White Owl Canyon Middle Loop - 1/13/25

Lake Mead view from high point Overlook

Inside White Owl Canyon

Colors coming out of 2nd dryfall Scramble

Shoreline Trail

It was a chilly and breezy morning out on Lakeshore Road when fifteen hikers gathered for a beautiful hike loop from the old Las Vegas marina. Approximately 2 miles from the Lake Mead Parkway fee booth, there is a turning lane with palm trees planted about. Turn left here and follow around to the right. The Shoreline Trail Trailhead has been moved up the hill! The large paved area that used to be the old boat launch appears to have been washed out. The pavement was removed and the barriers have been shifted up the hill. We parked in the area before the barriers and started our hike down the hill to the dry shoreline as we neared the Lake Las Vegas Wash. Turning right at the bottom of the hill, we started out the Shoreline Trail lined with rocks.

Lake Las Vegas Wash bird Sanctuary

Area previously covered by Lake Mead

Shoreline Trail with Lake Mead coming into View

Shoreline Trail nearing wash Connection

The Shoreline Trail is well-maintained with rocks lining it all the way over to the White Owl Canyon wash. We passed the towers that were made by previous lake waters and saw a blue heron and a few white egrets frolicking in the waters of the Lake Las Vegas wash. Reaching the vicinity of the White Owl Canyon, we turned to hike up its wash and connect with its trail. With caution about making noise, we entered the lake-made canyon and proceeded to search for signs of a white owl. There were lots of obvious perches above our heads but no owls were home. We did, however, see a large owl nest hanging over the side of a shelf. Upon exiting the canyon, we came to the first of two culverts. This one passes underneath Lakeshore Road.

Group of fifteen entering White Owl Canyon

White Owl Nest on wall Shelf

Quietly inside White Owl Canyon

First culvert following White Owl Canyon

We hiked through a little more canyon and came to the second culvert that passes underneath the River Mountains Bike Trail. Here, the wash opens out and a slog of approximately half a mile ensues up the sand and gravel. The wash narrows and two dryfall scrambles follow. The first scramble is nothing more than a steep stair climb. The second can be circumvented to the left but the whole group welcomed the effort of climbing up the rock pourover. At the top of this dryfall, an old abandoned utility dirt road begins ahead. This large area south of Lakeshore Road is covered with these dirt roads that were plowed out to build the utility infrastructure from Hoover Dam years ago. The old roads make nice, albeit rocky, trails.

Exiting second Culvert

First dryfall Scramble

Second dryfall Scramble

Starting up abandoned utility Road

The old road climbed up the hill steeply. We reminded ourselves that we could take a break at the top! The view at the top was tremendous! We sat and drank it in. Afterwards, the hike continued on the road as it started down the hill next to a very large, deep, colorful wash. The road only offers one turn to the left which we passed up. Our road continued down the hill curving a couple of times but never deviating from its downhill pull. The rocky terrain demanded attention so that mile went by pretty quick bringing us to the River Mountains Bike Trail at the bottom. We turned left and walked the asphalt for another 0.4 mile. Nearby, we passed a mile marker for the bike trail.

Steep dip on Road

Climbing abandoned utility Road

Beautiful view at top of Hill

Almost up to the Top

When we saw the Las Vegas Bay Overlook turning off of Lakeshore Road just below us, we turned down to cross the road and enter the picnic area. Veering left, we left the pavement to descend through the first gully. This is a gentle down climb to the old marina area below ending close to the cars. We were please with our workout and the beautiful views in our "backyard!"

Stats: 5 miles; 800' gain; 3 hours

Starting down from High Point

Abandoned utility road junctions with River Mountains Bike Trail

End of drop through 1st gulley to Trailhead