Red Rock Canyon – Turtlehead Mountain Hike

Introduction:

What? :

Located in the heart of Red Rock Canyon Park, Turtlehead Mountain Hike is out-and-back 4.6-mile with a total of 2,000 feet climb trail that led to the impressive cliff top mountain with 360-degree view of the Red Rock Park area, the impressive surrounding mountains and far away in the valley stunning views of Las Vegas strip.

 

The hike is considered a challenging route, and it takes an average of 3-4 hours to complete.

 

Warning:

This is a challenging climb hike that requires some steep walking and slippery sections so you must walk with awareness and be careful not to fall.

This is not the trail for people with far of highest or instability or for young kids.

 

 

 

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Where? :

The park is located 17 miles west of the Las Vegas Strip and city center, about 30 minutes’ drive. You can take Charleston Boulevard/State Route 159 and drive west or use the 215 highway and exit at W Charleston Blvd and NV-159 W/Red Rock Canyon Rd. From highway 215 drive for 5.9 mile and then you will see the park entrance on your right.

The Calico Tanks Trailhead is located at Sandstone Quarry Overlook Parking Lot, this will be 3 miles up the scenic view one-way road.

 

Google Map Link

 

 

When? :

The park is open year-round, but the late fall and winter month are the recommended time to visit here.

Temperatures can average more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit during the summer months. If you are planning to hike, try to come early in the morning. The best protection against heat is drinking plenty of water and limiting exposure to the sun during the hottest parts of the day.

The park averages 294 days of sunshine per year.

Summer afternoon monsoon rainstorm is expected, be aware of flash flood and lightning.

 

Winter mid-day temperatures are the best for hiking, cold night around freezing and mid-day around 50-60f with almost no rain at all.

 

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Due note 1:

Entrance Reservation:

To manage visitor overcrowded and congestion, protect the nature and improve visitor experience the access into the park visitor center and Scenic Loop Road is controlled by an online reservation system.

This system is implemented between November 3 through May 31.

The park road is open starting 6am.

Between 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. a Timed Entry Permits (+/- 30 min) is required per vehicle.

 

Timed entry reservations can be made at Recreation.gov or by calling 877-444-6777.

https://www.recreation.gov/timed-entry/10075177

 

Note: You can still hike in Red Rock Canyon NCA without the need for reservations or paying fees when hiking into the park from the nearby areas.

Note: Actually, most of my visits and hike into the park started outside the park road, yes it a lot longer hike but you can enjoy this area even if you do not have entrance reservations.

 

Due note 2:

Daily Private Vehicle Entry $20; America the Beautiful Annual Pass is accepted.

Visitor Center is open daily 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Red Rock Canyon Main Information Line: 702-515-5350

The Park Visitor Center is located just after the entry kiosks at the start of the one-way, Scenic Loop Road.

You can find gift shop in the visitor center.

 

Due note 3:

Cell service is limited, make your park reservation prior driving here. If you plan to hike download your map.

At the visitor center there is wifi.

 

Due note 4:

Pets are welcome at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. Pets are permitted on trails and should be leashed

 

Due note 5:

The Red Rock campground typically closes for the summer months.

 

Due note 6:

The park is very popular with the rock and boulder climbing community.

There are routes of interest to both the beginning and advanced climbers. Great boulders and sheer rock faces bring climbers from around the world.

Avoid climbing on sandstone within 72 hours after rain.

 

Due note 7:

Off-highway driving in the National Conservation Area is limited to designated roads.

 

Due note 8:

When hiking drink at least one gallon (four liters) of water per day.

Flash Floods: When hiking, avoid canyons during rainstorms and be prepared to move to higher ground.

 

Due note 9:

There are several picnic areas in the park and along the scenic drive.

There is another picnic areas that is located at Red Spring area.

 

Due note 10:

Wear a hat, dress in layers, sunglasses and apply sunscreen

 

Due note 10:

Rattlesnakes and scorpions like to hide under rocks and in shrubs, be aware.

 

Due note 11:

The nearest restaurants, supermarket, gas station, are located at the corner of Charleston Boulevard and Desert Foothills Drive, 4.5 miles northeast of the entrance to Red Rock Canyon.

 

 

 

My thoughts:

This is a popular hike although relatively challenge.

A very steep rocky climb will lead you to the top of the cliffy edge of Turtlehead Mountain.

On one side you will be right on the cliff top and on your back the slope going down dramatically.

No matter where you look you will enjoy the amazing panoramic view of the park, surrounding mountains and Las Vegas far away in the valley.

 

 

The Hike:

From the trailhead the hike starts on the old road leading to the quarry area.

From here the trail follow the dry creek after passing the signed Grand Circle Trail junction to the left.

Even from here you can start to see the top of Turtlehead Peak towering above the landscape.

Right after that the trail start to circle back to the hills and it is following the creek on it left side. Here you will see Turtlehead Peak Trail sign heading left, you should take this trail left.

 

The trail heading northwest into a large wide dry wash.

At first the trail following the wash on it left side and after short hike it is getting into the wash with loose gravel. The wash is widening-up and the trail crosses to it right side and climb a small sand bank.

 

The trail turn right in between large rocks following small creek in the overall direction of the mountain cliff towering above you.

The trail flow side creek over the high level and soon you will start to gain some elevation gain and you will reach to a small hump, this will be after hiking for about 1.1 mile from the trailhead.

 

You can see the mountain top growing above you as you getting closer to the mountain base and the canyon climbing up.

From here the trail follow the creek leading to the canyon above you, the creek will be on your right side, below you.

 

The canyon start to climb steeply and get narrower.

In general, the better and “official” trail climb the canyon on it left (west) side, but I saw people walking down on the right side.

The trail climb this steep section going over rock cliffs and boulders.

There are many small zigzags and few large switchbacks to overcome the climb. Always look for the trail because I saw here many options to takes.

Be carful here, the trail might be clear but very steep and going over obstacles and you are tired and may tend to do mistakes. This section involved with few scrambling and high slops with loss gravel.

 

Your overall direction is the saddle up above you, at some point not so far from the end the trail bend to the right and reaches the saddle ridgeline.

From here the view to the other side open-up, look back to the steep canyon you just climbed up.

Unfortunately, this is not the end of the climb, look up to the right and you can see the mountain from it “back” side and the steep straight sloop leading to the top of the mountain.

 

Pass the large rocks and start to climb up to the top.

Here you will have several trails, one is heading to the right just following the cliff edge and other one taking more to the left. The right trail is steeper, and the left one looks less intimidating.

No matter which one you will follow they are all heading to the top and they all will be steep.

After the climb you will reach the mountain top and the cliff side.

This is very steep hike section, in the last 0.8 mile of the hike from the canyon below you are climbing more than 1,000 ft to the top.

 

This is the perfect place to rest and relax your breath and star to enjoy the amazing grand view all around you.

 

Below you can see the Red Rock Park landscape, you can identify the trailhead parking lot, Calico Hills and Kraft Mountain with their red and white color look very small from here.

To the southeast you can see Calico Basin and farther away the Las Vegas Valley urban area and on a day with good visibility you can clearly see the Las Vegas strip hotels.

 

On the other side you can see above you the tall mountains of La Madre Mountains Wilderness.

 

To the west on the other side of the Red Rock large open valley, you can see the series of red and white sandstone mountains in Rainbow Mountain Wilderness.

 

What an amazing view all around you.

 

Once you rested you need to hike down the same way you hiked up.

Take it slow on your way down.

 

Overall, this will be a challenging 4.6-mile-long hike with a total of 2,000 feet elevation gain.

 

 

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