Hiking Around Las Vegas, Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
 Willow Springs Picnic Area (view SE) |
Overview Willow Spring Picnic Area, tucked between sandstone cliffs in Red Rock Canyon, has 28 picnic tables, trash cans, and two toilets, but no drinking water. On arrival, the first tables along Willow Spring Road are in the full sun (good for winter use), and the farther tables are shaded by tall cottonwood trees and oak trees (good for summer use). The southern tables are most accessible for people with limited mobility. The spring, located adjacent to the northern-most tables, provides habitat for rare spring snails and red-spotted toads, plus water for gray fox, bighorn sheep, bats, many bird species, and other desert creatures. From the picnic area, hikers can access several trails, including the Willow Spring Loop Trail that runs down one side of the canyon and back up the other providing grand scenic overlooks and interesting archeological sites. The Petroglyph Wall Trail runs just across the canyon to a wall covered in rock stories. Willow Spring Picnic Area is located inside the Red Rock Canyon fee area, about half-way around the Scenic Loop Road. |
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 Willow Springs Road, arriving at accessible parking area (view NE) |
 Reserved parking spaces (view E) |
 Accessible toilet at reserved parking (view NE) |
 Bike racks and accessible picnic tables (view E) |
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Picnic Area During Winter
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Willow Spring
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Handprints ADA Trail
 Start of the Handprints ADA Trail by the ADA toilets (view NE) |
 Handprints Petroglyph Site isn't far (view E) |
 Handprints Trail approaching an information sign (view E) |
 Information sign: Rugged Survivors (bighorn sheep) |
 Handprints Trail continues (view SE) |
Handprints Trail passes an ADA picnic table (view E) |
 Handprints Trail approaching an information sign (view E) |
 Information sign: Rock Impressions (view NE) |
 Approaching the Handprints site (view E) |
 Arriving at the Handprints site (view E) |
 Painted Hands pictograph site (view NE) |
 Five ancient handprints (view NE) |
 Painted Hands pictographs; they can be hard to see (view NE) |
 Approaching information sign (view SE) |
 Sign: More than an Oven (view E) |
 Agave roasting pit (view SE) |
 Agave roasting pit (view SE) |
 Agave roasting pit (view E) |
 Ash and burnt rocks from ancient cooking fires (view down) |
 More to come ... |
Plants and Animals in the Picnic Area
 Spring Snail in Willow Spring |
 Red-spotted Toads in Willow Spring |
 Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay at Willow Spring |
 House Finch pair at Willow Spring |
 Spotted Towhee at Willow Spring |
 Covey of Chukar at Willow Spring picnic area |
 Rock Squirrel at Willow Spring |
 White-tailed Antelope Squirrel at Willow Spring |
 Valley Pocket Gopher at Willow Spring |
 Four Desert Bighorn Sheep at Willow Spring |
 Damselfly (Vivid Dancer) pair at Willow Spring |
 Arizona Sister Butterfly at Willow Springs |
 Spider Milkweed at Willow Spring |
 Colorado Four O'clock at Willow Spring |
Happy Hiking! All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate.
; Last updated 240330
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