Cold Creek is a popular community for residents of Las Vegas and nearby locations to purchase second homes, away from large cities. The community's isolated location provides little light pollution coming from Las Vegas at night. Cold Creek has a homeowners association.[2]
History
In the 1930s, Cold Creek served as a dude ranch called Cold Creek Ranch. Stacy Irvin, curator of education at the Nevada State Museum, says, “Dude ranches were popular after the law for quickie divorces was passed in Nevada. Women would stay there for six weeks in order to get Nevada residency and be eligible for a divorce."[3] The ranch now exists as a historic site.
In June 1981, the Mack's Canyon Fire burned 6,500 acres of forest on Bonanza Peak, just southwest of Cold Creek. The scar caused by the wildfire is still visible, with only sparse vegetation and plant remains populating the area as of 2023.[4][5]
Cold Creek Road looking west
Infrastructure
Cold Creek is served by the Clark County Fire Department with a fire station and has no commercial businesses. The community is primarily accessed by Cold Creek Road, a paved road which heads northeast from the community to intersect with U.S. Route 95 at the High Desert State Prison.[6]
Cold Creek is located within the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area and has Cold Creek Ranch Historic Site. Parking lots serve multiple trails in the area which are popularly traveled on horseback.
Willow Creek Campground, located west of Cold Creek, is accessible from the community via Wheeler Pass Road.
Bonanza Trailhead and Group Camp, located south of Cold Creek, is accessible from the community via Bonanza Camp Road.[11]
Cold Creek Canyon Trailhead
A spring in Cold Creek, with the Spring Mountains in the background
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