After closing for the summer because of extreme heat, a number of trails are set to reopen in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area next month.
The trails have been closed since May 15 to protect hikers from the hot weather in the area and will reopen on October 1. Among the trails reopening are the Liberty Arch trail, which starts at White Rock Canyon parking area and heads westward toward the Colorado River. The trail is a 5.5-mile, fairly strenuous roundtrip that takes walkers to the Liberty Arch, named for its resemblance to the Liberty Bell at Independence National Historic Park in Pennsylvania.
“While there is no river access on this trail, hikers are rewarded throughout their adventure with geological highlights, remnants of a historic magnesium mine going back to the days of WWII and a fantastic panoramic view overlooking the Colorado River from 1000 feet up,” the National Park Service (NPS) said on its website.
Maridav/Getty
Also set to reopen is the Arizona Hot Springs trail, a 5.7-mile loop that includes the famous geothermal springs. Water in the springs is heated by energy in the Earth to temperatures of 111 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
On its website, the NPS describes the trail as traversing “a strikingly beautiful volcanic landscape.” Hikers will encounter a diverse range of desert flora, including indigo bush, ground cherry, rabbitbrush, Mormon tea, desert fir, cheesebush, globemallow and rock nettle. The terrain features mostly volcanic rock and ash, along with granite boulders carried down from the Black Mountains.
Other hiking areas reopening include the Goldstrike Canyon, Lone Palm and Sugar Loaf trails.
Despite the cooler temperatures, the NPS is still advising visitors to take precautions and stay safe. Tips to do so include hiking early, staying hydrated, knowing your route, limiting activity to shorter hikes when it’s hot and packing the right kit for the conditions.
In conjunction with the trails reopening, Lake Mead National Recreation Area staff are inviting community members to join them for an event at the Goldstrike Canyon Trail on October 1 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The event is aimed at removing trash and graffiti along the trail ahead of the expected footfall.
Although many visitors come simply to visit the lake, more than 87 percent of the Lake Mead park protects vast areas of the eastern Mojave Desert.
“Perhaps the best way to explore this diverse ecosystem is on foot, traveling across open expanses of rock formations that contain all the colors of the rainbow,” the NPS said on its website.
Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about Lake Mead? Let us know via science@newsweek.com.
