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Cottonwood Valley - Two Springs Loop Trail
Hiking Around Las Vegas, Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
Cottonwood Valley Springs
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Late Night Trailhead (view W)

Overview

The Two Springs Loop Trail is a fairly easy hike that runs 4.6 miles across desert flats to two springs with birds, oak trees, and petroglyphs at the base of the Red Rock Escarpment. Starting at the paved Late Night Trailhead, this hike makes use of the myriad bike trails, dirt roads, and use-trails that crisscross Cottonwood Valley to make a lollipop-type loop. As such, hikers can follow the route presented here or use other roads and trails to customize the hike. Hikers can also drive closer to the springs and use the Lone Grapevine Trailhead or the Wooden Fence Spring Trailhead.

The hike runs through diverse vegetation typical of the Mojave Desert Scrub habitat type, and the sandstone cliffs, which are in the Rainbow Mountain Wilderness Area, loom higher and higher, eventually dominating the landscape as hikers draw near the springs.

Link to map.

Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Departing the trailhead (view SW)

Watch Out

Other than the standard warnings about hiking in the desert, ...this hike is fairly safe with no unusual hazards, but watch for mountain bikers careening along the trails.

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 hike is fairly short, be sure to bring what you need of the 10 Essentials.

Getting to the Trailhead

This hike is located in Red Rock Canyon NCA, but not in the Scenic Loop Road fee area.

From the Red Rock Visitor Center area, drive west then south on West Charleston Blvd (Hwy 159) past Blue Diamond Town to Highway 160. Turn right onto Highway 160 and drive west for 4.7 miles to the paved Late Night Trailhead on the right.

Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop TrailTrail parallels access road (view S)

The Hike

From the trailhead (Table 1, Waypoint 01), this hike leaves out of the northwest side of the paved parking lot, adjacent to the restrooms. Running around the end of the parking lot, the trail curves left until approaching the access road. Bending right, the trail parallels the access road until is ends, then parallels Highway 160 heading southwest towards the mountains.

After running at gentle grades for about 0.47 miles, the trail reaches a trail intersection (Wpt. 02) and turns right to head northwest. Hikers who miss the turn will, in about 30 yards, encounter Wildhorse Road. Hikers can return to the trail junction or just walk out the dirt road.

Staying on the trail, the trail runs northwest, climbs a short hillside, flattens out, and crosses a little-used dirt road (Wpt. 03). Now running west, the trail quickly crosses Wildhorse Road (Wpt. 04). Note that although the road looks nice here, this point is just beyond a bit of 4WD road.

Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Trail parallels Highway 160 (view SW)

Continuing, the trail merges with another trail (Wpt. 05), and bends to the right. Shortly, the trail forks (Wpt. 06) and hikers stay right (straight). Note that this is the point where the return-trail comes back to close the loop. Continuing northwest, the trail merges with Wildhorse Road (Wpt. 07).

Angling left, the trail now follows Wildhorse Road northwest for 0.5 miles. While hiking along the road, Lone Grapevine Spring can be seen on the hillside slightly right of straight down the road. The dirt road winds across two canyons and arrives at the Lone Grapevine Trailhead, where the dirt road turns left to run south.

From the edge of the road (Wpt. 08), a use-trail drops over the hillside towards the wash below, then angles upstream to meet another trail at a T-intersection (Wpt. 09). Turning right, the trail runs across gently rolling terrain to a fork (Wpt. 10) where the trail stays left. Continuing across more gently rolling terrain, the trail reaches yet another fork (Wpt. 11) and stays left to quickly arrive at the watering troughs (Wpt. 12).

Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Hiker at trail junction (view SW)

Beyond the troughs, the now steep trail switchbacks up the hillside, then bends right to cut up and across the hillside to reach Lone Grapevine Spring (Wpt. 13). For details of this part of the hike and more photos of the area, see Lone Grapevine Spring Trail.

After enjoying the sights and sounds at the spring, the hike returns to the watering troughs (Wpt. 12). Continuing south only another five yards to a faint trail junction, the hike turns right to runs up along the base of this hillside. The trail eventually climbs the gentle hillside heading more-or-less west, then curves left to run more southerly. The trail passes a trail junction (Wpt. 14) in an area of dark conglomerate rock. This is Shinarump Conglomerate, formed during an important stage in the geologic history of Red Rock Canyon.

Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Trail turns north away from the highway (view NW)

Continuing south among Shinarump Conglomerate boulders, the trail quickly arrives at Wooden Fence Spring (Wpt. 15). For details of this spring and more photos of the area, see Wooden Fence Spring Trail. As before, relax and enjoy the sights and sounds of the spring area.

