The Best Kept Secret In Las Vegas Besides Double Diamond Slot Machines!
Written: Dec 11 '04 (Updated Apr 01 '05)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: $5 for an all day pass, 13 mile drive, ghost town nearby.
Cons: Very hot during the summer. Boring if you don't like nature.
The Bottom Line: Great way to connect to nature if you like rock formations, wild animals, and feel the need to quickly get away from the lifestyle of Las Vegas.
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| lynus's Full Review: Red Rock Canyon |
This weekend after living here in Las Vegas now for the past three months we decided it was time to travel to a destination that is in essence the opposite of what makes Las Vegas, Las Vegas - the Strip. What better way to get "away from it all" than to take an afternoon drive up into the mountains that surround our new town and visit a particular famous site, the Red Rock Canyon National Park.
Red Rock is accessible as a "day-trip" offered by many Casino's on the strip, but if you have a car handy, I suggest you make the trip yourself. It is highly recommended that especially during the summer you load up on water and bring a picnic if you would like (Willow Springs picnic area is a nice place to stop and you can even look at the Indian petrographs). Regardless, bring your camera and attire fitting for an outdoor location which may include walking on soft dirt.
If traveling by your own car, fill up your tank and head one of two ways. Blue Diamond Road or Charleston Blvd. Both are accessible by I-15 although each has its own pros and cons. Charleston Blvd. is the most direct route but it is also the most congested. 80% of the trip is spent sitting at red lights. Charleston Blvd. however is closest to the Strip and the closest in terms of mileage from the Strip to Red Rock.
Blue Diamond Road is however my recommended route. It's about 5 miles south of the southern tip of the Strip, Mandalay Bay, but it is almost a quick straight shot. There are a few busy intersections for the Silverton Casino and you will have to look out for a right turn taking you from the 160 to the 159, but the path is very fast. Plus, along the way you can stop at Bonnie Springs Ranch and ride a train to see an Old West/Ghost town including a couple of hilarious shows that include visitor participation. A petting zoo nearby allows visitors to pet various animals both large and small. Parking however is a hefty $10.00 per vehicle and the people who take your cash carry guns!
Regardless, upon arriving at the Red Rock Canyon National Park you will need to have a $5 dollar bill handy to pay for an all-day pass. Motorcycles need to pay just $2. After paying the entrance fee there are two choices, Visitor Center or Scenic Drive. I recommend you visit the Visitors Center first. Here, you can take a free audio tour that describes the history behind the Red Rock Canyon. The tour includes a magnitude of pictures and artifacts. The tour even goes outside introducing various plant and animal life. It was also during the tour that we learned, that there were some Indian petrographs along the 13 mile scenic route that really excited my wife. We spent about an hour at the Visitor Center looking at the artifacts and the turtle preserve (they were however all hibernating) before trekking off for our scenic tour.
As I mentioned the scenic tour is around 13 miles and ranges between 30Mph to 15Mph. Along the way there are several stops to take breathtaking photographs and to stop and visit the restroom. The paved path is also wide enough that cars can feel free to pull off to the right side and snap a few pictures while those who wish pass can do so on the left. The 13 mile loop is one-way protected by spikes that will pop the tires of any vehicle attempting to go the wrong direction.
We stopped at three locations to take pictures including the Willow Springs picnic area which includes picnic tables, barbeque grills, and restrooms. Additionally, there is a short path that leads to petrographs of painted handprints of Indians who used to live originally in the area. There is also a place where Indians used to cook and eat food. Nearby, for the younger hikers there is the Children's Discovery Trail. As is the case with any trail, watch your kids closely, especially in Red Rock Canyon for a snake could be behind any rock.
Back to the scenic drive, if you are lucky enough you may even run into some wild animals along your trip. Towards the end of ours we ran into a couple of wild burrows who were tame enough they came right up to our car window. They came so close that I worried that my driver's side rear view mirror was going to hit them. I didn't feed either of them, but I'm sure they were wondering if I was going to for they stuck their heads near and almost into my car.
Signs point to a campground where sites are "on a first come basis". We didn't venture into the campground and we probably never will. Our idea of camping normally needs water (lake, ocean) and requires trees...all three are absent at the campgrounds at Red Rock. In fact, in big bold letters the Red Rock website warns potential campers that the campground HAS NO SHADE! You might want to call ahead of time and make sure the campground is open. Due to a lack of funding the campground has been closing for a period of time during the year.
For additional information you can visit the Red Rock Canyon National Park website at: http://www.redrockcanyon.blm.gov Of importance check out the park hours which change depending on the season. At times throughout the year the park also hosts various events including a photo contest, a day of Native American history and dance, and additional events with a heavy focus on something for the whole family to enjoy. For those looking for something more for adults, you can find nearby signs that point you to a horse ranch to enjoy horseback riding or a guided rock climbing tour.
Overall, we spent $5.00 at Red Rock and got almost a full day of fun at the park. When we go back, we will explore the canyon even more enjoying a long hike or two. Already, we have put Red Rock Canyon on our short list as to where to take family when they visit us (especially those family members who think gambling is a sin!) I've heard there are waterfalls somewhere in the canyon and we can't wait to explore them.
Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Couples
Best Time to Travel Here: Mar - May
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Epinions.com ID:
lynus
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 - Top 200 |
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Location: Las Vegas, NV
Reviews written: 584
Trusted by: 169 members
About Me:
Slowly trying to get back to the thick of things.
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