Red Rock Canyon National Conservation area is just twenty miles from Las Vegas International Airport. Visiting this natural area is a great way to round out a Southwest Road Trip or take a step away from the Las Vegas strip.
The area is inside of the Mojave desert, covering nearly 200,000 acres of desert area to explore. Complete the 13 mile scenic drive seeing red rocks, mountain ranges, Joshua trees, cholla cacti, and
After visiting Red Rock Canyon I thought I would point out certain stops along the scenic route, important tips. Moreover, the best time to visit the area. After driving through the scenic road I was shocked at the beauty of this area. Worth the stop, no matter how much time you want to spend here.
When Is The Best Time To Visit Red Rock Canyon?
This scenic drive is in the heart of the Nevada desert, meaning that it gets quite hot here in the summertime. there is a permit system in place October through May. It’s $20 per vehicle and you can pay in advance for your drive. I went in March and was able to snag a pass the day before.
Fall at Red Rock Canyon in Las Vegas is a wonderful time to visit the area if your looking for cooler weather. This is a great time for climbers to come out and enjoy the tarn before the fall rain comes in.
Spring at Red Rock Canyon Conservation area is the best time to visit in my opinion because it is not too hot, the wildflowers are blooming, and the desert greens are starting to appear.
Summer at Red Rock is going to be exceptionally hot, with average temperatures reaching 102. BasicallyThe park doesn’t have many trees so it would be best to visit in the early morning.
Winter is typically is less busy, and you don’t have to worry about timed entry permits. Average temperature is around 60 degrees with a rare snowfall.
Where Is Red Rock Canyon?
Just twenty minutes outside of Las Vegas International Airport, Red Rock Canyon is inside of the Mojave Desert. With scorching temperatures all summer long, this part is open September-October.
On this scenic drive there will be cyclists, RVs, and cars. Make sure you give yourself 3-4 hours to enjoy the drive with having time to pull off. If you want to hike or climb inside of the scenic drive, I suggest an entire day here.
Hiking
There are a 26 different hikes to choose from inside the scenic drive. Depending on if your wanted to explore a long or short amount of time, there is truly something for everybody here. It’s quite amazing what you can see simply by pulling off into the pull offs without hiking at all.
Whether your looking to explore the deep canyons or the tops of the mountains-choose your own adventure! While I didn’t get to hike as much as I wanted in the park, aside from this comprehensive list here are a few top destinations. Imporantly, the scenic drive is a one-way so know your stops before embarking on the drive.
1. Calico Hills
Since the scenic drive is a one-way street, it is important to know that this is one of the first stops. We were absolutely blown away by the varying colors. it reminded us of Valley of Fire that we had visited earlier that day. There are 2-6 miles of trail here rated moderate inside of the geofenced area. Be mindful to stay on the trail here.
2. Calico Tanks
hike 2.2 miles with 419 feet of elevation gain to see the sandstone and red colored rock with Las Vegas in the background. This area truly shows the stark contrast of the rocks as to why this area is famous. Dogs are allowed on this trail.
3. Moenkopi Loop
If your looking for a flat trail easy and flat trail, this is a great one for the entire family. With sweeping views of the La Madre Mountains and the desert. this is a gorgeous desert hike when the weather is right. On this trail you will see Joshua trees and cholla cacti!
4. Petroglyph Wall
Take a very short walk to a wall where you can see petroglyphs that are estimated to be nearly 800 years old. From the Willow Springs picnic area follow the empty riverbed upstream and keep and eye out for trail markers to get to the markings. These markings are a big reason behind making Red Rock Canyon a conservation area.
Camping At Red Rock Canyon
There is a campground two miles east of the visitor center called The Red Rock Canyon Campground. Keep in mind that this is a rustic campground with vault toilets, no running water, and no dumping station. The RV and campground is closed during the summertime between Memorial Day and Labor Day every year.
Climbing At Red Rock Canyon Conservation Area
Once you get into the scenic drive and take a walk onto any hiking trails, there are rock climbers everywhere. It is a big area for climbing October-April before the park shuts down and it gets too hot. Beginning, advanced, and bouldering is available. While climbing can be an intimidating sport to try-this is a wonderful place to sign up with a guide to try it yourself.
Biking At Red Rock Canyon
As you drive along the scenic one-way road, many people will be on bicycles. With the speed limit for cars being 25MPH this road is wonderful to bike. Especially if you rent an e-bike, the hills wouldn’t be as strenuous. Importantly, keep an eye on weather before go for flash flooding and rockslides.
Red Rock Canyon National Conservation area is a beautiful destination for adventure lovers looking to escape the hustle and buslte of Las Vegas.
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