Outdoor Adventures Near Vegas
Getting Off The Beaten Path Near Sin City
Las Vegas with all of its dazzling night life and round-the-clock partying can be a fun getaway. However, if you are looking to get outdoors and away from the hustle and bustle of Sin City, you might be surprised how much there is to do out in nature close by. The area surrounding Vegas is home to some stunning fiery red rock canyons and other geological wonders that many overlook when visiting. Here are some of my favorite nearby day trips.
1. VALLEY OF FIRE
One of my favorite Nevada State Parks, Valley of Fire, is located less than 50 miles northeast of Vegas, just south of Overton covering nearly 46,000 acres. The park is renowned for its red Aztec sandstone formations including natural arches, mazes of canyons, towers, ridges and valleys that formed over 150 million years ago with extensive petroglyphs throughout as well as petrified trees.
Best Hikes:
Although you can easily lose the crowds by parking in lots along the roadside and hiking out to almost anywhere you want to explore, Valley of Fire has quite a few designated hiking trails that you won’t want to miss.
Fire Wave Trail
A popular, easy 1.5-mile out and back trail that takes you to a unique sandstone formation resembling an ocean wave of pink, red and white sandstone. You can combine this hike with White Domes and Seven Wonders making it a 3.2-mile loop.
Rainbow Vista Trail
- An easy 1.1-mile out and back trail that gets its name from the interesting array of sandstone colors along the trail. Great trail for families with kids, running or an evening hike after dark under the stars.
White Domes Trail - An easy 1.1 mile long trail with a mild 150 foot elevation gain. The trail passes an old film set and includes a very short stretch through a narrow slot canyon.
Petroglyph Canyon via Mouse Tank Trail
A very short easy walk of less than a mile through a canyon full of incredible petroglyphs. This trail is popular and can get crowded.
Elephant Rock Trail
An easy out and back half mile hike or a 1.2-mile loop near the east entrance that takes you to a unique rock formation with an arch that resembles an elephant.
Just driving through the park can be spectacular especially White Domes Road so even if you are not up for hiking, Valley of Fire is worth a visit.
Know Before You Go:
Lines to get into the park can be very long so plan on arriving early to avoid the crowds.
The best time of year to visit is in Spring and Fall due to cool temperatures and dramatic skies especially in the late afternoon and early evenings. Winters can get below freezing although snow is rare.
Summer temperatures can reach 120° F so if you’re brave enough to hike in the heat, which I am not, be sure to bring plenty of water, sunscreen and a hat for shade. Many trails offer little to no shade from the blazing sun.
The entrance off Highway 15 is usually manned and you can get a guide map as you enter. If you enter from Lake Mead, you will need to use a self-pay kiosk and they’re often out of guide maps so you may want to download a map before entering. There is very limited cell service here.
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Camping is on a first come, first serve base so if you’re looking to stay the night, plan on arriving early, especially on weekends and holidays. There are 2 campgrounds with a total of 72 sites which include shaded tables, grills, water and restrooms. RV sites have power and water hookups. There are also 3 group sites which require reservations that can be made by calling (702) 397-2088. Spring and Fall are ideal for camping as Summer is very hot and Winter temperatures can drop below freezing even though snow is rare.
2. RED ROCK CANYON NATURE PRESERVE
Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is located about 45 minutes west of Las Vegas. From the Visitor’s Center, there is a one way Scenic Drive that takes you through the preserve down windy roads with numerous outlooks full of sweeping views of fiery red rock formations and incredible places to hike and explore.
Best Hikes:
Red Rock Canyon has quite a few trails, many of which intertwine and join each other. Below are some of the more popular ones.
Calico Hills & Calico Trails - Your first overlook along Scenic Drive is Calico I. The trail is a 0.8 mile moderate hike with a 225-foot elevation gain that stretches across a beautiful backdrop of red sandstone rock formations.
You can also continue along the trail between Calico I and the Sandstone Quarry making it into a longer 2.1-mile trek or head another 0.85 miles to Calico II. Just follow the signs. It’s easy to find your way. You can also venture off the trails and explore the area where you will undoubtedly see quite a few rock climbers.
Monekopi Loop - An easy 2-mile open country loop that provides panoramic views of Wilson Cliffs. This trail also connects with the Calico Hills area trails allowing for longer hikes if you are up for it.
Petroglyph Wall Trail
A short 0.2 mile easy hike that starts at Willow Springs Picnic Area parking lot on the opposite side of the road from the picnic benches. It leads to a cliff side featuring petroglyphs believed to be at least 800 years old. Although Red Rock Canyon is home to quite a bit of rock art, including both petroglyphs and pictographs, this is one of the only areas where it’s easy to find.
Ice Box Canyon - A moderately challenging 2.3 mile out and back trail that takes you through a shaded box canyon with especially sheer walls where you can often find seasonal streams and waterfalls from December through April. The narrow canyon rarely sees sunlight and can be quite chilly hence its name. Note: this hike includes areas where you will need to scramble over boulders and loose rock.
