Shoreline Trail / White Owl Canyon (Short) - 3/8/26

Large pillar in Lake Las Vegas Wash

White Owl Canyon

Walk through culvert under Lakeshore Road

Shoreline Trail

White Owl Canyon is a great go-to hike for company in town and for a few weeks, I'll have my sister visiting. We got to the old Las Vegas Marina parking and saw that vehicles with higher clearance than my car were able to go to the left and drive down a bumpy ramp to the old boat ramp that, now, has no pavement. No problem. We parked at the top where the concrete barriers were and walked down to the old Shoreline Trail TH. We were making a loop hike anyway. We started out the trail that is well-marked with boundary rocks and passed a couple of what they call "Pillars." This large area used to be covered with Lake Mead and the "Pillars" were made from lake erosion. You can still see small mollusk shells along the way. Sometimes, on the right side of the second (larger) Pillar, you can view larger birds in the wash marsh. There were none today. From there, we continued to follow the trail until we approached the picnic area above what used to be the waterline. 

Shoreline Trail along Lake Las Vegas Wash

Debbie taking a photo from the base of large Pillar

Entering White Owl Canyon

Sunlight plays inside White Owl Canyon

Here, we turned up to the right and headed into the canyon at the end of a long wide wash. This is White Owl Canyon. There has been rumors that the White Owl is in residence in the parallel canyon. I had never been in the parallel canyon but seeing it, I realized it would not be good to explore it anew with my inexperienced dog in attendance. So, we exited back to the main wash where we could enter the official White Owl Canyon. This canyon is easily navigated by my standard poodle. This canyon is beautiful whether or not there is a white owl perched on one of the ledges above. We walked through quietly, just in case. The sun was coming in from above making the walls shine. No owl. So, we continued to the end and turned left into the first culvert that glides underneath Lakeshore Road. Between this culvert and the next, it is still White Owl Canyon with the same beautifications but wider. After the second culvert, we sat on a rock and ate a snack. Next, our route climbed the old road ramp on the right while ignoring the steep trail that hikers have cut up the hill. We turned left onto the bike path where the road ramp ended. (The bikers appreciate it if you stay on the right side of the path and let them have the asphalt.) We walked down the path and came upon a trail leading to the right along a wash I had not explored. My sister and I took the challenge and followed the path down into the wash there and, before long, we came to a high non-negotiable pour over. I suppose there might have been a scary up and around but not with my dog. We retraced our steps back to the bike path, turned right and continued past the blooming brittlebushes and view of Lava Butte in the distance. The bike path left us up to the left and we continued straight to where we could bushwhack down to the picnic area on the right above the marina ramp. The first canyon wash on the left took us down to our car. Excellent hike but it will be too warm for it soon!

Stats: 4.75 miles; 500' gain; 3 hours

Debbie exits second Culvert

Lava Butte from River Mountain Loop (Bike) Trail

Spur wash with cliff pour over at End

Signature Rock Double Loop Exploratory - 2/21/26

Southern view of Razorback Ridge

Signature Rock near Boulder Canyon

Old Arrowhead Road entering Pinto Valley

Very old Ram's Head

Pinto Valley Wash near Northshore Road

Did you ever have one of those days where you do one small thing wrong and the whole day goes to hell? 

This was one of those days.

So, I have led or attended the Signature Rock Loop five to ten times. It's not really a difficult route. There's just a few particular landmarks that you need to know. However, distraction is the enemy!

We parked at the Northshore Road MM 18.2ish filling one of the last spaces on a Saturday. Later, we would be the second to last car to leave the pullout. After crossing the road, we hiked over and dropped into the Pinto Valley Wash to start up. It was a beautiful day. (Thank God for small favors.) Even the anticipated red mud due to the recent rains never materialized as we hiked up the wash and onto the Old Arrowhead Road. The old Salt Lake City to Los Angeles road followed the Pinto Valley wash for a few miles of some of the most beautiful scenery in the area.

