Overview

This 2-1/2-mile loop starts along Calico Basin Road, shortly before reaching the housing area, and runs north and east using interconnected use-trails that crisscross the desert to make a loop. Hikers need to pay attention to the many trail junctions. The hike generally runs north along the west side of the peak to a high saddle, turns east and then south, climbing onto the summit of Peak 3844. The hike descends off the north side of the peak, closes the loop, and runs southwest back to the trailhead.

This is a surprisingly pleasant hike with grand scenery, a nice craggy peak, and even solitude -- all on a short, easy hike starting only minutes from town.

Link to area map or trail map.

Watch Out

Other than the standard warnings about hiking in the desert, ...this hike is fairly safe, but the peak is craggy, so always be extra careful near edges where you could fall and hurt yourself.

While hiking, please respect the land and the other people out there, and try to Leave No Trace of your passage. Also, even though this is a short hike, be sure to bring what you need of the 10 Essentials.

Getting to the Trailhead

This hike is located in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, about 30 minutes from town, but not on the Scenic Loop Road. Drive out West Charleston Blvd, turn right onto Calico Basin Road, then drive north 0.4 miles to Genes Trailhead. Park here; this is the trailhead. Watch for vehicles on the road.

The Hike

Because there are so many interconnected use-trails in this area, trails established by hikers, bikers, horseback riders, and even vehicles for various purposes, the route description sounds convoluted and confusing. In reality it is simple: always staying on well-defined use-trails, hike north along the west side of Peak 3844 to a saddle, turn east to catch the north toe of the peak, hike south to the summit, then cut down and north before curving back to the trailhead.

From the trailhead (Table 1, Waypoint 01), a use-trail leads east along the edge of the wash for about 30 yards to a trail junction (Wpt. 02). A wide trail (wide enough to look like a road) forks left and runs uphill past an "Area Closed to Motorized Vehicles" sign (a narrow trail continues straight). This hike runs up the hill.

At about 80 yards from the pavement (Wpt. 03), a trail merges from the left. This is an alternate start to this hike.

At about 150 yards from the pavement (Wpt. 04), a relatively faint trail forks to the left. Stay right on the main trail.

Through this area, the vegetation is sparse, but typical Mojave Desert Scrub, with a diverse assemblage of shrubs such as Creosote Bush and White Bursage, Mojave Yucca, Spiny Menodora, Nevada Jointfir, Indigo Bush, and several other species. Engelmann's Hedgehog Cactus is also common through here.

Continuing up the hillside, the trail merges with a trail from the left (Wpt. 05). Staying to the right, the trail runs up onto a low ridge with a nice view of Peak 3844 to the northeast, and a view back southwest to the trailhead.

Continuing over the saddle, there is a bit of multiple trailing, but all trails converge and run in the same direction: generally northward along the base of Peak 3844.

The trail crosses a broad valley, passes a faint trail junction (Wpt. 06), and runs up to a multiple-trailing trail junction (Wpt. 07). The obvious forks stay left, but the route angles right (it doesn't really matter, as both forks go in the same direction).

Staying to the right, the route runs across a gully from the base of Peak 3844. A trail can be seen coming down the side of the peak; this is the return trail, but the trail junction (Wpt. 08) is behind a Mojave Yucca and easily overlooked.

Continuing up the main trail, as the trail climbs onto a ridgeline, the trail forks (Wpt. 10). This is actually one point on a triangle intersection, and staying to the right, the trail climbs a few yards to the top the ridge and merges with a trail that runs along the ridgeline (Wpt. 11; this is the second point in the triangle intersection). Continuing east, the trail starts up onto the north toe of Peak 3844.

The trail winds about then runs up the side of the ridge following the tilted layers of limestone. Rocky benches are festooned with cactus, especially Engelmann's Hedgehog Cactus and California Barrel Cactus in this area.

The trail eventually gains the top of the ridge at a low point with a nice view east across the Las Vegas valley. A few yards farther, the trail merges with an old road (Wpt. 12) that comes up from the east side of the ridge.

Following the old road, the trail gains a broad, flat highpoint (Wpt. 13) where vehicles stopped. I can image that this would have been a nice place to park and watch the lights of town at night.

From the far south end of the old road (Wpt. 14), a use-trail continues along the ridge heading for the summit. Stunted Engelmann's Hedgehog Cactus and Utah agave are thick along the ridgeline.

At the base of the summit block (Wpt. 15), the trail splits. A spur trail continues to the summit (Wpt. 16), but the loop turns right and starts down the steep north side of the peak.

Continuing to the summit (Wpt. 16), the faint use-trail is hard to follow because of so much bedrock, but the route is obvious. Atop the summit, the views are grand for such a low peak. The 360-view includes the Red Rock Cliffs, the Calico Hills, the La Madre Range, the Las Vegas Range, Virgin Peak, the Muddy Mountains, peaks in Gold Butte, Wilson Mountain over in Arizona, the North McCullough range, perhaps the New York Mountains, the South McCullough ranges, and of course, Blue Diamond Hill.

Departing the summit, the route backtracks to base of the summit block (Wpt. 15), then turns left and heads west and northwest down the north side of the peak. Notice here the difference in vegetation from the more sunny south and west-facing slopes. Even desert almond grows here, a species usually restricted to washes.

Descending to the northwest, the trail crosses a wash and intersects a trail running along the hillside (Wpt. 08). Turning left, the hike runs downhill and quickly merges with a trail coming in from the right (Wpt. 07) and continues to the southwest.

The trail passes a junction (Wpt. 06) with a faint trail to the left, runs up over a ridge (with a view down to the trailhead), and then descends towards a gully. At a fork in the trail (Wpt. 05), the hike stays left and descends to the trailhead (Wpt. 01).