Day 42 - 10/16 - Visit and Walk in Red Rock Canyon

Today’s trek was to Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area west of Las Vegas.  A National Conservation Area is different from a National Park in that parks are more recreation focused. National Conservation Areas are designated as such to conserve, protect, enhance, and manage public lands for current and future generations. They come under the auspices of the Bureau of Land Management rather than the National Park Service.

Welcome to Red Rock Canyon.

Red Rock Canyon offers a 13-mile scenic drive, miles of hiking trails, rock climbing, horseback riding, mountain biking, road biking, picnic areas, and a visitor center offering indoor and outdoor exhibits. Parking areas are available throughout the scenic drive. At each parking area one may pick up a trail head. Trails are 26 marked trails within Red Rock.

We opted for a mile hike in the Lost Creek area. The trail rose and fell up to 150 feet in elevation change in three locations. We walked among cacti, a variety or spruce, some form of holly, wild flowers, and other vegetation native to the Mojave Desert. Once again, pictures do not do justice the beauty of the area.

By the way, though tourism industry remains Nevada's largest employer, mining continues as a substantial sector of the economy. In fact, Nevada is the fourth-largest producer of gold in the world and produces 75% of the gold within the US economy. Nevada is also a leading producer of silver and copper production. Nevada is also a significant source of a variety of minerals, such as lithium, iron, and molybdenum, necessary for the manufacturing of consumer and commercial goods so important to our contemporary lifestyles. And, as the US and other countries move toward solar and wind energy, battery production (and the minerals involved) will mean production in Nevada will continue.

The view of the hills forming the canyon reveal the variety of

colors because of the rich and varying content of minerals.

One of the stops along the 13-mile drive provides an opportunity

to get close to some of the large, red boulders.

Byron always likes photos of interpretive sign, especially if they can

be read later to refresh the mind.

The trails are rocky and sandy just as the ground surrounding them.

Therefore, the trails need to be clearly marked. Along the path

the varieties of vegetation is easily noticed.

Don’t ask the type of cactus this is because we don’t know.

It is definitely prevalent and somewhat distinct in this area.

And now, for the remainder of the hike…