Cowboy Trail -- Northbound
Hiking Around Las Vegas, Sloan Canyon NCA
Hiking out on the Cowboy Trail (BLM 200). For details, see the main route description.
 Upper Petroglyph Trail (BLM 100) continues up Sloan Wash (view W) |
In about 0.3 miles past the main petroglyph gallery, hikers encounter a trail sign in the middle of the wash. At this point, the Petroglyph Trail (BLM 100) ends. The Hidden Valley Trail (BLM 300) continues southwest and up the main wash, and the Cowboy Trail (BLM 200) makes a hard right turn, exits the wash, and starts up across the hillside angling back down the canyon. It is important to pay attention here because this trail junction has been the source of confusion for several hiking parties, some of whom barely made it out alive. When hiking up Sloan Canyon, if you intend to hike back on the Cowboy Trail, DO NOT PASS THE TRAIL SIGN. Instead, from the trail sign, immediately turn right and climb out of the wash heading northeast. The trail is plainly visible when looking in this direction. For details of the Cowboy Trail, see the description of the hike heading southbound, but for hikers returning over this trail, see the photos and brief description of hiking northbound back towards the trailhead. Heading back, the next Waypoint is #12, which sits atop a saddle to the north of the trail junction. |
 Petroglyphs Trail ends at trail junction (view SW) |
 Hikers turning onto BLM 200 Trail (view W) |
 Trail marker in Sloan Wash (view W) |
 Trail junction (view NE) |
 Beyond the trail junction, NOT THE RIGHT WAY (view W) |
 Beyond the trail junction, NOT THE RIGHT WAY (view W) |
 Hikers on Cowboy Trail (view N) |
 Hikers on Cowboy Trail approaching saddle (view N) |
 Hikers on Cowboy Trail arriving at the saddle (view N) |
 Hikers on the saddle (view N) |
 Las Vegas view from saddle (view N) |
 Hikers descending over the saddle (view N) |
 Las Vegas view from saddle (view N) |
 Hikers on Cowboy Trail (view N) |
 Hikers on Cowboy Trail (view N) |
 Hikers approaching Petroglyph Trail (BLM 100 Trail) (view NE) |
 BLM 100 -- BLM 200 trail sign in Sloan Wash (view NE) |
 Hikers and BLM 100 -- BLM 200 trail sign in Sloan Wash (view NE) |
 Sloan Wash (view N) |
 Hiker passing the site of the old fence and parking (view N) |
 Hikers in Sloan Wash approaching the fence (view N) |
 At the fence, hikers exit the wash to the left on stone stairs (view N) |
 Hikers exiting the wash on stone stairs (view N) |
 Sign indicating a turn in the trail (view N) |
 Trail exits Sloan Wash (view NW) |
 Trail marker on bench above Sloan Wash (view NW) |
 Hiker on switchback climbing across the hillside (view SW) |
 Hiker returning through the large stones (view NW) |
 Trail departs from old two-track dirt road (view NW) |
 Returning to the trailhead (view NE) |
Happy Hiking! All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate.
; Last updated 240330
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