This guide explains how rescues happen in Red Rock, what conditions increase risk, and what hikers can do to stay out of preventable emergency situations.
Overview
RRCNCA has human history dating back at least 11,000 years. Some sources say 13,000 years. Let’s ponder that for a moment. Legendary Vikings roamed the seas late 700s to roughly 1066. The Egyptian pyramids were built 2,700 to 1,500 BC. 3,000 BC, I believe the construction of Stonehenge began. Circa 5th century BC, Buddhism originated and the Persian Empire existed. If my calculations are correct, RRCNCA history dates back to the 11th century BC which is just after the Trojan War occurred and post Genghis Khan rule during the 12th century. Today, people are working on interplanetary travel and giving birth to a new species far more intelligent than humanity.
Not only is RRCNCA recognized as a sacrosanct place to an innumerable amount of locals today, but an array of Native American tribes have a deep cultural connection to the area. Of which include but are not limited to the Western Shoshone and Hualapai tribes.
For native tribes, RRCNCA has provided vast resources such as seeds and pods from numerous plants and diverse animals to hunt from different elevations. Indigenous people harnessed water at Calico Spring, Ash and Red Spring. All of which you’ll learn about in the coming chapters.
But don’t take my word for it. Just look at the abundance of petroglyphs (rock carvings) and pictographs (rock surface paintings) spread throughout the parks nearly 200,000 acres. Be conscious of these artifacts by not touching or walking on them. Moreover, rock climbing is not permitted within 50 feet of thereof.
RRCNCA becomes even more fascinating if you consider water has been a scarce commodity in the surrounding desert for eons. Inside the park however there’s said to be 40 springs and various natural basins. Just recently in fact, I discovered a flowing stream concealed by dense bushes in Lost Creek. I’ve seen flowing streams and frozen waterfalls on Mt. Wilson. The Rainbow Wilderness possesses an onslaught of lush water sources. These springs provide water both seasonally and year round.
Water has attracted people of all types to different locations throughout the world. Many years ago for instance I spent time in Petra, Jordan. Rural pueblos deep in the Andes Mountains where waterfalls break through layers upon layers of clouds. I’ve been to dozens of historic cities, ancient ruins, and ghost towns across the United States and Mexico. Many of which have elaborate aqueducts inbuilt throughout ancient cities. Without this precious resource, civilization could not exist.
The water here in RRCNCA has provided life to vast amounts of biodiversity over its surrounding desert. Because of this, there’s six different native cultures that’ve said to exist here. Evidence emanates from more than 150 archeological sites containing roasting pits, rock circles and shelters, camp sites, stone tools, and fragments of pottery.
The Tule-Springs Paleo Indians presumably lived here circa 11,000 BCE to 8,000 BCE and the San Dieguito from 7,000 BCE to 5,500 BCE. There is no evidence of these tribes living here, but…they were present in Southern Nevada at this time. The assumption of their whereabouts is connected to—water.
The oldest culture we have direct evidence from is the Pinto-Gypsum Archaic from roughly 3,500 BC to 1 CE. From 1 CE to 1150 CE the (Ancestral Puebloans) Anasazi people where here in RRCNCA. They grew crops, and were hunter-gatherers. The Patayan Culture and Southern Paiute arrived here circa 900 CE. They were agriculturally inclined and hunter-gathers respectively. The Patayan Culture resided near the Colorado adjacent to the Hoover Dam and frequented RRCNCA due to higher elevational resources. Remaining here until the 1800s;
Due to this sector of human history, RRCNCA contains immense cultural significance to these tribes as spiritual rituals and ceremonies were conducted here. The pictographs and petroglyphs tell stories of their history for many generations. Incoming European settlers impacted the lives of said peoples and changed their way of life. So much so, that when traders and travelers showed up in their habitat, they were forced to either adapt or relocate.
In the 1700s, Spain was looking for a way to connect their New Mexico and California colonies. They traded and transported through what would later become known as the Old Spanish Trail—a 2,700 mile trail with history dating back over a thousand years and comprised of ancient Native American foot paths.
Beginning in 1826, when California was still part of Mexico, American and Mexican explorers began utilizing this trail that passed through RRCNCA. At one point, there were hundreds of horses in these valleys—resting, traveling to Utah and New Mexico. They and other animals became easy targets of thievery. Some perished while others were lucrative. Nonetheless, the trail connected Spanish pueblos with areas in Southern California.
The trail connected Santa Fe to Los Angeles until the 1850s. This hot, mountainous, and lonely desert trail was utilized by pack mules as it was far too rugged for wagons. Upon a large cargo, round trip excursion it became heavily used for international trade via California’s seaports. Human trafficking, slavery, and other forms of crime became prevalent among Native American war captives and outlaws.
European travelers increased slavery despite it being banned in the later years. As Mexican ranchers purchased slaves, culture and the racial makeup changed. All of which contributed to westward expansion. Today, the Old Spanish Trail is recognized as a National Historic Trail.
The Mormon Church began a mission and ranch settlement in 1855 near modern day Las Vegas. Both of which were abandoned just two years later. Come 1865, ranchers began occupation of the Las Vegas Valley and the Wilson Ranch was created in 1880 (modern day Spring Mountain Ranch).
** 1905-1912 Sandstone Quarry Operations **
Red Rock Canyon resided in the public domain until 1936 when Congress categorized it as part of the Desert National Wildlife Refuge. But this was short lived as both Red Rock Canyon as well as the Spring Mountains were recognized as the Spring Mountain-Red Rock Recreational Complex.
Come the early 1960s, efforts were made to shift the land once again in the realm of a national park—designated under federal legislation. Late 1967, 62,000 acres were classified as Red Rock Canyon Recreational Lands. Throughout the 70’s federal funds were allotted to create the Scenic Loop for more public access followed by the Visitor Center in ’82. Also in ’82, Pine Creek and La Madre Mountain were categorized as Wilderness Study Areas.
The BLM created a land buffer from a subsidiary of the Howard Hughes Corporation between the park boundaries and a newly planned community—Summerlin. Also in the early 80s, Southern Nevadans wanted more protection for the park. They wanted it designated as an NCA. In 1990, Senator Harry Reid, a Nevada Representative, and President H. W. Bush did just that. Bill Clinton then doubled the size—196,000 acres. Two years later additional acreage was added. In 2002, said wilderness study areas became the Rainbow Wilderness Area.