Departing Wooden Fence Spring, the trail initially runs northeast, but then quickly winds around and resumes a southerly direction.

The trail eventually passes a trail junction (Wpt. 16; runs up to Wooden Fence Trailhead), crosses a major wash, and climbs out the other side to the desert flats above.

Two Springs Loop Trail
Some trail junctions have extra signs (view NW)

The trail then crosses a trail (Wpt. 17) and arrives at Wildhorse Road again (Wpt. 18). Note that although the road might look nice here, this point is between 4WD sections.

Continuing southeast across Wildhorse Road, the trail crosses another old dirt road (Wpt. 19) and a couple of washes before reaching another fork (Wpt. 20). The trail stays right and runs out to yet another trail intersection (Wpt. 06), which closes the loop.

Staying right, hikers follow their outbound footprints back to the trailhead. The trail stays left at the next fork (Wpt. 05), crosses the dirt road (Wpt. 04), crosses an old dirt road (Wpt. 03), descends a hillside, turns left at a trail junction (Wpt. 02) near Highway 160, and runs back northeast to the Late Night Trailhead (Wpt. 01).

Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Trail runs north (view NW)
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Hiker on short uphill section (view NW)
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Trail merges with an old road (view W)
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Trail departs old road to the right (view W)
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Trail on desert flats (view W)
Two Springs Loop
First encounter with Wildhorse Road (view NW)
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
First encounter with Wildhorse Road (view NW)
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Trail on desert flats (view W)
Two Springs Loop Trail
Trail merges with another from the left (view NW)
Two Springs Loop Trail
Looking back at the trail sign (view SE)
Two Springs Loop Trail
Another trail sign across the intersection (view NW)
Two Springs Loop Trail
Trail sign (view SW)
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Trail on desert flats (view W)
Two Springs Loop Trail
Trail stays right at fork with trail sign (view NW)
Two Springs Loop Trail
Trail sign (view NE)
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Trail on rolling desert flats (view W)
Two Springs Loop Trail
Approaching another trail junction with a sign (view NW)
Two Springs Loop Trail
Trail sign (view SW)
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Hiker passing trail merging from the left (view NW)
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Trail returns to Wildhorse Road (view NW)
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Hiker on Wildhorse Road (view NW)
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Hiker on dirt road (view NW)
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Hiker on dirt road (view NW)
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Wildhorse Road at Lone Grapevine Road (view NW)
Two Springs Loop
Lone Grapevine Road (view N from Wildhorse Road)
Two Springs Loop
Grand scenery to the northwest
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Hiker on dirt road (view NW; 2WD vehicles stop here)
Two Springs Loop Trail
Lone Grapevine Trailhead (view NW)
Two Springs Loop Trail
Trail departs Lone Grapevine Trailhead (view NW)
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Trail drops off hillside towards wash (view NW)
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Trail drops into wash (view W)
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Trail junction in wash; loop turns right (view W)
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Loop trail runs north
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Trail drops through wooded wash (view NW)
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Trail stays left at fork (view NW)
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Trail on desert flats at base of the mountains (view W)
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Trail stays left at a fork (view N)
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Approaching the watering troughs (view N)
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Hiker at watering troughs (view N)
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Watering troughs (view NW)
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Rocks in the trough save drowning birds and mammals
Two Springs Loop Trail
Trail climbs hillside above watering troughs (view NW)
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Watering trough
Two Springs Loop Trail
Be sure to leave rocks in the trough so creatures can climb out
Two Springs Loop Trail
Trail climbs hillside towards Lone Grapevine Spring (view NW)
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Note the top of the rock
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Approaching Lone Grapevine Spring (view NW)
Two Springs Loop Trail
Approaching Lone Grapevine Spring (view NW)
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Lone Grapevine Spring
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Artwork at Lone Grapevine Spring (view SW)
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Petroglyphs and graffiti at Lone Grapevine Spring (view NE)
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Lone Grapevine Spring (view SW)
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Birdwatching at Lone Grapevine Spring (view SW)
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Lone Grapevine Spring (view SE)
Two Springs Loop Two Springs Loop
Two Springs Loop Two Springs Loop
Two Springs Loop Trail Two Springs Loop
Two Springs Loop Trail
Petroglyphs
Two Springs Loop Trail
Low quality cowboy graffiti
Two Springs Loop Trail
Real petroglyph or better-quality cowboy graffiti?
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Departing Lone Grapevine Spring (view SE)
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Hikers descending the hillside (view SE)
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Returning to the watering trough (view S)
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Loop trail turns right just below watering troughs (view S)
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Trail runs along base of hillside (view SW)
Two Springs Loop Trail
Modern images (cowboy graffiti) on the stones in this area
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Trail runs along base of hillside (view W)
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail Two Springs Loop
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Trail stays left a junction (view SW)
Two Springs Loop
Conglomerate boulders beside the trail (view NW)
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Approaching Wooden Fence Spring (view SW)
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Arriving at Wooden Fence Spring (view SW)
Two Springs Loop
Boulder with wood impressions
Two Springs Loop
Boulder with wood impressions
Two Springs Loop
Boulder with wood impressions
Two Springs Loop
Boulder with wood impressions
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Old wood in the stone
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Wooden Fence Spring
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Birdwatching at Wooden Fence Spring (view NW)
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Birdwatching at Wooden Fence Spring (view W)
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Northeast corner of fenced area (view NE)
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Wooden Fence Spring (view E)
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Hiker departing Wooden Fence Spring (view E)
Two Springs Loop
Always notice the little things
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Trail on desert flats (view E)
Two Springs Loop
Looking back towards Wooden Fence Spring (view W)
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Trail on desert flats (view E)
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Hiker passing trail junction to Wooden Fence Trailhead (view SE)
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Trail cross wash obliquely (view S)
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Steepest climb of the hike (view SE)
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Hikers on desert flats (view SE)
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Hikers crossing bike trail (view SE)
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Hikers crossing dirt road (view SE)
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Trail runs across rolling desert flats (view SE)
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Trail runs across rolling desert flats (view SE)
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Hiker crossing rolling terrain in Cottonwood Valley (view SE)
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Hiker crossing rolling terrain in Cottonwood Valley (view SE)
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Trail stays right at fork (view SE)
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Trail stays right at another fork (view SE)
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Closing the Loop: inbound trail merges with outbound trail (view SE)
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Trail stays left at a fork (view SE)
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Recrossing the dirt road (view SE)
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Trail merges with old road (view SE)
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Trail departs old road (view SE)
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Trail starts down fairly steep hillside (view SE)
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Trail runs back down fairly steep hillside (view SE)
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Flat area below the hillside (view SE)
Two Springs Loop Trail
Trail intersection near Highway 160 (view SE)
Two Springs Loop Trail
Returning to the trailhead (view NE)
Cottonwood Valley Springs Loop Trail
Returning to the trailhead (view NE)

