Desert Photo Explorers

The Anniversary Mine in Lake Mead's Muddy Mountains was a significant borax (colemanite) mine from 1921-1928, leaving behind ruins and tunnels, and giving its name to the famous Anniversary Narrows slot canyon, a popular hiking spot for its geological beauty and old mining.

Join us getting our FEET WET in this stunning local secret. Located off of Northshore Road's mile marker 16 to Callville Wash N. Rd. We will hike through a dry riverbed to this slot, which is about 2-3 miles of hiking. Water was present as of 12/18/2025, in one section, going up to knee level. This spot is as stunning as it is COLD.

Around 1pm to 2pm, the sunlight may hit the first section of the slot canyon that contains small pools (if water is still there).

We will walk through the entire slot canyon to the other side, which goes into an open hidden valley within Muddy Mountain.

MEETUP INFO:
We will meet at 12pm at the start of Callville Wash N. Rd (mile marker 16 on Northshore Rd). We will then drive down as a group to the location, as GPS does not recognize this region for navigation.

Road conditions to the Slot are suitable for most vehicle types, though high clearance is recommended.

This is around a 1 hour drive from Las Vegas, so please plan accordingly to arrive on time. Add in a few extra minutes to pay the entry fee (below) as there is often a line of vehicles on weekend mornings.

MEETUP FEES:
There is a $25 fee (per vehicle) to enter Lake Mead National Recreation Area. There are kiosks at the entrances where you can pay this charge. If you have an America the Beautiful pass that will cover this entrance fee.

There is no additional Meetup fee for this event.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY:
This event requires a hike carrying your gear around 2-3 miles across loose gravel and through a slot that requires lifting yourself up and lowering yourself down through boulders that block the slot. It does NOT require technical climbing skills, but use of both hands and good balance. There is little to no elevation gain. The hike to the slot is a mix of shade and sun exposure, then in the slots it is fully shaded. Bring water!

DESERT PHOTO EXPLORERS LIABILITY DISCLAIMER AND ASSUMPTION OF RISK:
By submitting your RSVP and participating in any Desert Photo Explorers event, you acknowledge and agree to the following:

1. Assumption of Risk: You understand and voluntarily accept that outdoor activities such as hiking, off-roading, and photography carry inherent risks, including but not limited to injury, property damage, or other unforeseen harm. You agree to assume full responsibility for your participation and the participation of your guest(s).
2. Release of Liability: To the fullest extent permitted by law, you release and discharge the Organizer(s), Event Host(s), and any affiliated individuals or entities from any and all liability for injury, damage, loss, or claims arising from your participation in any event, including those caused by negligence.
3. Personal Responsibility: You confirm that you have reviewed all event instructions, understand the requirements, and agree to participate at your own risk. You are solely responsible for assessing your physical fitness, skills, and preparedness to participate in any event.
4. Guest Responsibility: If you bring guest(s), you agree to communicate these terms to them and accept responsibility for their compliance.

By submitting your RSVP, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to this liability disclaimer and assumption of risk. You further agree that your RSVP submission constitutes your electronic signature.

This is becoming an annual tradition because if offers so many interesting photo opportunities and it’s an event our members really seem to enjoy!

Hot Air Balloons may not be the fastest way to fly the skies, but you can’t argue that they can be among the most colorful! Let’s take the opportunity to shoot these brightly colored balloons at the annual Mesquite Hot Air Balloon Festival taking place from January 23-25. Our official DPE day will be on Saturday, January 25, but feel free to attend and enjoy any or all of the days!

As the sun goes down, a balloon glow will take place in the evening (6-7pm), offering a beautiful photo opportunity of inflated balloons lit by their burners. And early each morning the balloons will take flight (weather permitting) for more photo opportunities as they go up, up and away! Spectators are invited to walk among the inflated hot air balloons on display for an up-close experience.

The Festival takes place at the Casablanca Resort in Mesquite, NV.

Click here for more information about the Mesquite Hot Air Balloon Festival

Note that the balloon events are weather dependent, so the schedule could change without notice.

You can photograph this event and then also come to the a second, optional Meetup at Little Mt. Rushmore.

MEETUP INFO:
This is a NO HOST meetup; information is being posted solely to make DPE members aware of this event. If anyone plans to attend and wants to meet other group members, drop a note in the discussion section.

Mesquite is around a 90 minute drive from Las Vegas, so plan accordingly to arrive in time for the scheduled event(s).

The event schedule can be found online here.

MEETUP FEES:
There are no fees for this Meetup.

DESERT PHOTO EXPLORERS LIABILITY DISCLAIMER AND ASSUMPTION OF RISK:
By submitting your RSVP and participating in any Desert Photo Explorers event, you acknowledge and agree to the following:

1. Assumption of Risk: You understand and voluntarily accept that outdoor activities such as hiking, off-roading, and photography carry inherent risks, including but not limited to injury, property damage, or other unforeseen harm. You agree to assume full responsibility for your participation and the participation of your guest(s).
2. Release of Liability: To the fullest extent permitted by law, you release and discharge the Organizer(s), Event Host(s), and any affiliated individuals or entities from any and all liability for injury, damage, loss, or claims arising from your participation in any event, including those caused by negligence.
3. Personal Responsibility: You confirm that you have reviewed all event instructions, understand the requirements, and agree to participate at your own risk. You are solely responsible for assessing your physical fitness, skills, and preparedness to participate in any event.
4. Guest Responsibility: If you bring guest(s), you agree to communicate these terms to them and accept responsibility for their compliance.

By submitting your RSVP, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to this liability disclaimer and assumption of risk. You further agree that your RSVP submission constitutes your electronic signature.

