Calico Basin

This hike is pretty awesome, great views and it’s moderate. I like to climb boulders and see some heights so if you’re into that, you’ll definitely enjoy this hike. Also, it’s good that you don’t have to pay anything for parking unlike going into the scenic loop of Red Rock Canyon.

Hiking for the second time here; but, this time I got rained on and loved it! I took a chance knowing rain was in the forecast, but I didn’t care — it was just so nice to be there again.

The weather is perfect for a hike!
Rock climbers, boy scouts, and a few dudes on horses. Obviously this place is pretty well known with all the activity happening around you, but there’s plenty to explore and take in on the outdoor jaunt.
You can get to this spot via the Blue Diamond curve from the South or in the North on Charleston Boulevard. There’s plenty of parking and park rangers roaming the roads, so drive slow, I witnessed rangers pull over three people in a matter of two hours while I was here.
There’s pretty much one trail in the main Red Rock area, but you can venture off and climb the numerous flat rocks and peaks to get a nice view of the valley. There are also plenty of smaller trails off the side of road that will give more of «hiking» experience; changes in elevation, longer flat trails, and a few sights to stop and snap a pic.
Great spot for the casual hiker or the person just needing some Vitamin D. Make sure you bring some water!

I love Calico basin, it is really beautiful.
i always tell my family and friends to go there
Everything is clean and the view is just amazing

What a great family friendly place to go!
We parked in the parking lot, although, others opted to drive further into the road for side parking onto gravel.
There were lots of people there, yet, lots of parking. If you park in the parking lot, it is instant access to bathroom and picnic tables that offer bbq grills.
This place is such a well kept area. There is a boardwalk that circles the area with informational boards regarding wildlife and the surrounding area at almost every corner of the boardwalk. This particular walk is perfect for those with wheelchairs and strollers.
Spring has arrived and it felt as if everyone had their photographer with them as there were photo shoots happening of families doing the «look at each other and smile» as you walk. Lol. Cuteness!
We walked the boardwalk, then went off trail as many do. We climbed the boulders around which were easy for us to do even with the kids. My 2 year old was all over the place. However, that doesn’t mean you literally let your 2 year old be all over the place without support and guidance. The boardwalk is simply a boardwalk so you can walk it with slippers as it is more like a tourist attraction. If you opt to go off trail, then wear the proper attire… common sense, I know. But… some folks don’t have it so gotta plug that in.
It was awesome to walk into the canyon and see everyone and their daddy, literally, rock climbing. Lots of rock climbers! Where can I sign up for friends who rock climb because there were a family with babies and young kids rock climbing. How awesome is that!
We spent a good 3 hours there just walking and exploring. My 8 year old stood on top of a rock and deeply inhaled the fresh-​away-​from-​the-​city-​air and yelled I love this!!!
And that’s why we take our children on hikes for that moment right there. If an 8 year old can appreciate it, I’m sure you will too. It isn’t anything rigorous at all. The weather was beautiful! Head out before it gets super hot and the heat hinders you of appreciating its glory.
Highly recommend for a family day out. Definitely kid and stroller friendly (stroller friendly ONLY on the boardwalk). Enjoy!

Want a family friendly ‘fee free’ hike that shows off our beautiful Red Rock Canyon? Try hiking Calico Basin. My husband and I really enjoyed the views of Red Rock Canyon and the accessibility of Calico Basin on our hike this past Sunday.
Here is a quick rundown of my tips and thoughts on Calico Basin Hiking.
* Free entry
* Boardwalk is stroller/​kid friendly
* Easy circuit and passes signage about the desert ecology, geology and early inhabitants.
* There are other family friendly hikes off the boardwalk
* Bathrooms onsite
* Picnic Tables — for yogi bear style picnics
* It’s less than 30 minutes from the Las Vegas Strip (for our out of town guests)
* Lots of parking spots
* Tip: Bring water, sunblock, snacks and dress in layers.
* Tip: Weather can change on a dime — be prepared.
* Tip: Arrive early to beat the crowd and heat on the weekends.
* Tip: Dog friendly hikes. Bring water, treats and ‘poop bags’ for your pup. Don’t be that ‘lazy’ dog owner. It’s just poop.
* Rock Climber? There are plenty of spots for you to scale the rocks. Calico Basin offers superb climbing walls are only a short 5 – 10 minute hike on the trails.
* Into Bouldering? There are also plenty of outdoor bouldering opportunities. Bring or rent a crash pad and chalk … Have at it.
Unilocal Review #7 2016

Another fantastic hike led by the tireless Norm K. What a blast! NIce seeing group again. Looking forward to the next hike.

