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Calico Hills Loop Trail - Calico I to Calico II
Hiking Around Las Vegas, Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
Calico Hills Loop
Calico Hills Loop Trail
Calico 1 Trail lead to Calico Hills I Trailhead parking area (view W)

Overview

Calico Hills Loop Trail is 6.5-mile hike that circumnavigates the Calico Hills. The hike can be considered a series of trail segments that start and stop at any of 6 trailheads (3 along the Scenic Loop Road and 3 in Calico Basin). Most of the loop runs on easy, gently sloping trails, but there are a few steep parts, some off-trail in a wash, and the Ash Canyon segment requires a fair bit of Class-2 and Class 3 scrambling getting down and around boulders and pour-overs.

Views from many parts of the loop are grand, with those on the west side of the hills spreading out across all of Red Rock Canyon, and those on the east side looking southeast across Calico Basin and points south. For hikers who have only driven along the Scenic Loop Road, this hike offers an up-close and personal encounter with the Calico Hills that is quite different from the road-side perspective.

Link to map.

Calico Hills Loop Trail
Hiker continuing over Calico I ridge (view N)

Watch Out

Other than the standard warnings about hiking in the desert, ...this hike is fairly safe and usually not far from a road or trailhead. Ash Canyon requires a bit of Class 3 scrambling, so be extra careful when high enough to fall and get hurt.

While hiking, please respect the land and the other people out there, and please try to Leave No Trace of your passage. This is a long hike, so be sure to bring what you need of the 10 Essentials. The Ash Canyon segment of the loop goes into the La Madre Mountain Wilderness Area, so pay particular attention to respecting the land.

Calico Hills Loop Trail
Trail descends into a long, shallow valley (view NW)

The Hike - Calico I to Calico II

From the Calico 1 Trail junction (Wpt. 09), the route continues north on a well-used trail. Shortly, the trail descends towards the wash, and just before the wash, the trail forks (Wpt. 10). All trails in this area lead north towards Calico II, so either fork will do. The right fork, part of the Calico Hills Trail, climbs higher (better views, harder route), and the left fork stays low (easier and shorter).

Staying left at the junction (Wpt. 10), the trail runs low along the west side of the wash. The trail eventually begins to climb, merges back together with Calico Hills Trail (Wpt. 11), and climbs into the Calico II area, which also has many use-trails that make it difficult to stay on the main trail, although some barricades help.

At a signed trail junction with the Calico 2 Trail (Wpt. 12) atop a wide switchback, the Calico Hills Loop Trail turns hard to the right, while the trail to the left runs up to the Calico Hills II Trailhead. The railing and stairs at the trailhead are visible from this point.

Calico Hills Loop Trail
Descending towards Calico Hills Wash (view NW)
Calico Hills Loop Trail
Trail junction: main trail goes left; alternate to the right (view NW)
Calico Hills Loop Trail
Passing below fencing at Calico I parking area (view NW)
Calico Hills Loop Trail
Be careful and don't step on the little people (Western Whiptail)
Calico Hills Loop Trail
Current (2020) vegetation condition after 2006 fire
Calico Hills Loop Trail
Vegetation condition in 2011 after 2006 fire
Calico Hills Loop Trail
Easy trail runs above the wash (view NW)
Calico Hills Loop Trail
Spring annuals getting ready to bloom
Calico Hills Loop Trail
Current (2020) vegetation condition after 2006 fire
Calico Hills Loop Trail
Vegetation condition in 2011 after 2006 fire
Calico Hills Loop Trail
Easy trail runs above the wash (view NW)
Calico Hills Loop Trail
The trail passes a survey marker and begins to climb (view N)
Calico Hills Loop Trail
Survey marker at edge of trail (view down)
Calico Hills Loop Trail
Climbing across slickrock (view NE)
Calico Hills Loop Trail
The trail continues to climb towards Calico II Trailhead (view N)
Calico Hills Loop Trail
Loop trail merges with a trail that comes up from the wash (view N)
Calico Hills Loop Trail
Trail marker sign (Calico II parking in the background; view NW)
Calico Hills Loop Trail
Barricades try to keep people on a single trail (view N)
Calico Hills Loop Trail
Trail forks: Calico Hills Loop (left); right to wash bottom (view N)
Calico Hills Loop Trail
More barricades encourage people to use single trail (view N)
Calico Hills Loop TrailApproaching right turn (all hikers on Calico Hills Loop Trail; view N) Calico Hills Loop Trail
Trail marker at right turn (hiker on Calico Hills Trail; view N)
Calico Hills Loop Trail
Calico Hills Loop Trail at Calico 2 Trail (view NW)
Calico Hills Loop Trail
Calico Hills Loop Trail passing Calico 2 Trail (view NE)
Calico Hills Loop Trail
Hiker continuing on Calico Hills Loop Trail (view W)
Calico Hills Loop Trail
Hiker departing Calico Hills Loop Trail to Calico 2 Trailhead (view W)

Table 1. Hiking Coordinates Based on GPS Data (NAD27; UTM Zone 11S). Download Hiking GPS Waypoints (*.gpx) file.

Wpt. Location UTM Easting UTM Northing Elevation (ft) Point-to-Point Distance (mi) Cumulative Distance (mi)
09 Calico I Trail Junction 641324 4001168 3,895 0.30 1.21
10 Trail Junction 641280 4001206 3,868 0.04 1.25
11 Trail Junction 640678 4001845 3,968 0.60 1.85
12 Calico II Trail Junction 640618 4001855 3,996 0.04 1.89

Happy Hiking! All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate.
copyright; Last updated 240330

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