Table of Contents
Since its inception in 1991, Clark County Wetlands Park has evolved into a major recreational and educational resource for Vegas Valley residents and guests.
The Nature Center opened its doors in 2013 and acts as the centerpiece of Wetlands Park. The 10,000-square-foot Exhibit Gallery at the Nature Center features interactive displays, dioramas, artwork and activities that bring the habitats and wildlife of the park, as well as its history to life.
The Auditorium offers visitors an opportunity to enjoy a variety of themed movies about the Park and the adjacent Meeting Room can be reserved by corporate groups as well as community and non-profit groups for meetings and events.
The Lizard Lounge is a great place for visitors to enjoy amazing views of the Nature Preserve while enjoying a picnic lunch in a climate-controlled area. Light snacks are available in the Nature Store, or bring your own lunch! (No cooking is permitted.) This serves as the only approved area in the Nature Preserve to picnic. Outdoor picnic areas are available at the Duck Creek, Pabco, and Wells Trailheads, as well as at Neighborhood Park.
Nature Preserve
The heart of the Clark County Wetlands Park is the 210-acre Nature Preserve. With three distinct habitats and miles of paved and unpaved trails, visitors can escape both the city and the desert and become immersed in an oasis of tall trees and babbling streams. Over three miles of paved ADA accessible trails wind through cottonwood groves and mesquite bosques, and are crisscrossed by many more miles of unpaved trails that offer visitors a chance to explore and discover nature only a few miles from the hustle of the Las Vegas Strip.
The Nature Preserve is a special area that is intended to protect habitat for wildlife. No dogs, bikes, or picnics are allowed in the Nature Preserve. Picnicking in the Nature Preserve is only allowed at the Picnic Café in the Nature Center. Picnic facilities are also available at park trailheads.
Upper Diversion Weir Bridge: A must-see location in the Park, the Upper Diversion Weir Bridge, AKA “Big Bridge” spanning the Las Vegas Wash puts visitors face to face with the Valley’s urban river. The bridge sits atop the Upper Diversion Weir, the first of 20 weirs along the Wash that slow down the flow of the water, prevent erosion, and help to improve water quality. An average of 180 million gallons of water passes through here every day, mostly originating from Water Treatment facilities located along the Wash.
Boardwalk Pond: One of the best spots to see wildlife in the park, the Boardwalk Pond is a special place that allows visitors to bask in the beauty of water in the desert. Turtles, fish, and birds are often seen in the pond, but remember to never feed wildlife in the Park. It’s not only against the law, it is unhealthy for the animals and promotes unsafe habits around people. They get all the food they need from nature.
Cottonwood Grove:Â Under a canopy of tall Freemont cottonwood trees, visitors can discover the quiet serenity of nature. In the spring, the grove transforms as cottony seeds blow all around resembling falling snow. In autumn, the trees are awash in yellow and gold as the leaves change color. Look for nests big and small in the trees all year round!
North Pond Wildlife Blind:Â Not far from the Big Weir Bridge, the North Pond features a wildlife blind overlooking another pond where visitors may catch a view of birds like great blue herons and egrets. Look around the area for signs of beavers too!
Vern’s Pond & Island: Named for Vern Bostick who was among the first to promote the creation of Wetlands Park. Seeing the potential for conservation, restoration, and recreation in the Las Vegas Wash, Bostick spent many countless hours studying, documenting, and advocating for what is today Wetlands Park. The pond and island that are his namesakes are great places to explore and look for wildlife. A shade structure and several benches on the island offer the chance to sit back, reflect, and revel in the beauty of nature.
Wetlands Park Trails Open Daily
Park Trails and Trailheads are open during daylight hours every day.Â
Wetlands Park is free to visit.
Park Trails, Trailhead Parking, and Trailhead Restrooms
Open Daily Dawn to DuskÂ
Nature Center
Visit the Exhibit Gallery, Nature Store, Auditorium, and Lizard Lounge picnic room
Open Tuesday – Sunday, 9 am to 3 pm
Programs and Events
Interpretive programs for the entire family
Our community calendar features all the programs offered at Clark County Wetlands Park through the year
Â
- Discovery Walks
- Wetlands Birding Walks
- Arts & Crafts for Kids
- Art programs for teens and adults
- Storytimes
- Wetlands Explorers
- Fun with Animal Tracks
- Special Events throughout the year
Wetlands Threads: An Art Quilt Exhibit
Featuring members of Art Quilters Etc, a group of approximately 50 talented artists who work in many mediums but primarily in fabric. They have been organized under the umbrella of Desert Quilters of Nevada.
Find more information at www.dqnv.org.
Opening Reception:
Nature Center Information Kiosk
Saturday, September 10, 10-11:30am
View the Exhibit:
August 20 – September 30
Tues-Sun, 9am-3pm
Nature Preserve Trails
The Wetlands Park Nature Preserve is a 210-acre section of the park that is home to hundreds of species of animals. The Preserve includes ponds, three miles of paved ADA accessible trails, restrooms, and a network of connecting unpaved trails and shady lanes that provide hours of nature exploration. Nature Preserve trails are accessed from the main parking lot by the Nature Preserve and Neighborhood Park. Click here for the map of Nature Preserve trails.
The Nature Preserve is intended to be a safe place for wildlife. Dogs and bikes are not allowed on the trails in the Nature Preserve as their presence can be disruptive to wildlife. Leashed dogs are permitted on the Duck Creek Trails and Wetlands Loop Trail as well as at other Park Trailheads. Bikes are allowed on the Wetlands Loop Trail.
