birdandhike.com logo
Home | Wilderness | Hiking | Red Rocks
Grand Circle Loop Trail -- Sandstone Quarry to Upper White Rock
Hiking Around Las Vegas, Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
Great Circle Trail
Grand Circle Loop
Trail exiting Sandstone Quarry Trailhead (view N)

Overview

The Grand Circle Trail is an 11.6-mile loop that starts at the Visitor Center and roughly parallels the Scenic Loop Road. From the Visitor Center, the trail runs up along the base of the Calico Hills to Sandstone Quarry, cuts out across the desert to White Rock Spring, the highpoint on the loop trail, then follows the White Rock Loop trail down towards Willow Springs, finally turning off and heading back down along Red Rock Wash to the Visitor Center. The trail passes red sandstone crags and rock art, all the while traversing open desert with grand vistas in all directions. Parts of the trail aren't laid out as well as one might wish, but the trail makes for a good winter workout in the desert.

Presented here are details of the Grand Circle Loop Trail from the Sandstone Quarry Trailhead to Upper White Rock Trailhead. For an overview of the entire trail, see Grand Circle Overview.

Link to map.

Link to BLM Georeference PDF map file.

Grand Circle Loop
Grand Circle Trail departs left from the Calico Tank Trail (view NW)

Watch Out

Other than the standard warnings about hiking in the desert, ...this hike is fairly safe, even for kids, but there are some short, steep scrambles through rocky areas near the Calico II parking area. Always be extra careful when you get high enough to fall and hurt yourself. Most of this trail is relatively well groomed, relatively free of rocks, and makes for easy walking. Be careful crossing the paved roads.

While hiking, please respect the land and the other people out there, and try to Leave No Trace of your passage. Also, even though this is a short hike, be sure to bring what you need of the 10 Essentials.

Great Circle Loop Trail
Grand Circle Trail leaving Sandstone Quarry area (view NW)

The Hike

Sandstone Quarry to White Rock (2.3 miles)

From the north end of the Sandstone Quarry parking area (Wpt. 10), the Grand Circle Trail runs north on the combined Turtlehead Peak -- Calico Tanks Trail. About 120 yards out, just as the trail enters the big, open gravel area with the Sandstone Quarry exhibit and big square quarried boulders, the Grand Circle Trail (Wpt. 11) forks off to the left and runs southwest through the shrubs and out across the wash. When departing the quarry area, look west to see the Grand Circle Trail climbing the bank on the far side of the wash.

Across the wash, the trail climbs the bank at a moderate grade onto a low ridge just below sandstone crags. The trail continues west, crosses a flat, open area, crosses another low ridge, and drops into a gravel wash. The trail turns north following the wash, turns west again, and runs out north over rolling terrain to the Scenic Loop Road (Wpt. 12).

Grand Circle Trail
Grand Circle Trailhead sign (view NW)

From the Scenic Loop Road (Wpt. 12), the trail continues southwest down the hillside to cross a wash and run up onto the next low ridge. The trail runs up and over the ridge, then down into the next wash. From there, the trail turns south and climbs onto the next ridge, but then begins a long, gradual descent across the next hillside into the bottom of the next wash to the west (Wpt. 13).

The trail bends north and continues across the rolling terrain to another major wash (Wpt. 14). The trail drops into the wash, turns north, and runs up the wash following cairns for about 60 yards. The trail eventually turns out of the wash to the left by an isolated, rounded Utah Juniper tree (Wpt. 15) and continues northwest across the rolling hillsides. The trail crosses the Scenic Loop Road again and enters the Lower White Rock Road Trailhead (Wpt. 16).

Following White Rock Road uphill, the trail passes Grand Circle and Keystone Thrust trailhead signs, then continues another 0.5 miles to the far end of the road and the Upper White Rock Trailhead parking area, which has a vault toilet.

