After moving to Las Vegas, we decided to start exploring some of the hiking trails near Las Vegas. Owl Canyon was our first hiking trail at Lake Mead. It lead us to a short but beautiful slot canyon that we totally didn’t expect to see here.
The 2.2-mile out-and-back hike is labeled moderate by the National Park Service. There were definitely a few moderate parts, but in general we found it pretty easy. Also, there were no signs for guidance, but the paths were well-worn and we always use the Alltrails App for guidance. You can also do a 3.8-mile loop, just click on the Alltrails link below for more info.
The beautiful and dramatic winding canyons below the Lake Mead high-water line have been revealed as the water level has dropped.
#Geology: the rock you’ll see here is called conglomerate rock, which is formed from cemented river deposits. You can still see the gravels, rocks and original sands very clearly.
Because of the Barn Owls that occasionally roost in the slot canyon, the Canyon was named: “White Owl Canyon”
PLEASE ALWAYS RESPECT NATURE: if you see anything that might indicate owls nesting, mostly early spring, stay away!
Best time to hike: depending on the day’s weather conditions, March and April are ideal months to visit Owl Canyon. The park service advises against hiking in the summer months.
Dogs: yes, but must be kept on leash.
Available at parking area
We drove from Las Vegas to Lake Mead and continued east from the Las Vegas Wash entrance station, and then south for 3.8 miles to 33 Hole Road.
The trailhead is in the first parking and picnic area on the left after motorists turn into the 33 Hole Overlook off Lakeshore Road.
Click HERE (or on the map) for more detailed driving instructions.
There is a lot more to do in this area. We like going to the campground, or we’ll go there to ride our bikes. There are beautiful bike trails through the mountains and along the shoreline. Or every now and then we just enjoy the view at one of the Restaurants at Lake Mead
We’ll post a few links, but we’re sure there is a lot more to do.
Campgrounds
Hiking Trails
Biking Trails
Lake Mead Cruises & Hoover Dam
Kayak Lessons & Tours
Boat, Yacht & Jetski Rental
Boating Info
Scuba Diving
Fishing
Swimming
Take plenty of water and pause if you need to, especially in summer, clearly there’s no relief from the sun.
And don’t forget to put on some sunscreen, also in winter!
Click HERE for Lake Mead National Recreation Area PARK ALERTS
Always check park alerts for more information before visiting any park!!
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