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Birding Around Warm Springs Natural Area, Long Trail
Warm Springs Natural Area
Warm Springs Natural Area
Hikers in the parking lot (view NE)

Description

Warm Springs Natural Area (WSNA) is a 1,250-acre nature reserve in the upper Moapa Valley. Once owned by Howard Hughes, the area is now owned by the Southern Nevada Water Authority, the main agency supplying water to the Las Vegas valley. The area features more than two dozen bubbling springs, rushing streams, and lush wetlands, and is home to 28 sensitive species, including the Moapa Dace and more than 200 species of birds (download bird list).

Moapa Valley is a broad, flat area of dry Mojave Desert Scrub set between limestone mountain ranges. In that area, water emerges from five main spring-complexes, including warm water springs (about 90°F). Water from the springs converges downstream to form the Muddy River (a stream, but a river in arid Nevada), which flows to the Virgin River and then to Lake Mead. All of this creates some 1,000 acres of riparian habitat.

Link to map or interactive WSNA trail map.

Warm Springs Natural Area
The route begins adjacent to the parking lot (view NE)

Among the things to do at Warm Springs Natural Area are two trails. Both trails are easy and provide nice views and information about the area, but one trail is short and the other is longer.

Presented here are photos of the Long Trail, which starts from the parking area. Walking past the end of the parking area, walkers can cross over to a trail that runs along picnic tables and the vault toilet. This trail through the picnic area is the beginning of the Long Trail.

The Long Trail runs parallel to the dirt service road until the road bends right and the trail crosses the road continuing more or less straight. The trail across the road is marked with a yellow information sign about the "tasty operation."

The Long trail forks at that point. The right fork is a spur-trail that runs up to a low promontory with a shade cover. This promontory offers grand views out across the Warm Springs area, and also provides two information signs.

Warm Springs Natural Area
Long Trail passes the end of the Short Trail (view NE)

Returning to the fork in the trail, the main Long Trail continues eastward and down a slope into lower lands beneath the promontory. Here, in a thicket of mesquite, the trail bends sharply to the left and begins a long, winding journey along the edge of a small stream.

Various signs and short spur-trails lead to quiet spots, and eventually the Long Trail crosses another service road. The trail continues straight across the road and continues following the stream.

Eventually hikers arrive at an open area with corrals and information about ranching history in the area. The Long Trail wraps around the far side of the corral, and still following a small stream, begins to climb back towards the trailhead.

The trail offers opportunities for a quiet walk on a short boardwalk, and it passes several information signs before popping out of the thickets and back into the parking area.

Warm Springs Natural Area
Long Trail crosses a service road (view NE)
Warm Springs Natural Area
Across the service road, an information sign (view NE)
Warm Springs Natural Area
Information sign: A Tasty Operation (view NE)
Warm Springs Natural Area
Spur trail to overlook (view E)
Warm Springs Natural Area
Spur trail approaching the overlook (view E)
Warm Springs Natural Area
Overlook with long views over the WSNA and beyond (view N)
Warm Springs Natural Area
Information sign: A Place to Cherish (view N)
Warm Springs Natural AreaInformation sign: A View with a Story (view N)
Warm Springs Natural Area
Overlook with long views over the WSNA and beyond (view NE)
Warm Springs Natural Area
Back to the Long Trail (view NE)
Warm Springs Natural Area
Long Trail approaching an exhibit (view NE)
Warm Springs Natural Area
Short spur to waterwheel exhibit (view NW)
Warm Springs Natural Area
Information sign: A Power Wheel (view NW)
Warm Springs Natural Area
Long Trail loops hard to the left (view E)
Warm Springs Natural Area
Long Trail winding through a mesquite thicket (view W)
Warm Springs Natural Area
Long Trail winding through a mesquite thicket (view W)
Warm Springs Natural Area
Short spur trail to a stream-side exhibit (view NW)
Warm Springs Natural Area
Information sign at stream-side exhibit (view NW)
Warm Springs Natural Area
Information sign: A Renewed Environment (view NW)
Warm Springs Natural Area
Aquatic and riparian vegetation along the stream
Warm Springs Natural Area
Long Trail approaching another service road (view NW)
Warm Springs Natural Area
Long Trail crosses the service road (view NW)
Warm Springs Natural Area
Service road; area is closed to the public (view N)
Warm Springs Natural Area
Sign at edge of service road; area closed to the public (view N)
Warm Springs Natural Area
Long Trail continues past the service road (view NW)
Warm Springs Natural Area
Long Trail runs along the stream (view W)
Warm Springs Natural Area
Long Trail winding through the trees (view W)
Warm Springs Natural Area
Aquatic and riparian vegetation along the stream (view NW)
Warm Springs Natural Area
Long Trail approaching another spur trail (view SW)
Warm Springs Natural Area
Short spur trail departs the Long Trail (view N)
Warm Springs Natural Area
End of the short spur trail (view NW)
Warm Springs Natural Area
Information sign: A Fluid Convergence (view NE)
Warm Springs Natural Area
Long Trail continues into open area with corrals (view SW)
Warm Springs Natural Area
Short spur trail to cattle operations exhibit (view S)
Warm Springs Natural Area
Information sign: A Scale of Time (view S)
Warm Springs Natural Area
Exhibit about weighing cattle (view S)
Warm Springs Natural Area
Long Trail continues past the corrals (view W)
Warm Springs Natural Area
Short spur trail to a stream-side exhibit (view W)
Warm Springs Natural Area
Aquatic and riparian vegetation along the stream (view W)
Warm Springs Natural Area
Back on the Long Trail (view S)
Warm Springs Natural Area
Another short spur trail to a stream-side sign (view W)
Warm Springs Natural Area
Information sign: An Area Full of Life (view S)
Warm Springs Natural Area
Long Trail continuing past the end of the corral (view S)
Warm Springs Natural Area
A short loop trail to a boardwalk along a stream (view S)
Warm Springs Natural Area
Boardwalk along a stream (view SW)
Warm Springs Natural Area
Information sign: A Place to Call Home (view E)
Warm Springs Natural Area
Stream below the boardwalk
Warm Springs Natural Area
Stream below the boardwalk
Warm Springs Natural Area
Loop trail exits the boardwalk
Warm Springs Natural Area
Loop exits to Long Trail; Long Trail crosses service road (view SE)
Warm Springs Natural Area
Long Trail winds through desert vegetation (view E)
Warm Springs Natural Area
Long Trail approaching an information sign (view SE)
Warm Springs Natural Area
Information sign: An Island of Biodiversity (view S)
Warm Springs Natural Area
Long Trail winds through desert vegetation (view SW)
Warm Springs Natural Area
Long Trail winds through desert vegetation (view SE)
Warm Springs Natural Area
Long Trail winds through desert vegetation (view SE)
Warm Springs Natural Area
Long Trail approaching three information signs (view SE)
Warm Springs Natural Area
Three information signs (view SW)

Information sign: map plus rules and regulations (view SW)
Warm Springs Natural Area
Information sign: An Island in a Sea of Desert (view SW)
Warm Springs Natural Area
Information sign: A Protected Natural Area (view SW)
Warm Springs Natural Area
Long Trail returning to the parking area (view SE)

Happy birding! All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate.
copyright; Last updated 190725

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