Okay, I'm just going to say it: this is one of the best hiking weekends of the year in Las Vegas and most people are going to waste it at a brunch buffet.

92 out of 100. AQI 42. Zero percent rain. Highs in the low 70s. This is prime Red Rock season — we're smack in that narrow window between "actually pleasant" and "surface of the sun," and it closes fast. By late May you're already pushing into dangerous heat territory. Right now? It's perfect.

I took Riley out to Calico Hills last spring around this same time and that dog did not stop moving for three hours. If you've got a trail dog and you haven't done this one, fix that this weekend.

Why This Specific Week Matters

Spring in the Mojave hits different. The sandstone is still holding a little moisture from winter, so the rust and cream colors on the Calico formation are more saturated than they'll be in summer. You get that contrast between the red rock and actual green scrub — not the bleached-out look you get in July. The temps are mild enough that you can move at a real pace without stopping every half mile to dump water on yourself.

Summer closes a lot of options here. This window — roughly mid-March through late April — is when Calico Hills earns its reputation.

Parking

Use the Calico Hills Trailhead off the Red Rock Scenic Drive loop. Get there before 9 AM on a weekend. I cannot stress this enough. The NCA visitor area charges $15 per vehicle and the lot fills up hard. If you're carpooling (always the move), one car solves that. Arrive at 8, be on trail by 8:15, you'll have the rocks mostly to yourself before the 10 AM wave shows up.

Overflow parking exists near the visitor center but adds about a mile each way. Not the end of the world but worth mentioning.

The Trail

Calico Hills is one of those trails that sounds like a moderate out-and-back but actually involves a fair bit of scrambling across sandstone fins and through narrow slots. The 6.8 miles and 800 feet of gain don't fully capture it — there are sections where you're using hands and feet on textured rock faces. The trail is well-marked but it wanders. Give yourself 3 to 3.5 hours at a social pace.

The views open up fast. Within the first mile you're already looking out over the full Calico formation with the Spring Mountains behind it. On a clear spring day like today that view is legitimately ridiculous.

Riley Notes (Dog Version)

Riley crushes this trail but here's what to watch:

The sandstone scrambles are the main thing. At current temps the rock surface should be fine — it's when surface temps get into the 90s+ that you have to worry about paw burns. Today you're good. Still, if Riley starts picking up her feet weird, find shade and check pads.

Bring more water than you think. I carry an extra 32 oz for Riley beyond what she'll drink from her collapsible bowl. There's no water on trail. In spring that's manageable — in summer it's a safety issue. Today: two liters per person, one liter minimum for the dog, you'll be fine.

The scramble sections are doable for most medium-to-large dogs. Riley (45 lb Aussie) handles them no problem. Small dogs may need a hand on a couple of the steeper fin crossings. Keep her on leash in the narrows — there are drop-offs that look jumpable and are not.

After the hike: there's a hose bib at the trailhead. Rinse paws before getting in the car, saves the upholstery and lets you check for any cuts.

When to Go

This weekend. Seriously. Saturday or Sunday, aim for 8 AM start. You'll be back at your car by noon, before the heat builds and before the trail crowds up. If you're coming from Henderson or Summerlin it's an easy 35 minute drive. Worth calling the group chat tonight.

Don't wait on this one. The 90s are coming.

📍 Live conditions for Red Rock Canyon Calico Hills →