Wetlands Loop Trail
The 14-mile Wetlands Loop Trail is a multi-use trail shared by hikers, joggers, cyclists, and dog-walkers alike. The trail is not approved for equestrian or motor vehicle use. It serves as a perimeter trail in the park and loops around both the north and south sides of the Las Vegas Wash.
Wetlands Loop North is fully paved and begins at Neighborhood Park in near Tropicana Avenue, crosses the Big Weir Bridge over the Las Vegas Wash and continues seven miles east to the Powerline Crossing Bridge near Lake Las Vegas.
From the Powerline Crossing Bridge, the Wetlands Loop South trail meets up with Wells, Pabco, and Duck Creek Trailheads and ends at Wetlands Park Lane near the Nature Center. The final 2.5 miles of the Wetlands Loop South trail is unpaved and may not be appropriate for some road bikes. Terrazza Park (Henderson Parks & Recreation) is also adjacent to the Wetlands Loop Trail and also serves as access to the trail.
The Wetlands Loop connects with other Valley trails, including the 34-mile River Mountains Loop Trail near Powerline Crossing Bridge and Lake Las Vegas, as well as the Flamingo-Arroyo Trail near Sunrise Trailhead and Duck Creek Trail near the Duck Creek Trailhead.
Duck Creek Trails
Three trails radiate from the Duck Creek Trailhead. Quail Run, Duck Creek, and Coyote Howl Trails are short paved trails through tall shrubs, grass, and trees. Look for animal tracks along the trail. All three trails end at Dragonfly Divide, an unpaved portion of the Wetlands Loop Trail. Dragonfly Divide ends near the Nature Preserve.
Special Use Trails
Bicycle Trails
Bicycles are permitted only on the Wetlands Loop Trail. This is a fourteen mile loop trail that is paved for approximately 9.5 miles. The final 2.5 miles is unpaved and may not be appropriate for road bikes. Access to this trail can be found at Neighborhood Park, as well as the Duck Creek, Pabco, Wells, and Sunrise Trailheads. Click here to download the Bike Trails Map.
Dog-Friendly Trails
Leashed pets are permitted at all of the Park Trailheads, Duck Creek Trails, and the Wetlands Loop Trail. Dogs are not allowed in the Nature Preserve. This is to protect the habitat for wildlife and to as ensure safety of pets as well.
Equestrian Trails
Horses are allowed on unpaved trails north of the Las Vegas Wash. These trails are accessed at Sunrise Trailhead (currently closed—parking is permitted along E. Hollywood Blvd). Pabco Trailhead also features horse trailer parking and access to the unpaved portions and side trails along the Wetlands Loop South trail. Horses are not allowed in the Nature Preserve or bridges in the Park.
Trailheads
Duck Creek Trailhead
Duck Creek Trails are short and sweet. These accessible trails wind through tall shrubs, grass, and small trees. Look for fun animal tracks stamped into the concrete.
- Leashed dogs are allowed on trails, but please help protect wildlife by not allowing dogs near ponds
- Shaded picnic tables (no fires or grills allowed)
- Restrooms
- Dog bag stations
- Human and canine water fountain
- Paved parking lot (no bus or trailer parking)
Wetlands Neighborhood Park
- This place is for the child in all of us!
- Climbable art in the form of Wetlands Park wildlife
- Climbing wall
- Look for fun animal outlines and tracks stamped into the concrete.
- Turf
- Access to Nature Preserve Trails
- Picnic table (no fires or grills allowed)
- Located on Hollywood Circle north of Wetlands Park Lane
Sunrise Trailhead
- Access to the Flamingo Arroyo bicycle trail
- Amazing views of the Las Vegas Valley
- Access to the paved 6.5 mile segment of the Wetlands Park loop trail along the north side of the Las Vegas Wash to Lake Las Vegas
- Access to a network of paved trails looping through beautiful desert scrub habitat
- No water
- 20 acre complex
- Parking for automobiles, horse trailers, and buses (Parking lot closed)
- Waterless restroom (Closed due to damage)
- Shaded picnic tables (no fires or grills allowed)
- Open dawn to dusk
- Located on South Hollywood Blvd. 2.5 miles South of East Vegas Valley Dr.
Pabco Trailhead
- Views of Las Vegas Wash and Pabco Weir
- Beautiful mature trees and thick riparian habitat
- Shaded amphitheater
- Shaded picnic tables (no fires or grills allowed)
- Waterless restroom
- Parking for automobiles, horse trailers, and buses
- Equestrian staging area; hitch racks
- Connection to Wetlands Park loop trail along the south side of the Las Vegas Wash (unpaved)
- Open dawn to dusk
- Trailhead entrance at the intersection of Russell Road and Weston Ridge Street linkÂ
Bostick Interpretive Area
- Views of the Las Vegas Wash and rapids over the Bostick Weir
- Interpretive panels and demonstration of habitat restoration
- Open dawn to dusk
- Planned connection to Wetlands Park Loop Trail
- Shade structures
- Access is currently impeded by construction of erosion-control structures
Wells Trailhead
- Short walk through desert scrub habitat leads you to a hilltop viewing area with benches, providing enjoyable vistas of the Las Vegas Wash
- Waterless restrooms
- Open dawn to dusk
- Connection to Wetlands Park loop trail along the south side of the Las Vegas Wash (unpaved)
- Shaded picnic tables (no fires or grills allowed)
- Located one mile west of Powerline Crossing on Galleria Drive.
Powerline Crossing
- Views of the Las Vegas Wash
- Access to Lake Las Vegas
- Connections to the Wetlands Park Loop Trail, Galleria Drive towards Wells Trailhead, and the River Mountain Loop Trail connector.
- Located near City of Henderson’s Terrazza Park 0.2 miles from Lake Las Vegas.
