Description

Duck Creek, on the southeast side of the Las Vegas Valley, is part of the Clark County Wetlands Park and lies right along Las Vegas Wash. In recent years, Clark County, in partnership with Duck Unlimited, has dredged and sculpted six ponds near the wash. The Duck Creek ponds attract large numbers of ducks, shorebirds, and other wetland species (e.g., grebes, herons, and rails), plus a few oddities such as Scissor-tailed Flycatcher and Red-throated Pipit. This is also a good place to see dragonflies. The 0.4-mile walk out to the edge of the Duck Creek ponds is paved and nearly level. Dirt roads run along the west edge of the ponds and along the south end. High water, creeks, and dense vegetation prevent making a complete loop. The area was being managed to prevent tall vegetation from taking over and crowding out the birds and bird watchers, but they don't always do a very good job.

Link to Overview Map, Trailhead Map, or download official brochure map (PDF).

Location

Duck Creek is located in the southeast side of the Las Vegas Valley.

From downtown, drive south on Highway 93-95 to Tropicana. Exit the highway, turn left onto Tropicana, and drive east. Cross Boulder Highway and continue east until Tropicana bends to the right in a broad, 45-degree turn to the right (south). At the curve, Tropicana becomes Broadbent Blvd. Continue on Broadbent, but notice on the outside of the curve that Tropicana continues eastward towards the Clark County Wetlands Park Visitor Center.

For the Duck Creek trailhead parking area, continue southeast on Broadbent Blvd. Just past the cinder-block wall on the east (left) side of the road. The next road past the cinder-block wall is the one-way exit from the Duck Creek parking area. Continue past the parking area to the next road to the left: this is the entrance.

The Duck Creek parking lot is marked by a "Wetlands Park, Duck Creek Trail" sign. Turn into the parking area, which is a one-way loop. Park here; this is the trailhead (Site 0711).