Henderson’s Black Mountain Nature Preserve Could Make Hidden Trails Official

Henderson has some outdoor spaces that locals have quietly loved for years, and the area around Black Mountain is one of them. Now, the city is moving forward with plans for a proposed 1,300-acre Black Mountain Nature Preserve at the southern tip of Henderson, taking land that many people already hike informally and turning it into an official outdoor destination.

What I like about this project is that it recognizes something locals already know: Henderson has incredible desert access right in its backyard. The property is city-owned and has been used for years through informal “social trails,” which are paths created naturally by people hiking the area over time. Instead of starting from scratch, Henderson’s plan is to improve many of those existing routes and bring them up to city standards.

The proposed preserve would be located near Horizon Ridge Parkway and I-11, making it feel tucked away while still being easy to reach from nearby neighborhoods and major roads. That balance is a big deal. You could be minutes from the freeway, but once you’re out on the trail, the views, desert landscape, and open space can make it feel like you’re far from the city.

A few key features planned for the Black Mountain Nature Preserve include:

The project is being supported by a $5.5 million grant from the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act, which uses proceeds from certain federal land sales in the Las Vegas Valley to fund conservation and public projects. That makes this more than just a park improvement — it is part of a larger effort to preserve open space while still giving residents better access to outdoor recreation.

One of the most exciting parts of the plan is how it connects with other outdoor areas. The preserve is expected to link with Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area, Hidden Falls Park, Amargosa Trail, and McCullough Hills Trail. For hikers, walkers, trail runners, and nature lovers, that could help create a much stronger outdoor network across southern Henderson.

The city is still in the design phase, with construction targeted for early 2027 and a possible official opening by the end of that year. The goal is to keep the project low-impact, using existing trails where possible instead of cutting new ones through sensitive desert areas. That approach matters because the preserve is not just about recreation — it is also about protecting the natural landscape that makes this area special.

My take is this: the Black Mountain Nature Preserve could become one of Henderson’s most important outdoor amenities. It takes a place locals already use and love, adds safety and structure, protects the desert environment, and connects neighborhoods to a larger trail system. For a growing city like Henderson, projects like this help preserve the balance between development, recreation, and open space.

Project: Black Mountain Nature Preserve
Location: Southern tip of Henderson, near Horizon Ridge Parkway and I-11
Size: Approximately 1,300 acres
Funding: $5.5 million grant from the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act
Current Status: Design phase
Target Construction Start: Early 2027
Potential Opening: End of 2027
Planned Trailhead: End of Buckhorn Street
Planned Amenities: Trailhead, parking lot, picnic tables, two overlooks, solar-powered restroom, solar-powered lighting, and water-efficient landscaping
Trail Plan: Improve existing social trails and bring them up to city standards
Nearby Connections: Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area, Hidden Falls Park, Amargosa Trail, and McCullough Hills Trail
Good For: Hiking, walking, trail running, nature access, scenic views, outdoor learning, neighborhood recreation, and low-impact desert exploration
Community Benefit: Preserves open space, improves trail safety, formalizes longtime hiking routes, and gives Henderson residents better access to nature.