While the focus in Las Vegas for most tourists is limited to gambling, dining and sightseeing, the area offers plenty of scenic sights and nice hikes. Within an hour's drive of Sin City you will find such areas as Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, Valley of Fire State Park and Lake Mead National Recreation Area. With the area's average of 300 days a year of sunshine you will rarely experience a rain out.
Location
You will find Red Rock Canyon about 20 minutes west of the city. Take Route 159 to Summerlin. To get to Valley of Fire, take Interstate 15 north to Exit 75. Connect to Route 169 here and travel another 15 minutes. In all, it will take about an hour to reach this state park north of Las Vegas. Lake Mead is located about an hour southeast of Las Vegas at Hoover Dam. Take U.S. 93 to get here.
Hiking Times
You will find both short and long hikes with varying difficulty levels in all of these locations. Most popular hikes, such as Red Rock Canyon's Pine Creek Canyon Trail, are of the 1- to 2-mile round-trip variety. This 2-mile trail leads to an abandoned homesite beside a creek that is surrounded by pine trees. You can also explore trails that will take all day to traverse. Stop in a visitor center or ranger station when visiting any of these parks.
Costs
Each vehicle pays $5 to enter Red Rock Canyon and its 13-mile looped road that leads to scenic viewpoints and trail heads. Valley of Fire costs the same to enter. There is no charge to visit Lake Mead.
Considerations
Always bring plenty of water along for the trip. The arid climate can trick you into thinking you are not becoming dehydrated when you actually are because you will not sweat as much here as you would in more humid locations. Also, be sure to let friends and family know where you are hiking in case of an accident. You can also tell park rangers about your plans and get information from them about trail conditions before you hike.
Fun Fact
The springs of Red Rock Canyon were a big factor in the development of the Las Vegas valley. Travelers in the 19th century stopped in this region to replenish their water supply, which over the years resulted in the massive growth of the region.
References
- "Frommer's Las Vegas 2009"; Mary Herczog; 2009
- "American Casino Guide 2009 edition"; Steve Bourie; 2009
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