Red Rock Canyon is the most famous destination for outdoor recreation lovers and hikers that came to spend some time in Las Vegas. Located only about half-an-hour drive from the Strip, this park is very easy to access by your own car or book a tour right from your hotel. You can either enjoy a scenic drive and pit stops at the overlooks or choose hikes of any difficulty to your taste. If you’re in Vegas and a little bit tired of its sleepless life full of neon lights, or just want to spend a day outdoors – Red Rock Canyon is probably the best choice. It’s a completely different world standing only 17 miles away!
Unlike in many other parks, we saw a lot of people with backpacks wandering between the rocks! They are all rock climbers and, apparently, Red Rock Canyon is one of the top 5 destinations for climbers in the United States. It has more than 2000 climbing routes for any level and all that you need to bring with you is your rope (best climber’s friend) and your experience for sure.
Get your America the Beautiful pass ready or buy an entry pass at the tool both and make a reservation to enter the scenic drive online. Actually, reservations are required only between 8 am – 5 pm from October 1 through May 31. Don’t worry you can make a reservation even 5 mins prior to your visit and it costs 2$ in addition to the regular entry const. Once you’re done enjoy 13 miles one-way loop and try to get as many memories as you can!
Visitor center
Right after an entrance to the park make your first must-stop at Visitor Center. First of all, because you will not be able to visit it on the way back – the scenic drive is a one-way loop and you’ll need to make another reservation to re-enter the park. Second – you can get all useful information there, including maps, and have short chit-chat with rangers explaining the best viewpoints and hikes for you. And last but not the least, it’s Visitor Center itself!
The visitor center is maintained in excellent condition and the exhibition right outside of it is truly amazing! There are a lot of informational stands explaining the history and nature of that desert area, small metal sculptures of native inhabitants, and a viewing area for tortoises. Well… unfortunately we didn’t see them as they are typically in hibernation mode from November to March, but you might be luckier!
Enter the building, go straight to the door on the opposite side, go back outside, and do your first hike. Be polite and accept the courtesy of the park – let him be introduced to you.
Scenic Drive
I’d say that it’ll take about 2 hours to slowly pass all the way to the end of a scenic drive with stops on viewpoints and overlooks. That’s not including the hikes that also could take 2 hours or more each. Plan your visit and try to arrive earlier to spend more time in the park.
We were in Red Rock Canyon during spring and also during late fall, and I’d personally like fall-winter time more as summer heat really kills me. The temperature in summer ranges well into the 100’s F (35-40 C) and hikes could be really difficult due to such conditions. Probably fall is the best season for hiking, but at the same time cactuses are blooming in the late spring and it’s really gorgeous!
Another problem that you might meet is overcrowded parking lots. Parking lots for some reason are not big enough and you might stay in line for some period to wait for a free spot. There are a lot of tourists there during all seasons and that’s another reason why you may want to arrive earlier.
All across Red Rock Canyon, you’ll see the Joshua trees which are the most iconic plant species within the Mojave Desert and they are very usual inhabitants of Red Rock Canyon. Interesting fact that the plant was named by Mormon settlers who recognized the praying prophet Joshua in its shapes.
Also, don’t be afraid of meeting another citizen who can be often spotted there – burro. Burros are wild and free-range. Historically they were brought by miners and ranchers and later some escaped and some were let go.
Viewpoints and hikes
Look at the map above I marked the most recommended points (by me) with green circles.
If you want to go to the trail make sure that you’re well-prepared. Almost all trails have rocks on the ground and it’s strongly recommended to wear non-slippery shoes like hiking boots. I did one hike in regular sneakers, pretty slippery ones, and trust me it was not the best experience. And independently from the season take some water and snacks.
Calico 1 and 2
Calico is your first stop on the scenic drive. The parking lot at Calico 1 is larger than at Calico 2, so you might consider stopping there. There’s no regular trail like the ones with the final destinations. And you’ll see many paths and people going in all possible directions as there’re a lot of sporty climbing routes on the rocks.
Make a stop and enjoy the view from the parking lot, or take some path down to have a better view of red rock formations. It’s definitely up to you where to stop and start the way back. But. Don’t miss that first stop! It’s actually the only easily accessed red rock in the park.
Calico tanks
| Difficulty | Distance | Approx time | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moderate | 2.5 mi (4 km) | 2 hrs | 450 ft (140 m) |
This trail is of moderate difficulty, and don’t let it confuse you at first look. It starts with a plain wide path but later it becomes steeper and almost requires some basic rock climbing at some sections. Given that, sorry, but let me repeat it one more time, good non-slippery shoes are strongly recommended!
Views are very rewarding though! In the end, the trail offers breathtaking views of the Las Vegas valley with the Strip and its skyscrapers.
Also, closer to the end you might spot some natural water tanks based on the season.
Lost Creek
| Difficulty | Distance | Approx time | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Easy | .75 mi (1.2 km) | 50 min | 200 ft (60 m) |
Good small easy hike that can be done with kids. In the end, there may be a waterfall based on recent rain or snow melting, depending on the season. You can also combine it with another small 30 min round-trip hike to Petroglyph Wall.
Ice Box Canyon
| Difficulty | Distance | Approx time | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Difficult | 2.6 mi (4.1 km) | 2 hrs | 300 ft (90 m) |
One more very rocky moderate/difficult trail that starts in the desert and follows its path to the canyon. I’d recommend also taking a jacket as the canyon is named for a reason. Because of the high canyon walls, the second part of the trail is not exposed to the sun and it’s really pretty cold there. You’ll not freeze there like in a real ice box, but I was really enjoying being again in the sunny desert on the way back.
Pine Creek Canyon
| Difficulty | Distance | Approx time | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moderate | 3 mi (4.8 km) | 2 hrs | 300 ft (90 m) |
Pine Creek canyon provides unique views of the pine trees that are not very common in the Mojave desert. The one-mile one-way path is followed by another one-mile loop. The trail will lead you from the desert to an almost forest environment and meadow surrounded by rocks. And it also has some climbing routes.
Campgrounds
There’s only one developed campground in Red Rock Canyon that is annually closed during the summer months.
Due to high demand from rock climbers and other tourists campground is usually fully booked. Plan in advance if you’d like to stay there, and make reservations as early as possible.
Amenities:
- No electrical, water, and/or sewer hookups
- No dump station
- No showers
- Vault toilets
- Water faucets for drinking water are located throughout the campground
Admission
- Day-use entry fee required – 15$ per vehicle.
- or America the Beatiful pass
And additional 2$ for scenic drive entrance (price may vary a little depending on the season)
Activities
- Scenic drive
- Hiking
- Cycling
- Rock climbing
- Camping
