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Kraft Mountain Trailhead
Hiking Around Las Vegas, Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
Kraft Mountain Trailhead
Kraft Mountain Trailhead
Kraft Mountain Trailhead parking sign (view W)

Kraft Mountain provides parking for four trailheads: Both ends of the Kraft Mountain (aka Gateway Canyon) Loop Trail, Ash Spring Trail, and Girl Scout Trail. A number of unnamed trails crisscross the area, providing access to the sandstone cliffs, several springs, and miles of relatively flat walking.

Kraft Mountain Parking is located in the Calico Basin area of Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, about 35 minutes west of Las Vegas. From town, drive out towards Red Rocks. From West Charleston Blvd at Highway 215 (Table 1, Site 516), drive west on Charleston 3.8 miles to Calico Basin Road (Site 0520). Turn right onto Calico Basin Road and drive northwest, past the turnoff to Red Springs Picnic Area, for 1.9 miles to the end of Sandstone Drive. Turn left through a gate and onto a gravel spur road (Site 0971). Park here; this is the trailhead.

Trails: Ash Spring Loop, Ash Canyon, Calico Hills Loop, Girl Scout Trail, Gray Cap Peak, Kraft Mountain Loop (Gateway Canyon), and the Kraft Boulders.

Link to trailhead map.

Sandstone Road Trailhead
Spill-over parking along Sandstone Road (view N)
Kraft Mountain Trailhead
Sandstone Road at entrance to Kraft Mountain parking (view N)
Kraft Mountain Trailhead
Sandstone Road at entrance to Kraft Mountain parking (view NW)
Kraft Mountain Trailhead
Sandstone Road at entrance to Kraft Mountain parking (view NW)
Kraft Mountain Trailhead
Kraft Mountain parking sign (view W)
Kraft Mountain Trailhead
Kraft Mountain Trailhead parking (view W)
Sandstone Road Trailhead
Kraft Mountain Trailhead on a quiet day (view W from near entrance)
Sandstone Road Trailhead
Kraft Mountain Trailhead on a busy day (view W from near middle)
Kraft Mountain Trailhead
Alternate start for Kraft Mountain Loop Trail (view N)
Kraft Mountain Trailhead
Another Alternate start for Kraft Mountain Loop Trail (view N)
Kraft Mountain Trailhead Kraft Mountain Trailhead

Northeast Trailhead: Kraft Mountain Loop (counter-clockwise; upstream through Gateway Canyon) and Kraft Boulders

Kraft Mountain Trailhead Kraft Mountain Trailhead
Kraft Mountain Trailhead Kraft Mountain Trailhead
Kraft Mountain Trailhead more to come
Kraft Mountain Trailhead Kraft Mountain Trailhead

West Trailheads: Girl Scout Trail, Ash Spring Trail, and Kraft Mountain Trail

Kraft Mountain Trailhead
West end of Kraft Mountain parking: three trailheads (view W)
Kraft Mountain Trailhead
West end of Kraft Mountain parking: three trailheads (view W)
Kraft Mountain Trailhead
Information sign about regulations (view W)
Kraft Mountain Trailhead
On the right: Ash Spring Trail and Kraft Mtn trailhead signs (view NW)
Kraft Mountain Trailhead
On the left: Girl Scout Trailhead sign (view W)
Kraft Mountain Trailhead
On the right: Ash Spring Trail and Kraft Mtn trailhead signs (view NW)
Kraft Mountain Trailhead
Information sign about weeds (view W)
Kraft Mountain Trailhead
Information sign about weeds (view W)

West Trailhead: Ash Canyon Trail

Kraft Mountain Trailhead Kraft Mountain Trailhead
Kraft Mountain Trailhead
Ash Spring and Kraft Mountain trailhead signs (view N)
Kraft Mountain Trailhead
Ash Spring Trail trailhead sign (view N)
Kraft Mountain Trailhead
Ash Spring Trail trailhead sign (view N)
Kraft Mountain Trailhead
Ash Spring Trail trailhead map (view N)

West Trailhead: Kraft Mountain Loop (Clockwise; up Hell Hill and downstream through Gateway Canyon)

Kraft Mountain Trailhead
Ash Spring and Kraft Mountain trailhead signs (view N)
Kraft Mountain Trailhead
Kraft Mountain trailhead sign (view N)
Kraft Mountain Trailhead
Kraft Mountain trailhead sign (view N)
Kraft Mountain Trailhead
Kraft Mountain trailhead map (view N)

West Trailhead: Girl Scout

Kraft Mountain Trailhead
Girl Scout Trailhead sign (view W)
Kraft Mountain Trailhead
Girl Scout Trailhead sign (view W)
Kraft Mountain Trailhead
Girl Scout Trailhead sign (view W)
Kraft Mountain Trailhead
Girl Scout Trailhead sign (view W)
Kraft Mountain Trailhead
Girl Scout Trailhead sign (view W)
more to come
More to come ...

Table 1. Highway Coordinates (NAD27; UTM Zone 11S). Download Highway GPS Waypoints (*.gpx) file.

Site # Location Latitude (N) Longitude (W) UTM Easting UTM Northing Elevation (feet) Verified
0516 Charleston at Hwy 215 36.15910 115.33661 649626 4002676 3,070 Yes
0520 Charleston at Calico Basin Rd 36.14184 115.39871 644071 4000667 3,506 Yes
0971 Kraft Mountain Trailhead 36.15682 115.41927 642194 4002299 3,711 Yes

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

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