Exploring Red Rock Canyon
- 5 hours ago
- 4 min read
If you love exploring the great outdoors and haven't yet experienced the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area in Nevada yet, you're missing out. Not to be confused with the Red Rocks outside of Denver, Colorado, Red Rock Canyon is a large red rock and sandstone mountain range just 15 miles west of Las Vegas. This area sees over 3 million visitors each year and is home to some great hiking trails, climbing faces, and breathtaking views.
Getting to the Red Rocks
The Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is located roughly 15 miles, or about 30 minutes, west of Las Vegas It's not far beyond the Summerlin suburb. The close proximity makes it a great day trip to get away from the hustle and bustle of Vegas and out into the big blue room—or in this case red room—of nature.
When my family and I visited, we did what not many people do in Vegas: we rented a car! Yes, rented a car in Vegas! It's okay, it came in handy because most of the things we did were outside of Las Vegas. If you don't have a car, you can always call an Uber or Lyft and get dropped off at the visitors center, but be prepared to wait a long time to be picked up and make sure you call well in advance for pickup when you're ready.
Preparing to Visit the Red Rocks
Make sure you plan ahead when you visit the Red Rocks. Basics like water, some snacks, sunglasses, hiking shoes, and proper clothing are a must. In addition, it's highly recommended that you purchase tickets in advance. During peak times the park can get crowded and going without a ticket could mean you make the drive and can't get in. Visit Recreation.gov to buy a timed entry ticket.
What You'll See
The main area of Red Rock Canyon is a scenic 13-mile drive with about 15 different locations to stop, get out and explore. There are 26+ trails to hike on throughout the area.
At the entrance to the scenic drive is a visitor's center. I encourage everyone to stop at the visitor's center first. The visitors center has a small store inside along with restrooms, a few small centers to learn more about the area, and a large viewing area. But, the most fun, especially if you have kids with you, is just outside. The visitors center has a huge outdoor museum and exhibit that takes you through the history of the area, the elements, and indigenous cultures that once lived here. It also has a wall with a timeline on it, and a small section inhabited by turtles. Our kids loved experiencing the exhibit. We ended up spending well over an hour here before finally heading back to our car to start on the 13 mile scenic drive.
My only advice before leaving the visitors center is: use the bathroom! The scenic drive has places with restrooms, but none of them were very good. Best to go at the visitors center.
When you begin your journey on the scenic drive, you'll get to see a wide range of rock formations, plant life, and more. Be sure to really take advantage of all the trails and take your time on them. Look up, look around you, really take in the beauty that surrounds you. Despite my kids being 7, 10, and 12, I was in awe of how much time they each spent really looking at everything and asking questions about different plants, rocks, and other things they saw.
Things You Must See
The first stop on the scenic drive is called Calico I. My family and I found this stop to be one of the most impressive of the entire trip. It was like the Earth was laying out a red sea of rocks to insatiate your mind and soul right away. Here the trail goes from the parking lot and descends into a small ravene where you can see large boulders and rock formations that stand alongside the massive jutting face of glowing red and orange sandstone. If you walk down a bit and then go to the left there is a trail where you can stand atop one of these large formations – it's great for an Instagram-worthy photo!
Originally I thought we would spend only 15 minutes or so at each stop, but the beauty and endless unique sights saw us spending around 40 minutes on average at each stop.
One of the final stops along the road is Pine Creek Canyon. This stop is unique in that there are multiple stopping points with a lot of trails. The most unique area here is to see petroglyphs left behind by ancient native peoples.
Outside of the scenic drive area don't forget to also visit the other stops along highway 159. There are 3 stops to the south of the exit, 2 stops between the exit and entrance, and 3 just north of the entrance. These are accessible without a ticket and offer additional trails and photo opportunities. Two of the stops have Red Rock Canyon signs, if you're someone who loves to capture a photo next to the sign of the park you visited.
