RonnieAdventure #0251 - Pine Creek/Fern Canyon Hike, Clark County, Nevada

A number of years ago I tried following Pine Creek to the head of Fern Canyon, but the underbrush was so thick that I gave up after looking like I had gone to a hatchet fight and forgot my hatchet. When a friend said that he knew of a trail that went around the underbrush, how could I refuse!

The Pine Creek/Fern Canyon trailhead is located in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area (RRCNCA) just off of the 13-Mile Scenic Drive Loop. Unfortunately, the Loop is one-way traffic counterclockwise, so we had to drive about 11 extra miles around the Loop just to reach the trailhead.

The trail starts on a small mesa and then drops quickly down into Pine Creek Wash. There are several trails in the area, but it is easy to see Fern Canyon because it is just to the right of Mescalito Wall. The area surrounding Mescalito Wall is a favorite with rock climbers and the parking lot was almost full by the time we arrived at 7:30 in the morning.

Before reaching Mescalito Wall, there is an interesting  Fire Ecology Trail that winds through a 1992 controlled burn area. The purpose of the controlled burn was to determine the effects of a wildfire in an area of heavy accumulated brush. (They definitely picked the right location.) Since 1992 the burn area has been continually studied by foresters and they have discovered that various plant species have naturally reestablished themselves in the burned area. The Western Redbud trees were blooming and they were especially beautiful against the other greener vegetation.

A short distance from the burn area is the old Wilson Homestead. All that remains of the homestead is the house foundation and some fruit trees.

Photographer Unknown

Leaving the Wilson Homestred, the trail makes a loop up to the head of Fern Canyon and then back to the the Homestead. From the top of the loop there is a trail that goes up the side of the canyon; thus, bypassing the thick brush along the creek. As the trail stays above the creek on the side of the canyon, there are some really interesting rock formation. Some of the rocks appear to have measles, warts, rashes, wrinkles, scars, and a host of other problems.

Once we bypassed all of the brush in Fern Canyon, we were able to work our way back down to Pine Creek. The area was very beautiful with several springs and small waterfalls.

On the way out of the canyon, we watched some rock climbers as they made their way up the Mescalito Wall. We then followed an alternate trail back to the parking lot.