Avi Kwa Ame National Monument ~ Showing Up and Showing Off

JUNE 2025

The monument was blessed with a bit of rain a few weeks back, and it’s such a treat to see some things blooming! Board Member Ilene Thompson is a dedicated hiker who is out in the monument nearly every week. Recently, she was out on the New York Mountains Trail and the Castle Mountains Loop. The latter is where she came across a beautiful desert willow in bloom tucked into a narrow part of the canyon.

Because of the elevation, these hiking spots can be about 10 degrees cooler than Las Vegas, but don’t let that fool you—head out early before it gets too hot, bring lots of water, and keep a watchful eye out for desert tortoises which are more likely to be out and about this time of year. Thank you to Ilene for this beautiful glimpse into Avi Kwa Ame National Monument!