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Coyote Loop Trail at Corn Creek Station
Hiking Around Las Vegas, Desert National Wildlife Refuge
Coyote Loop Trail
Coyote Loop Trail
Visitor Center front door (view N)

Overview

The Coyote Loop Trail is a 0.6-mile ADA compliant trail that loops through the Corn Creek area. Corn Creek has been a birdwatching destination for decades, and now the Coyote Trail opens a bit of this area to persons in wheelchairs or with other walking issues, plus families with children in strollers. The trail has interpretive signs describing the ecology and human history of the area.

Corn Creek is a tiny spot of green in a vast sea of desert-dry Mojave Desert Scrub. Springs provide water for trees, lush vegetation, desert wildlife, lots of birds (especially during migration), and even humans over the last several thousands of years. The ancients left their marks on the land, but most evidence of human use derives from pioneer and more recent times.

Link to Trail Map.

Coyote Loop Trail
On the right: restrooms and to-the-trails! (view E)

Watch Out

Other than the standard warnings about hiking in the desert, ... this is a fairly safe hike if hikers stay on the trails as requested by refuge management.

The Coyote Loop Trail is fairly level, although the first half generally is downhill, and the second half generally is uphill. The surfacing is smooth and looks like frozen mud, making one feel unsure about the footing on cold winter mornings. There are several benches where people can stop and rest or just relax and listen to the birds.

While hiking, please respect the land and the other people out there, and try to Leave No Trace of your passage. Even though this trail is short, bring what you need of the 10 Essentials. Also, this is a wildlife refuge, so pay extra attention to respecting the land and wildlife.

Coyote Loop
Porch on the south side of the building (view N)

Getting to the Trailhead

The Coyote Trail is located northwest of Las Vegas on the Desert National Wildlife Refuge behind the Corn Creek Visitor Center. This is about 30 minutes northwest of downtown Las Vegas.

The Hike

From the Visitor Center parking area (Table 1, Waypoint 00), hikers can walk into the Visitor Center and out the back of the building, or they can walk around outside the Visitor Center (through the doorway leading to a covered patio area with rest rooms and drinking water) to the northeast (far) corner of the building.

A few steps beyond the building, the concrete trail arrives at a trail junction with an information kiosk (Wpt. 01). Here, the Coyote trail angles left and runs northwest to the Cement Pond. From the bridge over the Corn Creek, hikers can look out over the water hoping to see ducks, dragonflies, and perhaps a few thirsty birds or even a Great Blue Heron.

Coyote Loop Trail
Porch wraps around the building to the trails (view N)

Just over the bridge, the trail reaches a signed trail junction (Wpt. 02). The Coyote Trail turns left (northwest), while the Jackrabbit Trail turns right (east) and loops back to the Visitor Center.

Continuing to the left, the Coyote Trail wraps around the east and north sides of the Cement Pond, passing a viewing area with sunny benches overlooking the water.

Just beyond the Cement Pond, the Coyote Trail reaches another signed trail junction (Wpt. 03). Notice the bronze coyote in the bushes on the right! At this point, the Coyote Trail forks and begins to make a loop. My habit is to continue straight looking for birds along Corn Creek (the flowing stream), but it is a loop, so hikers can walk in either direction.

Continuing straight, the trail winds down along Corn Creek. The trail starts on the north side, then crosses a bridge to the south side of the stream.

Coyote Loop Trail
Walkway to the trails (view N)

Beyond the bridge, the trail enters the old orchard where trees planted by the original homesteaders still produce some fruit. The old trees aren't in very good shape, but look for fig, pomegranate, apple, and other fruit trees. Fruit trees have recently been planted in the historic orchard to better replicate what the early homesteaders might have harvested. Notice that the largest pecan tree in Nevada sits adjacent to the trail. Here, along Corn Creek with shrub thickets to the north and fruit trees to the south, is a good place to watch birds.

Continuing along the stream, the trail crosses a bridge to the north side of the stream and arrives at a bench. Sit a spell and listen to the running water and the birds.

The area ahead to the left is the old pasture, but with Corn Creek now flowing out there, cattails, invasive Common Reed, invasive Common Sunflower, willow trees, and other marsh plants are taking over.

Beyond the pasture, the trail climbs an embankment that was part of the dike around historic Ponds 2 and 3, now drained. The old ponds are growing in with cattails, willows, and cottonwood trees. A bridge over a wet area leads to the north side of the old ponds.

Coyote Trail
All trail runs out to an information kiosk (view NE)

Past the old ponds, the trail forks. The Coyote Trail bends right, while the trail to the left follows a service road left to the Birdsong Trail.

Staying on the Coyote Trail, hikers pass historical Pond 2 and shortly arrive at the Pahrump Poolfish Refugium, a big aquarium (two side-by-side tanks) where some of the last Pahrump Poolfish cling to life after their spring in Pahrump dried up when developers took too much groundwater. It is nice that people cared enough to collect the last of the poolfish and keep them alive in this and a few other refuge areas (now including the Cement Pond). Signs describe the fish and their plight.

