Description

The Willow Springs Picnic Area and Lost Creek Trail are located about 200 m (1/4 mile) apart in a deep canyon surrounded by red and white sandstone cliffs. The picnic area is located adjacent to a spring with large cottonwood trees, and the Lost Creek Trail leads to a willow thicket, waterfall, and creek flowing from a side canyon. Bird the entire canyon: walk the trails that lead from the Lost Creek parking area to the waterfall, then walk up the trail to the picnic area, and finally walk farther up the dirt road into the canyon. Return to the parking area by walking back down the road. Be sure to watch for petroglyphs and other signs of early human use of the canyon.

Link to Map.

Location

Willow Springs is located in the Red Rocks National Conservation Area on the west side of the Las Vegas Valley, about 40 minutes from downtown.

From town, drive out to Red Rocks. From West Charleston Blvd at Scenic Loop Road (Table 1, Site 519), turn right and drive north for 0.2 miles to the entrance station (Site 855). Pay the fee, then drive around the one-way Scenic Loop Road to Willow Springs Road (Site 526), which is at Mile Marker 7.5 (0.5 miles past Mile Marker 7). Turn right onto Willow Spring Road and drive north for 0.6 miles to Willow Springs Picnic Area at the end of the pavement (Site 181).

Hours

Generally sunrise to sunset, but the exact hours depend on the season.

Fees

Admission is $5 per vehicle (Golden Eagle and Red Rock annual passes accepted).

Specialties

During migration, you can find a variety of species here. During summer, this is a good site for desert warblers, flycatchers, and sparrows. Other species include Gambel's Quail, Broad-tailed Hummingbirds, Spotted Towhees, woodpeckers, Red-naped Sapsuckers, Western Scrub-jays, Juniper Titmouse, and Bushtits.

Walk up the dirt road above the Willow Springs parking area. The canyon is good for finding desert sparrows, Spotted Towhee, Juniper Titmouse, Bushtits, and Gambel's Quail. The best part for birding ends where the road gets steep, so that is a good place to turn back.

The Lost Creek Trail runs across the wash, past a big willow thicket with a spring, and then up to a waterfall at the back of the canyon. The willow thicket is good for warblers and hummingbirds in season.