Courtesy of Red Rock
Views of breathtaking red sandstone rock and walking trails.
Hours:
November-February 6 a.m.-5 p.m., March 6 a.m.-7 p.m., April-September 6 a.m.-8 p.m., October 6 a.m.-7 p.m.
Price:
Daily Car Fee: $7; Daily Motorcycle, Bike or Pedestrian Fee: $3
Type:
Nature Centers & Zoos
The natural world of the desert surrounding Las Vegas is filled with mysterious beauty. People come from all around to use Vegas as a jumping-off point for hiking and touring the Zion National Park and Death Valley, but tend to overlook the amazing Red Rock National Conservation Area in the Mojave Desert, a scenic loop only 25 minutes from downtown. The park features wildlife such as burros and bighorn sheep, views of breathtaking red sandstone rock formations, plus dozens of hiking trails ranging from easy to challenging. You can rent a car or find an outfitter that will pick you up from your hotel and whisk you away.
The place to begin is the 13-mile scenic drive along the Backcountry Byway, where you’ll see waterfalls, occasional desert wildlife, sandstone formations and rock engravings. The byway is a paved one-way road with plenty of marked parking areas that allow you to pull off and further explore this natural landscape. Bikers are welcome on the Backcountry Byway, and mountain biking is offered on select trails of Cottonwood Valley. Designated hiking trails are accessible from the roadway—there are 23 to choose from varying in lengths and ranging from easy and moderate to strenuous. Red Rock Canyon is said to be one of the best rock climbing areas in the world. For those new to climbing, there are plenty of outfitters to guide you up the canyon walls. You can also explore this piece of Las Vegas nature on horseback.