HIKING GRAPEVINE CANYON

HEADING OUT BEYOND THE CITY LIMITS: Hiking Grapevine Canyon and Beyond

By Paula M. Jacoby-Garrett and Kimberly Reinhart

Rescue pup, Gracie, enjoys road trips. On this trip, she visited the Highland Range. (Image: P. Garrett)

Grapevine Canyon is one of the best areas in Southern Nevada to view petroglyphs. (Image: Lake Mead National Recreation Area’s Flickr site.)

Rescue pup Zoey enjoys the open desert just north of Searchlight. (Image: P. Garrett.) We love the fall for the cooler temperatures and more opportunities to get outdoors regularly with our pups. A great road trip and hike combo is Grapevine Canyon, which is located just east of Laughlin. The hike is a short one, but a desert spring and an abundance of petroglyphs make it the perfect get-away. In addition, a new national monument is proposed in the area which could protect thousands of acres as public lands for hiking, camping and enjoyment for you and your dog. Take the opportunity to explore the area before it’s “popular” like many other areas in southern Clark County.

Grapevine Canyon is located approximately 70 miles south of Las Vegas. Take Highway 95 south of the Boulder City area to Highway 163 towards Laughlin. After 13 miles, make a left onto Christmas Tree Pass Road. While there is a sign, it is easy to miss so keep an eye out for it. From here to the trailhead is a dirt road, but the road is typically well maintained. Drive 1.8 miles to Grapevine Canyon Road, turn left and continue until it ends in the parking area.

The trailhead is obvious with a sign at the beginning of the trail. The trail follows along the wash edge, then dropping into the wash at a gap in the surrounding rock formations. There is a plethora of petroglyphs along both sides of the wash. This is the best area to see petroglyphs but continuing up the wash takes you along a small stream and eventually to a small waterfall approximately 1½ miles up the canyon. This route is less obvious as it winds up canyon along large granite rocks and the sandy wash bottom. Be prepared for some scrambling during this part of the hike. Return the way you came.

We share this hike with you under the assumption that the natural resources of Grapevine Canyon will be treated responsibly and with respect, by both people and our dogs. Petroglyphs, like the ones seen in this canyon, are protected by law, and shouldn’t be touched or climbed on, even by your pup. Also, while it might be tempting, restrain your dog from playing in any pockets of water. The water is a magnet for desert life and our dogs can easily stir up sediment, making the area less appealing to wildlife. Of note, the Grapevine Canyon trail is in the Spirit Mountain Wilderness Area, which is one of several areas in southern Nevada that has protections in place for their cultural and ecological significance. Currently, there is a proposal for a new national monument that would connect the Spirit Mountain Wilderness with other protected areas. This designation would ensure more than 380,000 acres would be preserved for the benefit and enjoyment of both present as well as future generations and their four-legged exploring friends.

The proposed National Monument is named Avi Kwa Ame (Ah-VEE kwa-meh) after the Native American name for Spirit Mountain. This area is considered sacred by twelve different tribes and is very important in their story of creation. This area is also a hotspot of biological diversity and is the home for some species that live nowhere else in the world. While you are traveling to and from Grapevine Canyon, take notice of the stunning landscapes with multicolored geologic formations and canyons with natural springs. The designation of a national monument wouldn’t change our ability to hike with or without our dogs, camp and/or drive off road on established roads but it would eliminate development and protect the area from large-scale wind and solar projects. Fall and winter are great seasons to explore all the proposed Avi Kwa Ame national monument since the weather is more accommodating. For maps and additional information visit honorspiritmountain.org.

Best Hikes With Dogs: Las Vegas & Beyond

By Kimberly Reinhart and Paula Jacoby-Garrett Great guide with recommendations for more dog-friendly hiking trails within 3 hours of Las Vegas.