From the Red Rock Canyon fee booth, follow the scenic drive 2.5 miles to the Sandstone Quarry Overlook/Trailhead side road on the right. Follow the side road to its end in about 0.1 miles at the trailhead. There are restrooms at the trailhead.

The trail is signed and initially easy to follow. From the trailhead, head north on the major trail as it descends into the wide wash. Be sure to NOT take the left trail at the Grand Circle Loop Jct, but instead continue up the trail in the wash bottom.

In less than 1/4 of a mile, the Sandstone Quarry/Calico Tanks junction is reached. It leaves on the right, stay left instead in the wash bottom.

The trail follows the wash bottom for a few minutes. You may notice a trail junction with one branch leaving on the left here. Instead, follow the Turtlehead Peak trail as it climbs out of the wash bottom and passes through a couple of sandstone hills.

The trail now begins climbing toward the obvious drainage that leads to the low point left of the peak. In this section, the trail is easy to follow, but as it steepens, more social trails diverge and coalesce. Look for trail markers and/or paint spots that mark the trail. At one point, you are likely to come to a junction. We went right and up to the ridge on the way up, and the opposite trail on the way down. Once at the ridge, the trails coalesce again and head east then south toward the summit.

Again, social trails crisscross the area as it heads up toward the summit, and it is difficult to determine which is most used. In general, simply follow the trail with the least resistance up to the summit.

The summit has great views of Red Rocks to the south and west, Las Vegas to the east, and the Mojave Desert all around.

Return the same way.