Gene’s Trail

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Gene’s Trail is a moderate, lesser-traveled connector along the southern edge of Calico Basin. The official route climbs a noticeable opening hill, then meanders through rolling desert until it meets Kraft Mountain Loop. Its appeal is not one dramatic destination but a sequence of open views: vivid sandstone framing Turtlehead Peak, Summerlin spreading to the east, and the Spring Mountains rising beyond the basin.

Where Gene’s Trail Is Located

Access is from the Calico Basin Road area outside the Red Rock Canyon Scenic Loop. The trail sits close to Red Spring, Kraft Mountain, and Calico Basin Trail, yet it feels removed from the climbing and hiking hub after the first rise. The official BLM route is approximately 2.6 miles and functions as a practical connector for longer loops.

Hikers can continue toward Kraft Mountain, return through the basin, or use Gene’s as one half of Gene’s Extended Loop. Nearby Ash Spring and Girl Scout Trail provide shorter, easier additions when more distance is wanted without committing to Kraft’s scramble sections.

Sandstone Views Without the Sandstone Crowds

Gene’s crosses gravelly foothills and shallow washes below the Calico Hills. The trail itself is largely on alluvial material eroded from the surrounding mountains, while the dominant view is Jurassic Aztec Sandstone. Ancient windblown dunes hardened into red, orange, cream, and white rock, then weathered into the cliffs and patterned slabs that make Calico Basin one of the most recognizable landscapes in the American Southwest.

Because the terrain remains open, every small ridge changes the composition. Turtlehead Peak appears between colored walls, the city emerges behind low hills, and Kraft Mountain looks different from each side. This Red Sandstone photo story gives a close view of the geology that frames the route.

Who Will Enjoy Gene’s Trail

Gene’s is a good fit for intermediate hikers, trail runners, photographers, and visitors who want a moderate climb without scrambling. Fit beginners can manage it if they're prepared for the opening incline and exposed conditions. Hiking shoes help on loose gravel and embedded rock, but the trail is more predictable than the primitive Cowboy Trails or the upper Calico View route.

The route is especially rewarding at sunrise and sunset. Morning light ignites the Calico Hills; evening light softens the basin and brings the Vegas skyline into view. It can be a quiet place for nature and introspection even when the nearby Kraft lot is busy.

Crowds, Weather, and Best Season

Gene’s receives far less foot traffic than Kraft Mountain Loop or the Red Spring boardwalk. Parking can still be crowded on cool weekends because several popular trails share the area. Once over the first hill, hikers commonly see only a few people.

October through April is the best season. The route has no dependable water and almost no shade. Summer hiking should be restricted to genuinely cool early hours, and thunderstorms can send runoff through washes. Winter brings clearer city views and occasional snow on the Spring Mountains. Start with enough daylight to complete any added loop rather than improvising after sunset.

A Quiet Calico Basin Building Block

Gene’s Trail is not the most famous of the red rock canyon hikes, which is precisely why it works. It gives visitors the colors, geology, and mountain scale associated with Red Rock Canyon LV while avoiding the density of the main attractions. Taken alone, it's a satisfying moderate outing. Used as a connector, it becomes one of the most useful building blocks in Calico Basin.