Beauty in every direction!
Calico Basin is the exit right before the exit for Red Rock Canyon. It’s also free for those who aren’t interested in paying the small fee into Red Rock (I still recommend you pay the fee because the scenic drive is beautiful). But if you aren’t interested in Red Rock this road has free hiking trails and offers many beautiful spots.
We decided to drive to the very end of the road and ended up near Ash Canyon and Kraft Canyon. There are trails in every direction including the other side of Red Rock Canyon. We decided to head towards Ash Canyon because it was so beautiful and with each step it kept getting better & better.
The trail begins like most, pretty easy and once you get off the main road you find yourself in a large field with dead trees this time of year and a very cold creek. In the shaded areas the grass & plants had frost on them and it’s amazing how the temperature would change depending on where the sun would hit the trail. At times we were sweaty & hot and others we were cold. As you get closer to climbing up the canyon the scenery continues to change and it’s pretty amazing. Soon enough you find yourself climbing up rocks to get higher & higher.
Speaking of higher ~ we encountered just a few other people on this trail and a few of the guys were getting high up in the mountains. If we weren’t with our kid we would have joined them :)
We loved getting out & exploring and Ash Canyon is stunning. It’s also a great option for those who don’t want to be bothered by crowds. This place is like a hidden gem with very few visiting it, especially this time of year. On the other side in Red Rock it’s still very busy so take advantage of these trails for peaceful moments away from the world.
There’s also a meditation circle you shouldn’t miss. Spend a few quiet minutes there and you’ll see how much better you feel :)

Beautiful walk for all ages. I really enjoyed the boardwalk, the changing of the leaves, the view of Redrock, and the hike off the boardwalk. It’s truly an amazing view! There are picnic tables, BBQ grills and bathrooms. absolutely love it.

This place is a must see if you want something to do in Vegas that does not involve casinos or hookers.
After taking the Charleston exit off of the 215 freeway, keep going until you see the sign for Calico, make a right turn and park in the parking lot. It’s actually super easy to find, and parking and entrance are both free. Red Rock Canyon will cost you. The parking area has 2 outhouses with toilet paper but no flush, so plan accordingly. There are many trails to choose from and all of them have beautiful scenery. Lots of family with children, so there are plenty of easy routes for everyone.
I hiked upwards, and went for some of the steeper trails. Once I got to a high point, the view was incredible. You can see the whole valley and all the different rock formations and color layers in the mountains.
Highly recommend!

It cracks me up how people from out of town get so surprised and amazed to see that there is such beautiful nature hiking here in Las Vegas. Yup. We don’t live in Casinos.
This place is very serene and refreshing, not to mention a bit challenging, It took me about 30 minutes to hike up to the top and I got to take a few minutes to just forget about the world. If you go early enough, you can get an amazing view of the sunrise as well. Watch your step on the way down!

So far the best, easiest place to get to for stargaze or night hike. My friend and I went on a sat night and it was soo clear and dark enough to see tons of stars and even see some people in the mountains hiking with their flashlights. There were only about 5 cars, a couple different groups night hiking at 10pm. But they weren’t the crazy teens finding a place to cause trouble. They were all pretty cool and filled us in on the trails and stuff. Can’t wait to go back more prepared for a night hike. But it’s also just as beautiful and peaceful to sit and look at the stars.

I did a short 3 mile hike at Calico Basin as part of a Meetup event with a local hiking group. A couple of seasoned hikers who organized the event led a group of about 20 people on a tour of Calico Basin, pointing out significant landmarks and points of interest. Calico Basin offers hikers all the beauty of the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area (well, mostly) for free! Entry to Calico Basin is the exit before the main visitor’s gate to Red Rock. It’s marked with a sign and arrow (You’ll be taking a right if you’re coming from the Red Rock Casino way). Simply follow the road all the way down until you see a gate, proceed straightforward, and then you’ll see picnic tables and a parking lot. Park. You made it!
The route we took was easy and suited for beginners, although there were plenty of opportunities for the more adventurous to scramble up and down some boulders. An ‘igloo’ could be seen on top of some boulders and you could poke your head in the ‘bear cave’ (more like a bat cave) after a bit of work. Part of the trail included hiking up the Grand Staircase and down the ‘broken elevator’.
Calico Basin provided great scenery and was very quiet. It seems like it’s a less traveled area. I didn’t see any path markers, but the hike I took followed a trail of sorts. I’d definitely come back here for another hike!
Unilocal 100 CHALLENGE 2015: #236

So… I haven’t hiked the trails here, but Calico Basin is where I got married and I would definitely give it 5 stars for this purpose.
Contacting the BLM to get a permit was a breeze. The permit is $ 200. Can’t beat that price for a wedding ceremony venue, right? If you’re like me and want a low-​key wedding, the platform is an awesome spot. Some pictures will show decorations like flowers or ribbons but you’re not supposed to have them. Nature was my backdrop and I’ve gotta say that the views are hard to beat. There was no set up or break down. Perfect!
I can’t wait to come back for our anniversary and hike the trails.

