Grapevine Canyon (Clark County, Nevada)

 After a relaxing evening of camping and beer drinking in a secluded canyon far off the highway on BLM land, Bill and I break camp and head for our second destination of this weekend car camping trip. This stop will take us far south of Las Vegas to the lower end of the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. I had read of a secluded canyon here that was home to a number of ancient Native American petroglyphs, as well as some other interesting features.

The trailhead is well-marked easy to find off of Christmas Tree Pass Road. As we are in the open desert, we ensure we pack ample water and then head up the obvious destination. Just as we start down the trail, we are greeted by two park rangers, who were apparently checking the site. We have a friendly chat with the ladies about the features of the canyon and other nearby destinations. The rangers ask if we would be willing to complete a short survey, which we are both happy to do, but unfortunately, we are unable to answer many of the questions about the facilities and services, as we have been inside the park for only a few minutes at this point. They understand and wish us well.

Almost immediately upon entering the canyon, we notice a number of detailed petroglpyh panels. The panels cover most of the rocks all the way up the cliffs on either side of the canyon's mouth. While many of the glyphs are familiar (big horn, wavy lines, etc.), there are also a number of unique patterns that I have never seen before and I have visited forty or more petroglyph sites all over the west in the last few years.

Some of the glyphs are almost like modern logos with multiple outlines around them. They are really interesting and as always, I have to wonder what ideas they were intended to represent by the artists that created them in the distant past. As always, Bill and I are careful to only take pictures of the rock art and not touch or interfere with them in any way. I want this symbols to remain and be appreciated by future generations for as long as nature will allow. 

As we continue up the trail, which weaves between both sides of the canyon, we often see small white desert lizards, who at every pause, raise their tails high in the area before skittering off under rocks or foliage to hide from the invaders.

Interestingly, the rock here, at least at the base of the canyon, appears to be granite as opposed to the sandstone that forms the walls. A biologically-rich yellow water flows through the center of the canyon and cuts small falls into the granite. 

A short distance up the canyon the petroglyphs become much more sparse, but we encounter the reason for the canyons name. Growing out of the small trickle of water, are an insane amount of wild grape vines. They create a dense forest here in the middle of the desert. How these grapevines arrived at this place may never be known. Perhaps some settler tossed some grape-seeds after a nice snack and now, decades later, a lush jungle has been the result. However they arrived, they offer a unique feature to this amazing place.

Eventually, we reach a point that to travel through would likely damage the foliage and decide to turn back. As we make our way back towards the trailhead, we careful watch for areas where rattlesnakes might be hiding from the direct sunlight. As we both know, snakes are not able to regulate their body temperature like mammals and will often sun themselves to maintain body heat in the morning or evening, while crawling under rocks or shrubs in the heat of the day to cool in the shade. Just as Bill mentions something about watching for rattlesnakes, I point to one in a nearby rock crevasse and ask "like that one?". The little guy coils up and raises himself in preparation to strike. We don't want to stress him or end up with a nasty bite and so, we give him space and put some distance between us.

Further down the trail, I notice a boulder with a line of big horn sheep petroglyphs on it. I somehow missed this earlier, but it's a fantastic piece and I have to get another picture. I carefully make my way up the canyon wall to get close enough to for a shot.

Finally, we arrive back at the trailhead. What an amazingly rich place. Between the glyphs, the rock formations, the foliage, and the fauna, this has been an outstanding destination and even though our hike was only a bit over a mile, it was well worth the visit.