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Red Rock Springs and Hartman Tank
Hiking Around Las Vegas, Gold Butte National Monument
Red Rock Springs and Hartman Tank
Red Rock Springs
Trailhead parking at the turn-around loop (view NE)

Overview

The hike to Red Rock Springs and Hartman Tank is easy, nearly level, and runs only 2.5 miles round-trip, but there is no trail, and much of the hike is through dense vegetation with mud and water. The hike is unusual for this arid desert region because it runs along a stream, and while doing so, runs among colorful sandstone cliffs and provides the opportunity to see two species of desert toads, lots of birds, and other wildlife as they come in for water.

Red Rock Springs often have water that flows down the wash, part of which is fenced to keep feral burros from trampling all of the desert riparian meadow. Hartman Tank is an area of eroded and water-sculpted red sandstone that once may have been dammed to hold water for cattle (hence the name "tank"), but now is just a deep plunge pool where water collects at the bottom of a pour-over after storms.

Link to area overview map or hiking map.

Red Rock Springs
Starting up the wash (view NE)

The names and locations of these springs are problematic.

There are several springs in this area. The USGS topo map, the official repository of place names, marks "Red Rocks Springs" (plural) as a single spring, but that spot seems arbitrary because it is just a wet spot along the streambed. The topo map also lists Hartman Tank, where a tank usually refers to a reservoir, and may depict the location (incorrectly) as a tiny pond (which it is not).

The springs marked on the map here represent actual spots on the ground. Three names (Red Rock Spring, Red Rock #1, and Red Rock #2) were taken from a survey published in 1930. Red Rock #3 is a spring (listed as the only spring in the area on Google maps), but Google lists the name as Red Rock Spring, which is incorrect; the name used here (Red Rock #3) is made up. Aerial imagery suggests that there are more unnamed springs in the area. For example, Red Rock #4 is a bit south of the main springs area.

Red Rock Springs
Muddy gravels (view NE)

Watch Out

Other than the standard warnings about hiking in the desert, ... this is a fairly safe area, but be careful when wet sand sticks to the bottom of your hiking boots and you scramble on the rockpiles along the wash. Please be careful inside the 2.5-acre fenced area; the fence is intended to protect part of this rare and fragile desert ecosystem from trampling by burros, but trampling by people is also a concern. Consider using burro trails outside the fence when hiking out.

This is wild and remote country without services of any kind (no restrooms, no water, no gas, no food). Bring what you need to survive. Be prepared and be self-reliant. It is a big place, but someone will eventually find you if you stay on a main road, but be prepared to survive alone for a day or two, or even longer on side roads.

While hiking, please respect the land and the other people out there, and try to Leave No Trace of your passage. Also, even though this hike is short, the area is remote, so be sure to bring what you need of the 10 Essentials. Cell phones don't work here.

Red Rock Springs
Approaching the post-and-cable fence (view NE)

Getting to the Trailhead

Red Rock Springs and Hartman Tank are located out in Gold Butte National Monument, south of Mesquite, Nevada, about 3 hours northeast of Las Vegas in a wild, remote, and scenic area.

From town, drive out to Gold Butte National Monument. From Whitney Pocket, continue south on the unpaved Gold Butte Road for 3.9 miles to Mud Wash North Road.

Turn right onto Mud Wash North Road and drive southwest and downstream for 3.2 miles to Mud Wash Road. Stay right onto Mud Wash Road, continuing downstream for another 4.0 miles to Little Finland Road, on the right.

Turn onto Little Finland Road and drive east 1.0 miles to Red Rock Springs Road, on the left. Turn onto Red Rock Springs Road and drive northeast 0.1 miles to the end of the road. Park here; this is the trailhead.
Red Rock Springs
Ready to step over the post-and-cable fence (view NE)

The Hike

From the trailhead (Table 1, Waypoint 01), the route runs up the stream bed, over a post-and-cable fence, and up the streambed. There is a use-trail near the fence, but it quickly peters out and hikers are left to walk in the well vegetated wash. Always watch for snakes, and use extra care when you can't see your feet under the vegetation.

Depending on the season and recent rainfall, hikers may encounter water in the wash right away (even along the access road) or farther up. If not before, at 0.40 miles out, hikers encounter a sandstone ledge (Wpt. 02) with water flowing over the edge. There is a nice plunge pool here that retains water -- and the occasional duck!

Climbing past the sandstone ledge is easier than it looks on the right side (south), and upon gaining the top, a fence across the wash becomes evident. This is the lower edge of about 2.5 acres that is fenced to protect the fragile desert marsh from trampling by feral burros.

