After rains these natural water tanks fill up with water and may be home to small insects, insect larvae and fairy shrimp.Ī spring that flows year-round and a seasonally cascading waterfall await the visitor after a short, 0.3-mile hike to Lost Creek. The Calico Hills are riddled with natural water catchments called potholes or tinajas (tee-nah-haz). There is easier hiking at Sandstone Quarry where many small canyons await exploration. A short trail to the bottom of the canyon at the second Calico Vista leads down to the Aztec sandstone and, after seasonal rains, to small pools of water. Several short hikes offering a diversity of environments and scenery are accessible from the loop drive. Additional pullouts, offering views of wooded canyons and desert washes, are located at Icebox Canyon, Pine Creek Canyon and Red Rock Wash. Picnic sites are available at Red Spring and Willow Spring. There you can see large blocks of stone and other historic evidence of the quarry activity as it occurred shortly after the turn of the century. For easy walking access to the sandstone, stop at the Sandstone Quarry parking lot. Both offer good vantage points for photographs of crossed-bedded Aztec sandstone. If your time is limited, stop at either of the Calico Vista points. The Keystone Thrust Fault extends from the Cottonwoood Fault (along the Pahrump Highway) 13 miles northward to the vicinity of La Madre Mountain, where it is obscured by more complex faulting.ġ3-Mile Loop Drive offers sightseeing, vistas and overlooks. This thrust contact is clearly defined by the sharp contrast between the grey limestones and the red sandstones. About 65 million years ago, it is believed that two of the earth's crustal plates collided with such force that part of one plate was shoved up and over younger sandstones. A thrust fault is a fracture in the earth's crust where one rock plate is thrust horizontally over another. Don't be surprised, even in the desert the mountains of Red Rock Canyon might blanketed with snow after a storm.The most significant geologic feature of Red Rock Canyon is the Keystone Thrust Fault. Late afternoon hikes can lead to gorgeous winter sunsets. Find yourself near water and you'll be surrounded by the yellowing leaves of Autumn. Warm weather is ideal for hikes, but monsoon weather is still something to watch for. Plenty of water and sun protection are necessary, and an early start is recommended. Only the strong survive during a desert summer. Scorching temperatures ranging well into the 100's. Wildflowers start in lower elevations and make their way up. When Are You Visiting? SpringĬool, often windy with clear skies and still the remnants of winter hanging onto the leaves in Ice Box Canyon. If you have the opportunity, we suggest purchasing the Annual Pass and visiting the canyon throughout the year. Depending on the season the weather can be quite diverse at Red Rock Canyon. Please take into account a seven degree difference to adjust for our elevation in comparison to the Las Vegas Valley. Click here to view the current weather and seven day forecast, courtesy of the National Weather Service.