A Quick Road Trip- Hiking in Nevada

Mike and I decided it was time to get out of the house and wanted to visit family. His brother lives in Nevada and mentioned some great hiking spots that he was sure we’d love. We never say no to a good hike and quickly figured a weekend to make the 4.5 hour drive. I packed our bags and got a few snacks ready for the road.

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When hiking, these are the items I always pack:

First-Aid Kit : At the time we packed this one , Mini First Aid Waterproof Kit. This is a great starter kit as it’s waterproof, durable, small and compact and can easily hook onto your bag or be stored inside your pack and is well organized. We recently purchased this kit, Adventure Medical Kits Mountain Series Hiker First Aid Kit , which is also waterproof, well organized, and lightweight. While it does have less pieces than the other kit, it does provide a few items that the other kit was lacking. I would recommend adding at least two tourniquets to your kit just to always be prepared!
Paracord Bracelet with fire starter, whistle and compass like this one, Atomic Bear Paracord Bracelet.
Headlamp: We love this one from PETZL, Tikka Outdoor Headlamp. We also have the Coleman Headlamp, which is a great low budget option.
Water and Windproof Matches: UCO Stormproof Match Kit
Flashlight: Streamlight Rechargeable Flashlight
Sturdy Folding Knife: Smith & Wesson Extreme Ops Folding Knife
Emergency Blankets: Emergency Thermal Blankets
LifeStraw
Snacks: I will typically pack some trail mix, apples, turkey jerky, Larabars, and sometimes homemade muffins or other treats.
Water, Water, Water : It is so important to always pack water, even if you are going on a short hike. There have been plenty of times people have become lost on short hikes and then are in real trouble. Mike and I carry water in our Klean Kanteens , which are 64 oz. each. If you are looking for something more lightweight, try a Camelbak Hydration Pack.

When hiking it is also super important to dress in layers ( of course depending on the terrain and time of year, etc.). Keep in mind too, while your hike may start off on a sunny day, often many places can drop temperature rapidly into the evening. We usually pack our lightweight, yet super warm, Patagonia Puffer Jackets in our pack or around our waist and then wear both a t-shirt and a flannel. We also always bring hats and I also like to bring a bandana or two. They are a multipurpose item that are great to have on hand.

Now, our list may seem like a lot, but it if you pack properly and efficiently, it really isn’t! I like to always be as prepared as possible and have learned from others the importance of being prepared for the worst. Lastly, be sure to choose a backpack that is comfortable and supportive. The extra support straps around the waist and chest really help take off any weight on your back.

Our bags are packed and we’ve hit the road to Henderson, NV. From southern California it took us just over 4 hours to get there, making one stop halfway. Once we hit Henderson, it was beautiful and sunny. We had never been to Henderson and were actually a little surprised in how much they had in the area. Tons of shops, restaurants and things to do. You’re also only about 20 minutes from the Vegas Strip.

We took a few minutes to settle and changed into our hiking clothes. After we changed we found out we were heading to the mountains and there would actually be snow! I thankfully we prepared and brought our beanies and made sure to layer up. We drove about an hour and headed to Mary Jane Falls.

Mary Jane Falls

The total length of this trail is about 2.6 miles and it is rated as “easy”. With the snow, high altitude, constant incline and slippery icy conditions I would say it was more of a moderate trail. Both Mike and I could definitely feel the air becoming thinner and from the start you are walking at an incline that only gets more intense as you go on. You will DEFINETELY feel a workout in your legs. I also would highly recommend hiking boots for this trail as it is very rocky. Be sure to bring plenty of water!

Overall, it was a great hike with beautiful views. When you reach the top there is usually a waterfall. Because we went in March and it has been a colder winter, we saw mainly icicles and a little bit of running water (still beautiful!).

Goldstrike Canyon Trail

This hike was probably the complete opposite of our Mary Jane Falls hike. It was great to try out two completely different terrains on our trip. This trail was about 30-35 minutes from where we were in Henderson. Roundtrip this trip is a bit over 6 miles. While not a steep incline like our previous hike, this trail presents its own challenges. For a portion of this hike you will be using ropes to get down some steep areas. We were thankful enough to learn ahead of time but I HIGHLY recommend brining gloves. Gloves with good grip for the ropes and they don’t have to be anything fancy. Honestly we used cheap gardening gloves but they helped SO much. Not only do they help prevent your hands from rope burn and help you get a better grip, it also just helps keep you protected. Everyone does not wear gloves and I don’t know how often the ropes are changed out but just from a sanitary perspective it is really beneficial to have gloves.

I would definitely rate this trail as hard. It is pretty lengthy and some points of the hike require a lot of upper bottom strength, ESPECIALLY coming back. Going down is the easy part but you have to come back they way you came and pulling yourself up some of those ropes is not easy. Bring plenty of water, snacks and have your backpack packed with the items I talked about before.

The hike itself though is truly so beautiful. The trail takes you to some beautiful hot springs, caves and you end at the Colorado River. A perfect spot to cool down after the journey. I will say as a warning there has been some talk about brain eating amoeba in the hot springs…. I know, SCARY! We decided to opt out of the hot springs but plenty of people were enjoying. I would say just make sure to not let your head under water and choose a spot close to running water vs. standing water. Now this is only in the hot springs and not in the river itself. Be ready to spend a few hours on the hike and also make sure to wear sunscreen and bring a hat! The trail however is closed from May-September due to extreme hate and to keep everyone safe. Overall, this trail definitely challenged me. I fell pretty hard on one of the ropes but luckily only bruised my elbow. I also had my hand swell up significantly. But, I had a ton of fun and would do the trail again!