Pine Creek Canyon is an easy trek

deborah wall/special to viewThe ruins of a 1920s homestead remain in the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. deborah wall/special to viewGoldenrod blooms in Pine Creek Canyon, located in the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. deborah wall/special to viewGoldenrod blooms in Pine Creek Canyon, located in the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. Advertisement

Pine Creek Canyon trail is an easy day hike located in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. Along the way, you will find a seasonally flowing creek, the remains of an old homestead from the 1920s, dense vegetation, and for those looking for more adventure, plenty of opportunities to explore the upper canyon.

If you just stick to the official trail, which includes a loop, it is about three miles round-trip. Children who can handle the distance will enjoy this hike, but there are some drop-offs in one segment. I wouldn't recommend them heading into the upper reaches because it requires too much rock scrambling.

The trailhead is located along the 13-mile Scenic Drive and lies at about 4,000 feet elevation, so expect temperatures about 10 degrees cooler than Las Vegas.

From the parking area, follow the well-defined trail south, down the bank and into Pine Creek Wash. Here, the plant community includes blackbrush, Mojave yucca and cholla cactus. The trail then heads west toward the escarpment, and soon scrub oak, willow and juniper join the habitat.

Look closely within the juniper trees and you will find plenty of desert mistletoe, a parasite with scale-like leaves and berries. Although the plant sucks nutrients and water from the host plant, which could kill it, the berries are a treat for some birds, especially the phainopepla.

To the south is Pine Creek itself, where you will see the tops of deciduous trees. It's worth a look at the creek by taking one of the many spur trails that lead over to its banks. Here you will find a riparian habitat mostly made up of willow and cottonwood trees, now starting to show their fall foliage. The entire creek area also supports plenty of old growth ponderosa pines, pretty rare at this elevation. Two weeks ago, there also was plenty of evening primrose in bloom.Back on the main route, continue traveling west toward the prominent red-capped monolith named Mescalito that separates the canyon upstream. Along the way, look for white-tail antelope ground squirrels, cottontails, jack rabbits and wild burros. In the cliff areas, you might even see desert bighorn sheep.

About three quarters of a mile from the trailhead, look on the left for an unsigned, yet well-worn spur trail. This will take you up a small rise, where you will find the foundation of an old homestead. Back in 1920, Horace and Glenda Wilson found this scenic spot to settle down. They built a two-story house complete with a fireplace and planted an apple orchard and garden.

In 1928, they sold the property to businessman Leigh Hunt, but they stayed on as caretakers for eight more years, then moved to Las Vegas. Once the house was abandoned, it fell victim to vandalism. In 1976, the Nevada State Parks took over ownership.

There is still a lone apple tree in the grassy meadow that lies west of the foundation, but it doesn't seem to bear any fruit. A couple of weeks ago, the field was full of goldenrod in bloom. There is an obvious grassy path that heads south through the meadow and over to the creek itself. If there has been any rain recently, the path pools with water and it will be hard to avoid getting your feet wet. Don't wander off the trail as there are very fragile plants throughout this area.

Once you have explored the homestead, return back to the main trail. If you have kids along, there is an old, hollow tree on the left side of the trail, perfect for a child to stand in. Continue on and soon you will come to a signed left turn. This marks the start of the 0.9-mile loop portion of the hike.

After you go left to begin this loop, it crosses the Pine Creek drainage and then makes a gradual ascent up its south side. After about one-tenth of a mile, the trail forks, and for this hike you will go right. To the left is the Arnight Trail, a moderate hike which connects to the Oak Creek Canyon Trail at the parking area, about a 1.7-mile hike from this junction.

As you continue up the trail, you will be in one of the most vegetated areas of the hike. One of the most prolific plants here are canyon grapes. As you reach the highest elevation of the hike, you will be at almost the same level as the tops of the ponderosa trees. There are some drop-offs along this area, so watch your footing, and in a couple of places the trail is hard to follow, so you might need to do some route finding.

The trail soon loses some elevation and then loops around to the north, where it crosses back over the creek and hooks up to the main trail for your return to the trailhead.

Those who can handle some demanding rock scrambling can travel up the forks on either side of Mescalito. Both are worth exploring, but the south fork is easier to negotiate. Just travel as far as you feel comfortable. No sense in making an easy hike into a hard one.

Deborah Wall is the author of "Great Hikes, A Cerca Country Guide," published by Stephens Press. She can be reached at Deborabus@aol.com.