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Rocky Gap Summit Trailhead
Hiking Around Las Vegas, Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
Rocky Gap Road Trailhead
Rocky Gap Trailhead
Rocky Gap Rd approaching the saddle and trailhead parking (view SW)

Rocky Gap Summit Trailhead is located in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, about 1-3/4 hours west of Las Vegas, inside the Scenic Loop Road fee area. Access to this trailhead requires a high-clearance 4WD vehicle.

From town, drive out to Red Rocks. From West Charleston at the Scenic Loop Road (Table 1, Site 0519), turn right onto Scenic Loop Road and drive north for 0.2 miles to the entrance station (Site 0855). Pay the fee, then drive around the one-way Scenic Loop Road for 7.2 miles to Willow Springs Road (Site 0526), which is 0.5 miles past Mile Marker 7. Turn right onto Willow Springs Road and drive north for 0.6 miles to the end of the pavement at Willow Spring Picnic Area (Site 0181). Without a high-clearance vehicle, park here and use the Willow Springs Trailhead.

Link to trailhead map.

Rocky Gap Trailhead
Rocky Gap Summit trailhead parking (view S)

For those with high-clearance vehicles, continue past the picnic area on the unpaved Rocky Gap Road (a rough dirt road) for 0.5 miles to Red Rock Wash (Site 0858). If the road across the wash and up the next hillside look bad, stop before crossing the wash (either in or just before the wash). The road gets worse past the wash.

Continuing, the rough and rocky road runs another 4.3 miles to a saddle on what is the crest of the mountain range. This road often is impassible during winter. The Rocky Gap Trailhead (Site 0501) on the left side of the road at the saddle.

Rocky Gap Summit Trailhead provides access to hikes along the top of the sandstone escarpment and many miles of strenuous off-trail hiking.

Trails: Bridge Mountain, Limestone North Peak.

Rocky Gap Summit Trailhead
Hikers at the trailhead (view SE)
more to come
More to come ...

Table 1. Highway Coordinates (NAD27; UTM Zone 11S). Download Highway GPS Waypoints (*.gpx) file.

Site # Location Latitude (N) Longitude (W) UTM Easting UTM Northing Elevation (feet) Verified
0181 Willow Springs Picnic Area 36.16104 115.49798 635106 4002654 4,575 Yes
0406 La Madre Trailhead 36.16565 115.50653 634329 4003154 4,849 Yes
0501 Rocky Gap Summit Trailhead 36.13102 115.53235 632064 3999277 6,457 Yes
0519 Charleston at Scenic Loop Entrance 36.13161 115.42048 642131 3999501 3,681 Yes
0526 Scenic Loop Rd at Willow Spring Rd 36.15609 115.48918 635906 4002118 4,441 Yes
0855 Scenic Loop Entrance Station 36.13252 115.42282 641918 3999598 3,682 Yes
0858 Rocky Gap Road at Red Rock Wash 36.16486 115.50586 634390 4003067 4,741 Yes

Happy Hiking! All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate.
copyright; Last updated 180721

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