Grand Circle Trail
Hiker entering wash (view SW from Grand Circle Trailhead sign)
Grand Circle Trail
Signs at edge of wash (view SW)
Grand Circle Trail
Trail crosses the wash (view W)
Grand Circle Trail
Across the wash, trail turns right (view N)
Grand Circle Trail
Hiker climbing side of the ridge (view NW)
Grand Circle Trail
Hiker arriving at ridgetop (view NW)
Grand Circle Trail
Trail passes white sandstone crag (view W)
Grand Circle Trail
Hiker traversing open flats area (view SW)
Grand Circle Trail
Hiker continuing across open flats (view SW)
Grand Circle Trail
Trail runs up the side of a low ridge (view NW)
Grand Circle Trail
Hiker entering a wash (view NW)
Grand Circle Trail
The trail runs up the wash (view NW)
Grand Circle Trail
Trail continues up the wash (view NW)
Grand Circle Trail
Hiker exiting the wash to the west (view W)
Grand Circle Trail
Hiker out of the wash (view W)
Grand Circle Trail
Trail runs across rolling terrain (view W)
Grand Circle Trail
Trail runs across rolling terrain (view W)
Grand Circle Trail
Trail runs across rolling terrain (view W)
Grand Circle Trail
Trail runs across rolling terrain (view W)
Grand Circle Trail
Trail turns to climb along higher ground (view N)
Grand Circle Trail
Trail along higher ground (view N)
Grand Circle Trail
Trail dips to cross a wash (view N)
Grand Circle Trail
Hiker across the wash (view N)
Grand Circle Trail
Atop the next ridge, highway signs come into view (view NW)
Grand Circle Trail
Hiker waiting for traffic to clear (view W)
Grand Circle Trail
Hiker crossing Scenic Loop Road (view W)
Grand Circle Trail
Hiker safely across the Scenic Loop Road (view W)
Grand Circle Trail
Crosswalk on the Scenic Loop Road (view W)
Grand Circle Trail
The trail descends across gentle terrain (view SW)
Grand Circle Trail
Trail winds across hillsides on the contour (view W)
Grand Circle Trail
Apparently, this is a one-way trail (view W)
Grand Circle Trail
Crossing over a ridgeline and descending to cross a wash (view NW)
Grand Circle Trail
Running up along the wash (view N)
Grand Circle Trail
Trail abruptly crosses wash and climbs steep hillside (view SW)
Grand Circle Trail
Atop the ridge, the trail turns to run south (view S)
Grand Circle Trail
Descending off the ridgetop (view S)
Grand Circle Trail
Descending across the sideslope (view S)
Grand Circle Trail
Hiker approaching the next wash crossing (view S)
Grand Circle Trail
Hiker crossing gentle terrain (view S)
Grand Circle Trail
Hiker crossing gentle terrain (view S)
Grand Circle Trail
Climbing out of another wash (view W)
Grand Circle Trail
Trail climbs at moderate grades (view NW)
Grand Circle Trail
Trail climbs at moderate grades (view NW)
Grand Circle Trail
Hiker arriving atop another low ridge (view W)
Grand Circle Trail
Continuing across the low ridge (view W)
Grand Circle Trail
Descending towards the next wash (view NW)
Grand Circle Trail
Hiker (arrow) crossing the valley bottom (view N)
Grand Circle Trail
Hiker on the next low ridge (view W)
Grand Circle Trail
Trail runs up and down across rolling terrain (view NW)
Grand Circle Trail
Trail runs up and down across rolling terrain (view NW)
Grand Circle Trail
Trail runs up and down across rolling terrain (view SW)
Grand Circle Trail
Hiker arriving on the next low ridgetop (view SW)
Grand Circle Trail
Lower White Rock Trailhead comes into view for the first time
Grand Circle Trail
Trail runs up and down across rolling terrain (view W)
Grand Circle Trail
Trail runs up and down across rolling terrain (view W)
Grand Circle Trail
Trail enters a broad wash (view W)
Grand Circle Trail
Trail turns up the wash (view N)
Grand Circle Trail
Trail continues up the wash (view N)
Grand Circle Trail
Trail exits the wash by a lone Utah Juniper tree (view NW)
Grand Circle Trail
Trail climbs at moderate grades (view NW)
Grand Circle Trail
Trail climbs at moderate grades (view NW)
Grand Circle Trail
Trail climbs at moderate grades (view NW)
Grand Circle Trail
Trail climbs at moderate grades (view NW)
Grand Circle Trail
Hiker approaching the Scenic Loop Road (view NW)
Grand Circle Trail
Hiker at the Scenic Loop Road (view NW)
Grand Circle
Grand Circle Trail at the Scenic Loop Road (view NW)
Grand Circle
Trail crosses Scenic Loop Road onto White Rock Road (view N)
Grand Circle
Grand Circle Trail crosses Scenic Loop Road (view N)
Grand Circle
Trail follows road past Lower White Rock Trailhead signs (view N)
Grand Circle
Grand Circle Trail follows White Rock Road (view N)
Grand Circle
Grand Circle Trail approaching Upper White Rock Trailhead (view N)
Grand Circle
Grand Circle Trail at Upper White Rock Trailhead sign (view N)
Grand Circle
Grand Circle Trail approaching Upper White Rock Trailhead (view N)
Grand Circle
Grand Circle Trail bends left past vault toilet (view NW)
Grand Circle Grand Circle
Grand Circle
Upper White Rock Trailhead, West Trailhead sign (view NW)
Grand Circle
More to come ...

Table 1. Hiking Coordinates based on GPS Data (NAD27; UTM Zone 11S). Download Hiking GPS Waypoints (*.gpx) file.

Wpt. Location UTM Easting UTM Northing Elevation (ft) Point-to-Point Distance (mi) Cumulative Distance (mi)
10 Sandstone Quarry North Trailhead 639467 4002878 4,305 0.08 03.13
11 Trail Junction, Turtlehead 639481 4002984 4,305 0.08 03.21
12 Road Crossing #2 638452 4003558 4,606 0.99 04.20
13 Wash Crossing 638154 4003146 4,481 0.41 04.61
14 Enter Wash 637584 4003024 4,544 0.50 05.11
15 Exit Wash 637557 4003071 4,550 0.04 05.15
16 Road Crossing #3 637240 4003240 4,643 0.25 05.40
17 White Rock Upper Trailhead 636979 4004051 4,876 0.56 05.96

Happy Hiking! All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate.
copyright; Last updated 240330

Hiking Around Red Rocks Hiking Around Las Vegas Glossary Copyright, Conditions, Disclaimer Home
Google Ads