NOTE: The Wetlands Park Nature Preserve is undergoing major renovation and construction, which will include a new Information Center. In the mean time (2010-2011), the main entrance is closed and the old visitor center is gone.

Parking and access to the preserve is now through the southwest corner of the area off Hollywood Lane just north of Wetlands Park Lane. A temporary Information Center is located in the same area inside a fenced maintenance yard.

Description

The Wetlands Park Nature Preserve is a work in progress that shows great promise for urban birding (bird list). In time, the birding could rival Corn Creek, but for now, birding at the Wetlands Park isn't very good. This isn't to say that there are no birds or that it isn't a nice place to walk; it just isn't very good for birding. The ponds and creeks do attract birds, but the vegetation (cattail, common reed, and bulrush) is so overgrown that it blocks most of the views of the water. The staff is trying to manage the overgrown vegetation, so there are at least a few places to look over the ponds. The staff is actively planting the area trying to reestablish semi-native conditions.

Link to Wetlands Park Nature Preserve map.

This said, the Wetlands Park is a nice place to go for a quiet walk and watch a few birds. It's out on the edge of town, so if you mostly look north or east, you can almost forget that you are in Las Vegas. There is little shade, so walking in the morning or evening probably is best, although a few tall Saltcedar "trees" and covered picnic tables provide relief from the sun. Over time, the planted Cottonwood and Willow trees will grow into nice shade trees and warbler magnets.

Some published maps of the Wetland Park are artist's renditions of concepts that conflict with reality and cause confusion as people try to find the places marked on the maps. After you find it, the Information Center is a good source of current information.

In the main Wetlands Preserve area, there are about 2.5 miles of paved (concrete) trails, and probably about that much more in unpaved trails. A paved 1.8-mile loop trail runs around the perimeter of the Preserve. Again, a good walk, but not good birding. For birds, it is better to shortcut the perimeter trail using the paved trail that winds around the lower pond (Vern's Pond) near the main entrance.

The paved trails are suitable for wheelchair access, but stop at the Information Center to check on current conditions. The paved trails are nice for birding because they are quiet (no crunch of gravel under your feet so it is easier to hear the birds).

A number of gravel and dirt trails wind through the main Preserve area, and another runs south to the Duck Creek area. In the Preserve, these trails generally follow creeks or connect to the ponds.

Location

First off, discard any map that shows a Visitor Center on Broadbent Road. Don't look for a Visitor Center on Broadbent Road because it isn't there. The temporary Information Center is located off the far east end of Tropicana (7050 Wetlands Park Lane) at Wetlands Park Lane and Hollywood Lane.

Link street to map.

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 turns into Broadbent Blvd. On the outside of the curve, about halfway through the curve, Tropicana continues east, but the name changes to Wetlands Park Lane. There is a small sign for the Preserve at the intersection. Drive east on Wetlands Park Lane (Tropicana) to Hollywood Lane. Turn left onto Hollywood, and immediately on the right is the temporary Information Center, visitor parking, a playground for kids, and rest rooms.

The trails start north of the temporary Information Center, leading out between the fenced maintenance yard and the rest rooms.

Another nearby place to bird is the Duck Creek Trail system. To get to the trailhead, drive east on Tropicana and continue around the big 45-degree curve to the right. The street name changes to Broadbent at the curve. Just past the cinder block wall on the east (left) side of the road, the Duck Creek parking lot is marked by a wooden fence and a large "Duck Creek Trail, Wetlands Park" sign. Park here; this is the trailhead (Site 711). For information on this site, see the description of the Duck Creek Trail.

Hours

The Wetlands Park Nature Preserve is open dawn to dusk, 7 days per week. The Information Center is supposed to be open from 9 AM to 3 PM, and they lock the gate at 6 PM. If you want to stay until dusk, park outside the gate and walk into the Preserve.

Fees

Free admission, but please sign in at the Information Center so the park gets credit for your visit.

Specialties

I've birded here several times, but it is still hard to say what to expect. There is water and brush, and it is on the edge of the desert, so there are several species of wetland birds (ducks, grebes, herons) and desert dickey birds (sparrows, warblers, Verdins, thrashers, House Finches). The sky was wide open and there was a good view to the southeast along the wash, and we saw several raptors hunting over the shrub thickets. Listen for rails calling from the reeds, and quail call from the shrubs. Keep an eye out for raccoons and beaver too -- this is the only place around Las Vegas to find these species.

For More Information

Visit the Wetlands Park Nature Preserve website. Dogs and bicycles are not permitted in the Nature Preserve.