Hiking Southern Nevada

Picks up where "Hiking Las Vegas" left off. It contains 23 hikes around Lake Mead National Recreation Area and Valley of Fire, Mt. Charleston and Red Rock Canyon.

Beyond the bright lights of one of the city's fastest growing metropolitan areas is some of the most rugged, beautiful, and remote country around. Popular destinations such as Red Rock Canyon, Valley of Fire, Death Valley, and Mt. Charles are covered, plus lesser-known areas such as Anniversary Narrows, Arrow Canyon, Bowl of Fire, and the Wee Thump Joshua Tree Wilderness. Each trip showcases the diversity of this region, from the geological wonders and rare life forms surviving in Mojave National Preserve to ancient petroglyphs. The hikes range from easy strolls to challenging treks and include distance, time, elevation change, difficulty, and trail-use notes. A custom map accompanies every description, and GPS waypoints are given for key locations.

This one-of-a kind guide is devoted to southern Nevada's recreational wonderland. It details 20 hikes on the slopes of Mount Charleston, the highest mountain in southern Nevada and only a 60-minute drive from the Las Vegas Strip. It also describes 40 trails, paths, and routes in BLM's showcase Red Rock Canyon Recreation Area, less than half an hour from Glitter Gulch.

Geographers define a desert as a region receiving less than 10 inches average annual precipitation-an area of irregular and minimal rainfall. Meager rainfall means sparse vegetation and results in exposed geological features. One can think of the raw features as the earth without the makeup of vegetation. Deserts can be stark, creating a drama of space, color, relief, and sheer ruggedness. Despite the sparse vegetation, deserts in the southwest United States are full of life-hundreds of plant species, scores of bird species, and many other animals. The best way to observe the flora and fauna is on foot, far from urban areas. This guide is about hiking and generally exploring desert areas, specifically southern Nevada. There is no better way to experience the ruggedness, the history of settlement by Native Americans and later pioneers, and the solitude than by simply hiking and exploring. My purpose in writing this book is to enhancement the enjoyment of all who wish to sample the richness of southern Nevada. My wife, Deb Looker, accompanied me on every hike. This book is a testament to her love of the outdoors as much as mine. Through trial and error from scores of hikes, reading many hiking books, and much Internet research, we have become experienced desert hikers. More than 25 years ago we began seriously exploring the American Southwest. During the first several years we concentrated on areas fairly close to our then home in Santa Barbara, California-the Mojave Desert around Barstow and Baker and Death Valley. We later branched out to Joshua Tree National Park and Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in south central California. In the early 2000s Arizona became a favorite destination. Finally, we began exploring southern Utah in 2006. In the fall of 2009 we left California and settled in St. George, Utah. St. George is a great base camp for adventures in southwest Utah, southern Nevada, and northern Arizona. While we much enjoy the grandeur of big name desert national parks-Death Valley, Zion, Bryce Canyon, the Grand Canyon, and others-our preference is hard to find, out of the bustle of humanity, slot canyons. Fortunately, the area we choose to live is full of slot canyons. I wrote the the 25 stories in this book to describe the natural beauty where we hiked, and to inspire people to get out and enjoy nature. Go outdoors and relax, leave the pressures of daily life behind for a few hours. These hikes are not hard-core three day backpacking treks through the wilderness. That is a great thing, but not for most people, even those who enjoy the outdoors. There are many good hiking books with long, tough hikes-this is not one of them. These are more of "get off the couch or out of your daily rut" and see what nature, plate tectonics, and erosion have given you. These stories and hikes are for the average person/family that understands the value of nature, but never quite gets out to enjoy it. My approach to writing is less formal than found in other hiking books. I'm not above making a joke out of slogging through loose sand or commenting on how rocks in a wash kept grabbing at my feet and that is the reason for my stumbles. Humor and not taking myself too seriously are important parts of my life, and these stories reflect that. At the same time, detailed directions for finding sometimes obscure trailheads, the hike itself, and where to look for interesting features are provided.

This book provides recommendations for, descriptions of, and directions to the best hikes and adventures throughout the American Southwest. From canyoneering in Zion National Park and scrambling in Red Rock Canyon to hiking the highest peaks in Arizona, Nevada, and New Mexico, Hiking the Southwest puts them all within reach. Author Branch Whitney has hiked and climbed more than 3,000 miles, led 2,000 hikers to summits all over the Southwest, and discovered some of the wildest scrambling routes in the country. In this book, Whitney provides detailed hike descriptions and extensive colour photographs of key landmarks; valuable information on the distance, difficulty, elevation gain, class rating, and best season for each hike; and practical data on permits, lodging and camping, and GPS waypoints. Finally, one book gives you everything you need to get the most out of the best hikes in the amazing Southwest!

Nevada boasts some of the most diverse and beautiful landscapes in North America and is rich in trails that embrace the state’s scenic, geologic, and historic resources. Mike White, renowned outdoors writer and instructor, now offers a guide to fifty of the best Nevada hikes, ranging across the entire state from the Mojave Desert to the Sierra Nevada, from sagebrush basins to the alpine heights of the Ruby Mountains. Here are hikes for every taste and level of fitness, including outings suitable for families with small children and full-scale assaults on challenging peaks. Each hike is described in terms of its route and special features, and includes a map and elevation profile. The book also offers information about the geology, wildlife, plants, history, and weather features of Nevada, as well as helpful directions to ensure safe and comfortable travel in Nevada’s rugged and isolated backcountry. This is an indispensable guide for anyone seeking enjoyable adventures in some of the country’s most spectacular natural regions.

Beyond the bright lights of one of the city's fastest growing metropolitan areas is some of the most rugged, beautiful, and remote country around. Popular destinations such as Red Rock Canyon, Valley of Fire, Death Valley, and Mt. Charles are covered, plus lesser-known areas such as Anniversary Narrows, Arrow Canyon, Bowl of Fire, and the Wee Thump Joshua Tree Wilderness. Each trip showcases the diversity of this region, from the geological wonders and rare life forms surviving in Mojave National Preserve to ancient petroglyphs. The hikes range from easy strolls to challenging treks and include distance, time, elevation change, difficulty, and trail-use notes. A custom map accompanies every description, and GPS waypoints are given for key locations.

Branch Whitney has hiked and climbed more than 3,000 miles, led more than 2,000 hikers to summits, and blazed wild and rewarding scrambling routes all over the Southwest. When Whitney claims that some of the best hiking and rock-scrambling in the United States are within an hour of the Las Vegas Strip, you can believe him.Hiking Las Vegas is now available in a newly updated edition, covering Red Rock Canyon, Mount Charleston, and Lake Mead, and featuring everything from relaxing trails to challenging climbs for advanced daredevils. Every hike includes driving directions to the trailhead; a quick-reference guide to difficulty, distance, elevation, and completion time; step-by-step instructions on how to get from the trailhead to the final destination; gorgeous color photos and helpful waypoints; and dozens of quick tips so you can stay safe while getting the best views possible.