About us
WELCOME!
VegasHikers is the premier hiking group in the Desert Southwest! We take more hikes to more places and have the friendliest, most welcoming organizers of any group around. We feature hikes for all skill levels, road trips, camping, and social gatherings. We have events at a huge variety of times, places, and days. We even hike at night! With dozens of organizers and an average of more than an event a day, you're sure to find activities to suit your fancy.
KNOW YOUR LIMITS.
Our organizers are not tour guides, we're not rangers. Going out with us is the same as going out with a few friends. Expect the same risks, take the same precautions. As organizers, we will do our best to give accurate descriptions of the hikes we post. If you're a beginning hiker, a hike's elevation and distance may not mean much to you. Likewise, difficulty ratings are subjective, and a hike that is "easy" to one person may be "moderate" to another. Err on the side of caution. You're much better off going on a hike that's too easy for you than a hike that's too hard or too dangerous for you. As you go on more hikes with us, you'll become more familiar with our ratings and our descriptions, and you'll learn more about your own limits. Ultimately, it's up to you to keep yourself safe out there. You're an adult. Hike within your abilities.
DUES/FEES
There are no membership dues to be a part of this group. It does take money to pay for this site, fill up first aid kits, and keep organizers prepared, so we gladly take donations any time they're offered.
GUIDING PRINCIPLES
Our group can be defined by five terms, which help guide every decision we make. They are as follows:
- All are welcome
- We hike together
- We come prepared
- We're all adults
- We appreciate the outdoors
Upcoming events
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(Saturday) Ike*s Peak 4.7 miles
10000 Cougar Avenue, LAS VEGAS, NV, USUPDATE: rain expected Sunday - hike moved to Saturday.
recent photos 2026 2025 to 2020 • Hourly Weather + UV (sun) • SW hike maps
-------------- NEW
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---------------------For most hikers, this is a "relatively easy" 4.7 mile intermediate "no scrambling" hike, elevation gain 650 feet. From COUGAR AVENUE parking, we first hike east on an old mining road and then north. We ascend to a mountain ridge trail to Ike's Peak and back again (4.3 miles) or return via Good Call Loop. Hiking shoes: YES, tennis shoes: NO.
Las Vegas weather and by month • 10-day forecast • historical averages
I am a retired systems analyst / computer geek. I still dabble with making (mostly desktop) hobby web pages - the latest include non-app desktop and/or phone pages:
Poplinks / Streaming • TV News Plus • Sleep Sounds • Radio Jukebox
2-GROUPS NOTE • RSVPs are most often by members of VegasHikers. Another option: RSVP from the Walking Las Vegas Meetup group. If you belong to both groups, don't RSVP from both groups for the same hike.
Upload to share your Meetup hike photos with others. I will re-post to Walking Las Vegas and post to Facebook Summerlin Outdoors group.
Location is southwest of Rhodes Ranch and Cowabunga Canyon water park near Ft Apache Road. If more than 5 minutes late, spot us walking up the hill.
Note: 10000 Cougar Avenue is for GPS reference only.
GPS • Parking 36.0314 / -115.3136 (photos) • Ike's Peak 36.054 / -115.32
Street Parking -- COUGAR AVENUE and Todd Allen Creek Street -- 89178DIRECTIONS -- for most, take Ft Apache south, past Warm Springs Road, and past Rhodes Ranch (on left). Turn right (west) at Ford Avenue stoplight. Near the end of Ford Avenue, you may see Forbuss Elementary School. At the end of Ford Avenue, turn right (north) on Reynolds Spring Road and then left on COUGAR AVENUE. We can park along or near the first 2 blocks of COUGAR AVENUE (parking photos).
We DO NOT meet on Reynolds Spring Road and NOT near the flood control basin dam.
For those coming from the southeast or Henderson, go west on Blue Diamond Road aka H-160. Exit at Ft Apache and go north. Turn left (west) at Ford Avenue stoplight en route to Cougar Avenue.
Friendly chat welcome but please: no national politics or religion.
Hiking shoes are REQUIRED for greater safety - no tennis shoes.
Bring water and snacks. • Well behaved dogs on leash might be okay.
I try to schedule my hikes when the sun's UV level is mostly 4 or lower.
Be aware that we share this trail with advanced mountain bikers.Ike's Peak mountain biking -- Summerlin Outdoors -- Durango Southwest
REQUIRED READING (legal info, etc.) • Las Vegas for residents and visitorsUse Meetup message system to contact organizer with any questions.
IF WEATHER FORECAST IS BAD, this hike may be moved to SATURDAY.6 attendees
Quick Draw (Unnamed Route D)
Location not specified yetREQUIREMENTS FOR SIGN UP - NO EXCEPTIONS
• You must have hiked with me on a Tier 3 hike OR have a "Scrambling Skills" pin from a VegasHikers Organizer.
AND
• YOU MUST SIGN A WRITTEN WAIVER TO ATTEND THIS HIKE. The link to the written waiver is here:
http://richardwaltjen.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/written-waiver.pdfYou will not be moved to the "going" list without providing a signed waiver to the email address on the waiver.
