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Corn Creek Visitor Center
Hiking Around Las Vegas,
Desert National Wildlife Refuge
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Entrance to the Visitor Center |
Overview
Corn Creek Visitor Center, formerly Corn Creek Field Station because it is the field headquarters for the Desert National Wildlife Refuge, is a unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System.
Corn Creek is a tiny spot of green in a vast sea of desert-dry Mojave Desert Scrub. Springs provide water that supports trees, lush vegetation, desert wildlife, and even humans over the last few thousands of years. The ancients left their marks on the land, but most evidence of human use derives from pioneer and more recent times.
A visitor center, opened in February 2014, houses exhibits about the refuge, information about current conditions, and of course, a gift shop.
Link to Highway Map or Trail Map. Some of the trails are ADA compliant. |
Information desk inside the visitor center |
Most of the habitat immediately surrounding Corn Creek is low-elevation Mojave Desert Scrub dominated by creosote bush, white bursage, fourwing saltbush, and a few Mojave yucca). This area is in the rain shadow of the Spring Mountains, so it gets less rain than average, even for a desert, and as a result, the vegetation is sparse and stunted.
Springs at Corn Creek provide water for a desert oasis supporting honey mesquite, cottonwood trees, and many other wetland plant species. Water from two of the springs was used by late-1800s homesteaders to support a farm, and these two springs still water the cement pond and the trees, grass, and orchards that remain, all of which provides habitat for birds and other wildlife. Historically, this has been a world-class birding destination, but recent changes have disrupted the habitat and birds; time will tell the degree to which they come back. |
The start of fun things out back |
Getting to Corn Creek Field Station
Corn Creek Field Station is located northwest of Las Vegas on the Desert National Wildlife Refuge, about 30 minutes northwest of downtown Las Vegas.
From Las Vegas, drive north on Highway 95 about 30 minutes. Pass the turnoff to Mt. Charleston and pass the turnoff to the Las Vegas Paiute Indian Reservation (the highway goes under an overpass here). About 6 miles past the overpass, the turnoff to Corn Creek (Table 1, Site 0350) is marked by a small green refuge sign, a Corn Creek Road sign, and a well-graded, gravel road heading east across the desert. Turn right onto Corn Creek Road and drive east for 3.8 miles to the Visitor Center parking area (Site 0106), which is located on the far side of the Refuge headquarters and maintenance buildings. If space is available, park in the shade of the covered parking area. |
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Visitor Center Exterior
Highway 95 at Corn Creek Road (view N) |
Corn Creek Road at refuge boundary (view E) |
Corn Creek Road entering the Field Station area (view E) |
Corn Creek Road at Visitor Center parking road (view N) |
Corn Creek Road, turning onto Visitor Center Road (view N) |
Uncovered parking on the left (view NW) |
Drop-off "parking" on the right (view N) |
Drop-off "parking" (view N) |
Passing walkway to the visitor center (view NE) |
Entering the covered parking area (view W) |
Walking back towards the visitor center (view E) |
Walking towards the visitor center (view E) |
Walking towards the visitor center (view E) |
Walking towards the visitor center (view NE) |
Visitor center entrance walkway (view NE) |
Sign: info and map of the area (view NE) |
Visitor center entrance walkway (view NE) |
Visitor center entrance walkway (view N) |
Visitor center entrance walkway (view N) |
Approaching the visitor center entrance (view NE) |
Visitor Center front door (view N) |
Entrance to the outside patio (view NE) |
On the right: restrooms and to-the-trails! (view E) |
Outside patio with restrooms, water, and tables (view E) |
Restrooms and drinking water, on the left (view E) |
Porch wraps around the building to the trails (view N) |
Walkway to the trails (view N) |
Sunset at Corn Creek Visitor Center (view NE) |
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Visitor Center Interior
Open Hours posted on the front door (check online for updates) |
Information desk |
Information desk and door to the gift shop |
Exhibit about bighorn sheep |
Exhibit hall |
Exhibit hall |
Exhibit hall |
Exhibit hall |
Looking out the back windows |
Gift shop |
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The Good Stuff Out Back
Start of the trails behind the visitor center (view NE) |
Start of the trails (view NE from visitor center side porch) |
Start of the trails (view NE from visitor center side porch) |
Approaching the Cement Pond (view W) |
Cement pond during summer |
Cement pond during winter |
Family on trail |
Pupfish refugium |
Historic railroad-tie cabin |
Birdwatching |
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Table 1. Highway Coordinates Based on GPS Data (NAD27; UTM Zone 11S).
Download Highway GPS Waypoints (*.gpx) file.
Site # |
Location |
UTM Easting |
UTM Northing |
Latitude (N) |
Longitude (W) |
Elevation (ft) |
Verified |
0106 |
Corn Creek Parking Area |
647225 |
4033632 |
36.43845 |
115.35745 |
2,814 |
Yes |
0350 |
Hwy 95 at Corn Creek Rd |
641416 |
4032155 |
36.42601 |
115.42251 |
3,050 |
Yes |
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Happy Hiking! All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate.
; Last updated 240324 |
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