Overview

A number of nice use-trails have become established in the Red Rock Canyon Campground Area. The Fire Station Hill Loop (3.01 miles round trip) runs west from the public trailhead, then makes a big loop out behind the fire station, climbing onto a peak with grand views. This is the hardest of the Campground Area Loops, but the expansive views make it worth it, and there is a nice cactus garden atop Fire Station Hill. The trail continues down the other side of the mountain and returns to the paved road. Hikers can return over the pavement or continue across the road and use other trails to return to the trailhead.

After hiking this loop, consider hiking one of the other short or long loops in the campground area. This hike is nice because it is close to town and not on the Scenic Loop Drive. This makes it free, a quick little get away from town, and it minimizes time driving to and from the trailhead.

Link to map or elevation profile.

Watch Out

Other than the standard warnings about hiking in the desert, ...this hike is about as safe as hiking in the desert can be, but watch out for dog poop near the trailhead.

While hiking, please respect the land and the other people out there, and please try to Leave No Trace of your passage. Also, even though this hike is short and close to civilization, be sure to bring what you need of the 10 Essentials. Please pick up after your pet too.

Getting to the Trailhead

This hike is located in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, about 30 minutes from town, but not on the Scenic Loop Road. For non-campers, drive out West Charleston Blvd to the Moenkopi Road Trailhead, which is located along the Moenkopi Road. Park here; this is the trailhead.

For campers, continue into the campground, park at your campsite, then walk out into the desert and pick up the trails.

The Hike

Fire Station Hill Loop Trail is a loop, so hikers can walk it in either direction, but as described here, the trail departs the trailhead heading west into the open desert. Alternatively, hikers could walk farther up Moenkopi Road and do the loop in the other direction.

From the trailhead (Table 1, Waypoint 01), two trails runs west across a flat, sparsely vegetated area. The Fire Station Hill Loop Trail can start on either trail, but as described here, this hike takes the right trail. Starting to the right makes for a slightly longer, less steep route, while the left trail is a bit shorter and steeper.

Continuing on the right trail, hikers soon arrive at an old road (Wpt. 02) that cuts diagonally (SE-NW) across the area. The Fire Station Hill Loop Trail cuts across the old road and continues west on bluff overlooking Red Rock Wash.

Staying atop the bluffs, the trail continues west and shortly becomes well defined as it follows an old two-track road with some nice views to the north and west.

Through here, the vegetation is typical Mojave Desert Scrub habitat type with lots of creosote bush and white bursage, plus Mojave yucca, Eastern Joshua trees, Nevada ephedra, spiny menodora, and galleta grass. Also watch for beavertail cactus and cottontop cactus.

The old road eventually bends left to head more due south. Shortly after the bend, the old road ends and a regular trail continues. The trail passes a junction (Wpt. 05) with the Campground Wash Loop Trail (on the right) and continues heading uphill to the south.

At about 0.79 miles out, the trail reaches a junction (Wpt. 06) with the other trail that departed the trailhead westbound. Using that trail would have saved hikers about 0.1 miles.

At about 0.93 miles out, the trail intersects an old road (Wpt. 07) coming up from the Fire Station. The route bends right and heads southwest up the road. A minute or two farther along, the trail merges with another old road (0.96 miles out; Wpt. 08), also coming up from the Fire Station, and the trail continues southwest and uphill.

The old road ends (0.98 miles out; Wpt. 09), but a constructed trail edged with white rock starts up the ridge and heads south towards the summit of Fire Station Hill. About 1.15 miles out, the trail passes an enormous cairn (Wpt. 10). There is a bit of a hilltop here, but the meaning of the cairn remains mysterious. In the area, there are lots of California barrel cactus, cottontop cactus, and Engelmann's Hedgehog Cactus.

Beyond the cairn, the trail continues up the ridge, climbing somewhat steeply now. The trail passes some interesting Paleozoic fossil outcrops and arrives at the summit (1.38 miles out; Wpt. 11), which is on a short spur trail to the right.

The peak is craggy limestone with lots of fossiliferous material. The vegetation is sparse, but diverse, and there are lots of cactus in the summit area, including California barrel cactus, cottontop cactus, Desert Spinystar Cactus, and Engelmann's Hedgehog Cactus. Interesting shrubs around the summit include Heermann's buckwheat, butterfly bush, and even Parry's Lipfern growing in cracks in the rocks.

From the summit, hikers can return over the spur trail to the main trail, which continues southeast across the summit areas. Hikers might want to hike off-trail to the left to a rocky sub-summit that overlooks the campground. From there, the route to the main trail and continues southeast down the steep hillside.

The trail then bends northeast as it runs down across the hillside, somewhat steeply at times, to connect with the end of another old road (Wpt. 13).

The trail follows the road northeast, staying to the right at a fork (Wpt. 14), until the old road reaches a barbed wire fence (Wpt. 15), which is to keep burros out of the campground. The trail passes through a gate in the fence and continues down the dirt road, which shortly intersects the paved Moenkopi Road (2.42 miles out; Wpt. 16).

On the paved road, hikers can return directly to the trailhead (Wpt. 01). Watch for cars, but hiking on the pavement is actually enjoyable after hiking down the steep hillsides. Be sure to wave at the Fire Boys as you pass the Station.

Otherwise, hikers can walk a few yards north on the pavement, then duck under the fence on the east side of the road and pick up other Campground Area trails. By staying left at trail junctions, hikers can loop out into the desert before bending back west and retuning to the trailhead (Wpt. 01).