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Girl Scout Trail - Northbound
Hiking Around Las Vegas, Red Rock Canyon NCA
Girl Scout Trail
Girl Scout Trail
Girl Scout trail sign at the base of Guardian Angel Canyon (view E)

Overview

Girl Scout Trail is an easy 0.6-mile trail that runs from the base of Guardian Angel Canyon to Kraft Mountain Trailhead. As such, it is merely a trail segment rather than a trail, proper. Girl Scout Trail is part of the Calico Hills Loop Trail, and it is a continuation of the Calico Basin Trail, which runs from the Red Spring parking area to the base of Guardian Angel Canyon.

For hikers using this trail segment southbound, see Girl Scout Trail Southbound.

Girl Scout Trail serves well as a connector trail, but as a stand-alone trail, it is not very interesting. However, it does seem to be an attempt by the BLM to define one trail and reduce the number of use-trails that are proliferating throughout the Calico Basin area. Hopefully people will stay on the trail and the land will recover.

Link to trail map.

Girl Scout Trail
Girl Scout trailhead sign (view E)

Watch Out

Other than the standard warnings about hiking in the desert, ...this hike is about as safe as they get, but there was a loose rock where the trail crosses the spring outflow, and the trail is fairly rocky.

While hiking, please respect the land and the other people out there, and try to Leave No Trace of your passage. Also, even though this is a short hike, be sure to bring what you need of the 10 Essentials. Be sure to stay on the trail in wet areas so as not to trample the delicate riparian vegetation.

Getting to the Trailhead

This hike is located in the Calico Basin area of Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, about 30 minutes from town (not on the Scenic Loop Road). Drive out West Charleston Blvd, turn right onto Calico Basin Road, then drive to the Red Spring Trailhead. Park here; this is the trailhead parking, then hike out the Calico Basin Trail about 3/4-miles to the base of Guardian Angel Canyon.

Girl Scout Trail
Girl Scout trailhead sign (view E)

The Hike

From the base of Guardian Angel Canyon (Table 1, Waypoint 04), the trail exits the area heading northeast following along the base of the red sandstone cliffs. The trail climbs at a moderate grade until reaching a flat, open area with grand views north towards Kraft Mountain. All through this area, hikers should stay left at forks in the trail.

Before long, the trail begins to descend into a shallow canyon where water flows during winter and spring. Watch for the Velvet Ash Trees that grow in the canyon bottom and reveal the presence of water, even if only underground water.

Crossing the small wash (Wpt. 03), the trail continues north and climbs onto the next high, open area where again, great views spread out to the north. The canyon to the left is Ash Canyon, and the peak to the right is Kraft Mountain.

Girl Scout Trail
Girl Scout trailhead sign (view E)

From this open area, the Kraft Mountain Trailhead becomes visible to the northeast. Starting down into the next canyon, Girl Scout Trail bends to the right and drops to join an old road (Wpt. 02) adjacent to an area graded for a home site.

Staying right onto the old road, the trail descends to cross Ash Wash, then climbs the gradual grade and continues east to the Kraft Mountain Trailhead (Wpt. 01)

Girl Scout Trail
Departing Guardian Angel Canyon, trail stays left at marker (view E)
Girl Scout Trail
Trail climbs at moderate grades (view NE)
Girl Scout Trail
Approaching the base of the Calico Hills (view NE)
Girl Scout Trail
Hiker climbing at moderate grades along the Calico Hills (view NE)
Girl Scout Trail
Girl Scout Trail stays left at another old use-trail (view NE)
Girl Scout Trail
Girl Scout Trail marker: stay left (view NE)
Girl Scout Trail
Girl Scout Trail arriving at the first high point (view NE)
Girl Scout Trail
First long views towards Kraft Mountain (view NE)
Girl Scout Trail
Girl Scout Trail marker at the toe of the Calico Hills (view NE)
Girl Scout Trail
Picnic tables left after a commercial campground failed (view E)
Girl Scout Trail
Girl Scout Trail traversing gentle terrain (view N)
Girl Scout Trail
Flat, open area with grand views (view N)
Girl Scout Trail
An old trail merges with Girl Scout Trail (view N)
Girl Scout Trail
Girl Scout Trail begins to descent into a shallow canyon (view N)
Girl Scout Trail
Girl Scout Trail descending into a shallow canyon (view N)
Girl Scout Trail
Ash trees shade the wash during summer (view N)
Girl Scout Trail
Hiker crossing the small stream during winter (view N)
Girl Scout Trail
Ash tree at the dry wash crossing during summer (view N)
Girl Scout Trail
Just a trickle of water during winter (view N)
Girl Scout Trail
Across the wash, trail climbs out of the shallow canyon (view N)
Girl Scout Trail
The trail continues to climb at moderate grades (view N)
Girl Scout Trail
Girl Scout Trail again traverses gentle terrain (view N)
Girl Scout Trail
Approaching the next high point (view N)
Girl Scout Trail
Second flat, open area with grand views (view N)
Girl Scout Trail
Hiker passing an old fence line (view N)
Girl Scout Trail
Girl Scout Trail begins to descend into Ash Canyon (view N)
Girl Scout Trail
Flat, open area with grand views (view N)
Girl Scout Trail
Trail turning right and dropping towards an old home site (view N)
Girl Scout Trail
Girl Scout Trail approaching an old road (view NE)
Girl Scout Trail
Girl Scout Trail merges onto an old road (view E)
Girl Scout Trail
Girl Scout Trail continues on the old road (view E)
Girl Scout Trail
First good view of the trailhead in the distance (view E)
Girl Scout Trail
Girl Scout Trail at another trail marker (view E)
Girl Scout Trail
Girl Scout Trail crosses Ash Canyon Wash (view E)
Girl Scout Trail
One last trail marker (view E)
Girl Scout Trail
Approaching the Kraft Mountain Trailhead (view E)
Girl Scout Trail
Backside of the northern Girl Scout trailhead sign (view E)
Girl Scout Trail
Returning to the Kraft Mountain Trailhead (view E)

Table 1. Hiking Coordinates and Distances based on GPS Data (NAD27; UTM Zone 11S). Download Hiking GPS Waypoints (*.gpx) file.

Wpt. Location UTM Easting UTM Northing Elevation (ft) Point-to-Point Distance (mi) Cumulative Distance (mi)
04 Girl Scout Trail End 641589 4001668 3,776 0.00 0.00
03 Girl Scout crosses Wash 641701 4001947 3,812 0.23 0.23
02 Girl Scout departs Old Road 641691 4002229 3,773 0.19 0.42
01 Girl Scout Trailhead 642008 4002291 3,737 0.22 0.64

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

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