Overview

Calico Basin Road, as described here, is the main paved road through the Calico Basin area. This is, however, somewhat confusing because it (the main road through Calico Basin) is a series of roads, two of which have similar names. The main paved road through the Calico Basin area starts as Calico Basin Road, then becomes Calico Drive, which connects with Assisi Canyon Ave, and finally ends as Sandstone Drive.

Calico Basin Road provides access to the village of Calico Basin, the LaMadre Mountains Wilderness Area, numerous hikes, rock climbing areas, a developed picnic area, and lots of grand scenery.

Calico Basin is inside Red Rock Canyon NCA, but not in the fee area, so access to the area and facilities is free.

For photos of the return, see Returning down Calico Basin Road.

Link to Road Map.

Watch Out

Other than the standard warnings about driving in the desert, ...this is a fairly safe drive except that there are sharp curves, pedestrians, bicycles, small animals, horses, ATVs, seemingly blind drivers, and people stopping in the middle of the road to take pictures. The maximum speed limit is 25 mph. Drive slowly, enjoy the view, and pay attention to warning signs.

While out, please respect the land and the other people out there, and try to Leave No Trace of your passage. Also, even though this road is short, be sure to bring what you need of the 10 Hiking Essentials.

Getting to Calico Basin Road

From Las Vegas, drive out West Charleston Blvd to Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. West Charleston passes the "Welcome to Red Rock Canyon" photo-op sign on the right, and then in about 1.4 miles, reaches Calico Basin Road (Table 1, Site 0520) on the right.

The Road

From West Charleston Blvd, Calico Basin Road (Site 0520) branches to the right, crosses a cattle guard, and heads northwest out into the desert running parallel to Calico Wash. As the road approaches the first hills on the right, the road crosses Calico Basin Wash and arrives at Calico Wash Main Trailhead. Hikers park on both sides of the road here and hike up into the hills. The road bends a bit to the left, passes Calico Wash West Trailhead, and soon enters the village of Calico Basin.

Calico Basin village is a small, rural community with lots of horses, dogs, children, and ATVs on the roads, so drive carefully. Most village streets are graded, but the first road on the right (Moreno Road) is paved. Note that a sign posed reads: Residential Area, Not a Recreation Area. Please respect the privacy and peace-and-quiet of the residents and stay off village roads.

Continuing, Calico Basin Road passes Calico Creek Boarding Stables, (on the right) where horses in the yard can usually be seen. Just ahead, Calico Basin Road bends to the right and passes Red Spring Picnic Area and Trailhead, on the left. Note that Calico Basin Road does not stop here, so be careful if continuing straight into the picnic area because traffic from the right does not stop.

Bending right, Calico Basin Road (now technically Calico Drive) runs north one city block and bends left (no stop signs).

Bending left following the pavement, Calico Basin Road (now technically Assisi Canyon Ave), runs due west. In another city block, Calico Basin Road bends right and heads north. On this corner, hikers park on the outside shoulder, which is Assisi Trailhead.

Now running due north again, Calico Basin Road (now technically Sandstone Drive) climbs over low hills, passes some big houses, and arrives at Kraft Mountain Trailhead, on the left, which is only a few yards before the end of the pavement at a turn-about loop.