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

South Bowl of Fire - 1/11/25

Murphy Peak rising to southwest of South Bowl of Fire

Typical sandstone formations of the South Bowl

Second Swirly-Do Wash

Connecting with the trail across Wash

There are several versions of the hike through South Bowl of Fire in the Lake Mead NRA. This is only one of them. We began out of the very popular MM 18 Trailhead on Northshore Road. Another way to approach the bowl is simply to drive up Callville Road from MM 16 but there is a nice one mile trail starting from MM 18 that is very useful. We carpooled down to as few cars as possible and parked. A warm-up hike on the trail led us to the colorful bowl in the distance. We dropped into the wash and crossed to continue on a trail that parallels the wash. Soon, we were dropping into the first ascent wash that runs perpendicular to our approach. Turning left, we started climbing up the colorful wash.

Approaching the first ascent wash on trail across Wash

Trail down into first ascent Wash

Interesting dryfall climb in first ascent Wash

Option 1 climb at second Dryfall

There are two dryfalls in this wash. The first one has a little exposure but it is still navigable with only a little bravery. The second dryfall can be circumnavigated on either side. Your choice! After this climb, a hill appears on the right side. We turned and began the climb on a trail through the rocks. Heart Arch is on this hill. At the top of the hill, we turned to the left and followed a rock trail around to an overlook area. Be careful on the last overlook! The very tip of the overlook is about to break off but you can't see this until you begin the hike below it! After this point, we followed the trail down to the right and pointed ourselves to a small canyon that is punctuated with a monolith-type sandstone. Descending the canyon is fairly simple.

Option 2 climb at second Dryfall

Murphy Peak from ridge above first ascent Wash

View from ridge Overlook

           The Sideways Arch -

                  (located in first ascent wash)

            Heart Arch - 

                        (located on hill climbing out

                            of first ascent wash)

          Dog Face - 

                  (located near top of second

                      ascent wash as stand alone mound)

              The Duck eating a small Fish -

                    (located in same "alley" as Dog Face)

                 

                   Elephant Arch - 

                           (located one wash northeast of Dog Face)

         First Swirly-Do - 

            (located in last wash

                          east of Elephant Arch)

                Second Swirly-Do - 

               Larger than the First

                             (located in shallow wash at base

                                 of east mountains)

Descending a small canyon to main Wash

View from main wash up to Anniversary Narrows Peak

Crossing over to first Swirly-do Wash

Up and around after second Swirly-do

At the bottom of the canyon, we began our search for Dog Face, found The Duck, and Elephant Arch. After a break there, we crossed on over to see two interesting formations in the following washes. I call them Swirly-Dos! Descending the last wash out from the Swirly-do, we came to the traditional "entrance" to the South Bowl of Fire for our exit. We hiked back across the trail to the cars and ended a delightful day.

Stats: 5 miles; 750' gain; ~3 hours

Exiting the South Bowl of Fire

Following wash to Trail

Nearing the cars on Trail