Skip Navigation
Beauty shot of water and surrounding vegetation at Las Vegas Wash
A historic photo of a Southern Paiute and wickiup along the Las Vegas Wash

Early Paiutes left an impression on the Wash

The Las Vegas Wash has served an important role for human activity for thousands of years.

November's National American Indian Heritage Month seemed like the perfect time to reflect on the rich history of indigenous people using the Wash for water, food and shelter.

Through the efforts of the Las Vegas Wash Coordination Committee, much of this history has been preserved, studied and analyzed.

Some of the discoveries that have been made include a manipulated stone used for scrapping called a Clovis point that dated back to 12,000 years ago, the earliest evidence of corn in Southern Nevada (350 BC), and hundreds of pit structures used for storage.

Dig into the history of the Las Vegas Wash.

Where to go at the Las Vegas Wash

Clark County Wetlands Park

  • 210-acre Nature Preserve
  • Miles of trails for walking, biking, bird watching and more
  • Nature Center with 10,000 square feet of interactive displays, artwork and activities

 

Get Directions

 

Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve

  • Home to thousands of migratory and resident desert birds
  • Nine ponds available for birding
  • 3/4-mile long trail accessible by wheelchair

 

Get Directions

Water quality

See how the wetlands at the Wash clean the water that runs through them, filtering out harmful residues from fertilizers, oils and other contaminants that flow downstream.

Revegetation

Find out how we are working to replace hundreds of acres of lost wetlands vegetation through restoration efforts.

Wildlife

Learn how we study hundreds of birds, fish and other wildlife species at the Las Vegas Wash.

Wildlife research


Get your hands dirty for a great cause at the next Green-Up!

Held once a year in the spring, our Green-Up planting events along the Las Vegas Wash are great for conservationists and activists of all ages and create much-needed habitat for wildlife, reduce erosion and improve water quality. While this year's event has already taken place with 210 volunteers planting more than 3,500 native trees and shrubs, registration for the next Green-Up will open in January 2025.

Learn More

Upcoming events and meetings

Sunset at the Las Vegas Wash with reeds in the foreground.
A walkway weaves through the Las Vegas Wash
Birds stand along the shore of the Las Vegas Wash at the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve
A family of geese walks along the Las Vegas Wash
A beauty shot of the Las Vegas Wash with mountains in the background

Birding After Hours at the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve

Nov. 15, 2024, 4 - 6 p.m.

Get details.

Birding Walk at the Clark County Wetlands Park

Nov. 23, 2024, 8 - 10 a.m.

Get details.

Bird Walk at theHenderson Bird Viewing Preserve

Nov. 24, 2024, 7:30 - 9:30 a.m.

Get details.

Hike & Seek Walk at the Clark County Wetlands Park

Nov. 24, 2024, 9 - 11 a.m.

Get details.

Meetings

No meetings scheduled for November