Just beyond the poolfish refugium, the trail forks again (Wpt. 26). To the left a few yards lies the historical Railroad-tie Cabin. The cabin has been somewhat restored, and visitors can look through the windows to see the restored interior and what it might have looked like when people lived here. Lucky visitors might find the door unlocked. The Honey Mesquite trees around the cabin provide good habitat for migrant warblers and resident Verdins.

coytoe trail
Birder at information kiosk (view NE)

Back on the main trail, the Coyote Trail runs up over a low hill shaded with black locust and Siberian elm trees. To the right picnic tables invite another chance to sit and watch birds. This is where the Virginia Warblers seem to spend their time.

The Coyote Trail continues down the other side of the little hill and passes a T-intersection where the Bighorn Trail comes in from the left. Just ahead, the Coyote Trail arrives at yet another T-intersection (Wpt. 03) where the Coyote Trail closes the loop.

To the left, the Coyote Trail runs back past the Cement Pond to the visitor center, which can be seen ahead in the not-to-far distance.

Returning to the visitor center, be sure to stop in and report any unusual bird and wildlife observations so that other hikes can keep an eye out for your finds. After that, hikers can return to the trailhead parking area (Wpt. 00).

Coyote Trail
Quiz on backside of information kiosk (view SW)
Coyote Trail
Coyote Trail angles left at the kiosk (view N)
Coyote Trail
Coyote Trail departing the kiosk (view NW)
Coyote Trail
Coyote Trail runs out past the kiosk (view NW)
Coyote Trail
Coyote Trail approaching the Cement Pond (view NW)
Coyote Trail
Bridge over Corn Creek Stream (springs to the right; view N)
Coyote Trail
Cement Pond (view W from the bridge)
Coyote Trail
A birder spots something interesting (view W)
Coyote Trail
Water control structure intended to keep crayfish out of the pond
Coyote Trail
Water control structure intended to keep crayfish out of the pond
Coyote Trail
Pahrump Poolfish in the Cement Pond
Coyote Trail
Pahrump Poolfish in the Cement Pond
Coyote Trail
Cement Pond (view W)
Coyote Trail
Continuing across the bridge (view N)
Coyote Trail
Trail forks: Coyote Trail turns left (view N)
Coyote Trail
Trail junction: Coyote left; Jackrabbit left (view N)
Coyote Trail
Coyote Trail runs to the left (view NW)
Coyote Trail
Coyote Trail continues (view NW)
Coyote Trail
Coyote Trail approaching another bridge (view NW)
Coyote Trail
Bench at the Cement Pond (view N)
Coyote Trail
Information sign
Coyote Trail
Information sign: Riparian Habitats (view SW)
Coyote Trail
Coyote Trail wraps around north end of Cement Pond (view W)
Coyote Trail
North end of Cement Pond (view S towards Visitor Center)
Coyote Trail
Approaching a trail junction (view W)
Coyote Trail
Approaching trail junction: Coyote Trail "loop" starts here (view W)
Coyote Trail
Trail junction: Coyote Trail "loop" starts here (view W)
Coyote Trail
Art in the park (view N towards coyote sculpture)
Coyote Trail
As described here, the Coyote Trail stays left at the fork (view W)
Coyote Trail
Coyote Trail approaching another bench (view SW)
Coyote Trail
Coyote Trail runs along the outflow stream (view SW)
Coyote Trail
Listen to the sounds of a babbling brook
Coyote Trail
Coyote Trail approaching bridge over outflow stream (view SW)
Coyote Trail
Watch for birds bathing in the stream
Coyote Trail
Birdwatcher scanning the trees (view W)
Coyote Trail
Streamside vegetation and sparrows bathing during winter
Coyote Trail
Birdwatcher scanning the old orchard and trees beyond (view W)
Coyote Trail
West end of the old orchard and mulberry trees (view SE)
Coyote Trail
Fence in the orchard separates public from non-public spaces (view W)
Coyote Trail
Approaching an information sign (view W)
Coyote Trail
information sign: Fruits of Labor (view S)
Coyote Trail
information sign: Fruits of Labor
Coyote Trail
The orchard during winter
Coyote Trail
The orchard during winter
Coyote Trail
Looking out at the old orchard (view S)
Coyote Trail
Looking right across the old orchard (view SW)
Coyote Trail
Winter in the orchard
Coyote Trail
Winter in the orchard
Coyote Trail
Coyote Trail continues along the stream (view SW)
Coyote Trail
Coyote Trail continues along the outflow stream (view SW)
Coyote Trail
Birder on the last bridge over the outflow stream (view SW)
Coyote Trail
Approaching another bench and information sign (view NW)
Coyote Trail
Coyote Trail continues on other side of the stream (view SW)
Coyote Trail
Information sign: For the Birds
Coyote Trail
Coyote Trail continues on other side of the stream (view SW)
