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First Creek Canyon Trail -- Return to the Trailhead
Hiking Around Las Vegas, Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
First Creek Canyon Trail
First Creek Canyon
1.8 miles out, a nice place to stop for lunch (view E)

Overview

The hike into First Creek Canyon starts out as a pleasant 1.3-mile walk across a desert valley beneath towering red-and-white sandstone cliffs with an option to visit a desert waterfall. After that, hikers can go as far as they like up the canyon and into the mountains, but the route becomes increasingly aggressive. Hiking a total of 1.8 miles up the canyon brings hikers to a nice place to stop for lunch before returning back down the trail for a total of 3.6 miles round trip.

The hike into the canyon is described elsewhere; presented here are photos of the descent and return to the trailhead.

Link to map.

Link to BLM Georeference PDF map file.

First Creek Canyon
Departing the lunch spot and starting down the trail (view E)
First Creek Canyon
The trail is well-defined in places (view E)
First Creek CanyonTrail forks; stay right onto "high road" (view E) First Creek Canyon
Starting down the "high road" (view E)
First Creek Canyon
Exiting Rainbow Mountains Wilderness Area (view E)
First Creek Canyon
Looking back, carsonite wilderness boundary sign (view W)
First Creek Canyon
Use-trails fork again; right two trails eventually merge (view E)
First Creek Canyon
Hiking across hillsides (view E)
First Creek Canyon
Beginning down towards canyon bottom (view NE)
First Creek Canyon
Descending towards canyon bottom (view NE)
First Creek Canyon
Nearing canyon bottom (view NE)
First Creek Canyon
"High road" and "low road" merge by ponderosa pines (view NE)
First Creek Canyon
Trail junction by ponderosa pines (view NE)
First Creek Canyon
Hiker approaching the last of the shade (view NE)
First Creek Canyon
Hiker beyond the mouth of the canyon (view NE)
First Creek Canyon
Western trail junction to First Creek Falls (view E)
First Creek Canyon
Hiker approaching the last (aka "first") pine tree (view E)
First Creek Canyon
Hiker passing the last (aka "first") (view E)
First Creek Canyon
Hiker passing the eastern trail junction to First Creek Falls (view NE)
First Creek Canyon
Hiker on easy trail (view E)
First Creek Canyon
Hiker on rocky trail (view E)
First Creek Canyon
Hiker on eroded trail (view E)
First Creek Canyon
Entering the burn zone (view E)
First Creek Canyon
Hiker in the burn zone -- few plants growing back (view E)
First Creek Canyon
Alternating, intermittent post-and-cable fencing in burn zone
First Creek Canyon
Hiker in the burn zone (note trash bag; view E)
First Creek Canyon
Hiker re-entering unburned zone near Oak Creek Wash (view E)
First Creek Canyon
Hikers crossing Oak Creek Wash (view NE)
First Creek Canyon
Hiker arriving back at the trailhead (view NE)
First Creek Canyon
Hiker exiting through the trailhead gate (view NE)

Happy Hiking! All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate.
copyright; Last updated 240330

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