Overview

The Knoll Trail is a 1.25-mile segment of the Escarpment Route that runs through open Mojave Desert Scrub along the base of the Wilson Cliffs. This segment runs beneath Rainbow Mountain and connects with the Oak Creek Canyon and Arnight trails. The Knoll Trail also is part of what I refer to as the Rainbow Mountain Loop. The Knoll Trail is fairly easy with little elevation gain. The Knoll Trail should not be considered a separate hike, but simply a portion of a longer hike because other trails are required to get to it. Here I describe the Knoll Trail as starting at the Oak Creek Canyon Trail and running north along the base of Rainbow Mountain to the Arnight Trail. This trail runs just outside the Rainbow Mountain Wilderness Area.

Link to map.

Watch Out

Other than the standard warnings about hiking in the desert, ...this is a safe and easy, but rocky trail, so watch your step and don't twist an ankle. Watching your step, however, is difficult because the Wilson Cliffs, Rainbow Mountain and Bridge Mountain in particular, just seem to get taller, more vertical, and more spectacular the closer you get, and you will want to watch the scenery rather than your feet.

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 is a short hike, be sure to bring what you need of the 10 Essentials.

Getting to the Trailhead

This hike is located along the Scenic Loop Road in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, about 1 hour west of Las Vegas. Drive out to Red Rocks, pay the fee, and then drive most of the way around the Scenic Loop Road to the Oak Creek Canyon Trailhead, located at the end of Oak Creek Canyon Road.

The Hike

The Knoll Trail runs north winding among boulders and shrubs, and passing little washes that come down the bajada, but staying more-or-less on the contour. After about 0.5 miles, the trail crosses a little ridge (Wpt. 04) with nice views in all directions that are not blocked by the low-growing vegetation. Along this part of the trail, closer to the cliffs, the trail runs across a rocky hillside where the vegetation is fairly robust and diverse, and includes a diverse assemblage of species, including blackbrush, buckhorn cholla, Mojave yucca, Utah juniper, California buckwheat, prickly pear cactus, paperbag bush, and bunchgrasses.

From the little ridge, the trail runs north, then bends northwest and climbs the bajada (this is the only "steep" section of trail). After about 0.5 miles, the trail reaches the southern edge of the wash that comes down from Juniper Canyon (Wpt. 05), which is the highest point on the Knoll Trail. There is a thick stand of shrub live oak, manzanita, and singleleaf pinyon pines in the wash, and this is another good place to stop and listen for birds.

The trail seems to end on the edge of the wash, but if you climb down the boulders into the wash, you will see that the trail leads across the wash and up a nice set of stone stairs on the other (north) side.

After crossing the wash, the trail runs slightly downhill for about 0.2 miles to a T-intersection (Wpt. 06) in front of a strikingly beautiful sandstone boulder with juniper trees all around. There is no sign here, but the Knoll Trail goes northeast (right) and down the hill. After another 0.1 miles or so, the trail reaches the T-intersection with the Arnight Trail (Wpt. 07). This is the end of the Knoll Trail.

From the Knoll-Arnight junction, you can turn northwest (left) and use the Arnight Trail to hike over to the Pine Creek Trail (about 0.5 miles), or you can turn southeast (right) and return to the Oak Creek Canyon Trailhead on the Arnight Trail (about 1.2 miles). From the end of the Knoll trail, it is about 1.4 miles to the Pine Creek Trailhead.