Once the hot air balloons drift off into the morning sky, we will head down the highway for a stop at one of Nevada’s most unusual roadside surprises. Little Mt. Rushmore sits tucked into a sandstone outcrop, a quirky set of hand-carved faces and figures created by local resident Pete Karns, a former Winter Olympian with a big imagination.

The carvings range from a mini Mt. Rushmore to Lady Liberty, Easter Island statues, a Sphinx, Peanuts characters, and scattered emojis and petroglyph-style designs. It is part folk art, part desert doodle, and completely part of the weird Nevada culture.

Join us after the balloon launch or meet us there for a short standalone outing. It is an easy spot to explore with plenty of fun details to photograph.

MEETUP INFO:
We will meet in the parking lot of the Flying J truck stop off I-15 at Lower Flat Top Drive. Look for the white Jeep Gladiator.

Mesquite is around a 90 minute drive from Las Vegas, so plan accordingly to arrive in time for the scheduled event(s). If you are coming from the hot air balloon festival, it would be around 15 minutes away.

MEETUP FEES:
There are no fees for this Meetup.

DESERT PHOTO EXPLORERS LIABILITY DISCLAIMER AND ASSUMPTION OF RISK:
By submitting your RSVP and participating in any Desert Photo Explorers event, you acknowledge and agree to the following:

1. Assumption of Risk: You understand and voluntarily accept that outdoor activities such as hiking, off-roading, and photography carry inherent risks, including but not limited to injury, property damage, or other unforeseen harm. You agree to assume full responsibility for your participation and the participation of your guest(s).
2. Release of Liability: To the fullest extent permitted by law, you release and discharge the Organizer(s), Event Host(s), and any affiliated individuals or entities from any and all liability for injury, damage, loss, or claims arising from your participation in any event, including those caused by negligence.
3. Personal Responsibility: You confirm that you have reviewed all event instructions, understand the requirements, and agree to participate at your own risk. You are solely responsible for assessing your physical fitness, skills, and preparedness to participate in any event.
4. Guest Responsibility: If you bring guest(s), you agree to communicate these terms to them and accept responsibility for their compliance.

By submitting your RSVP, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to this liability disclaimer and assumption of risk. You fur

Escape the crowded Valley of Fire with an area that I like to call 'Little Valley of Fire', with amazing formations completely off the beaten path. Now is the PERFECT time of year to venture into such a hot region.

The Bowl of Fire is a unique geological area in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Nevada, known for its striking red, orange, and yellow sandstone formations that resemble a fiery bowl. This area, part of the Muddy Mountains Wilderness, is characterized by its eroded, sculpted rocks, including pinnacles, arches, and caves, all created from ancient, frozen sand dunes from the Jurassic era. Hikers can explore the area, though it is considered a backcountry experience that requires route-finding skills and caution.

AFTERWARDS (OPTIONAL) - Redstone Dune is 15 minutes down the road (a roadside parking lot with restrooms). We can go there after and explore more formations via a short 0.5mi loop.

This trip is exclusively for those with high clearance AWD vehicles or better, as the trail demands high-clearance vehicles and trail driving experience. If you do not have an appropriate vehicle, please message another member to coordinate a ride before joining the event.

MEETUP INFO:
We will meet at 9am at the Callville Wash N Rd Trailhead (NOT the Northshore Dr Trailhead- as that adds 1.5mi to our hike).

This is around a 1 hour drive from Las Vegas, so please plan accordingly to arrive on time. Add in a few extra minutes to pay the entry fee (below) as there is often a line of vehicles on weekend mornings.

Note: Here is where gravel road starts from Northshore Rd. I recommend setting your GPS there first, as GPS does not recognize Callville Rd as drivable and will put you on Northshore Rd and send you walking otherwise.

MEETUP FEES:
There is a $25 fee (per vehicle) to enter Lake Mead National Recreation Area. There are kiosks at the entrances where you can pay this charge. If you have an America the Beautiful pass that will cover this entrance fee.

There is no additional Meetup fee for this event.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY:
This event requires a strenuous hike carrying your gear around 3 miles across a variety of desert surfaces including loose sand, dirt, and gravel. The trail doesn't have a lot of elevation (around 100-200ft on the main trail across 3 miles), however exploratory parts into rock formations that are optional will require some scrambling knowledge and elevation. This hike is exposed to the sun for the majority of the time (with shade under rock formations further in), so bring plenty of water, sunscreen, and a hat!

DESERT PHOTO EXPLORERS LIABILITY DISCLAIMER AND ASSUMPTION OF RISK:
By submitting your RSVP and participating in any Desert Photo Explorers event, you acknowledge and agree to the following:

1. Assumption of Risk: You understand and voluntarily accept that outdoor activities such as hiking, off-roading, and photography carry inherent risks, including but not limited to injury, property damage, or other unforeseen harm. You agree to assume full responsibility for your participation and the participation of your guest(s).
2. Release of Liability: To the fullest extent permitted by law, you release and discharge the Organizer(s), Event Host(s), and any affiliated individuals or entities from any and all liability for injury, damage, loss, or claims arising from your participation in any event, including those caused by negligence.
3. Personal Responsibility: You confirm that you have reviewed all event instructions, understand the requirements, and agree to participate at your own risk. You are solely responsible for assessing your physical fitness, skills, and preparedness to participate in any event.
4. Guest Responsibility: If you bring guest(s), you agree to communicate these terms to them and accept responsibility for their compliance.

By submitting your RSVP, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to this liability disclaimer and assumption of risk. You further agree that your RSVP submission constitutes your electronic signature.