Shoreline Trail

I hike part of the Shoreline Trail several times each winter when the temperatures permit. The Shoreline Trail stretches from the former Las Vegas Bay boat launch area to the 3 Islands Overlook at 33 Hole about 2 miles south.
When I hike this trail, it’s because I’m hiking through what’s known as White Owl Canyon and after going through some pipes to get to the old road, I return to the car by joining the Shoreline Trail about a mile from the parking area for 33 Hole and the 3 Islands Lookout.
Some volunteers have done some nice work over the last couple of years by placing boulders along the trail so one knows where to go. This section has changed over the 7 years or so that I’ve been hiking the trail. The boulders work now because the level of the lake has fallen so much there’s little danger that the trail will be covered by water and the rocks become useless. In fact, it has been very discouraging to watch the level of the lake drop so much that you now have to leave the trail to get to the edge of a stream that was once the lake.
It is nice to see the water fowl and it’s a pleasant hike when temperatures permit.

Trail is very unique, there are some good sights and its easy for beginners. Tunnels are cool.

Unilocal 365 CHALLENGE 2014−(313÷365) «A Hiking We Will Go! «
Any time there’s a chance to explore the outdoors, it’s an automatic 5 stars for me. Add to that, a bunch of great people and our resident hike expert Norm leading the pack, you got yourself one heck of an excursion! There were 10 of us on this chilly morning and it was my first time inside the Lake Mead Area. The views here are so breathtaking, pictures and reviews don’t do any justice… you gotta get out there and experience this yourself!
This hike is about 3 miles and involves different elevations, a bit of rock scrambling, going through a few tunnels and a brief time inside owl canyon where we saw great rock formations, and even an owl who was guarding his/​her huge nest nearby.
there were also tons of clam shells scattered around and old Budweiser and Coors cans from the peel tab era. There also was a random wood frame kinda thing during our hike which made all of us clueless as to why anything was being constructed.
After a short walk on the paved road way, we looped around and began the trek back to our cars along the rock formed trail taking in the awesome scenery and a last scramble up the same hill we first went down back to the parking lot. Thanks again Norm for another great hike, and we’ll join you on the trail once again for your next hike! ALOHA!!!
Shaka Meter: \uuu/​\uuu/​\uuu/​\uuu/​\uuu/​5

Life is funny. Sometimes the best adventures are unplanned. My Shoreline Trail adventure was an unplanned adventure.
On a beautiful Spring afternoon, I was hiking on the River Mountains Loop Trail from the Lake Mead Parkway trail-​head which is by Mile Marker 12 toward Mile Marker 14 to admire the spring wildflower bloom. Further into my hike, there was this issue of dumping a now empty beverage cup. There is an abundance of wildflowers on this segment of the River Mountains Loop Trail, but not one single trash can. The closest trash can was below me in the distant horizon of the Las Vegas Bay Overlook all the way across Lake Shore Drive. I couldn’t be a litterbug. I did the right thing, got off the River Mountains Loop Trail short of the wildflower bloom segment, then literally hiked toward Las Vegas Bay in the distant horizon.
Now on the Las Vegas Bay Overlook, I was mesmerized by the vista of the Las Vegas Wash emptying into Lake Mead. It is a mesmerizing spot that the Wetlands Trail and Bluff Trail fall short of touching. This view is lightning captured in a jar. Immediately my mind went from the spring wildflower bloom to the solitude of the running Las Vegas Wash emptying into Lake Mead. Was there a trail down below that I could hike? Google Maps came to my rescue. Below along the shoreline of Las Vegas Wash and Lake Mead an adventure awaited me on the Shoreline Trail. My good deed of going out of my way to leave the River Mountains Loop Trail litter free paid off. Instant Karma rewarded me with a new beautiful hike in Lake Mead. I’d leave the Las Vegas Bay Overlook, then walk a few hundred feet alongside Lake Shore Drive to the road that leads to Las Vegas Bay and Shoreline Trail.
The following paragraphs portray a picture of the Shoreline Trail experience through words. The Shoreline Trail starts at the former Las Vegas Bay boat ramp. To reach the road that ends up at Las Vegas Bay, you will drive on Lake Shore Drive as if you were headed toward Boulder City for approximately two miles from the Lake Mead Parkway Fee Station. There will be a sign for Las Vegas Bay directing you to turn left. From here you drive on a downhill, windy road toward Lake Mead. On the way you pass the turnoff for the road to a campground and the Wetlands Trail. Near the end of the road at Las Vegas Bay is a parking lot by a picnic area. Due to the temporary closure of Las Vegas Bay on account of low water levels, this is an underpopulated
area. Past this parking area is the hill to the boat slip. The Shoreline Trail starts at the sidewalk to the right of the boat slip.
The Shoreline Trail soon turns to the right on a sandy path bordered by rocks. The landscape is riparian. The scenery and aroma is wetlands. To the right are the sandstone bluffs that include the Las Vegas Bay overlook where I learned about this trail. The trail turns to the left heading deeper into the riparian environment. Ahead is a rock monolith that only your imagination can describe. To me it looks like a combination of a circular pyramid and large pineapple head. Soon the trail steeply climbs along the edge of what looks like a sandstone bluff. Straight ahead is the very spot where Las Vegas Wash empties into Lake Mead. This is the spot that the Wetlands Trail and the Bluff Trail tease the hiker about touching. From this very spot, the Shoreline Trail continues through the riparian environment. It is an environment ideal for birds. I’d set eyes on a roadrunner up on one of the bluffs. The vistas are now of a very tranquil Lake Mead distant from the bathtub ring and motor boats. To the right is a what looks like a tee pee and towering hills. There is another breathtaking vista where you walk up a small climb that looks like you are about to touch Lake Mead. Abruptly, The Shoreline Trail turns right and continues along sandstone bluffs that look like an amphitheater. The trail travels deeper into the riparian environment and seems to keep going and going like the Energizer battery. Eventually it peters out into the riparian environment.
I could be wrong, but it appears that Shoreline Trail is a relatively new trail that is a work in progress. What makes me say this is that none of the Las Vegas hiking literature mentions it and when I was hiking on it a man was doing some work along the trail.
The Shoreline Trail is currently a relatively short hike. According to my Cardio Trainer app, the length was 1.51 miles and time it took to hike it was approximately 34 minutes. Keep in mind that I did this hike in conjunction with a lengthy hike on the River Mountains Loop Trail. From my experience, the ultimate Shoreline Trail experience would be to hike it after either a Wetlands Trail or Bluff Trail hike. Wetlands Trail travels along the Las Vegas Wash just east of Lake Las Vegas and the Bluff Trail overlooks the Las Vegas Wash on way to Lake Mead.
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