Red Rock Springs
Wet streambed above the post-and-cable fence (view NE)

Hikers can pass the fenced area on either side, but it is somewhat more scenic to cross the wash to the northwest side, climb the embankment, and walk along the outside of the fence with an elevated position above the wash. Otherwise, hikers can slog their way up through the wet meadow.

Beyond the fence, hikers can drop back into the wash and walk up the wet streambed. At about 250 yards up from the fence, the wash forks (Wpt. 03). The main wash stays left, but a lesser wash comes in from the right. Up that wash, about 130 yards out, a cottonwood tree marks Red Rock #3 Spring (Wpt. 04). There isn't much water here, but the tree provides shade, and the ground is adorned with stream orchids in season. This is the spring marked on Google Maps as Red Rock Springs.

Returning to the main wash (Wpt. 03), the route continues north through a well vegetated area. About 130 yards farther up the wash, hikers encounter the spot marked on USGS topo maps as Red Rock Springs, but it doesn't look much different from places up and down the wash.

Red Rock Springs
Sandstone, mud, and marsh vegetation (view NE)

Continuing up the wash, hikers stay left at a fork and pass a pair of cottonwood trees (Wpt. 05), indicating that water is still present in the wash, not too far below the surface.

A short bit farther (200 yards) up the wash, hikers encounter a red sandstone outcrop that blocks the wash. This is Hartman Tank (Wpt. 06), and although there is no "tank" (i.e., reservoir) here, the site is scenic and well sculpted by floodwaters that occasionally careen down the wash and fill the plunge pool.

This is a good place to wander about, sit and think, eat a little lunch, wander a bit farther up the wash, and contemplate the forces of nature (wind and water) that created such a site.

Red Rock Springs
It is hard to keep your feet dry on this hike (view NE)

When ready, follow your footprints in the damp sand back to the trailhead (Wpt. 01). Consider walking on the outside of the fenced area for easier walking and to avoid trampling the meadow area.

Alternatively, consider making a long loop by heading west to visit Red Rock #1 Spring. This is an interesting area were the wash runs into a deep, narrow cleft with pools of water and several cottonwood trees. Stream orchids also adorn this area. Burro trails on both sides of the narrow gorge make for fairly easy walking. Heading down this wash, hikers encounter a high waterfall. By hiking farther down the wash, hikers can loop back up the gorge and visit the bottom of the falls.

If hikers pick their spot carefully, they can make an easy loop back to the trailhead (Wpt. 01).

Red Rock Springs
Well vegetated, wet meadow area (view NE)
Red Rock Springs
Red-spotted Toad tadpoles in a quiet stream pool
Red Rock Springs Red Rock Springs
Red Rock Springs Red Rock Springs
Red Rock Springs Red Rock Springs
Red Rock Springs
Someone has been here before
Red Rock Springs
Small stream in the desert (view N)
Red Rock Springs Red Rock Springs
Red Rock Springs
Riffles in the stream
Red Rock Springs
Stream flowing across red sandstone (view SE)
Red Rock Springs
Water running over an edge (view NE)
Red Rock Springs
Close-up of a mini-waterfall (view NE)
Red Rock Springs Red Rock Springs
Red Rock Springs
Small pools are important for little creatures
Red-spotted Toad (Anaxyrus punctatus)
Red-spotted Toads fixing to make more
Red Rock Springs Red Rock Springs
Red Rock Springs Red Rock Springs
Red Rock Springs
Approaching the sandstone ledge and waterfall (view NE)
Red Rock Springs
Sandstone ledge and waterfall (view NE)
Red Rock SpringsPlunge pool below the waterfall (view NE) Red Rock Springs
Sandstone ledge with waterfall (view NE)
Red Rock Springs
Sandstone ledge with waterfall (view N)
Red Rock Springs
Another pool below the sandstone ledge (view SE)
Red Rock Springs
Climbing past the sandstone ledge (view N)
Red Rock Springs
Atop the the sandstone ledge, looking down on the plunge pool
Red Rock Springs
Stream above the sandstone ledge (view NE)
Red Rock Springs
Atop sandstone ledge with waterfall (view N)
Red Rock Springs
Climbing atop dirt bank past the sandstone ledge (view N)
Red Rock Springs
Sandstone ledge (view SW, downstream, from near fence (view N)
Red Rock Springs
Pipe and barbed-wire fence prevents burros from trampling the marsh
Red Rock Springs
Climbing over the pipe fence (view NE)
Red Rock Springs
It is hard to watch for snakes in thick vegetation (view NE)
Red Rock Springs
Rich marsh vegetation and red sandstone crag (view NW)
Red Rock Springs
Wet marsh (view NE)
Red Rock Springs
It's not clear why all of these trees died (view NE)
Red Rock Springs
Wet marsh (view NE)
Red Rock Springs
Wet marsh (view NE)
Red Rock Springs
Wet marsh (view NE)
Red Rock Springs
Approaching the upper pipe fence, suitable for climbing over
Red Rock Springs
The streambed is bridged by a barbed-wire fence
Red Rock Springs
Outside fence, grand view from atop wash bank (view SE)
Red Rock Springs
March 2013: Beyond fence (view NE from edge of embankment)
Red Rock Springs
April 2020: notice the vegetation difference from 2013
Red Rock Springs
Streambed above fence (view NE)
Red Rock Springs
Water on sandstone (surprisingly not slippery)
Red Rock Springs
Water and mud along the stream (view NE)
Red Rock Springs
Quiet streambed (view NE)
Red Rock Springs
A tiny pour-over and a tiny plunge pool
Red Rock Springs
Dry ground above the streambed (view NE)
Red Rock Springs
Woodhouse's Toad in the stream
Red Rock Springs
Vegetation along the stream (view NE)

