Eye-opening night hike set for Saturday at Ice Age Fossils State Park

LAS VEGAS ( KLAS ) — A night hike scheduled Saturday at Ice Age Fossils State Park in the north valley will open your eyes and ears to the bats, owls and creepy crawlies of the Las Vegas Wash.

The park promoted the event with a photo of a scorpion glowing under a UV flashlight. Scorpions have material in their exoskeletons that makes them bioluminescent — a fancy way to say they glow in the dark.

The self-guided hike starts when you check in at Monumental Mammoth Plaza at 8660 N. Decatur Blvd. The hike is limited to 100 people, and there were still openings on Friday afternoon. To register and for more information, go to the park’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/IceAgeFossils . If you show up without registering, you will be turned away.

The $3 entry fee (for people 13 or older) applies, and you’ll have to pay by card or use your State Park pass to participate. Cash will not be accepted. Children 17 or under must be accompanied by an adult and stay with that adult. The

The hike will follow a 1.5-mile trail over uneven terrain. There are steep slopes, as well as some steps and gravel surfaces. Other details about the hike:

• Participants must arrive between 6:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. If you arrive outside of that time frame the gates will be closed. All visitors must exit the park by 8:30 p.m.
• Flashlights are required (minimum of 1 for every 4 people) and red lights are preferred since they are less disruptive to wildlife. UV flashlights are welcome if you are looking for fluorescent wildlife.
• Dogs/pets are not allowed on the hike.

The Ice Age Fossils State Park visitor center and museum will be closed during the event, but the restrooms will be open.

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