If you’re in Vegas and looking to get away from the glitz and glamour for a few hours, Red Rock Canyon Conservation Area, just 17 miles from the Vegas strip offers amazing rock formations, great scenery and a chance to explore the desert country that surrounds Las Vegas.

Where is it?

About a half an hour drive from Las Vegas’ strip, Red Rock Canyon is actually located within the city limits of Las Vegas off of Route 159, which can be reached from either Routes 215 or 160 in Vegas. Both of these Routes can be accessed from Interstate 15.

The area buts up against the Spring Mountains and is located entirely Nevada. Thus it can get hot, very, very hot. Summertime temperatures regularly well exceed 100 degrees. Anyone at the park should be drinking lots of water and be wearing appropriate skin protection.

Temperatures in the wintertime are generally cooler, especially the higher into the mountains you go. The average highs from about November until March are in the 50s and 60s, while April, May and October are in the 70s and 80s and the summer temperatures average close to 100 degrees.

What’s there?

Clocking in at about 197,000 acres, Red Rock Canyon is a fairly large park that is managed by the Bureau of Land Management. There are activities for just about any outdoor enthusiast that includes:

Driving
There is a 13 mile driving loop around a portion of the park that takes in several of the most scenic locations. This includes the “red rock” formations that give the park its name (rusted sandstones – where you can see the ancient sand dunes in the rocks), several small canyons, a spring and more. The drive takes about an hour if you stop at each location, read the interpretive signs and take in the scenery. In a few locations you can explore away from the road into park itself.

Hiking
There are quite a few hiking trails throughout the park, several of which are located off of the access road, while others are accessible throughout the rest of the park. Trails range in distance from less than a mile to several miles long. Some of the trails are more rugged than others and an excellent resource for anyone considering hiking into the backcountry would be a copy of the USGS topographic map of the area. For the rougher, wilder trails, orienteering and map skills are required.

Camping
Backcountry camping is allowed within Red Rock Canyon above 5,000 feet. You will need a permit and it can be obtained by calling by calling the park at 702-515-5050. Just remember that the backcountry area is remote there is no drinking water or firewood for campfires. At these backcountry sites open campfires are prohibited.

There is a developed commercial type campground at Red Rock Canyon – however at the moment it is only open on holiday weekends. When it is open though, the Red Rock Canyon Campground is two miles east of the Visitor Center, off of Moenkopi Road. The campground can be accessed 24 hours a day, as there is no official “check-in” for the park. However you’ll have to make sure that you pay the fee within 30 minutes of checking in at the self-registration booth. The campground is a dry facility, electrical, water and sewer hook-ups aren’t available and there is no dump station for recreational vehicles. The restrooms are pit toilets and no showers are available. There is also no shade in the campground (so be prepared for some strong sun). There are water faucets for drinking water located throughout the campground. There are 71 sites in the campground and fees generally are $10 per night, per site. There are no advanced reservations for the campground.

Mountain Biking
Bikes are allowed on paved and unpaved roads, but not on designated trails and not in the backcountry.

Climbing
Rock climbing is allowed on the many cliffs and rocks of the park. For longer climbs that require overnight stays, a bivy permit is required and can be obtained from the park. There is information on climbing in the park at http://www.redrockcanyon.blm.gov/Planning/rockclimb.asp.

Visitor Center
The Visitor Center at Red Rock Canyon is open daily and includes exhibits on the geology and natural history of the park, in addition to the Native American history of the area. There is water available, as are restrooms. Rangers are available to answer questions and most interpretive programs begin at the Visitor Center.

Other Activities
The park runs several different interpretive programs throughout the year, including astronomy workshops, festivals, workshops and photography contests. These activities are frequently changing so it’s best to check out their website for the latest information.

There is a picnic area along the scenic drive and there is also one located in Calico Basin away from the scenic drive and the Visitor Center. These sites offer picnic tables and excellent views of the surrounding areas.

Fees

If you drive into the park to use the scenic drive or visit the Visitor Center, the day-use fee is $5 for each carload of people. $20 will get you a year-long pass to Red Rock Canyon. There aren’t any fees for people who hike into or bike into the park.

How is it?

It’s amazing to find such a wild, interesting and scenic natural location so close to the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas. The first time I visited the park, I had flown into Vegas overnight and we went to the Canyon to watch the sun rise. It was simply amazing – to go from the hyper-development of the strip, to the serene solitude and silence of the park.

The scenic drive is a must for anyone visiting the park – even if you are planning on visiting other areas. It takes about an hour and is a good introduction to the park, from the very low desert areas at the beginning to the stops and views higher up in the Canyon. You’ll see the Navajo Sandstone formations, stained red in places, while almost white in other places. You can see the ancient sand dunes that were locked in place when they were buried and turned into stone. You’ll have a chance to walk around and see desert life close up, from a cactus to a desert lizard skittering around.

If you have the time, a further exploration of the area is well worth it. Red Rock Canyon for geology buffs is home to the Keystone Thrust, a very good example of a thrust fault – where rocks from a distance are pushed up and over the local rocks. Some of the rocks that were thrusted into the area came from miles and miles to the west. There are also opportunities for non-rock hounds that include secluded springs, quiet canyons, mountain passes and more. We were there in March and temperatures were already into the 80s – so anyone planning on hiking much beyond the scenic road should be prepared with plenty of water (a gallon a day or so) and be prepared for the incredible heat that is possible. The best time to go hiking in the park is late fall, winter and spring, though in the wintertime you can be faced with snowstorms at the higher elevations.

I never had a chance to try out the rock climbing in the park, beyond scrambling across some of the smooth sandstone outcrops to get a better look at a detail with my geology professor. However, I saw plenty of people climbing all over – there are simply so many different opportunities provided in the area that you could probably never tire of climbing there.

I returned a few years later with my partner who beyond my pictures of the desert country had never experienced the desert southwest. The first stop once we tired of Vegas proper was Red Rock Canyon and he was simply blown away. He chased after lizards, marveled at the rocks and took about a 100 pictures (this was in the days before digital photography). We didn’t have time to go hiking (plus it was June and very hot), but the scenic drive alone was enough to make him love the place.

Why you should go

Anyone in Vegas with a car should take the time and spend the $5 to get into Red Rock Canyon, if not just to drive the scenic drive. It’s an excellent introduction to the desert region surrounding Vegas and also offers ample scenic opportunities. There’s geology, plant life and wildlife to explore and beyond that, the thought of such an amazing place existing 30 minutes outside of Vegas is great.

For More Information

The Bureau of Land Management maintains a website for Red Rock Canyon at http://www.redrockcanyon.blm.gov/ that provides details on the park itself, camping, hiking, climbing and more. Anyone considering a visit should check out the site to see the latest news about the park and know what will be going on when you visit.

Final Thoughts

A trip to Red Rock Canyon Conservation Area is well worth it for anyone who enjoys nature up close. The scenic drives offers non-hikers or climbers an opportunity to get up-close to the park, while for those more adventurous types, there’s an almost unlimited potential of recreational opportunities available at the park.
Take a few hours, a day or even a few days and explore Red Rock Canyon – you may just end up falling in love with the place.


Other Southwestern US Destinations
Walnut Canyon National Monument / Wupatki National Monument / Meteor Crater / Sunset Crater

Travel Magazines
Travel & Leisure Magazine / Budget Travel / National Geographic Adventure / Outside Magazine / National Geographic Traveler

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This review is part of Goldmoon's Preparing for Vegas Write-Off! She's on her way to Vegas soon and is challenging everyone to write about something in or near Vegas. To see other participants or sign up, check it out!

Recommended: Yes