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) Verified
01 Trailhead 641403 3986105 3,930 0.00 0.00 GPS
02 Trail Junction 640911 3985766 4,085 0.47 0.47 GPS
03 Cross Minor Dirt Road 640630 3985976 4,102 0.24 0.71 GPS
04 Cross Dirt Road 640438 3985958 4,103 0.12 0.83 GPS
05 Trail Junction 640283 3985973 4,095 0.10 0.93 GPS
06 Trail Junction 640212 3986043 4,090 0.07 1.00 GPS
07 Merge with Dirt Road 640132 3986145 4,098 0.08 1.08 GPS
08 Depart Dirt Road 639476 3986558 4,026 0.51 1.59 GPS
09 Trail Junction 639392 3986565 4,000 0.06 1.65 GPS
10 Fork in the Trail 639349 3986687 4,029 0.10 1.75 GPS
11 Trail Junction 639151 3986871 4,046 0.19 1.94 GPS
12 Watering Trough 639137 3986912 4,041 0.02 1.96 GPS
13 Lone Grapevine Spring 639035 3986997 4,112 0.11 2.07 GPS
12 Watering Trough 639137 3986912 4,041 0.11 2.18 GPS
14 Trail Junction 639026 3986442 4,125 0.39 2.57 GPS
15 Wooden Fence Spring 639012 3986386 4,115 0.05 2.62 GPS
16 Trail Junction 639299 3986255 4,082 0.28 2.90 GPS
17 Cross Trail 639454 3986167 4,116 0.12 3.02 GPS
18 Cross Dirt Road 639476 3986162 4,115 0.01 3.03 GPS
19 Cross Old Dirt Road 639697 3986080 4,121 0.17 3.20 GPS
20 Trail Junction 640163 3986000 4,093 0.32 3.52 GPS
06 Trail Junction 640212 3986043 4,090 0.05 3.57 GPS
05 Trail Junction 640283 3985973 4,095 0.07 3.64 GPS
04 Cross Dirt Road 640438 3985958 4,103 0.10 3.74 GPS
03 Cross Minor Dirt Road 640630 3985976 4,102 0.12 3.86 GPS
02 Trail Junction 640911 3985766 4,085 0.24 4.10 GPS
01 Trailhead 641403 3986105 3,930 0.47 4.57 GPS

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

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