I lost track of how many times we’ve been to Las Vegas. Like many other Southern Californians, Las Vegas is our sister city that we often visit. The last time when we were there, we decided to explore outside of Sin City and visited the Valley of Fire State Park. We had a great time looking at the unique rock formations. You can review our Valley of Fire State Park trip here. This time, we decided to explore outside of Sin City again and visited Red Rock Canyon.
Known for geological features such as massive red sandstone peaks, Native American petroglyphs, narrow canyons and seasonal waterfalls all within a short drive from Las Vegas, Red Rock Canyon can be easily seen from the Las Vegas Strip. It is 197,000 acres that is about 15 miles (24 km) west of Las Vegas. The Red Rock area were formed by geological forces millions of years and fossilized sand dunes. The iron oxide built up over centuries, producing the vibrant, crimson color in the sandstone rocks that you see today.
The 13-mile one-way loop scenic drive provides vehicle access to many of the features in the area. A Visitor Center is at the beginning of the loop road. The facility features indoor and outdoor exhibits and a book and gift store. It’s a great place for getting tips on how to make the most of your visits. In each section of the Visitor Center, you can read about the history, geography, and plant and animal life of the Canyon. There are also interactive stations featuring information on local wildlife.
If you have kids, be sure to pick up the Junior Explorer Discovery Book from the rangers. Complete the appropriate activity pages for your kid’s age group and get certified as a Junior Explorer of Red Rock Canyon in addition to a pin.
Calico Hills
Since we had only a few hours to spend at Red Rock Canyon, we decided to stop by Calico Hills as it is the first stop on the Scenic Drive. The Calico Hills are a large collection of red and orange rocks. The Calico Hills trails are also the first legs of the Grand Circle Loop hike if you were to continue on the Scenic Drive.
High Point Overlook
Stop by High Point Overlook to view over the Calico Hills and down the road you came up toward Las Vegas.
Petroglyph Wall
Petroglyph Wall Trail starts near the juniper fence across from the Willow Spring Picnic Area. (0.15 mi)
If you have time, you should check out Keystone Thrust Fault, which is one of a series of faults that formed an estimated 65 million years ago. You can stand along the thrust faulting with one foot on the older limestone rock layer while the other foot on the younger sandstone rock layer. This is a 2.2 miles trail (1.5 hours).
Tips Before You Go
- Bring sufficient water.
- Prepare for extreme heat as average temperature can be more than 100 degrees F.
- Watch for desert dwellers. Do not touch, collect, feed or harass animals.
- Beware of flash floods.
- Watch for lightning.
- Don’t rely on cell service as little to no cell service available.
- Don’t climb on sandstone when it is wet since it becomes very fragile when wet and it poses an increased risk of injury to climbers from rockfalls.
- Maximum speed is 35 mph.
Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
1000 Scenic Loop Dr
Las Vegas, NV 89161
1000 Scenic Loop Dr, Las Vegas, NV 89161
https://www.redrockcanyonlv.org/
If you are looking for perfect escape from the crowded Las Vegas city, then you must visit Red Rock Canyon. If you have been to both Red Rock Canyon and Valley of Fire, which one do you like better?