Carpenter Canyon facts for kids
Carpenter Canyon is a beautiful valley located on the western side of the Spring Mountains in southern Nevada. It's partly inside the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest in Clark County. This canyon is west of the famous Las Vegas Valley.
You can reach Carpenter Canyon by taking State Route 160 and then Carpenter Canyon Road. This road is a dirt path that goes about 10 miles into the mountains and the national forest.
One special thing about Carpenter Canyon is its clearwater stream, called Carpenter Canyon Creek. This creek flows all year long! It's home to a small group of trout, which is pretty rare in the Spring Mountains and the Mojave Desert.
Contents
Exploring Carpenter Canyon's Nature
How the Mountains Were Formed
The Spring Mountains are like a big wall that separates different areas. To the west, they divide the Pahrump Valley and the upper Amargosa River basin. To the east, they separate the Las Vegas Valley, which drains into the Colorado River.
Because of this, the mountains help define the edges of two major natural areas: the Great Basin and the Mojave Desert. You can find many natural springs in places like the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, which is on the eastern side of the mountains. One of these important springs feeds the Carpenter Canyon Creek.
Plants You Might See
As you explore Carpenter Canyon, you'll notice different kinds of plants depending on how high up you go.
Lower Canyon Plants
In the lower parts of Carpenter Canyon, you'll mostly see Creosote bush and golden native bunchgrasses. These plants are very good at living in dry areas.
Mid-Elevation Plants
As you go higher, you'll start to see more Banana yucca, Mojave yucca, and the famous Joshua Tree. Small flowering plants also become common here.
Higher Elevation Plants
Around 5,000 feet (about 1,500 meters) in elevation, Utah Juniper trees and Single-leaf Pinyon trees start to appear. Above this height, these trees become the most common plants.
Creekside Plants
Closer to where the creek starts, and at the very top of the canyon, you'll find Ponderosa Pine trees and many different kinds of flowering plants. This includes a special native flower called the Desert Columbine (Aquilegia shockleyi). Along the banks of the creek, you'll also see riparian plants like Fremont Cottonwood. These plants love to grow near water.
