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First Creek Canyon Featured
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Las Vegas Hikes

Hike First Creek Canyon Trail

  • 2.1 miles - Easy Effort
  • 1 Hour (Total)
  • 390 Total Feet of Climbing
  • Max Elevation of 3,850 feet
  • Leashed Dogs Allowed

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.

In this Guide:
  • How to Find the Hidden Waterfall
  • Turn by Turn Hike Directions & Video
  • Parking Info & Directions
  • Other Fun Hikes in Red Rock Canyon
Quick Links:   
 Park Website - NOAA Weather Report - My Apr 2024 Gear

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.

Gear That I Love Right Now

Nothing is sponsored or promoted, just the actual gear that I use.

Gear Inreach Mini 2
Garmin InReach Mini 2If you are out of cellphone range the Mini 2 will reliably allow you to hit SOS via satellite. You can see my review here.
Gear Hoka Speedgoat 5
HOKA Speedgoat 5These are a great balance of comfort and performance. The high stack height leaves my feet feeling great after a hike.

Check out the complete list here.

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.

First Creek Canyon Trail Maps

Click Here To View

Use This Map:
View in CalTopo | PDF Map | GPX File

How Will You Navigate?

Using the Apple Watch for HikingUsing the Apple Watch for Hiking
Garmin Fenix 7 & Epix Review For HikersGarmin Fenix 7 & Epix Review For Hikers
How To Read a Topographic MapHow To Read a Topographic Map
Garmin GPSMAP 67i ReviewGarmin GPSMAP 67i Review
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.

Need More Info?

  • Have a question about the guide or want to see what other people are saying/asking? View the Youtube comments for this video. Leave a comment and I will do my best to respond.
  • When planning, always check the park website and social media to make sure the trails are open. Similarly, check the weather and road conditions.

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This Guide Was Written by Cris Hazzard

Cris Hazzard 4 Mile Trail Yosemite
Hi, I'm Cris Hazzard, aka Hiking Guy, a professional outdoors guide, hiking expert, and author based in Southern California. I created this website to share all the great hikes I do with everyone else out there. This site is different because it gives detailed directions that even the beginning hiker can follow. I also share what hiking gear works and doesn't so you don't waste money. I don't do sponsored or promoted content; I share only the gear recommendations, hikes, and tips that I would with my family and friends. If you like the website and YouTube channel, please support these free guides (I couldn't do it without folks like you!). You can stay up to date with my new guides by following me on YouTube, Instagram, or by subscribing to my monthly newsletter.