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| - Two words portray Spring Mountain Ranch State Park: beautiful and charming.On Saturday, May 12; I revisited Spring Mountain Ranch State Park [SMRSP]. This was my outdoors adventure of the week.
Driving on the park drive, please keep an eye out for the "Authorized Vehicles Only" sign before making a left into the parking lot. After getting out of your car, if you walk to the "Authorized Vehicles Only" sign, you will want to walk this road straight ahead to the ranch house [red building]. On your left is a grassy area. This is the picnic area of SMRSP. The Ranch House is the focal point of SMRSP. If this were Disney Land, it would be the Castle. East of it is the Ash Grove Trail. Far northeast of it is the amphitheater. West of it is a restoration and Lake Harriet. Far west of it are the hiking trails that reach toward the Spring Mountains. And Northwest of it are the Wilson Family Cemetery and Overlook Trail. I broke this review down by park section.
Ash Grove Trail:
Starting east of the Ranch House, I hiked on the 0.8 mile Ash Grove Trail. The trail starts off under a canopy of trees. Then it travels through rich desert scenery, on a path toward State Route 159 that is roughly parallel to the park drive. At the dry wash the trail changes direction. The dry wash is not a dead end (I believe there is also a bridge that crosses over the dry wash). After crossing the dry wash, the trail aims for a grove of trees. A green oasis in the desert. The trail soon develops into the Ash Grove Loop. For the next several hundred footsteps, a canopy of trees and a surface of anoramic plants will lead you through a hiker's nirvana. You will be hiking in a Southern Nevada with a Northwest landscape. Of course a dry wash and the Spring Mountains take away some of that imagery. Here, I saw several bunny rabbits. Here I breathed in anoramic plants that gave my potpourri a run for its money. And here went by too fast. Soon, the loop ends, and the Ash Grove Trail heads back to the Ranch House.
I wanted to spend time outdoors. This visit, I passed over the Ranch House tour. On my 2007 visit, I did the Ranch House tour. I highly recommend it.
Lake Harriet:
From the Ranch House, I headed west toward Lake Harriet. To get there, I took the road that intersects the "Ranch House to parking lot road." On my left was the large green field in back of the Ranch House. A great spot for photographing the house. It would be an even better photo spot if the horses that I remember from 2007 were there. Further up the road, is the Ranger House, and a restored village. The restored village is for tours. Up the hill is Lake Harriet.
Lake Harriet is a 5-star photo spot. In the foreground Lake Harriet is a charming body of water with the mesmerizing Spring Mountains in the background. This is a 5-star photo spot with adorable animals. I was entertained watching baby ducks, bunny rabbits, and a woodpecker warbling away on a tree. Lake Harriet is encompassed with a trail featuring benches.
Backcountry trail west of Lake Harriet:
West of Lake Harriet, I walked the no-name trail along the south border fence that reaches toward the Spring Mountains. Gradually the trail reaches higher elevations that provide post card views. It seemed that thousands of desert fauna are represented. The trail cuts short of the Spring Mountains. There are side trails that travel deeper into the desert. And parallel to the trail is the signed Sandy Canyon Trail that also originates from the Lake Harriet Trail. The walk down is a walking 5-star photo spot.
Before walking to the next attraction, I recommend walking around Lake Harriet another time. Or sitting on a bench watching the ducks.
Overlook Trail:
North of Lake Harriet is the Overlook Trail. This trail touches the Wilson Family Cemetery. Further up the trail, is a panorama of Red Rock Canyon. To the near north is the First Creek Trail and the far north is Red Rock Canyon National Recreation Area. The trail starts to travel down steep hills until it levels out at the parking lot.
If it is before 4:50 PM, I suggest checking out the gift shop. If it is very early, and you are still up to hiking, I suggest either driving or walking to the First Creek Trail. It is approximately 1-mile north on State Route 159.
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