Las Vegas Sun

March 18, 2024

Go take a hike

WEEKEND EDITION: October 9, 2004

As summer's sizzle gives way to the more comfortable daytime temperatures of autumn, the National Park Service is offering guided hikes around the Lake Mead National Recreation Area.

For Doug Haag, a 51-year resident of Southern Nevada, cooler weather may entice more people to join him on the guided tours of some hidden treasures at the lake.

Haag retired from Titanium Metals Corp. in 1990 and was overweight, out of shape.

"I started hiking with the park service on the weekend hikes," Haag said. After several years, he said, he had meandered down most of the trails and was in good physical condition.

For a decade Haag has volunteered to lead the weekend hikes. "You shouldn't try these in summer -- it's too hot," he said.

No matter when hikers take to the trail, they should tell park service employees at the Alan Bible Visitor Center or their families where they are going and be specific, park service spokeswoman Roxanne Dey said. "Don't say Lake Mead. Know the name of the trail or area where you'll be."

The park service offers guided hikes as a safe way to explore the Lake Mead Recreation Area, Dey said.

Some may be familiar with hiking among the Ponderosa and pinyon pines at Mount Charleston, but the beauty of red sandstone formations in the Pinto Valley near the Overton arm of Lake Mead or Lovell Ridge where desert bighorn sheep roam offer a different view of Southern Nevada's environment, Haag said.

Some hikes are easy, others moderate to strenuous. There are plenty of opportunities to hike October through December on these guided tours.

The night before Halloween, desert nightlife may appear under moonlight and flashlights in the Mojave Desert.

On Halloween during the day hikers can enjoy the South Bowl of Fire, a spectacular rock formation with numerous wildlife sightings possible.

Teddy bear chollas are unhuggable, but the cholla forest hike will reveal how these unique desert plants grow and thrive in the desert.

Early in the 20th century a small band of pioneers farmed near the Colorado River. Once Hoover Dam was filled in 1935, the St. Thomas community disappeared under Lake Mead's waters.

As the drought continues, St. Thomas has emerged from the depths and is available for viewing after an easy stroll.

While spectacular sandstone arches are a staple in Utah and Arizona, there is a natural arch in Black Canyon known as the Liberty Bell because it is shaped like the historic bell. Cameras and binoculars will enhance the beauty of the arch.

There's a hidden waterfall on the Arizona side of Lake Mead. This hike requires a four-wheel drive vehicle and some scrambling to reach this desert resource.

There are even some hot springs near the Colorado River when hikers head for Arizona Hot Springs through scenic White Rock Canyon.

For geology buffs, Red-Black Canyon offers some spectacular views of the lake and Las Vegas along the River Mountain Trail.

Those interested in ancient pictures from the past can glimpse Native American history on the Petroglyph Wash hike.

Lovell and Rainbow canyons once saw the Anniversary Mine produce borax and the mineral colemanite. It's eight miles of strenuous trekking to reach the area.

The Anniversary Mine was operated from 1922 to 1928 by Francis Marion Smith, known as "Borax" Smith. Smith made millions at the Death Valley borax mines, then discovered a deposit in Southern Nevada, Haag said.

Smith sold borax as an ingredient in glass and as a fire retardant. Now it is also used in fiber optic cables, paint and ceramics, Haag said. The Anniversary Mine closed when sodium borax was discovered in Boron, Calif., in 1928.

In December a hike for dogs and their owners will be offered along the River Mountain Trail, providing the canines are leashed and have all of their shots. Both dogs and owners can view desert bighorn sheep and learn how the park service manages them.

For a workout before the Christmas holidays, try Hamblin Mountain, a strenuous six-mile hike along rocks decorated by nature in bright colors carving patterns along the way.

High-clearance vehicles are necessary for a strenuous six- to eight-mile hike to the North Bowl of Fire.

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