Description

There are several small springs and thickets in the King's Pool and Point of Rocks area linked together with a nice boardwalk. There is one spring pool (King's Pool), but the other springs flow from the hillside and run directly into streams. There used to be a man-made pond here, but refuge personnel filled it in, sculpted the outflow streams, and revegetated the area with mesquite trees to make it similar to pre-development conditions. The area has grown into a nice mesquite thicket, and the boardwalk provides easy access.

A picnic area with tables, trash cans, restrooms, and even recycling make this a desirable destination.

Location

King's Pool and Point of Rocks is located on the Ash Meadows National Wildlife, about 2 hours northwest of Las Vegas and about 3.4 air-miles east of the Refuge Office.

From Las Vegas, drive out to the Refuge Office. From the Refuge Office (Table 1, Site 691), drive out to the main refuge road. Turn right onto the main road and drive east (the road curves to the south and then back to the east) for about 2.3 miles to a T-intersection. At the T-intersection (with mailboxes and signs), turn right and drive south for about 0.5 miles to another T-intersection. Turn left onto the well-graded dirt road and drive east for about 1.5 miles to a large parking area at the end of the road.

The trail to the springs continues down the closed road. From the parking area, walk around the gate and east on the closed road to the spring pool (Site 703), which is 2-3 minutes out. From there, continue eastward and up the hillside following use-trails to overlook the other springs and the marshy outflow streams.

Hours

Fees

None.

Specialties

King's Pool and Point of Rocks is a good place to see desert species when they come in for water. Check the trees and shrubs for flycatchers, House Finches, White-crowned Sparrows, Chipping sparrows, Yellow-rumped Warblers and other warblers, Chukar, Gambel's Quail, Mourning Doves, Crissal Thrashers, and similar species. Watch the marshy areas for and Marsh Wrens.

This area is also good for finding migrants, but the species mix depends on the season, and during migration it depends on just who is moving through at the time. Review the refuge bird list for some ideas on what to expect during the time of year when you will be visiting.

Be sure to look for the rare Ash Meadows Amargosa Pupfish in the spring pool and outflow streams.