If you have already provided one to me, you do not need to provide another one.
***
HIKE DESCRIPTION
New route that I expect will be tier 4 or 5. This is a very short route, specifically designed for evening and/or summer hike with little time.
STATS
Not available yet.INFORMATION LINKS
Scrambling Tiers
http://richardwaltjen.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/rickw-scrambling-tiers.pdfPassages
http://richardwaltjen.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Passages.pdfPin Program
http://richardwaltjen.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Pin-Collection.pdf9 attendees
Red Rock Series: Little Zion
Late Night Trailhead Parking Lot / Cottonwood Valley, State Highway 160 about 4.7 miles west of the junction with NV 159, Blue Diamond, NV, Blue Diamond, nv, USPlease read the entire hike description. New participants will be required to sign a waiver form similar to the Disclaimer below.
Questions or Comments? Text Jim at 702-515-9824
Please answer the question when you RSVP:
Q1. What is your cell number?
Please use this format: xxx-xxx-xxxx📌 We will start at the Mountain Springs Pass trailhead and hike past the junctions for Hollow Rock, Windy Peak, Black Velvet and Hidden Peak, and navigate our way down to an area known as Little Zion. After exploring and taking a short break at the sandstone arch, we will return via the same trail.
Along the way we will checkout the limestone Hidden Arch.
The hike is approximately 8 miles out-and-back with approximately 2,000’ of elevation gain and all class 1 trail except for the sandstone slabs at Little Zion.
The trail is full of MUDS and PUDS (mindless ups and downs, pointless ups and downs). As such, this hike is geared toward those interested in maintaining their fitness level and stamina for upcoming epic adventures (Big Pine Lakes CA, Telescope Peak NV, Grand Canyon AZ).
This hike is cross-posted with 52 Peak Club Explorer's Deck.
HIKE QUICK STATS:
- Trailhead: Late Night Trailhead/Mountain Springs Pass
- Distance: 8.0 miles
- Summit: N/A
- Elevation Gain: 2,000 feet
- Altitude: Between 4,600 – 6,600 feet
- Difficulty: Strenuous
- Class: Class 1 trail with some Class 2 when we reach the sandstone
- Exposure: None
- Pace: Slow to Moderate ⁞ Conversational
- Duration: 5.5 hours (includes hiking and driving)
- Attitude: Positive
GEAR:
- Hiking boots or trail shoes are required
- Trekking poles and gloves are optional but very helpful
- 2-3L of water, sun protection, snacks & electrolytes
- Carry rain gear during monsoon season
OTHER:
- No guests, children, pets, or event crashers.
- Everyone starts on the Waitlist. You must be on the Going list to attend.
CARPOOL LOCATION:
We leave at 6:30am; arrive 10 minutes early. Late Night Trailhead parking lot on Nevada 160 (aka Pahrump Hwy) is 4.7 miles west of the Blue Diamond Travel Center at the junction of NV 160 and NV 159. We will form carpools for the short drive up to Mountain Springs Pass trailhead.There will be 3 options after the hike:
1. Go home.
2. Go to the World Famous Mountain Springs Saloon (aka, The Biker Bar).
3. Go to Famous Dave's Bar-B-Que, 4390 Blue Diamond Rd.ⓕ Follow us on Facebook!
Tentative Schedule:
9/5 - Little Zion & Hidden Arches Trail (Explorer's)
9/7 - Scrambling Skills - Beginner Level
9/9 - Mummy Mtn (Founder's)
9/12 - North Loop Trail Fall Colors
9/15 - Scrambling Skills - Advanced Beginner Level
9/18-20 - Big Pine Lakes (CA) - this event is full
9/26 - South Loop Trail Fall Colors (Liz' group Telescope Peak)
10/3 - Lovell Canyon (Grand Canyon?)
10/10 - Candy Cliffs / Yant Flats (UT)
10/17 - Scrambling Skills - Beginner Level
10/24 - Scrambling Skills - Advanced Beginner Level
10/31 - Scrambling Skills - Beginner Intermediate Level
11/7 - Scrambling Skills - Intermediate LevelDisclaimer:
Please be aware that your Meetup organizers are not tour guides and are not park rangers. Expect the same risks and take the same precautions you would take if you were hiking alone. You are solely responsible for your own safety and well-being. By signing up for and/or attending this Meetup event, you acknowledge, understand, accept, and agree that hiking and other outdoor activities can be dangerous and can cause serious bodily injury and possibly death. The organizers of this group and current and former members cannot be held responsible or liable in any way for the actions of any participant - including you - at any event. All attendees participate at an event at their own risk and are solely responsible for any damage to their property, and/or any injury to themselves or their guests. By signing up for this event, you affirm that you understand this disclaimer, and that you knowingly and voluntarily agree not to bring any type of claim arising out of or related to this Meetup event against the organizers of this Meetup group.23 attendees
Past events
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