Hike Grapevine Canyon Trail (NV)
PLAY VIDEO
Hiking Trails

Hike Grapevine Canyon Trail (NV)

By Cris Hazzard, Professional Hiking Guide
Updated May 5, 2025

Hike Stats

Total Distance
4 miles
Time
2 Hours
Total Climbing
300 feet
Difficulty
Easy
Crowds
Moderate
Dogs
Leashed
Gear
What I Use
Weather
Latest Report
Park
Avi Kwa Ame National Monument

Home to ancient petroglyphs and a desert waterfall, hiking the Grapevine Canyon Trail in Avi Kwa Ame National Monument is spectacular. The hike is not too strenuous but has enough twists and turns to make it exciting.

Where is Grapevine Canyon?

Grapevine Canyon Location
Grapevine Canyon is about an hour south of Las Vegas.

First, there are many "Grapevine Canyons" around the USA, so make sure you drive to the one in Nevada. Use this trailhead address:
Grapevine Canyon Trailhead, Grapevine Canyon Rd, Searchlight, NV 89046

Road To Grapevine Canyon
The road to the trailhead is dirt/sand but in decent condition. You should be okay in a low-clearance car.
Grapevine Canyon Parking
There's a large parking area with a primitive toilet. There's no water here.

Gear Recommendations

If you just want to hike to the petroglyphs, it will only take a few minutes, and you don't need anything special. I'd recommend fitness or light hiking gear for the entire hike. Trail runners will help with the different rocks and surfaces. And this is the desert; it can be deadly in the summer. Save the hike for a time when the temperatures are cooler, and bring at least 1L of water and sun protection.

Essentials I’m Using Now

Grapevine Canyon Trail Maps

Grapevine Canyon Nv Hike Directions 2
Grapevine Canyon changes as the wind and water shift the landscape over time. There isn't an established trail but a series of trails and washes that head up the canyon. Looking for the most footprints is a good clue as to which way to go.
Click to activate map
CalTopo
Print Map, Work With It Yourself
GPX
Bring the Guide to Any GPS

Grapevine Canyon Hike Directions

Grapevine Canyon Nv Hike Directions 3
Hike into and up the wash from the interpretive displays at the trailhead.
Grapevine Canyon Nv Hike Directions 4
Hike up the wash toward the entrance to the canyon.
Grapevine Canyon Nv Hike Directions 5
When you get to the mouth of the canyon, look up on either side to see the petroglyphs.
Grapevine Canyon Nv Hike Directions 6
The petroglyphs are thought to be about 1000 years old, and can be seen on either side at the mouth of the canyon. Be respectful and do not touch or damage them.

If you only want to view the petroglyphs, simply turn around from here.

Grapevine Canyon Nv Hike Directions 7
Continue up the canyon. When the trail splits, take the one with the most footprints. If it dead ends, go back and try the other route.

Grapevine Canyon is named after the grapevines that grow here. The canyon is lush because of freshwater springs.

Grapevine Canyon Nv Hike Directions 8
When you get to the steep wall of granite, look for a path around the left side.
Grapevine Canyon Nv Hike Directions 9
Continue up through the washes and small trails.
Grapevine Canyon Nv Hike Directions 10
Cross over the big granite slab and stay left.
Grapevine Canyon Nv Hike Directions 1
At this point you can go two ways, up the small slot canyon, which involves a small scramble, or around the canyon on the bypass trail to the left.
Grapevine Canyon Nv Hike Directions 11
Shortly after the canyon you'll see the trail start to dead end ahead. Hike around the boulder to the right.
Grapevine Canyon Nv Hike Directions 12
And here you are at the waterfall! From here just turn around and go back the way you came.

Originally published April 10, 2023