but then bends left to avoid dropping into a side wash. For the first time along the trail, hikers might notice that behind them has been grand views of the Calico Hills and Red Rock Cliffs.

Bending back to the right to follow the main wash again, the trail forks, but the fork is faint. The Gun Range Ridge Loop Trail stays right along the wash, but for a shorter hike, the Campground Flats Loop Trail stays left here and loops back to the trailhead.

From the faint fork in the old road, the Gun Range Ridge Loop Trail continues a few yards to a T-intersection (Wpt. 25). The Gun Range Ridge Loop turns right here, drops into, and crosses the broad wash to the south, then continues southeast on a gentle incline. It is a bit hard to see the trail amidst the old roads here, so before starting down into the wash, look south (across the wash) to see where the trail passes left of a big Mojave yucca on the far side of the wash.

Beyond the wash, the trail climbs the hillside at a gentle grade. The views to the north keep getting better and better (so be sure to turn around and notice the view).

Gun Range Ridge Loop
Big, open country with gentle slopes (view SE)

The Gun Range Ridge Loop Trail eventually runs up onto a low knoll overlooking the campground area and intersects another old road (Wpt. 26). The loop turns right here and starts back down towards the campground. For a longer loop, turn left and follow the Campground Knoll Loop farther south.

Turning right to head west, the Gun Range Ridge Loop Trail starts down the old road on a ridge overlooking the group campground in the near distance and the family campground in the far distance. The loop stays right at a trail junction (Wpt. 34) where the left leads down into the group campground. From that fork, the Gun Range Ridge Loop Trail continues westward towards Moenkopi Road.

Just before reaching the road, hikers must climb through the barbed-wire fence. In December 2019 there were two good places to cross, but hikers can also detour left to the end of the barbed wire fence several yards to the south. Beyond the fence, the route follows Moenkopi Road north and back to the trailhead (Wpt. 17) to finish the loop. Be sure to watch for fast-moving vehicles.

Gun Range Ridge Loop
Trail bends left (view SE)
Gun Range Ridge Loop
Big Mojave Yucca (view SE)
Gun Range Ridge Loop
Big, open country with gentle slopes (view SE)
Gun Range Ridge Loop
Big, open country with gentle slopes (view SE)
Gun Range Ridge Loop
Trail merges with an old road (view SE)
Gun Range Ridge Loop
Trail follows old road (view NE)
Gun Range Ridge
Trail follows the edge of shallow gully (view E)
Gun Range Ridge
Trail curves to the left (view NE)
Gun Range Ridge
Now looking back: grand views (view NW)
Gun Range Ridge Loop
Trail forks; route stays left (view NE)
Gun Range Ridge
T-intersection; route turns right (view NE)
Gun Range Ridge Loop
Across the wash, a big yucca marks the trail (view SE)
Gun Range Ridge Loop
Hiker entering a broad wash (view SE)
Gun Range Ridge Loop
Trail runs across a broad wash (view SE)
Gun Range Ridge
This big Mojave Yucca is a good landmark (view SE)
Gun Range Ridge Loop
The trail climbs at easy grades (view SE)
Gun Range Ridge Loop Gun Range Ridge
Gun Range Ridge Loop Gun Range Ridge
Gun Range Ridge
The grade becomes gentle towards the top of the ridge (view SE)
Gun Range Ridge Loop
Approaching the toe of Gun Range Ridge (view SE)
Gun Range Ridge Loop
T-intersection; route turns right (view SE)
Gun Range Ridge Loop
Helium balloon -- don't release these into the air!
Gun Range Ridge Loop
The trail turns right at the T-intersection (view SW)
Gun Range Ridge Loop Trail
Grand view of the La Madre Range (view NW)
Gun Range Ridge Loop
The trail runs down gentle slopes (view SW)
Gun Range Ridge Loop
Grand views of the Red Rock Cliffs (view W)
Gun Range Ridge Loop
The trail forks; route stays right (view W)
Gun Range Ridge Loop
At the fork, route stays right (left goes into campground; view W)
Gun Range Ridge Loop
Grand views of the Red Rock Cliffs (view W)
Gun Range Ridge Loop
The group campground comes into view (view SW)
Gun Range Ridge Loop
The trail runs down gentle slopes (view W)
Gun Range Ridge Loop
The group campground is fairly close now (view S)
Gun Range Ridge Loop
The trail runs down gentle slopes (view W)
Gun Range Ridge Loop
The main campground comes into view (view SW)
Gun Range Ridge Loop
Grand scenery (view W)
Gun Range Ridge Loop
The trail runs down gentle slopes (view W)
Gun Range Ridge Loop
Hiker approaching the highway fence (view W)
Gun Range Ridge Loop
Looking back: carsonite sign with "no motor vehicles"
Gun Range Ridge Loop
The route turns right along the fence (view NW)
Gun Range Ridge Loop
Parts of the fence are spread to permit hiker passage (view NW)
Gun Range Ridge Loop
Outside the fence, the route turns right again (view N)
Gun Range Ridge Loop
The route passes around a gate (view N)
Gun Range Ridge Loop
The route follows the pavement back to the trailhead (view N)
Gun Range Ridge Loop
Don't hike too fast!
Gun Range Ridge Loop
Hiker passing the campground sign (view N)
Gun Range Ridge Loop
Looking back at the campground sign (view S)
Gun Range Ridge Loop
Grand scenery, even if from a paved road (view N)
Gun Range Ridge Loop
Hiker arriving back at the trailhead (view N)

Table 1. Hiking Coordinates Based on GPS Data (NAD27; UTM Zone 11S). Download Hiking GPS Waypoints (*.gpx) file.

Wpt. Location UTM Easting UTM Northing Elevation (ft) Point-to-Point Distance (mi) Cumulative Distance (mi)
17 Moenkopi Road Trailhead 644738 4000437 3,445 0.00 0.00
18 Trail Forks 645104 4000504 3,437 0.25 0.25
19 Trail Bends Left 645300 4000383 3,429 0.15 0.40
21 Merge onto Old Road 645514 4000349 3,413 0.14 0.54
25 T-intersection 645812 4000561 3,628 0.25 0.79
26 T-intersection 646386 4000045 3,501 0.51 1.30
34 Trail Forks 646215 3999988 3,469 0.11 1.41
33 Fence 645295 3999814 3,470 0.62 2.03
17 Moenkopi Road Trailhead 644738 4000437 3,445 0.56 2.59

Happy Hiking! All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate.
copyright; Last updated 200202

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