I love being impulsive and waking up to go adventuring. My man and I woke up on a Friday morning…read moreand decided we were going out to the Mojave Desert to see the lave tube and hike this very short but interesting trail. We did this trail a couple years ago and I just had failed to review so here we go. It's easy to find and the trail is approximately 1.4 miles with an elevation gain of 131 feet. The trail is a complete loop. What makes this trail fun and unusual is at the end in order to leave the narrrow canyon, you must use rings that are bolted into the wall to climb out. You can also descend the canyon with the rings but climbing up and out was much more challenging and rewarding. It helps to be in good shape as you will need to be strong enough to pull your body up through the canyon via the rings. The canyon you hike into is so incredible and so many different rock formations. I loved all the rocks with holes as you could hear the wind blowing through them. Plus there are so many petroglyphs along the way. Lots of photo opportunities and I highly recommend exploring this trail when you are looking to hike a one of kind trail. Plenty of parking and be sure to where solid trail shoes or hiking boots. Remember to pack in and out and LEAVE NO TRACE.

Absolutely gorgeous trail. It passes by wind-worn caves and a petroglyph, and ends at a set of…read moresteel rings for you to climb up (or down, depending on how you traverse the loop). I've never hiked such a unique trail before! The visitor center is also near by and has a gift shop, water, flush toilets, and a nice ranger stationed there who can provide more information about the area and advice. The center is very small so there aren't as many displays to educate you about the surrounding area compared to other visitor centers, but that's ok as you'll probably be itching to go outside and take in the views.

It was an easy 1.22 round trip walk from the trailhead (once I figured out I didn't have to walk…read moredead center in the loose sand and moved to the perimeter of the trail). Per the information at the trailhead, we did not touch the petroglyphs and were careful not to climb any rocks/boulders even when the trail was only single foot width. It's a dog friendly outing. The weather was just right for it, too. Laughlin is beautiful and breathtaking here.

Grapevine Canyon was a nice hike with plenty of opportunities for some great pictures. The…read morepetroglyphs are always a sight to see. The ride is off a dirt road we drove out in a truck. The mountains around you are beautiful. The sacred land and the history of the tribes that lived in the Spirit Mountain is something to read about. Don't forget your water for the hike. There is a small dirt parking lot and a restroom. Enjoy the history and the scenery.

This hike is not for dogs, and I wouldn't recommend small kids under 10. You have to go up and own…read moreropes, climb a lot of rocks. It is a part of willow beach. So I would recommend maybe meeting at the end of the trail if you HAVE to bring small kids or dogs. You would have to kayak or canoe from willow beach to the end of the trail. At willow beach they do have the equipment available for rent. This hike is long. It took me 4 hours to get to the end and back. There are 7 ropes you will have to go down and climb up to get back. We had to have young men help us up some of the rocks. Boost were needed, and assistance getting down the rocks.

Great hike. Pretty intense and not recommended for kids or elderly in my opinion. Also leave your…read moredogs at home. There are 5 (?) spots with ropes or ladders that you have to climb up / down. The hike is all downhill on the way to the springs and uphill on the way out so remember that. Definitely pack snacks! It's a long hike, our round trip ended up being 7 miles but we did a lot of walking once we got down to the Colorado River. Don't forget to keep ur head above the hot springs water! There are signs for brain eating amoebas that live in the springs (only attack humans if they can travel up the nasal passage)

Everything in this special setting was clean, well maintained and accessible. Convenience store,…read moregrill (with a veggie burger option), great staff, parking, signage. Next time we are bringing our kayak! We came to volunteer, and stayed to enjoy this special setting.

I enjoy coming here to get some time at the water!…read more Heads up: If you do any paddle boarding or boating, etc. you must have a life jacket so please remember that. They also do rentals here for boats/kayaks, etc. that come with life jackets. If you bring your own boat, you cannot rent a life jacket by itself. Recommendations: kayak over to the hot springs for a truly beautiful day! Very peaceful spot to rejuvenate and enjoy nature.

Located within a 5 minute drive from Laughlin Nevada is a spot where a very short hike takes you…read moreback thousands of years. The Sacred area is well worth the short trip and shorter walk. There are literally hundreds of petroglyphs and other stunning views of the rocky mountainous and desert terrain. If the the Laughlin area - Just Do It.

This is a breath-taking park if you can beat the heat. I've hiked the Kelso Dunes Trail multiple…read moretimes as they sing (or rather vibrate and boom) if you slide down the side of a sand dune. You can also feel the vibrations in your body if you're the one triggering the noise. Apparently jumping and digging can also produce the noise. It's unfortunate that the trail head signs don't mention this property. Both times, my group was the only one triggering the sounds of the dunes. Hole-in-the-wall rings trail is also quite a unique trail as it passes by wind-worn caves and a petroglyph, and ends at a set of steel rings for you to climb up (or down, depending on how you traverse the loop). I've never hiked such a unique trail before!

Had the chance to visit a piece of Mojave National Preserve yesterday. The preserve currently…read moreoffers Teutonia Peak Trail and Kelso Dunes available during the pandemic. The scenery is amazing. The clouds were absolutely breathtaking as a backdrop to the many mountains and peaks. There are places to pull over along the way, you can even have a picnic at The Mojave Cross. Can't wait to come back and visit more of Mojave National Preserve!

One of my favorite hikes in the Mt Charleston area. Mary Jane Falls is the ultimate desert escape…read more Just 45 minutes from Las Vegas, this hike trades heat and neon for cool mountain air, towering pines, and a steady uphill challenge. The switchbacks make you work for it, but the payoff is worth it -- a peaceful alpine waterfall that feels wildly out of place in the Mojave. Go early, bring water, and be ready to earn your views. Short, steep, and totally worth it.

