Red Spring Boardwalk
The Red Spring Boardwalk at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area near Calico Basin, Nevada is an easy 0.6-mile universally-accessible trail that features desert views and wildlife viewing opportunities.Trail names: Red Spring Boardwalk
Location: Calico Basin Road, Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, Las Vegas Nevada 36.14652,-115.4191
Permitted uses: Hiking, Birdwatching, Nature Study, Picnicking
Prohibited uses: Stay on the boardwalk to avoid disrupting rattlesnake habitat.
Hours: Open from dusk to dawn.
Fees and Parking: There is no fee to park or access the trails. There is ample parking in the lot. Pets: Dogs on a leash are allowed. Please leave no trace, which means do not leave bagged dog waste along the trail.
Accessibility: The boardwalk trail is wheelchair accessible, although there are some fairly steep sections of the trail.
Hiker amenities: There are restrooms and trash bins available in the parking area as well as shaded picnic tables with grills available for use.
Length and Trail information: There is no blaze or signage for this hike because hikers are asked to stay on the boardwalk. There is a bilingual information placard at the beginning of the Boardwalk that gives the boardwalk trail map with the location of the spring. The hike is a very easy 1/2-mile-long hike, done as a loop. Along the trail, there are several bi-lingual information placards that inform hikers about the spring, the flora and the history of the area. Although the hike is short, it offers a very stark contrast between the Desert, Sandstone formations and the Oasis that the spring provides. There are numerous plants growing and blooming and lots of bird activity can be observed. During our hike we were able to identify several birds including White Throated Swift, Gimbel's Quail, Verdin, Bewick Wren, Lesser Goldfinch and Song Sparrows. Thanks to the permanent water at this location, we were also able to identify several different types of vegetation that was new to us. The vegetation we were able to identify included: Willow Baccharis, Yerba Mansa, Red Brome, Button Brittlebush, Mariposa Lilies and Fourwing Saltbush.
