Hike First Creek Canyon Trail
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Las Vegas Hikes

Hike First Creek Canyon Trail

By Cris Hazzard, Professional Hiking Guide
Updated January 18, 2025

Hike Stats

Total Distance
2.1 miles
Time
1 hour
Total Climbing
390 feet
Difficulty
Easy
Crowds
Quiet
Dogs
Leashed
Gear
What I Use
Weather
Latest Report
Park
Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area

The First Creek Canyon Trail hike brings you up along First Creek, through heavily vegetated Mojave Desert scrub, with striking cliffs as a backdrop, and offers a side trip to a hidden waterfall and plunge pool. I often recommend this hike for those looking for a pleasant hike that doesn't involve too much effort. The First Creek Canyon Trail hike is in Red Rock Canyon park, but outside of the fee area and 13-mile loop drive, so it's free and easy to get to.

How to Get To First Creek Canyon Trail

The trailhead address is: First Creek Trailhead, Las Vegas, NV, 89161, USA. It's about a 35 minute drive from the Las Vegas strip.

Parking is free and the lot is large. Overflow parking is along the road.

There are no bathrooms at the trailhead or on the hike, but you can drive a few miles down the road to the Red Rock Visitor's Center for bathrooms and refreshments.

What You Need For the Hike

This is a pretty easy hike, and you don't really need any special hiking gear for it, fitness gear will do the trick. It can get hot in the summer, bring plenty of water either way.

There’s poor cell phone reception in the park, you you might want to take an emergency beacon if you have one.

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Insider Tips For the Hike

Burros Sign Red Rocks
It's exciting to see burros, but be respectful and keep your distance. Photo by Stan Shebs.
  • Keep your eyes open for the desert tortoise and wild burros, which are pretty tough to spot. Easier to spot are desert hares and ground squirrels. First Creek is a water source for many animals so you have a decent chance to spot something.
  • The waterfall is often dry, but it's still impressive.
  • The pool at the bottom of the waterfall is a popular spot to see wildlife. It's also a nice swimming hole.
  • First Creek Canyon Trail is a popular dog walking hike with the locals. Keep your eyes open for dog poop, coyote poop, burro poop, well, let's just say poop.
  • Stay on the main (large) trail. There are some small burro trails that crisscross the main trail.
  • You can continue past the waterfall if you want to lengthen the hike. The trail splits apart and reforms many times, with two options, one down by the creek, and one on the ridge above. You might see some rock climbers heading to the cliff walls farther down. The trail gets more primitive as you continue.

First Creek Canyon Trail Maps

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Hike First Creek Canyon Trail 3d map
The First Creek Canyon trail follows First Creek to the south. It's pretty straightforward, although the trail often splits and reforms.

First Creek Canyon Trail Directions

First Creek Canyon Trailhead
The trailhead is easy to see from the road, and there is plenty of parking.
First Creek Canyon Trailhead
Go through the burro gate to start the hike.
First Creek Canyon trail
A coyote was nice enough to poop by this cairn. There was a lot of poop on the beginning of this hike.
First Creek Canyon trail
The trail is well marked, wide, and easy to follow. Enjoy the mountains and Mojave desert scrub as you hike.
First Creek Canyon trail
At about 0.5 miles in, you'll hit a trail junction. Go straight through.
First Creek Canyon trail
Keep your eyes open for wildlife. I saw a lot of desert hares and lizards, but nothing more exotic this time.
First Creek Canyon trail
Okay, this is where you have to pay attention. At about 1 mile in, the trail forks. Hike to the right. You'll also see the first tall(ish) tree on the hike in the distance. This is where you're heading.
First Creek Canyon trail
When you get to that tree, make the hard right onto the smaller trail.
First Creek Canyon trail
Head toward the trees and canyon.
First Creek Canyon trail
The trail twists left, following canyon.
First Creek Canyon trail
Keep your eyes open to the right. You'll see a steep path down to the plunge pool. If you want to check it out, make the side trip here. It can get slippery on the rocks down there, and in the winter there can be ice, so heads up. Otherwise continue.
First Creek Canyon trail
The canyon will be to your right. You'll see tree tops sticking up above the canyon wall to your trail level.
First Creek Canyon trail
Head to the edge and you'll see the falls. No water today.
First Creek Canyon trail
Continue on the cliff and you'll see the pool below.

From here, you just head back the way you came. However, you can continue on the trail to make this a 3 mile round trip. The following pictures are from farther down the trail. Also note that as the trail continues, it splits and comes back together often. Unless you direction veers drastically away from the path of the creek, you're probably fine.

First Creek Canyon trail
If you take a path along the creek, you might see some more water.
First Creek Canyon trail
The trail gets steeper as it climbs up toward the canyon. It's still pretty easy to follow.
First Creek Canyon trail
The trail peters out as you get closer to the canyon. There are trails that continue, but they're much more primitive.
First Creek Canyon trail
Once you've had your fill, just turn around and head back the way you came.

Originally published August 29, 2017