Know Before You Go:
Red Rock Canyon Scenic Drive is currently open 6 am to 8 pm from April through September. You will need to check hours for other seasons which have not yet been determined because of COVID-19. It is also a one-way road so you cannot turn vehicles back around to visit areas you already passed.
Currently, visitors must have a timed entry reservation through Recreation.gov to enter the park . If there is a specific time you want to visit, I recommend getting a reservation at least a couple of days in advance. However, it is possible to sometimes get a same day entry reservation for late afternoon on weekdays and Sundays if you are flexible on time.
Parking is only permitted in designated parking lots. You are not allowed to stop or park along the Scenic Drive.
Like most areas around Las Vegas, Summer temperatures are typically in the mid-90s and can reach well above 100°F so plan accordingly. Stay hydrated and limit strenuous activity to before 10 am or after 6 pm if possible during heat waves.
There is very limited cell phone service inside the preserve.
3. KOLOB CANYON
Kolob Canyon is a unique area of Zion National Park that can only be reached off Exit 40 on Interstate 15, 40 miles north of Zion Canyon and just a couple of hours northeast of Las Vegas.
Here, narrow canyons are cut into the edge of the Colorado Plateau creating towering cliff walls that reach over 2,000 feet tall and panoramic landscapes in dramatic shades of red.
Kolob Canyon is full of majestic peaks and incredible wilderness areas where you can find more solitude than Zion Canyon with its highly trafficked trails.
Best Hikes:
Taylor Creek Trail - A great 5-mile out and back with a 450-foot elevation gain that takes you down into the narrow box canyon with stark red walls. It’s absolutely beautiful. The trail crosses the creek many times so you are likely to get wet feet and it can get quite icy in the Winter so bring spikes even if you think you won’t need them. I learned the hard way.
Timber Creek Overlook Trail
A short 1-mile hike that takes about 30 minutes. It follows a small ridge to some extremely spectacular views of the canyon and the Pine Valley Mountains. During spring and summer, the trail is often covered in desert wildflowers if it’s had rain.
Know Before You Go:
Kolob is part of Zion National Park and is open every day year round although the road may be closed in Winter months due to ice and snow. The Kolob Canyon Visitor Center is open daily 8-5 pm.
Visitors must pay an entrance fee of $30 per vehicle at the Visitor Center before entering. The pass is valid for one week. You can also use your national park pass to enter for free.
The drive through the canyon is only 11 miles one way and has numerous turn-outs and overlooks. Plan to spend at least 30 minutes even if you don’t want to stop along the way.
Kolob Canyon is a great alternative to Zion National Park if you are looking to escape the huge crowds Zion attracts, or want to get out and hike longer, more adventurous trails.
There are no overnight accommodations or camping within Kolob Canyon.
4. ZION NATIONAL PARK
Zion National Park holds a special place in the heart of Utahans. It is the oldest and most visited park in the state and one of the most incredible, dominated by Navajo sandstone rock in deep shades of red with the Virgin River running through the canyon.
Surprisingly to many, it is also just a short 2-1/2 hour drive from Vegas.
Best Hikes:
Angel’s Landing – A strenuous 2.4-mile hike through a hanging valley in the heart of the park up steep cliffs with sheer drop-offs and stunning 360-deggree views of the canyon below. This trail is not for the faint of heart or anyone with a fear of heights.
The Narrows - Zion’s most iconic and popular trail. Walls of this part of the canyon can reach dramatic heights of over a thousand feet above the river in places where the water below is only 20-30 feet wide. You can hike the bottom up going just a few yards or the full 9.4 miles round trip. You can also hike from the top down through the 16-mile long trail starting at Chamberlain’s Ranch.
Weeping Rock - A short hike to a beautiful area with lush hanging gardens best visited in Spring or Fall when water flow is at its peak. It’s a fascinating spot because the water you see dripping from the rock surfaces has taken over 1,000 years to percolate down through the porous, permeable Navajo sandstone to where you see it today.
Pa’rus Trail - A 3.5-mile, highly trafficked round trip trail from the Visitor’s Center to Canyon Junction. It’s a great place for a leisurely stroll or a bike ride. It’s also fun to stop along the way for a dip in the river.
Know Before You Go:
Park entrance fees are $35 for private vehicles, $30 for motorcycles and $20 per person so if you are visiting more than one park, you may want to invest in an America the Beautiful Annual National Park Pass which gives you access to all national parks for an entire year.
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Private vehicles are not allowed down Zion Canyon Scenic Drive. Instead, a free shuttle runs from the Visitor Center up the Scenic Drive to Zion Lodge, Emerald Pools, West Rim Trail and Temple of Sinawava (the entrance to The Narrows). Zion gets extremely crowded and it’s not uncommon to wait over an hour to enter the park or catch the shuttle. Peak season starts in Spring and ends in Fall. Be sure to check the current schedule for shuttle times and COVID restrictions.
Zion is known for hot Summers and cold Winters where the difference between day and night can vary as much as 30°F on any given day. The weather also varies greatly depending on elevation so be sure to dress in layers.
Click here for more info on Zion.
