The Lost Creek Children's Discovery Trail at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area near Las Vegas, Nevada is an easy 0.6-mile loop trail that features ancient petroglyphs and pictographs.
Trail names: Lost Creek Children’s Discovery Trail
Location: Red Rocks National Park, Rocky Gap Road, Las Vegas Nevada
Permitted uses: Hiking, Nature Study
Prohibited uses: Speed limit on the Scenic Loop drive is 35 mph. Parking is allowed in designated parking areas only. Do not disturb wildlife. Do not feed wild horses or burros.
Hours: Dawn to Dusk. Exit times are posted at each trailhead for each season.
Fees and Parking: There is a daily fee charged for each car, motorcycle, bicycle or pedestrian. Reservations for timed entry are required between 8:00am and 5:00pm. Reservations can be made by visiting recreation.gov. A $2.00 fee was charged to process a reservation. This fee will be in addition to the park entry fee. A one-day pass for Cars/trucks is $20.00/per vehicle with up to 4 adults including the driver. Motorcycles $10.00 per vehicle, Bicyclist $8.00 per bicycle, Pedestrian $5.00/per person. Annual passes are available, and Lifetime “America the Beautiful” passes are honored. Payment is accepted in either cash or credit card. Children under 15 years of age are admitted free of charge. There is ample parking at each trailhead.
Pets: Dogs on a leash are allowed. Please leave no trace, which means do not leave bagged dog waste along the trail.
Accessibility: This trail is not wheelchair accessible
Hiker amenities: Restrooms, picnic tables and trash bins available near the trailhead parking area. A Trail map of the hike is posted at the trailhead.
Length and Trail information: This trail is done as a loop, is rated as easy and is approximately 0.6 miles long. There are no trail blazes, but there are sporadic trail markers as well as 9 trail guide markers installed along the trail. Each marker has an information placard that endeavors to teach the reader about a special feature they are experiencing while on the trail. The trail substrate at the start of the trail, is flat, gravely and without shade. Make sure to bring good sun protection and lots of water as there are only a few shady spots throughout the hike. The trail crosses over a wash and begins its ascent up a rockier terrain. There are interesting rock formations along the trail that have been sculpted by eons of erosion by wind and water. There are remnants of pictographs and petroglyphs, but they are protected from close inspection and can be hard to see from the trail. There is water near the trail, and even a section so lush grapevines are growing. There is also a short boardwalk and shady seating area near the water source where hikers can take a break, have seat and listen to the birds that live nearby. The boardwalk and deck are there for hikers to rest, but mostly to protect a very special snail species that calls this place home. So, although this hike is supposed to be for Children, it’s really for anyone who would like to enjoy a fun hike and learn a lot about the area.