One word… Go There! Do It! My fav time to hike at RR is super early like 7 or so .it gets hot as you climb. layers during winter or you’ll die!

This hike was easy, fun and lots of climbing. I found the box at the very top of the peak. Got to sign it showin I was there and accomplished this goal.

Only a 30 minute drive from the Strip, Red Spring is a beautiful landscape of Red Rock Canyon that’s easily accessable and free to enter. It’s a must-​see if you have a car and a free morning!
Just before reaching the main entry to Red Rock Canyon National Park, take a right on Calico Basin Rd from the 159 and drive about a mile until you reach the Red Spring parking lot. Parking’s plenty around 10a on a Monday morning. Keep in mind that the lot is in the scorching sun, so don’t bring anything that can’t stand the heat.
The never-​ending kaliedoscope of twists and turns in the stratified ancient rocks is truly an awesome sight. Views of the landscape morph as you move through the canyon, so each journey offers a unique experience. Red Spring has a short, looped, wooden trail that’s well-​maintained for walkers young and old. Once off the loop, the canyon is yours to explore — whether it’s hiking, nature-​watching, rock climbing, or just scampering up and down the canyon levels, Red Spring is an adventurer’s playground.

Calico Basin is beautiful. My first thought was that, that is the name of the trail we were venturing of on, but come to find out is the name of the whole area. There are many trails and hikes in that area. My goal is to do a majority if not all of them. We had the pleasure of joining the infamous Norm K. on one of his hikes. He knows the land and the area like the back of his hand. He spots the plants and the animals for everyone to see.
The Calico Basin is before the scenic loop. Don’t go to fast or you’ll miss it. But it is marked so it’s not like it is difficult to find. There’s no charge to get into this area so we have found it’s a great way to get out of the house and it doesn’t cost a thing. Except a good sweat!

Came out here for a UYE today a hike organized by Norm K. I had so much fun meeting new people and enjoying a beautiful almost spring morning in the Red Rock Conservation area. There were about 25 or so people that attended this event for a short hike through some of the trails at Calico Basin.
At times I felt like we were in the movie «The Way» on a Camino through the promised land. The trail was clearly marked throughout the entire estimated 4 mile hike. Overall it was an easy hike so much so that two children and two dogs made the journey with no issues. The views of the city when you reach the top of the trail were a welcomed site. It was too bad there was a slight haze int he sky. The journey is so peaceful it was nice to get away from the «hustle and bustle» of Vegas.
Norm really knows the area well and is able to share some insight on the many other trails and the nature surrounding you. It was really nice to meet everyone that participated and I enjoyed the conversations. I look forward to meeting up for other events in the future. Your all great people. Thanks for sharing this moment.

The natural beauty and ancient culture of the desert can be found not too far from the strip. This is a majestic colorful mountain canyon only 25 minutes away. It takes you higher in elevation to the mountains far west of town. There are protected endemic flora and fauna to be discovered. The entrance to Red Spring has RV and limo parking (if you’re fancy like that).
There are benches and a few grills at the base of the park. The public restrooms are standard sinkless federal park outhouses, basically. [ FUN FACT: a man was found and arrested hiding down at the bottom of the restroom poophole a few years ago! ] I wouldn’t use the potty’s over there. Beyond this there is a handicap accessible wooden trail bridge that winds up towards the scenic meadow. Continue further and it takes your breath away with a close up view of the red and orange mountaintops. A number of informational placards give you a hint of whats to be found, like the animals, plants and ancient petroglyphs.
*This is a local photographer hot spot for doing photo shoots*
It may be one of the best free activities that can be found on your Vegas vacation. If you feel that you need a little earth grounding from all the neon & the hype I urge you to take an hour of your life and enjoy this. Good spot for meditation. Always a recommended spot for Vegas visitors who want to see what else there is out here other than casino resorts night clubs and restaurants.