It is a short drive from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

It is one of the best ways to just decompress, get that heart rate going and get in those steps.

Plus.

Look at this.

The beauty of it all never gets old.

This is First Creek Canyon, located in the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.

First Creek Canyon is an easy to moderate hike.

This area is public land and managed by the Bureau of Land Management.

You can check out their website for complete details and a list of the trails in the area.

There are also several apps to use as trail resources.

I always like to take a moment, take a look at the trailhead, get some information and get a snapshot.

It is a great reference and also a great way to share it with your friends.

First Creek Canyon Trail is mapped at two miles in.

So round trip, four miles.

A hike like this with a break or two will take the average person 3 hours.

The trail is a mix of Sandy and Rocky.

Comfortable and appropriate footwear is definitely a must.

You'll also want to make sure you've checked the weather between flash flooding and exposure to sun.

You want to be aware and take the proper precautions.

As this hike continues, you'll start to feel the gradual elevation change.

You'll also start to see the landscape begin its shift.

And as we planned, it greeted my friend Corey from the Bureau of Land Management is joining us.

Corey, I have to say, you have one of the best jobs.

Yeah, I really like my job.

I work for the Bureau of Land Management as a wildlife biologist for the Red Rocks Sloan and from field offices.

So pretty much everything from the mountains west towards Beatty is everything that I kind of work on.

Talk to us about this area.

So yeah, this area is really cool.

We have the super tall sandstone cliffs up to our left and then we're kind of in the mixed Mojave shrub habitat, kind of leading down towards the highway.

But we have a bunch of really cool canyons that kind of intersect these sandstone cliffs.

And first Creek's going to be really cool because there's usually a lot of water, especially in the spring and winter.

It will dry out as the summer goes along.

But, you know, hopefully there'll be some water there today.

All right.

And how cool.

I have thebest tour guide with me, so let's head on out.

All right.

Well, let's do it.

Let's do it.

I'm hearing something when I hear that sounds like a black throated sparrow going.

This makes me so happy.

Corey, do you look around here?

The surprises.

You'll see.

Look at all of this.

All of a sudden, it's so green, right?

Yeah.

You can tell We're definitely getting closer to where there's a little bit more permanent water.

Corey This is just breathtaking.

It's so beautiful.

We need to take it all in.

Let's close our eyes and just listen to the water.

It's pretty amazing.

It's very peaceful.

It's extremely nice back here.

It's great to find some water.

You know, this is a great hike to come on and to escape the city and experience nature.

I mean, we're surrounded by all kinds of wildlife right now.

All this beauty I've seen.

What are we, some dancing?

We weren't getting a free shower.

Well, we got a couple species of Dragonfly coming in.

The reddish orange ones are flame skimmers.

I don't even know what this really cool large one.

Look at this one.

It came to say hello.

It wants to be part of the show.

Is that cool?

We got really cool.

Dragonflies, damsel flies flying around.

We've also got about Baja California tree frog tadpoles in Red Rock.

We kind of only have about I think it's only two species of frog.

Good to know Red spotted toad and the Baja California tree frog And these are these are definitely the tree frog tadpoles and these are a big size.

Yeah.

some large ones and you can actually see a few that are starting to metamorphosis and get their hind legs on them, which is kind of cool.

That is so cool.

All right, What are we looking for Let me see what we can catch.

There's lots of tadpoles swimmin Let's see.

Okay.

All right.

Got one.

Right?

Okay.

Am I got a damsel fly?

Oh, wow.

Now can they be together or they're going to be.

Oh, so this damsel fly lover, they are predators, but they.

This one is way too small in order to like harm.

Harmony.

Okay.

Pretty low.

And that is a large tadpole.

Yeah, you're right.

Oh, yeah, But you can actually see that it's starting to grow its back legs.

Actually, it's a beautiful iridescent color.

Yeah, it does.

Kind of like a really cool kind of shimmery, iridescent red.

The side of the tail.

Sea frogs are pretty.

Yeah.

And then they get to see the eyes and then the back legs are starting to fall.

So what's going to eventually happen is the legs will continue to grow, the hind legs will continue to grow, and then it'll eventually kind of reabsorb its tail and then fully metamorphosis into a basically a little frog, little like a baby frog in.

How long does that take the process?

It usually takes a maybe like two or three months in order for the full process to occur.

And again, I can't believe I'm saying this, but this tadpole is stunning.

It's gorgeous.

It has like that iridescent orange.

It's almost matching that.

Yeah, right.

The other creatures who are here, what's what's kind of cool is like the bottom of their belly is almost see through.

And you can kind of see, oh, yeah, they're like intestines and organs.

And okay, you're cute.

I shall name you... Iridescent Baby.

All right, what else are we seeing in here that I might not see with my eyes?

Probably lots of stuff.

A lot of times what?

I am coming here and just, like, looking, I'll just kind of take a swipe through the water.

Oh, and then kind of disturb the vegetation and the dirt.

And then see what we can pull up.

Oh, wow.

I don't know.

It's like, is that a baby frog?

So, no, this is a dragonfly larva, so.

Oh, we had a damsel fly larva.

And then look at look at the difference.

Isn't that crazy?

It looks like a cricket.

I know it looks completely different, but this is.

This is.

This could be potentially the flame skimmer larva.

That looks like a cricket.

Yeah, right.

Super big.

Kind of like a Yeah.

That's how we like cricket.

Kind of like a Jerusalem cricket.

Very kind of like fat bodied Big eyes.

from far away, it almost looks like a little frog, right?

Yeah.

Wow.

You can see how well this would blend in.

Yes.

It's like I would never just see it.

Just like looking into the water, but using the sifter, we were able to find it just kind of disturbing.

The the, you know, the dirt on the bottom of the spring.

Cory, This has just been so fascinating.

I'm learning so many new things.

So thank you so much.

You're welcome.

Yeah.

It's been great having you out here.

All right.

I'm going to take it in one more time and just enjoy this beauty.

Yeah.

And I say there's a symphony playing behind us.

Just carry the water from the creek is beautiful.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Super great.

All right, let's head out.

Okay, let's do it First Creek Canyon trail is one of those places.

It's not too far from Las Vegas.

It is easily accessible, not physically overwhelming.

And I mean, take a look.

Take it all in the fresh air, the sights, the sounds.

It's one of those trails that's good for the mind, body and soul and will definitely make your heart happy.

So next time you have some free time, maybe your day off, why not take just a few hours of your day and come out here to First Creek Canyon Trail here at Red Rock Canyon I promise you, you will not regret it.

We'll see you out on the trail.

Until next time.