Desert National Wildlife Refuge
“Encompassing six major mountain ranges and seven distinct life zones, Desert NWR showcases the abundance and variety of nature that can be found in Southern Nevada, all just a short drive from Las Vegas.”
Map Here is the Refuge website. Phone 1-702-879-6110 (the 1 is required)
Corn Creek Trail System Note: This trail is being repaired (2019) and is not currently accessible. Call to learn current conditions. Map the Bighorn (0.4 mile) , Jack Rabbit ( 0.1 mile) and Coyote (0.3 mile) loops are all accessible. Whispering Ben (0.1 mile) is rated easy. The Corn Creek Field Station ….”can be reached by traveling north on U.S. Highway 95 approximately 25 miles from downtown Las Vegas”.
Author: Cecilia
Verdi Center
Verdi Center is an 8 acre cooperative effort between Nevada Department of Wildlife, Washoe County Public Library System, Washoe County School District, and the Verdi Community.
? I am guessing about the ease of this half-mile nature trail. Trail brochure Call 775-345-8104 for confirmation of its ease and condition.
Oxbow Nature Study Area
Oxbow Nature Study Area
“Oxbow Nature Study Area is located on the Truckee River, one mile from downtown Reno. This site serves the public as the State of Nevada model for Wildlife Education and Aquatic Education programs offered by the Nevada Department of Wildlife.”
Here is the Area’s website. Phone 775-334-3808
Described by the Lahontan Audubon Society:
“Oxbow Nature Study Area is one of the few relatively intact riparian areas along the Truckee River in Reno. It is characterized by mature cottonwoods, Russian olive trees, willows, dense brush piles, and a small pond with thick cattails. A [one third mile] wheelchair-accessible boardwalk begins near the Interpretive Center.” Reviewed on Yelp, AllTrails.
Clark County Wetlands Park
Clark County Wetlands Park Map
Wetlands Nature Preserve “Trails wind through 210 acres of varied habitat, including: tall trees, ponds and streams, mesquite woodland, and desert scrub” Map There are ADA compliant trails shown on the map.
Duck Creek “Accessible trails tall shrubs, grass, and small trees. ….. Trails are currently accessed from the cul-de-sac at the east end of Wetlands Park Lane (outside of the Nature Preserve parking lot).
Wetlands Park Loop Trail “…. circles the entire Wetlands Park, totaling 13 miles and connecting all of our trailheads.” Most of it is paved, but one part of the trail, “along the south side of the Las Vegas Wash …. is currently unpaved. Sections may be periodically impassible due to construction.” The loop trail connects with the River Mountains Trail.
Lake Mead National Recreation Area
Lake Mead National Recreation Area
“With striking landscapes and brilliant blue waters, this year-round playground spreads across 1.5 million acres of mountains, canyons, valleys and two vast lakes. See the Hoover Dam from the waters of Lake Mead or Lake Mohave, or find solitude in one of the park’s nine wilderness areas.”
Here is the Area’s website. Page of links to maps. Accessibility Call 702-293-8990 for information.
River Mountains Loop Trail 35.3 miles from Boulder City to Henderson. As described on TrailLink “The surrounding River Mountains are home to one of the largest bighorn sheep populations in Nevada”.
? Historic Railroad Trail 3.7 miles from trailhead to Hoover Dam Parking Garage. “The Historic Railroad Trail is easily accessed either near the Alan Bible Visitor Center or via the Hoover Dam parking garage. It is an easy hike and has great panoramic views of Lake Mead, Boulder Basin, and Fortification Hill.” Soft sand may be a problem in places. Tunnel #3 is closed.
? Bluffs Trail Jim Boone of birdandhike.com describes this trail as ” a nice, relaxing, 0.9-mile stroll across the desert to a low summit overlooking all of the surrounding territory.” Judging from this youtube video of the trail by bigs2020, you would be wise to have trekking poles for balance. There are some pretty rocky stretches.
White River Trail
? White River Trail is a rail/trail going 3 miles from Crawford to Fort Robinson State Park. Here is a map on Trailsnet.com. It is not included on the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s list of wheelchair accessible trails in Nebraska, so use some caution in planning.
Oglala National Grasslands
Oglala National Grassland
The Oglala National Grasslands are in the northwestern corner of Nebraska, north of Crawford. “Find your way to the Hudson-Meng Bone Bed site where you can take a tour and learn about the history of this area, walk through the unique features of the Toadstool Geologic Park, or just spend some quiet time in the wide open spaces of the 94,000 acres of mixed grass prairies. ”
Described in Britannica. The Grassland is in both South Dakota and Nebraska. The headquarters is in Chadron, NE but the visitor center is in Wall, South Dakota. Two trails are mentioned but with no indication of difficulty.
Here is the Grasslands’ website. For questions about trails in the Oglala National Grassland or Nebraska National Forest you could call Mike Watts at 308-432-0390 or the Chadron Office at 308-432-0300.
? The Toadstool Geologic Area in the grassland has a one mile interpretive loop. However, according to NebraskaTravels.com, it might be too difficult to include on this site. Mike Watts of the Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands says that the first 1/3 mile of the trail used to be accessible, but it has suffered a lot of erosion.
Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
Red Rock Canyon, 17 miles west of the Las Vegas Strip, offers “… a 13-mile scenic drive, miles of hiking trails, rock climbing, horseback riding, mountain biking, road biking, picnic areas, nature observing and visitor center…”
Here is the Area’s website. Phone 702-515-5350 Accessibility
Trails described by the Red Rock Canyon Interpretive Association Trails described in Bird and Hike.com Map of Day Hikes
The 0.25 mile round trip Overlook trail goes to a view of the Canyon.
Red Spring Boardwalk trail in Calico Canyon is a 1/2 mile boardwalk loop which “starts in a picnic area, switchbacks gently up a hillside beneath towering Velvet Ash trees, and then makes a wide loop around an alkali meadow to Red Spring, which is at the far side of the meadow from the top of the hillside. Shaded benches provide pleasant places to watch swallows flying over the meadows…”) Map and illustrations by Bird and Hike.com
Moenkopi Loop is a 2 mile loop which “…starts at the visitor center and traverses a prominent limestone ridge.” There are “panoramic views of the Wilson Cliffs..”
Lost Creek- Children’s Discovery is a 3/4 mile self-guided interpretive trail rated as easy.
Fire Ecology Trail is an easy 3/4 mile loop through a 1997 prescribed burn area.
-Nevada State Parks
Nevada State Parks home page. A List of all the Nevada State Parks with links to their websites.
“Individuals with developmental and/or physical limitations are invited to enjoy all of the recreational activities of Nevada State Parks. If you would like to request additional support or accommodation, please call the park system headquarters at (775) 684-2793.”
Nevada Trail Maps
Nevada Trail Maps.com has published this list of ADA compliant trails.