Detour to Red Rock #3 Spring

Red Rock Springs
Narrow sidewash (view NE from main wash)
Red Rock Springs
Lower down, the side wash is dry (view NE)
Red Rock Springs
Water trickling over a sandstone ledge (view NE)
Red Rock Springs
Pool of water in the streambed (view NE)
Red Rock Springs
Approaching Cottonwood Tree at the spring (view NE)
Red Rock Springs
Cottonwood Tree at Red Rock #3 Spring (view NE)
Red Rock Springs
Canyon above Red Rock #3 Spring appears dry (view NE)
Red Rock Springs
Red Rock #3 Spring (view N from hillside)

Continuing up the Main Wash to Hartman Tank

Red Rock Springs
Continuing up the Main Wash to Hartman Tank (view N)
Hartman Tank
Small stream (view N)
Hartman Tank
Cottonwood trees and wet soils (view N)
Hartman Tank
Cottonwood trees and damp soils (view N)
Hartman Tank
Upper cottonwood tree and red sandstone outcrops (view N)
Hartman Tank
Upper cottonwood tree and dry streambed (view N)
Hartman Tank
Dry streambed (view N)
Hartman Tank
Hartman Tank: a red sandstone outcrop spans wash (view N)
Hartman Tank
Approaching Hartman Tank (view N)
Hartman Tank
Looking down into the Hartman Tank plunge pool (view N)
Hartman Tank
Looking up out of Hartman Tank (view N from the plunge pool)
Hartman Tank
Hartman Tank (view SW into upper tank area)
Hartman Tank
Continuing up wash above Hartman Tank (view N)
Hartman Tank
Continuing up wash above Hartman Tank (view N)
Hartman Tank
Continuing up wash above Hartman Tank (view N)
Hartman Tank
Continuing up wash above Hartman Tank (view N)

Returning down the Wash

Hartman Tank
Above Hartman Tank (view S into the upper tank area)
Hartman Tank
Hartman Tank (view SW into upper tank area)
Hartman Tank
Hartman Tank (view SW into main pit)
Hartman Tank
Departing Hartman Tank area (view SW)
Hartman Tank
Returning past the cottonwood trees (view S)
Hartman Tank
Birdcage Evening Primrose
Red Rock Springs
Pond in the wash above the fenced area (view SW)
Red Rock Springs
Upper end of fenced area; walking is easier outside fence (view SW)
Red Rock Springs
Looking into the fenced area from northwest side (view SW)
more to come
More to come ...

Red Rock Spring #4 (bit south of the other springs)

Red Rock Springs
Wash below Red Rock Spring #4
Red Rock Springs
Approaching Red Rock Spring #4
Red Rock Springs
Water in the streambed at Red Rock Spring #4
more to come
More to come ...

Table 1. Highway Coordinates and Distances based on GPS Data (NAD27; UTM Zone 11S). Download Highway GPS Waypoints (gpx) file.

Wpt. Location UTM Easting UTM Northing Elevation (ft) Point-to-Point Distance (mi) Cumulative Distance (mi)
01 Red Rock Springs Trailhead 749166 4038193 1774 0.00 0.00
02 Red Rock Springs, Lower 749785 4038269 1818 0.48 0.48
03 Confluence of Washes 750086 4038464 1879 0.28 0.76
04 Red Rock Spring #3 750191 4038501 1890 0.08 0.84
03 Confluence of Washes 750086 4038464 1879 0.11 0.95
05 Cottonwood Trees 750226 4038888 1,911 0.30 1.25
06 Hartman Tank 750245 4039051 1,938 0.11 1.36
01 Red Rock Springs Trailhead 749166 4038193 1774 1.17 2.53

Happy Hiking! All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate.
copyright; Last updated 240326

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