Walking Las Vegas

Name: Blue Diamond Canyon #3 Loop
Total distance: 2.5 miles
Total time to complete: 1.5 hours
Elevation Change: 600 feet
Elevation Range: 3300-4200 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Scrambling: Stair climbing in spots and some slightly steeper slopes, light use of hands for balance. As this is a loop so the scrambles will be done uphill. Hiking poles help on some of the final upclimb but aren’t critical.
How easy to follow? Some forks in canyon
Dogs: yes but a bit rocky
Bathrooms: none
Trailhead (36.051083, -115.405354) is parking on the dirt shoulder of rt 159 directly across from Castalia St. Please leave a comment if meeting at the trailhead. - Overflow Blue Diamond park.
Weather
Wikiloc

Description:

We will start by going under/over a barbed wire fence to enter the canyon. We will head upstream into this rarely visited area. There are some bushy spots with picky plants but most can be avoided if you step carefully. We will exit by going up the steep dirt side of the canyon. Our return route is down a ridge with open views, basically a dirt road making for easy navigation on the way out.

The time of the meetup is the time we are LEAVING the carpool location (if no carpool then it is the time we are starting hike), please come on time, or chase after us frantically if you are late. Please review the planned hike if possible, be prepared for a no host event should your organizer need to drop off at the last minute. Pictures are often taken during meetups and posted on the site, if you don't want to be photographed then wear a bag over your head. If the meetup only has one person coming it may be canceled if I can’t be sure you will show up (I’ll try to contact you). Hiking time estimates are for an average size group, smaller groups go faster and larger groups slower.

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, not limited to flash floods, killer bees, brain eating amoeba, harm to your unborn child, your conscription as a soldier in a war either declared or undeclared, demonic possession, the loss of your immortal soul and possibly death. The organizers of this group and current and former members can not 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.

recent photos 2026 2025 to 2020 • Hourly Weather + UV (sun) • SW hike maps

For most hikers, this is a "relatively easy" 4.3 mile intermediate "no scrambling" hike, elevation gain 650 feet. From COUGAR AVENUE parking, we first hike around a mountain bend on an old mining road. We ascend to a mountain ridge trail to Ike's Peak and back again (option: loop +½ mile). 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 • SongLoop • Radio Jukebox

NOTES • Most RSVPs are usually by members of a larger Meetup group. Upload to share your Meetup photos with others. I will re-post to the 2nd Meetup group 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: 8600 (street address) 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 -- 89178

DIRECTIONS -- 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 Oudoors -- Durango Southwest
REQUIRED READING (legal info, etc.) • Las Vegas for residents and visitors

Use Meetup message system to contact organizer with any questions.

IF WEATHER FORECAST IS BAD, hike may be moved to SUNDAY.

recent photos 2026 2025 to 2020 • Hourly Weather + UV (sun) • SW hike maps

For most hikers, this is a "relatively easy" 4.3 mile intermediate "no scrambling" hike, elevation gain 650 feet. From COUGAR AVENUE parking, we first hike around a mountain bend on an old mining road. We ascend to a mountain ridge trail to Ike's Peak and back again (option: loop +½ mile). 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 • SongLoop • Radio Jukebox

NOTES • Most RSVPs are usually by members of a larger Meetup group. Upload to share your Meetup photos with others. I will re-post to the 2nd Meetup group 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: 8600 (street address) 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 -- 89178

DIRECTIONS -- 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 Oudoors -- Durango Southwest
REQUIRED READING (legal info, etc.) • Las Vegas for residents and visitors

Use Meetup message system to contact organizer with any questions.

IF WEATHER FORECAST IS BAD, hike may be moved to SUNDAY.

recent photos 2026 2025 to 2020 • Hourly Weather + UV (sun) • SW hike maps

For most hikers, this is a "relatively easy" 4.3 mile intermediate "no scrambling" hike, elevation gain 650 feet. From COUGAR AVENUE parking, we first hike around a mountain bend on an old mining road. We ascend to a mountain ridge trail to Ike's Peak and back again (option: loop +½ mile). 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 • SongLoop • Radio Jukebox

NOTES • Most RSVPs are usually by members of a larger Meetup group. Upload to share your Meetup photos with others. I will re-post to the 2nd Meetup group 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: 8600 (street address) 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 -- 89178

DIRECTIONS -- 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 Oudoors -- Durango Southwest
REQUIRED READING (legal info, etc.) • Las Vegas for residents and visitors

Use Meetup message system to contact organizer with any questions.

IF WEATHER FORECAST IS BAD, hike may be moved to SUNDAY.