Arrowleaf Balsamroot

Old Arrowhead Road

Old Arrowhead Road winding through mud Hills

Lady Hikers at road high point after Switchback

Descending into the Colors

Colors abounded as we climbed the road after a supported switchback and small high point. From this high point, glorious views were seen in every direction. We continued out the road that in a few parts climbed up to the left bank of the wash. Looking down to our right, we could clearly see why the road had taken a detour up. The wash dips among the rock layers of the area. We passed the Eagle Rock.... Look up to the right. You will see it! Then the western end of Pinto Valley begins. Over the embankment on the right, there are three rock fins rising up through the earth. These rock fins hold several petroglyphs and other signs of ancient human life. We climbed up and looked through a fin that I had not explored before. We were always careful to stay on the rocks and in the washes so not to disturb the earth. After exploring a while, we returned to the route in a large nearby wash and hiked on down to Signature Rock. The dark brown flat-sided rock hangs on the north side of Pinto Valley not too far from the petroglyph fins. We used the rock area as our break place and enjoyed a rest.

Road after Switchback

It's a beautiful area!

Multicolor Razorback Ridge

Colorful Area

Enjoying the Colors

After the break, we started back up the wash closer to the north side where we could connect with a medium wash that forks to the right leading into the hills. You can see the Chocolate Hills beyond. We arrived at the beginning of the dry waterslides and climbed up toward the brown mud hills. It is necessary to pass one wash on the right and climb up the very next ridge. This ridge climbs between two wash, each of which ends with an un-negotiable dry fall. This ridge has a trail that we followed up, across a saddle and down to the left. Continuing to follow the trail, we dove into the dry mud "chocolate hills" - a place I'll call the Maze! This "Maze" has winding washes leading in a basic 10:00 or 11:00 direction. Someone has effectively removed all the cairns that aid hikers in knowing which fork to take where. There was one cairn left near the base of the final hill climb - a dirt path precariously hanging on the side of one of the mud hills leading up to the ridge crossing between the Maze and above the road switchback area. I have never seen a hiker fall off the side of this path but it could happen! All three of us climbed the hill like pros then dropped down the other side. Following the logical wash afterwards, took us right by the tip end of the road switchback.

Following road through the Colors

The road rises above the Wash

Something buried in the wash, Eagle Rock, a grinding stone, and an Oven

Kay and Sue in Pinto Valley Wash

Climbing up to petroglyph Ridges

We continued down the wash/road talking and enjoying the scenery. Note to self: Don't talk during this section of the hike! I really don't know who turned into the Hamblin Mountian trail route, but I'll just say it was me because I am usually in front. I was talking and found myself on a trail I didn't recognize. When I got home and downloaded the track, I saw the mistake. We came to a cairned junction and I thought it would be interesting to turn and see where it went since I thought I knew where we were. Au contraire. We followed the trail and soon, I realized that I had no idea where we were. Hmm. We climbed up over a saddle, looked repeatedly at the GPSs, did a small scramble, and dropped down into an unfamiliar wash. Next, I took another look at the GPS and realized I was on the Hamblin Mountain Trail that I have been on many times. You would think that I would naturally fall in on this familiar route. Yeah, right. Well, there was some discussion about where the cars were as opposed to where the trail went. You're right. Two different places. Hmm. Well, now I know. The only reasonable way to go is to follow the Hamblin Mountain Trail. Let me finish. ... if I have to.

Signature Rock on west end of Pinto Valley

Sue on a dry Waterslide

Kay and Sue in the Chocolate Hills

Sue and Susan climbing trail in the mud hills Maze

Returning through the Washes

Yes. I did recognize that big black mountain down the "Long Haul Wash." (See maps.) Being temporarily confused, I reluctantly turned left and headed toward it. Fun. Reached the black mountain. Decided to go up and over its saddle ... because there was a trail. Down the other side. Down a shorter "long haul wash" to Northshore Road that we saw from the top of the saddle. And, very reluctantly, turned to the right to start up a good mile on the road to our car. At least two miles more than was planned for the day. Well, as I say at the end of any exploratory, "We learned a lot!" And, probably won't do that again! Now, we can laugh.

Stats: 11.2 miles; 1900' gain; 8 hours

Taking the cross trail to Hamblin Mountain Route

Climb over the saddle to the original Hamblin Mountain Trail

Hill down to Hamblin Mountain Trail

Arriving in Long Haul Wash on Hamblin Mountain Trail