Loading...

Keystone Thrust Trail via Lower White Rock Trail

Distance:
3.1 Miles / 5.0 km
Type:
Out-and-Back
Difficulty:
Moderate
Time to Hike:
1 hour, ~33 minutes
Features:
Surface Type:
Dirt
Park:
Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
Town:
Las Vegas, Nevada
Directions:
36.166512, -115.475815
Added:
May 29, 2019
Updated:
February 22, 2024

The Keystone Thrust Trail via Lower White Rock Trail at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area in Las Vegas, Nevada is a moderate 3.1-mile out-and-back hike with stunning vistas of the surrounding mountains and features a thrust fault area.

Trail Name:  Keystone Thrust Trail, accessed by Lower White Rock Trail.

Trailhead Location:  Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, Las Vegas, NV.

Allowed activities: Hiking, biking, birding, geocaching, horseback riding.

Forbidden activities: No camping, no overnight parking, no target shooting.

Hours: Parking areas close depending on the season. Any vehicle left in a parking areas after closing or overnight may be fined if they do not have a permit. Seasons defined as:

Winter = Nov. 1 to Feb 28/29 6:00am to 5:00pm

Spring = 3/1 -3/31    6:00am to 7:00pm

Summer = 4/1 to 9/30 6:00am to 8:00pm

Fall = 10/1 – 10/31 6:00am to 7:00pm

Warning: Please make sure to carry plenty of water with you. Temperatures can change quickly, winds can be gusting. Thunderstorms with lightening and flash flooding are possible in summer. Wear a hat, dress in layers, wear sunscreen. Make sure someone you are not hiking with knows of your hiking plans. Cell service is not reliable in case of an emergency. Don’t hike above your skill level.

Parking: There two parking areas here. The first is at Lower White Rock trail with a good amount of unmarked parking spots. At least 10 cars could easily fit here. There is no bathroom or trash here. A short walk up this wide dirt road will bring you to the second parking area at Upper White Rock Trail. The road is rough, rocky and not maintained. It is possible to drive up and park at the Upper White Rock Trailhead, but ONLY if you have a vehicle that has plenty of ground clearance or is 4WD. If you are renting a car, it might be best to park in the lower area. Then walk up to the next trailhead to avoid damaging the undercarriage of the car. There is limited of parking at the Upper Lot, but there is a bathroom and trash receptacles.

Fees: There is a daily fee to use the park and trails off of the Scenic drive loop. Daily passes are: $15.00 for cars and trucks, $10.00 for motorcycles, $5.00 for bicycles or walk in’s. Discounts passes are available for persons who are permanently disabled, active military and seniors. Proper documentation is required for the purchase of those special passes. For more information please follow the link below for details:

https://www.redrockcanyonlv.org/fees/

Pets: Dogs on a leash are allowed on the trails. Please carry out animal waste with you.

Accessibility: This trail has many uneven surfaces, steep sections, and rocks. It is not stroller or wheelchair accessible.

Sanitation: There are restrooms and trash bins at the Upper White Rock Trail head parking lot.

Trail information: There is a kiosk with trail information at the Upper White Rock Trailhead. A copy of the trails can be downloaded or printed by following the link below:

https://www.redrockcanyonlv.org/keystone-thrust/

Length and features: This is a moderate 3.12 mile trail done as an out and back hike. The trail substrate is somewhat pebbly with a lot of loose river rock looking areas. Footing can be tricky and care should be taken to avoid slipping down steep slopes. Be aware of where you place your hands and feet, as this is a desert and rattlesnakes, spiders and scorpions live here. There are no blaze trail markers and very few trail signs. The trail, especially toward the end, can be somewhat ambiguous. The views are gorgeous and depending on the season, the blooms are abundant. Those of us who are not geologists, may not realize just how special this thrust fault area is, geologically speaking, but they will not doubt appreciate the beauty of the textures and colors created by this natural wonder.

Explore 9 trails near Las Vegas, NV
  1. Parking

    36.166512, -115.475815
  2. Main Trailhead

    36.166377, -115.475441
Explore other trail routes for this hike, added by the MyHikes Community via Trip Reports.
No community routes found. To add your own route as a Community Route for this Trail guide, please leave a Trip Report with a GPX file on this Trail.

Hazards

Snakes
Rockfalls / Ledges / or Scrambles

Seasons

All
Loading...
Loading...
579 '

Total Change
567 '

Ascent
687 '

Descent

Photo Albums

1 Trip Report

No Star-Ratings
Write-up by:
2Adamswalking user profile picture
3.1 miles / 5.0 km
Trail added
May 29, 2019
Hiked on
May 20, 2019
Updated on
February 22, 2024

Weather Forecast

In Las Vegas, NV

Explore Hiking Trails

New Hikes

Congaree Boardwalk Loop
2.5 Miles
4 km
Easy
Loop
Dutters Trail to Old Bark Loop
4.5 Miles
7.2 km
Moderate
Loop
Almond-Hornell Overlook
0 Miles
0 km
Easy
Out-and-Back
Bubb and Sis Lakes Trail
2.1 Miles
3.4 km
Easy
Out-and-Back

Before you leave...

MyHikes is an indie web platform aimed to make exploring public trails easier for everyone. The site has no investors and is owned and operated by one person, Dave Miller (Founder & Admin). As the Founder, main contributor, and doer-of-all-things for MyHikes, I share my trips with over-detailed write-ups for fun on a volunteer basis and I believe that public trail information should be available to everyone.

It takes a lot of time 🕦, money 💰, and effort (including espresso shots ☕) to run MyHikes, including hiking , mapping , writing , and publishing new trails with high-quality content... along with building new features, moderating, site maintainance, and app development for iOS and Android . I simply ask that if you find MyHikes' trail guides helpful to please consider becoming a Supporter to help keep the site, iOS, and Android apps available to everyone.

Supporters unlock website and in-app perks with a one-time payment of $25 (you renew) 😎👍. Or you can simply make a Donation of your choice without a MyHikes user account. Otherwise, telling your friends about MyHikes is the next-best thing - both quick and free 🎉

Thanks for visiting MyHikes and have a great hike!️

Admin user profile picture

Dave Miller
MyHikes Founder & Admin