Rock Spring Loop Trail showcases nature and history

Each day of our region’s short and mild winter is a little treasure to be invested for maximum return. A good place to invest it is in the Rock Spring Loop Trail on the Mojave National Preserve.

It’s a short hike packed with both natural and historic interest. You will see American Indian petroglyphs; the site of a 19th century Army post built to protect the famous old Mojave Road; a former mill site; a charming stone house with its own interesting history; and the spring itself — the likely reason all the historic features are here.

The Mojave National Preserve lies in California just south of the Nevada border, so the Rock Spring trailhead is only a couple of hours’ drive from Las Vegas. The trail’s interesting variety and brevity make it especially friendly for easily bored older children, but it’s good for those of most ages and abilities, as long as they can handle the 1-mile distance and some uneven rocky terrain in places.

Dress for weather 10-15 degrees cooler than whatever is predicted for Las Vegas on the same day, for the trailhead is at 4,898 feet. From the trailhead pass through the hiker’s gate, and in just a minute or so you’ll be at the Rock House. Homesteader Bert G. Smith built the house in 1929, moving to this area in hopes the clean desert air would be healthy for his lungs, damaged by poisonous gas in World War I. It worked; he lived there for 25 years and passed away in a rest home in 1967. In the 1980s, artist Carl Faber lived and painted at the Rock House. No one lives here now.

From the west side of the house, pick up and follow the trail south; it will soon turn east. On your left you will see the remains of an old mill that operated in the 1930s. The trail soon passes through another hiker’s gate and then down the side of a narrow canyon, onto a natural bench above a wide sandy wash.

This was where the Army operated Camp Rock Springs from 1866 through early 1868. It was one of many small posts along the Mojave Road in Arizona Territory and California. They were put in place to safeguard the U.S. Mail and supply wagons. Fresh food and needed supplies were hard to get here, and many of the men became ill. Only 73 men were ever stationed here, and 20 of them deserted. The post only operated for 15 months.

Once the trail drops down into the wash, go right, upstream. Look on the granite cliff walls and you will see American Indian petroglyphs. On the left cliff wall you will also see an inscription that reads “Stua, 4th Inf. May 16.” This was most likely written in 1863 or 1864 by a Charles Stuart. He was a musician in Company B, Fourth California Infantry Regiment, California Volunteers.

Head upstream a dozen yards and you will likely find a small flow of water, unless it’s iced up. You can explore up the boulders by the spring, have a picnic and relax. Once you are done at the spring, head downstream past where you entered the wash and pick up the trail that heads east and up a ridge to continue your loop. Once on the ridge, you will have great views of the New York and Hackberry mountains. The trail will bring you back to the Rock House.

Deborah Wall’s book “Base Camp Las Vegas: 101 Hikes in the Southwest” ($24.95, Imbrifex) is available on Amazon. She can be reached at deborabus@aol.com.