If there is one thing Inspirada residents enjoy as much as the Raiders, it would be hiking. One local organization, Friends of Sloan Canyon, has made it its mission to preserve the area’s beautiful landscape for future generations to enjoy. Get to know the Friends of Sloan Canyon and learn how you can support the stewardship of Henderson’s most popular outdoor recreation areas.
What Is Friends of Sloan Canyon?
Friends of Sloan Canyon is a nonprofit started in 2003 by a group of passionate educators and public lands advocates. Its mission is to provide community support and educational resources that enhance the protection, conservation, and public enjoyment of the Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area.
In 2015, Friends of Sloan Canyon entered into a partnership with the Bureau of Land Management to help coordinate volunteer efforts supporting Sloan Canyon education and stewardship, including trail monitoring and maintenance, community outreach, and more.
Throughout the year, the group organizes guided hikes and an Introduction to Backyard Astronomy program that shows families how to use simple binoculars to navigate and explore the night sky. Friends of Sloan Canyon also hosts presentations by experts in archeology, wildlife management, and other experts that talk about the wonders of our local public lands — you can tune in to a live stream via Facebook or YouTube.
How To Volunteer
Getting involved in supporting the stewardship of Sloan Canyon is easy! You can give your time by volunteering to be a part of periodic litter pickup or trail maintenance crews, which are organized once a month or so for a few hours on a weekend or weekday morning. The organization is also always looking for people to help with community outreach, or you can be a trail monitor who hikes assigned trails and reports on trail conditions.
If you’d like to be involved but are not the outdoor type, Friends of Sloan Canyon accepts donations of any size to help fund yearly events and stewardship activities.
Tips for Hiking Sloan Canyon
Sloan Canyon is a wonderful area to relax, explore, and have fun. If you decide to spend time at Sloan, keep these hiking safety tips in mind while on the trail:
- Wear sturdy, closed-toed shoes and clothing that protects you from the desert elements. You may see people on the trail with large, wide-brimmed hats. They aren’t a fashion statement; those hats are designed to protect your face, ears, and neck from the sun’s rays. Also, consider wearing long-sleeved clothing — both shirts and pants. It may seem counter-intuitive, but that protection from the sun will help ensure you stay safe and comfortable.
- Bring a face mask. Keep a face mask with you for encounters with other hikers. It is polite to don your mask when approaching and passing others on the trail.
- Bring more water with you than you think you will need. During the dry hotter months, perspiration evaporates away instantly, and many people cannot feel how much they are sweating. Returning to your car with extra water is preferable to running out on a hot, dry stretch of trail with few if any opportunities for shade.
- Watch out for critter encounters. To avoid negative run-ins with venomous creatures, such as rattlesnakes, avoid stepping over obstacles blind. You should be able to see every spot you’re placing your hands and feet.
- Take a paper map with you. Having digital maps on your phone is very convenient, but a mobile phone battery power depletes, especially while using GPS services. Download any digital maps you want to take along, as a mobile signal does not reach many parts of the National Conservation Area.
- Let a friend know where you’re going and when you’re expected to return. If you happen to have a mishap on the trail and cannot contact emergency services, having someone be able to contact emergency services will get help to you faster.
Do the Friends of Sloan Canyon sound like the perfect opportunity to get you outside and help the community? We know we’re feeling inspired! When you live at Inspirada, you’ll never have to travel far to experience the great outdoors. Explore our inventory of move-in ready homes to help you find the perfect home base.