Black Velvet Canyon
My first off-road trek in my brand new (to me) 2007 Silverado 2500HD Classic Extended Cab 4x4 Short Bed.
Black Velvet Canyon
My first off-road drive with Gold Rush was not a long one, but I was anxious to get off the paved roads and onto some dirt. I chose a place I know of not too far from my home. It was a short drive west of Las Vegas on Blue Diamond Road toward Pahrump. There is a well-known pull out named "Late Night Trailhead". This is a part of the Cottonwood Valley Trail System and is a well-used starting point for hiking and mountain biking. The area includes a paved parking lot and rest rooms (with pit toilets).
Continued:
On the right side of the parking lot is a dirt road that leads north for about 3.5 miles. This is a short easy drive with the most beautiful close-up views of the southern portion of the Red Rock mountains, ending at a dirt parking area which is the trailhead for Black Velvet Canyon.
The center piece of this excursion is Black Velvet Canyon. A short hike takes you to the base of one of Red Rock Canyon's more popular multi-pitch climbs: Epinephrine. A short distance past the Black Velvet Canyon sign, the trail splits. The to the left is part of a larger, biking and hiking, trail system that passes through this area. To the right is the trail that leads toward the mountains and the beginning of the climb up Epinephrine.
After I returned from my short hike toward Epinephrine, I drove back the way I came. On the return trip I saw a road that ventured off to the right. I took it. This road offered an alternate route for further exploring before returning me back to the main road.
If you're interested in a short off-road drive and a short easy hike, I present this as a good option.
NOTE:
If you chose to take the alternate route on the way back, be aware there is a short slightly rough uphill section that may not be suitable for a two-wheel drive low clearance vehicles.
Continued:
On the right side of the parking lot is a dirt road that leads north for about 3.5 miles. This is a short easy drive with the most beautiful close-up views of the southern portion of the Red Rock mountains, ending at a dirt parking area which is the trailhead for Black Velvet Canyon.
The center piece of this excursion is Black Velvet Canyon. A short hike takes you to the base of one of Red Rock Canyon's more popular multi-pitch climbs: Epinephrine. A short distance past the Black Velvet Canyon sign, the trail splits. The to the left is part of a larger, biking and hiking, trail system that passes through this area. To the right is the trail that leads toward the mountains and the beginning of the climb up Epinephrine.
After I returned from my short hike toward Epinephrine, I drove back the way I came. On the return trip I saw a road that ventured off to the right. I took it. This road offered an alternate route for further exploring before returning me back to the main road.
If you're interested in a short off-road drive and a short easy hike, I present this as a good option.
NOTE:
If you chose to take the alternate route on the way back, be aware there is a short slightly rough uphill section that may not be suitable for a two-wheel drive low clearance vehicles.