Coyote Trail
Pocket gophers seem happy out here (view down)
Coyote Trail
Trail bends around to the right (view NW)
Coyote Trail
Big old cottonwood has died and fallen over
Coyote Trail
Trail runs into a tunnel of trees (view NE)
Coyote Trail
Bridge over another small stream (view N)
Coyote Trail
Thicket upstream from the bridge (view E)
Coyote Trail
Thicket downstream from the bridge (view W)
Coyote Trail
Across the bridge, trail forks: Coyote right; Birdsong Trail left (view N)
Coyote Trail
Birdsong Trail (view NW from Coyote Trail)
Coyote Trail
Coyote Trail bends right (view NE)
Coyote Trail
Coyote Trail bends right (view NE)
Coyote Trail
Coyote Trail loops back towards the Visitor Center (view E)
Coyote Trail
Trail runs up along side of historical Pond 2 (view E)
Coyote Trail
Birder walking along old Pond 2 (view E)
Coyote Trail
Approaching the Pahrump Poolfish Refugium (view E)
Coyote Trail
Poolfish Refugium with information sign (view NW)
Coyote Trail
Poolfish Refugium with information sign (view NW)
Coyote Trail
Information sign: A Refuge for a Fish (view NW)
Coyote Trail
Coyote Trail continues past the Poolfish Refugium (view E)
Coyote Trail
Trail forks: Coyote Trail stays right (view NE)
Coyote Trail
Railroad-tie Cabin Trail (view E from Coyote Trail)
Coyote Trail
Spur trail to Railroad-tie Cabin and information sign (view NE)
Coyote Trail
Information sign: Ties to the Past
Coyote Trail
Railroad-tie Cabin (view N)
Coyote Trail
Departing the Railroad-tie Cabin (view S)
Coyote Trail
Railroad Spur Trail leads back to main Coyote Trail (view S)
Coyote Trail
Hiker on Railroad Spur Trail approaching main Coyote Trail (view S)
Coyote Trail
Hiker back on main Coyote Trail (view S from Railroad Spur Trail)
Coyote Trail
Continuing on Coyote Trail (view SE)
Coyote Trail
Birder at spur trail to outdoor classroom (view SE)
Coyote Trail
Outdoor classroom (not a picnic area; view S)
Coyote Trail
Trail forks: Coyote right; Bighorn left (view SE)
Coyote Trail
Coyote Trail continues (view SE)
Coyote Trail
Birder approaching another trail junction (view SE)
Coyote Trail
End of the Coyote Trail loop (view SE)
Coyote Trail
Coyote Trail continues left towards Visitor Center (view SE)
Coyote Trail
Birder approaching the Cement Pond (view SE)
Coyote Trail
Coyote Trail passing the Cement Pond (view SE)
Coyote Trail
Cement Pond (view S)
Coyote Trail
Watch of unexpected birds in the desert (Cinnamon Teal)
Coyote Trail
Trail continues along the Cement Pond (view SE)
Coyote Trail
Coyote Trail passing the Cement Pond overlook (view S)
Coyote Trail
Birder crossing another bridge (view S)
Coyote Trail
Coyote Trail passing the Cement Pond (view S)
Coyote Trail
Trail forks: Coyote Trail right; Bighorn Trail left (view SE)
Coyote Trail
Coyote Trail returning to the bridge over Corn Creek Stream
Coyote Trail
Birder crossing bridge over Corn Creek Stream (view S)
Coyote Trail
Cement Pond (view SW)
Coyote Trail
Bridge over Corn Creek Stream
Coyote Trail
Cement Pond (view W from the bridge)
Coyote Trail
Coyote Trail continues past the bridge (view S)
Coyote Trail
Coyote Trail continues (view SE)
Coyote Trail
Coyote Trail returning towards the information kiosk (view SE)
Coyote Trail
Coyote Trail stays right the information kiosk (view SE)
Coyote Trail
Trails to front and back of the Visitor Center (view NW)
Coyote Trail
Coyote Trail returning to the front of the Visitor Center (view SE)
Coyote Trail
East side, patio area (view S)
Coyote Trail
South side, patio area (view W)
Coyote Trail
Approaching exit from the patio area (view W)
Coyote Trail
Exiting the patio area towards the parking lots (view W)
Coyote Trail
Returning to the parking lot (view W)
Coyote Trail
Returning to the parking lot (view W)
Coyote Trail
More to come ...

Table 1. Highway Coordinates and Distances based on GPS Data (NAD27). Download Highway GPS Waypoints (gpx) file.

Wpt. Location UTM Easting UTM Northing Elevation (ft) Point-to-Point Distance (mi) Cumulative Distance (mi)
00 Parking 647195 4033585 2,912 0.00 0.00
01 Trailhead 647234 4033649 2,956 0.06 0.06
02 Coyote Tr at Jackrabbit Tr 647206 4033675 2,940 0.03 0.08
03 Trail Junction 647116 4033705 2,940 0.06 0.14
26 Trail Junction 647045 4033739 2,929 0.21 0.35
25 Trail Junction 647084 4033730 2,932 0.03 0.38
03 Trail Junction 647116 4033705 2,940 0.03 0.41
02 Coyote Tr at Jackrabbit Tr 647206 4033675 2,940 0.06 0.47
01 Trailhead 647234 4033649 2,956 0.03 0.49
00 Parking 647195 4033585 2,912 0.06 0.55

Happy Hiking! All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate.
copyright; Last updated 240711

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