Description

Wheeler Camp Spring is an Audubon Preserve along Red Rock Wash that was established to protect a small strip of riparian vegetation in the desert. Red Rock Wash normally goes dry in the summer after the snow in the surrounding mountains melts off, and most of the wash is bordered by typical Mojave Desert vegetation. At Wheeler Camp, however, impermeable rock layers force underground water to the surface, where it flows for a short distance down Red Rock Wash. The surface water, in turn, supports a desert oasis with a shady meadow, tall cottonwood trees, desert willow, and mesquite thickets, all of which is surrounded by dry Mojave Desert scrub (e.g., Joshua trees, creosote bush, bursage, saltbush).

Water emerges in three areas: in the wash just below the parking area, in the wash at the far end of the Preserve, and in the meadow under the big cottonwood trees. In the wash, the upstream spring usually flows until summer, but it eventually dries up in the desert heat. Water is always present in the wash at the lower end of the preserve. The spring under the trees makes for soggy soils early in the year, but it dries up during summer too.

Location

Wheeler Camp Spring is located in the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area on the west side of the Las Vegas Valley, about 30 minutes from downtown, but not on the Scenic Loop.

From town, drive out to Red Rocks. From Charleston Blvd at the Scenic Loop Road (Table 1, Site 519), continue west and south on Charleston Blvd (Highway 159) for 6.7 miles to the Wheeler Camp access road (Site 107). There are no signs on the highway, so easiest way to find Wheeler Camp for the first time is to go all the way to the town of Blue Diamond (which has a good city park for birding), then turn around, and drive back for 0.8 miles to the first little dirt road on the left (south) side of the highway. After making the turn, you will see a small Audubon sign at the entrance to the parking area. From the highway, watch for the large cottonwood trees in the wash.

This is an Audubon preserve run by the Red Rock Audubon Society. Take nothing but memories; leave nothing but footprints. Be sure to close all gates.

Short Loop Trail

From the parking area, go through the gate (be sure to close it securely) and walk down the old road towards the wash. Just past the wash, a trail branches off and runs down along the south side of the wash; this is the end of the loop. The old road continues across the wash and up the other side heading for higher ground beyond the trees. The bluff gives a good tree-top view down into the mesquite thicket. When the old road drops into a gully, a trail branches off to the left (north) and runs down into the mesquite thicket and under the tallest cottonwood trees. The old road continues east to the town of Blue Diamond.

From the meadow under the cottonwoods, walk down the wash (no trail) for a short distance to where water flows in the creek. This isn't the most scenic creek, but the water attracts birds and other wildlife.

After birding along the spring and creek, walk back up the wash to the meadow. From the meadow, follow the trail along the south side of the wash back to the old road. You can just walk up the wash too.

Hours

Day-use only: sunrise to sunset.

Fees

None.

Specialties

Desert species (e.g., Western Scrub-jay, Verdin, Anna's Hummingbird, Mourning Doves, Phainopepla, House Finches, Gambel's Quail, Bewick's Wren) can be found here all year. During migration, watch for warblers, tanagers, orioles, Warbling Vireo, and other species as they pass through the area. During summer, this is a good site for hawks, warblers, flycatchers, and sparrows. Watch for Pacific Treefrogs in the creek, and watch for desert spiny lizards, coyotes, and small mammals (e.g., white-tailed antelope squirrels, black-tail jackrabbit; kangaroo rat tracks and burrows in the sand). This probably is a good place for rattlesnakes too, so watch your step on trails in the overgrown areas.

Aerial image of the Wheeler Camp area. Light gray is desert scrub; dark gray is vegetation (mostly trees). Dashed yellow lines mark old dirt roads; solid yellow lines mark the trail and the route down the wash. Orange is the access road and parking area. North is at the top, base image from the US Geological Survey.