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- Cold Creek to Indian Springs Loop KMZ
- Cold Creek to Indian Springs Loop GPX
- Cold Creek to Indian Springs Loop PDF
- Georeferenced Avenza Maps
Discover
A popular network of trails connecting Cold Creek to Indian Springs.
On the Western side of the parking area, multiple kiosks and a historic site can be seen. Additional directional signage is sparse, and unofficial trails frequently intersect the designated routes. Looking North while traveling towards Indian Springs, visitors can often see aircraft from the nearby Creech Air Force Base. From the Northern end of the loop, it is possible to follow utility roads into the town of Indian Springs.
Heading from Indian Springs South towards Cold Creek, the visitor can see a great length of the Spring Mountains. Multiple peaks, such as Bonanza Peak and McFarland Peak, loom over the town of Cold Creek. Camping is available near these peaks, in the Willow Springs area.
The trail crosses and abuts multiple land managers, including the Bureau of Land Management, National Forest Service, and various public and private properties. Please respect these land managers by staying on designated trails and roads. Much of the loop is accessible for free public camping and other BLM/USFS permitted activities. All routes on the Mesa are within 23 miles of Indian Springs, which features limited shopping and fuel services.
Geology of Cold Creek Area
The Spring Mountains of southern Nevada act as an amazing backdrop to the communities of Clark County and provide an exceptional view into the past. Geologists started studying
these mountains back in 1875 and are still actively conducting research in the surrounding area today. The Spring Mountains are approximately 45 miles in length, trend Northwest-Southeast, and are a part of the Basin and Range. The rocks that make up the stunning peaks are from the Paleozoic era, approximately 542 million to 251 million years ago!
While riding around, try to imagine the landscape you see in front of you completely underwater. Where you are standing used to be an ancient ocean! Millions of years of tectonic activity, uplift, and erosion helped form not only the Spring Mountains but also the accordion-like parallel mountain ranges Nevada is known for. If you look closely and have the right light, then you may be able to see the tilted, bent, and overturned layers of limestone that tell the story of a much different Southern Nevada in the peaks.
Directions
The trail head can easily be found at the corner of Cold Creek Road and Shootingstar Road in the town of Cold Creek. From North Las Vegas:
- Travel North on Highway 95 for approximately 20 miles to Cold Creek Road. Turn left.
- Continue West on Cold Creek Road for 13 miles to Shootingstar Road, just past the Fire Station. The trailhead is on your right.
Rules of the Road
Land Manager: Bureau of Land Management
BLM Field Office - Las Vegas
4701 North Torrey Pines Drive
Las Vegas, NV 89130
Telephone: (702) 515-5000
Email: lvfoweb@blm.gov
Motor vehicles are permitted on designated trails only.
Always plan ahead and prepare for uncertainty. Travel with warm clothing, first aid, food, water and appropriate tools to fix a problem.
Traveling in groups is always a good idea, as well as informing someone of where you will be going.
- Register Your Vehicle
- Make sure your vehicle is equipped with a spark arrestor
- Plan Ahead and Prepare
- Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
- Dispose of Waste Properly
- Leave What You Find
- Minimize Campfire Impacts
- Respect Wildlife
- Be Considerate of Other Trail Users
