Kraft Mountain Loop is a 3.1 mile hike in Las Vegas that is also a popular spot for bouldering!
Kraft Mountain LOOP – Hiking Guide
Trail Distance: 3.1 miles
Elevation Gain: 500 ft.
Terrain Rating: Some scrambling
Hike Time: 1.5-2 hours
Dog Friendly: Yes
Recommended Seasons: All but Summer can be hot so start early
Trailhead: Near Calisco Basin adjacent to Red Rocks. Parking lot here
WHY HIKE KRAFT MOUNTAIN LOOP
Kraft Mountain Loop is a great alternative to Red Rocks Canyon – in fact, it’s right next to it. This hike is right next to the Calico Basin area and best of all, there is no fee to get in!
This hike is more similar to Red Rocks Canyon than other alternatives such as North Oak Creek Trail. The loop takes you around the base of Kraft Mountain and is a fun, scrambling hike with interesting rock formations.
Kraft Mountain also tends to be a popular spot for bouldering and it can be fun to watch!
However I would not recommend hiking here if your dog cannot scramble rocks! We had a few instances where we had to pick up our basset hound and help him on the rocks. There are a few difficult / steep scrambles where your dog may need help.
WHEN TO HIKE Kraft Mountain Loop
Like most hikes in the Red Rocks area, Kraft Mountain Loop in Las Vegas can be hiked year round! There is not a lot of shade as you can tell though, so start early or start later if you want to hike in the summer. I’ve been to Red Rocks a few times in the summer and you definitely feel the heat and start to feel a little sluggish.
Personally, Kraft Mountain Loop is perfect in Fall, Winter, and Spring but it is definitely hike-able in Summer.
Kraft Mountain LOOP – TRAIL NOTES
Kraft Mountain Loop starts at the lot close to Calico Basin. The parking lot is free, but can fill up fairly early. If the lot is full, you will see an overflow area just down the street. It is definitely ok to park here and you will see lots of others doing the same.
Once you find the trailhead, you will want to go counter clockwise. Since it is a loop you can technically go either way, but I find the rock scrambles to be better in the clockwise direction.
The immediate area around this loop is the most popular spot for bouldering! You’ll see a lot of groups hanging around here. The walk starts off relatively smooth and there is a fairly clear path as you head around the mountain.
About a half mile in, you will start to reach the scrambles. It can be a little tough here so also recommend downloading offline maps on AllTrails if you pay for pro. The hike itself is super fun with the scrambles, just keep heading around until you get back to the parking lot.
Recommended Gear
See below for some of my recommended gear for this hike. I also recommend you bring a good amount of water. In the summer, plan to bring 2L of water. Otherwise 1L of water is sufficient.
Have you hiked Kraft Mountain Loop before? What did you think?
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