LocalHikes - Knoll Loop (Oak Creek)

Reporter

Knoll Loop (Oak Creek)

Highlights:	Nice little loop takes you along base of Rainbow Mountain from Oak Creek pkg
Near:	Blue Diamond, NV
Scenery:
Distance:	3 miles round trip
Elevation Gain:	500 ft
Hike Time:	1.5 hours
Difficulty:	Moderate
Trail Condition:	OK, but a few difficult spots
HikeType:	Loop

Summary: This is a nice moderate length hike taking you around "Potato Knoll" and up along the base of Rainbow Mountain. It would be very hard for me to hike this loop and NOT head down into either Oak Creek or Pine Creek to enjoy the water and shade trees. You can easily add more distance to this hike by doing just that. Or, allow yourself the time to explore the seldom-hiked Juniper Canyon. Although not marked or signed, there are many rock cairns where climbers have marked their paths leading into Juniper Canyon. My hiking buddies and I found Juniper Canyon a little too dense and rough (brush and boulders) to take our dogs along; and we all came back with legs and arms covered in scratches, but if you're prepared it can be a nice side trip. There are almost always climbers if you enjoy watching them work their way up the rock cliffs. Make sure and carry lots of water and wear a good shade hat -- this trail is completely exposed and can get very, very hot in the summer!

Trailhead: Be advised that the USGS topo does NOT accurately reflect the location of the scenic loop road within Red Rock National Conservation Area, at 18 miles W of Las Vegas Blvd. on Charleston Ave (SR 159) to Red Rock entry (fee) station. Take the scenic loop past Pine Creek parking to Oak Creek parking lot. It is a gravel road to the pkg/TH and there are 2 signs at Oak Creek pkg/TH - you can take either one for this loop. You are basically making this loop from combining the first 3/4 miles of Oak Creek trail (into upper canyon), with the Knoll point-to-point (turn at sign), taking the Arnight "connector" trail back to the parking lot (or reverse the loop). We like to add the Arnight all the way to Pine Creek in this loop to add a few more miles. Lots of wildflowers along this trail - keep your eyes open! (Lat:36.11002 Lon:-115.46825)

Trail Guides for Knoll Loop (Oak Creek):
Keystone Hiking Trails Information
by BLM - Red Rock NCA (BLM - Red Rock NCA)
Hiking Around Las Vegas
by Jim Boone (Jim L. Boone)
Hiking Las Vegas
by Branch Whitney (Branch Whitney)

Best Seasons: Fall, Spring, Winter,

User Groups: Hikers, Dogs,

Ranger Contact: Red Rock (BLM) ranger at entry to NCA (fee station) 702-515-5950

Localhikes Reporter: This hike was submitted by Kat Green, who has posted 86 other hikes on this site

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Keys: Nevada Hiking, Nevada Trails, Nevada Hikes, Clark County Hiking, Clark County Trails, Clark County Hikes