Overview

Girl Scout Trail (southbound) is an easy 0.6-mile trail that runs from Kraft Mountain Trailhead to the base of Guardian Angel Canyon. As such, it is merely a trail segment rather than a trail, proper. Girl Scout Trail is part of the Calico Hills Loop Trail, and it connects with Calico Basin Trail, which runs from the base of Guardian Angel Canyon to Red Spring parking area.

For hikers using this trail northbound, see Girl Scout Trail Northbound.

Girl Scout Trail serves well as a connector trail, but as a stand-alone trail, it is not very interesting. However, it does seem to be an attempt by the BLM to define one trail and reduce the number of use-trails that are proliferating throughout the Calico Basin area. Hopefully people will stay on the trail and the land will recover.

Link to trail map.

Watch Out

Other than the standard warnings about hiking in the desert, ...this hike is about as safe as they get, but there was a loose rock where the trail crosses the spring outflow, and the trail is fairly rocky.

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. Be sure to stay on the trail in wet areas so as not to trample the delicate riparian vegetation.

Getting to the Trailhead

This hike is located in the Calico Basin area of Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, about 30 minutes from town (not on the Scenic Loop Road). Drive out West Charleston Blvd, turn right onto Calico Basin Road, then drive to the Kraft Mountain Trailhead at the end of the pavement. Drive to the far end of the trailhead parking area. Park here; this is the trailhead.

The Hike

From the trailhead (Table 1, Waypoint 01), the hike exits the parking area heading west on a continuation of the parking lot road. From the trailhead, the gravel road can be seen running down to a low point, crossing a wash, then climbing out the far side of the wash. The hike runs out to where the road appears to end.

Heading out the gravel road, the road dips to cross Ash Wash, then climbs again. Eventually it becomes apparent that the old road bends right onto an area graded for a home site. As the road bends right, Girl Scout Trail (Wpt. 02) leaves the old road to the left at a trail junction with a trail marker. The trail climbs the hillside for several yards, then bends left to head south along the base of the Calico Hills on an open hillside with broad views south and east across Calico Basin.

At about 0.4 miles out, the trail crosses a small wash (Wpt. 03) where water flows during winter and spring. Note the Velvet Ash Trees that grow in the shallow canyon and reveal the presence of water, even if only underground water.

From the small wash, the trail climbs out of the shallow canyon and onto a second open hillside where again, broad views open up to the south and east across Calico Basin.

The trail eventually passes against the toe of a red sandstone ridge and bends right where views into Guardian Angel Canyon begin. The trail winds down along the base of the cliffs and runs up into the mouth of Guardian Angel Canyon and arrives at the backside of a second Girl Scout Trail trailhead sign.

From this point, hikers have several choices, including (1) turning around and heading back to the trailhead on the Girl Scout Trail, (2) continuing right up the rocky gully into Guardian Angel Canyon, and (3) turning left onto Calico Basin Trail and continuing south towards the Red Spring parking area.

For those returning to Kraft Mountain Trailhead, see Girl Scout Trail Northbound.