Red Rock during the federal shut down

Heard they had blm or police at the gate and were moderating the number of cars allowed in today to keep it from getting overcrowded.

It seems a bit ironic to man the gate and not charge the entry fee though.. I would be surprised if entry fees weren't enough to pay all of their employees to work as usual

A couple days ago the loop road was two hours late to open (8am instead of 6am) but yesterday was open at 6:45am. It has been closing at odd times, early afternoon due to over-crowding, a few days this week. Basically, don't expect normal hours and have a backup plan. But when it's open, there's no one collecting entry fees. 

Does anyone have an update for how busy the Lovell Campsite is? Or has anyone figured out a mother closer camping spot?

Katrina Suzuki Foote wrote: Does anyone have an update for how busy the Lovell Campsite is? Or has anyone figured out a mother closer camping spot?

There's LOTS of desert between RR and Lovell...use yer imagination!

Me and a few friends camped in Lovell Canyon up until last night, there are certainly a substantial amount of people, but there are PLENTY of open campsites. The sideroads branch of into about 20-10 campsites a piece, and we had no trouble finding space. You will be able to access more secluded campsites the higher ground clearance your car has. As mentioned early in this thread it is DEFINITELY NOT RECOMMENDED to try and do dispersed camping anywhere but Lovell. Rangers (of which there is at least one still patrolling) have been known to give hefty fines to those who are found camping in areas outside Lovell. Weather is supposed to be nice today so get out there and enjoy it!!!

Lovell is the closest legal dispersed camping to RR.  I saw at least 10 sprinters and vans camping by black velvet yesterday morning and one jeep cherokee 30 yards off the highway.  Please just drive the 10 minutes further to Lovell, this isn't just the empty desert...  This is a place 5 minutes from a metropolis of 2 million people in a concentrated area with 2.5 million annual visitors.  
Thanks for asking what the conditions are, thanks for being a good steward.

JF1 wrote: Lovell is the closest legal dispersed camping to RR.  I saw at least 10 sprinters and vans camping by black velvet yesterday morning and one jeep cherokee 30 yards off the highway.  Please just drive the 10 minutes further to Lovell, this isn't just the empty desert...  This is a place 5 minutes from a metropolis of 2 million people in a concentrated area with 2.5 million annual visitors.  
Thanks for asking what the conditions are, thanks for being a good steward.

Oh come on, Sprinter vans with their awnings out at night definitely aren't camping.  Also of note, aren't the van folks immune from the rules of the land? Their deluxed cargo vans are like camouflage, only different.

Any update on loop road hours / traffic?

tradjunkie wrote: Any update on loop road hours / traffic?

Any update on the government shut down?

There's your answer. And will BE your answer until that changes.

Assume normal operating hours and high traffic during weekends. It's a little cold.

I was there on new years and the scene loop was open when I arrived around 2pm. Gates were open but no one was collecting fees. Parking was a mess and the lots were overflowing so people parked along the road. We left the exit gate a little past 5pm and it was still open. Not sure how long it stays open for, though it did look like the entry gate was closed at 5pm as expected.

tradjunkie wrote: Any update on loop road hours / traffic?

Go early, parking is filling up and they're closing the gates in the afternoon if things get too hectic.

I saw a ranger when I was there Monday.  It's not entirely lawless.  Yet.

Mo Cheng wrote: I messaged some friends I went BLM sight we camped at last year. No water, but you're allowed to have camp fires. It's on the very western end of W Tropical PKWY. Parking for vans for miles. The nearest intersection is below. Only 12 minutes away from town guys! Save $$$ on that gas :) I'll be camping here for the next few days. Looking for a trad multipitch partner if anyone is interested.

W Tropical Pkwy & N Shaumber Rd
Las Vegas, NV 89166  

Mo Cheng wrote
Lovell camp ground is about 41 minutes away, but it looks like there's plenty of free camping space. If your van is low key, a lot of people have been taking their chances with camping at the Red Rocks casino parking lot.

41 minutes? Not so much unless you are driving a motorized scooter or a fast burro.  Not that there's anything wrong with that.

From the turnoff to the RR campground to the turnoff for Lovell Canyon is maaaybe 30 minutes at any hour someone would be making that commute to go climbing for the day or end of day.  And that is with the current construction ongoing at Mountain Springs.

Bonus of camping out at Lovell?  You can pop into the Mountain Springs Saloon on your way back for an adult beverage of your choice and get to enjoy one classic Nevadastani saloon.  Get done earlier than expected because you're that fast on Solar Slab or Levitation or whatever?  They have a kick ass spot to hang outside and good BBQ.  May not have starbucks and a vegan cafe, but you're in Nevada.  

Weston L wrote:

From the turnoff to the RR campground to the turnoff for Lovell Canyon is maaaybe 30 minutes...

Don't forget about the construction on State Route 160. The highway from about the Cottonwood Valley turn-off, over the Mountain Springs summit, almost all the way to the Lovell Canyon turn-off, is now a major construction site as state Department of Transportation widens the highway from two to four lanes. They've been in the blasting phase for three months now. 

Here is an advisory from S.R. 160 Widening, Las Vegas, NV DOT
"SR-160 Blasting near Mt Potosi on Monday, January 7th at 12:45 pm - expect up to a two hour delay from Cottonwood Pass Road to Pahrump Road in Clark County Nevada."

Here is some information from NV Highway 160 Construction Updates
"This is a construction zone. Normal work hours are Monday - Friday 6:30am – 2:30pm. During this time you should expect delays of 5-30 minutes."

This is promising!
I wonder if they will reopen immediately/completely, or collect fees for a couple days and do a tiered opening trash-> bathrooms->campground...

I have heard that the toll booths are operating today for the first time in about two weeks at Red Rock.

I'm "shocked" that it took the Department of Interior this long to figure things out. News flash: "If we stop collecting fees, we'll lose a lot of money!" It's ponderous to me to think of how the lack of fee collection at Red Rock led to such overcrowding during the holidays. I'm certain that the crowds would have been somewhat less if the gates weren't thrown wide open during one of the busiest times of the year.

Mo Cheng wrote: I messaged some friends I went BLM sight we camped at last year. No water, but you're allowed to have camp fires. It's on the very western end of W Tropical PKWY. Parking for vans for miles. The nearest intersection is below. Only 12 minutes away from town guys! Save $$$ on that gas :) I'll be camping here for the next few days. Looking for a trad multipitch partner if anyone is interested.

W Tropical Pkwy & N Shaumber Rd
Las Vegas, NV 89166  

Has anyone been staying here without issue?

Arrived at the Scenic Loop non-early 10:30 on Sunday. Three entry booths operating, say 10-minute wait. No problem parking at 2PO, despite perfect weather on a weekend. Great day.

Ken

 The BLM has asked us to make an announcement that the Campground is open and taking reservations (48hrs from arrival date).
 They do have 1-day drop-ins, but as the climbing season ramps up it will be imperative that individuals and groups go to recreation.gov to reserve sites -- they are already filling up.

https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/250877