The Lost Creek Trail at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area in Las Vegas, Nevada is an easy 0.7-mile out-and-back trail that features a seasonal waterfall.
Trail Name: Lost Creek Trail.
Trailhead Location: Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, Las Vegas, NV.
Allowed activities: Hiking, birding.
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: Keep in mind that this is a desert environment with poisonous desert dwellers. If visiting with small children, be careful of what they pick up or where they reach into. Always bring along plenty of water when hiking in the desert. Be prepared for changes in temperatures and dress appropriately. Storms can roll in suddenly with Summer thunderstorms bringing the potential for lightening and flash flooding.
Parking: To access the Lost Creek trail, park at the Lost Creek Canyon Trailhead parking area. There is plenty of parking at this trailhead.
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 different substrate sections consisting of: gravely paths, dry riverbed, boardwalk, rock steps and scrambles and uneven surfaces. Good for families, but not for strollers or wheelchairs.
Sanitation: There is a restroom and trash bin at the parking lot.
Trail information: There is a kiosk with trail information at the Trailhead. A copy of the trails can be downloaded or printed by following the link below:
https://www.redrockcanyonlv.org/lost-creek-childrens-discovery/
Length and features: This is an easy to moderate 0.7-mile trail done as an out and back hike. The hike can be done as a loop if hikers add in the Children’s Discovery section of the trail. There are interesting trees, birds and plants here due to the creek that flows through this area. Footing can be tricky in spots and care should be taken on the rock steps, ledges and steeper sections. The boardwalk section offers an educational placard where families can stop and rest while learning about the spring and wildlife that live near it. The boardwalk is surrounded by wild grapevines, lush vegetation and large trees. This area is an oasis for birds and wildlife. There are no blaze trail markers along the trail, but there are numbered posts. There are 9 marked posts that correspond to points of interest from the Children’s Discovery Trail. A brochure explaining these points of interest can be obtained at the Red Rock Canyon Visitors Center at the beginning of the Scenic Loop drive. This trail is very popular with families with small children. The highlight at the end of the trail is a small waterfall and shallow pool created by Lost Creek’s flowing water. The waterfall is seasonal, and typically will have water flowing between December and April. The rocks can be very slippery here, so use caution.