It's always been one of my favorite trails in Mt Charleston…read more Mary Jane's is listed as moderate hike and while it's true, it has some pretty steep hills, but the switchbacks are amazingly helpful. Definitely recommend going early in the morning so you can enjoy the cooler temperatures, instead of the hot sun later on. Make sure to bring plenty of drinking water and sunscreen! There is no drinking fountain anywhere on the trail. Also keep in mind, there isn't any restrooms on the hiking trails beside the very bottom at the beginning. The trail is very walkable but definitely no wheelchair accessible! We enjoyed the hike earlier this summer. There was still snow on the ground right across from us on the hillside. While we were hiking, there were beautiful wildflowers present on the ground. After the switchbacks, we had reached the waterfalls and immediately felt the refreshing smell in the air. The water was amazingly pleasant, washed our hands and enjoyed the beautiful views around us. Can't wait to go back again!

Big Bend is beautiful! Perfect place to spend the day with your family. There are a few rules one…read moreshould know before heading there which can be found on their website. The park has improved since our first visit about 3 summers ago. We come here at least once and we all enjoy it, we get there early morning and leave right before closing. I may add, if you go during the summer, you MUST wear sun protection and bring lots of water, the heat is no joke. The water is really cold which is refreshing on a hot summer day. The staff is very friendly and informative, also very helpful!! My tent blew away during a little windy moment and they helped me bring it back while also providing tips to prevent it from happening again. In the past, we had to get there before the park opened to secure a spot and once capacity was met they didn't allow anyone to enter. This was tough since there were a couple times we didn't make it on time and had to go elsewhere. Now, things have changed, which is a lot more convenient. They only allow the people that have reserved online go in from 7am-11:30am. If you DO NOT have reservations, you will NOT be allowed in before 11:30. At 11:30 they will only allow you in if they haven't reached capacity and it's first come first serve. If you did RSVP and make it after 11:30am, you risk losing your spot since general people will be allowed in at that time.

Came here with our family and while the beach was surprisingly good sand and quite large, the beach…read morewas way too packed, and there were 14,000 jet skis running through the river. Many of them were docked right in the beach, resulting in a lot of people ripping through very closely to where people were swimming. Between that and the strong current, this was in my opinion not a very family friendly beach, at least for one with small children.

I first hiked Teutonia Peak in 2004. It was a great hike then and still is but the landscape has…read morechanged so much. That's why I wanted to go back. During the summer, the Dome fire burned this area. What was once the largest concentration of Joshua trees in the world is now a sad hike along Joshuas that have been burned. It looked like some had some green at the top and may come back, but most won't. This three mile round trip hike starts along Cima Road. There is plenty of parking on both sides of the road. The first mile of the hike is on sand and gravel with the sand hard packed in a few places. There's a side trail that goes to some remnants of an old silver mine. The trail is clearly marked although some of the signs have faded in the desert sun. At about one mile out, the trail becomes totally different. It's here that the elevation gain of 700 feet begins. Much of the way up requires using rock steps and it becomes a workout. I seem to remember that the trail was a lot less steep almost 17 years ago, but maybe it's just me. At 1.5 miles out, you get a view of Cima Dome. It's a convex mound caused by movement of the tectonic plates in this area millions of years ago. This is where we decided to turn back as we had other things to see in the Mojave National Preserve. This is a good trail for families. It's not as beautiful as it was before the fire but the views and the rock outcrops make it a worthwhile hike!

The hike is a fairly easy hike roughly 1.72 miles to the top. There is parking just outside the…read morestart of the trail and picnic tables at the Mojave Cross. The area is absolutely breathtaking the entire way full of wildlife and Joshua Trees and amazing cloud formations. The hike to the peak is worth it. The view is amazing!

Hubby just bought a new 4WD car and wanted to go off roading, and the drive through Christmas Tree…read morePass came recommended as an easy one for beginners. I'd agree with that assessment. I would say anyone with a 4WD vehicle could easily handle the well-manicured dirt roads. The drive took us about 45 minutes with LOTS of stops to take photos, walk around, and enjoy the desert landscapes. It was very peaceful and quiet, and we only passed one other vehicle the entire time we were driving! It's free, clean, and fun, and you can't ask for more than that! The landscape is (obviously) dry desert, with pretty rocks and flora and fauna. We saw plenty of lizards, birds, chipmunk looking things, and a couple of snakes, so be alert and respect the wildlife! Don't pick anything and don't harrass anything. We drove in early July, when the temperatures were over 110. We brought plenty of water "just in case," and there are several areas where you can wander off on foot (but again, watch for snakes)! I was impressed with how clean it was along the Pass, I did not see one piece of trash anywhere! The roads are graded but the sand gets a bit deep in a few places, where we slid a little while driving. It was fun because the road is very wide with plenty of room. At one end of the Pass, there's an area with well preserved petroglyphs. It does require a bit of a hike which isn't that far distance-wise, but it's in deep sand that's difficult to walk through (especially when the temps are high). I made it maybe a third of the way and turned back. I'll try again in the fall or winter. There's a hole-in-the-ground toilet facility by the petroglyphs if you need it. I am not outdoorsy in the least, but I had a really fun time riding along on this drive. If you're traveling between Las Vegas and Laughlin, it's a fun little "cut through" to get through the desert. Highly recommended.

2/24/2025 If you think you're going to see a bunch of…read moreChristmas decorations on this bumpy off-road trip, forget about it! We should've stopped to see the petroglyphs, that would've been the highlight on this frustrating journey. There was one chubby bush with hardly any Christmas decorations probably about halfway into the drive. Not worth the long road trip. The weather was perfect, but I sure wouldn't do it again.