Turtlehead Peak

I’ve been to Red Rocks to rock climb before, which doesn’t leave room for multi-hour hikes, but this time I was without a climbing partner for a morning and afternoon, so I picked up the hiking trail map from the visitor center.

I was enjoying the pleasant-in-comparison-to-Seattle 60F/sunny/breezy weather, but apparently not wearing a jacket in these conditions is very worrying to hikers from warmer places.

It’s a “very strenuous” hike according to the visitor center handout, but it’s only 5 miles round trip and I had a whole afternoon to kill so I wandered at a pretty leisurely pace. There was a nice view from the top, both back towards town and deeper into the canyons (and a nice place to sit, sheltered from the wind). It’s even got a summit register (if I didn’t see other people open it I wouldn’t have thought to look for one).

On the way back I scrambled to the top of the Sandstone Quarry parking lot routes and surprised someone on one of the routes.

I did the Madre Springs / White Mountain loop at this place over Thanksgiving 07. Turtlehead Peak was visible from the saddle, the highest point along the route.

This was one of the most scenic hikes I’ve ever been on. I saw Bighorn sheep, pictographs, and an amazingly colorful assortment of rocks (on the west side of White Mtn).

Most definitely worth visiting.

I found the Las Vegas fitness nut’s mountain! You find them everywhere: from Boulder to Burlington. It is a mountain that all the hardcore mountain jocks like to trail run while the rest of us trudge up to the summit. I met tons of runners, many hikers, and not a few dogs out for a nice walk. Be warned: this is not an easy hike, even though it is pretty popular. There is over 2000 ft of elevation gain and no real trail (just a bunch of use trails). But the view from the top is worth it!

Date of trip: 10/8/06

Hiked with: Husband and dog

Location: Nevada, Las Vegas, Red Rock National Recreation Area, Sandstone Quarry parking lot

Route: Turtlehead Peak trail

Weather: Sunny in the high 70’s/low 80’s

Altitudes/Elevations: Trailhead 4335/ ft. Highest 6323

Sightings: Chipmunks

Gear: day-hiking, but bring lots of extra water

Overall rating: Tough, but worth doing!