Calico Basin is the first place that you can go to when you enter Red Rock. People actually get to live here. Many of the residences were here long before Red Rock became a park. There is a picnic area called Red Springs in small visitor area at the end of the Calico Basin Road. This area has bathrooms, a picnic area and hiking trails. Red Spring spawns a very short estuary. While the flow is quit strong from its mountainside source, it disappears almost immediately into the ground. This place is a small oasis that exemplifies the hydrologic architecture of this region. If you want a really nice place to have a picnic, come early. While relatively unknown, this little spot is visited often by those who do know about.

This is a full featured picnic area with bathrooms, garbage receptacles, parking and plenty of photo and easy but rewarding hiking opportunities. Nearby are striking red sand dunes. The cliffs on the mountain which the spring runs out of is easy to climb and will show you some decent vistas.

The most appealing part of Calico Basin is the spring. You can see it coming out of the mountain and I have never seen it dry. This spring waters the large field blow the spring. The whole area thrives from the benefits from this tiny but reliable trickle of water. You can actually go into the spring for about 10 feet. This is not a cave or rock shelter though. The opening is narrow and small.