Plans for a 1,300-acre nature preserve with established trails at the southern tip of Henderson are taking shape and could be ready for construction to begin early next year, officials say.
The city’s Black Mountain Nature Preserve project will transform the area using a $5.5 million grant from the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act, which diverts the proceeds from the sale of certain federal lands in the Las Vegas Valley to pay for conservation and public projects, according to Amie Wojtech, the city’s park planning manager.
Southern Nevadans have hiked the city-owned property for years, mostly on “social trails” that are informal, she said.
“It’s an area that is going to allow people to come out, hike and get into nature,” Wojtech said. “It can feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere, but you can still just be within a few minutes of being able to catch I-11.”
The well-loved area is ringed by Horizon Ridge Parkway and I-11, with easy access to several developed neighborhoods. This project will connect to Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area, Hidden Falls Park, Amargosa Trail and McCullough Hills Trail.
‘Unique natural destination’
Plans submitted to the city include a preserve trailhead site at the end of Buckhorn Street, as well as two overlooks. The trailhead would feature lights and a restroom powered by solar panels, a parking lot, picnic tables and decorative, water-efficient landscaping.
While the project is still in the design phase with a target construction in early 2027, Wojtech said she hopes the city can open it officially by the end of that year. Wojtech’s team is making every effort to create trails that blend in with and do not disrupt the natural environment, she added.
“We will be taking advantage of the trails that have been carved out from people just using the area,” Wojtech said. “We’ll bring those up to city standards and use those, as opposed to creating new trails.”
In a letter to Henderson officials, senior landscape architect Doug Prouty, with the firm Lage Design, pitched the project as an enduring investment in recreation.
“The preserve will become an integral part of the region’s open space network, providing current and future generations with a unique natural destination,” Prouty wrote. “Designed as a low-impact development, the project will protect sensitive plant and animal species while promoting outdoor exploration and learning.”
Wojtech agrees.
“It’ll be a very, very enjoyable amenity for the public to use once we get it built,” she said.
Contact Alan Halaly at ahalaly@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AlanHalaly on X.
