By Mariah Cannon

In the blog post, I’ll give you some of the best tips and spots to check out on a limited time frame. This is one of the prettiest areas in Nevada to explore & this itinerary is jam packed with some of the best things to add to your “must do” list!

What is Red Rock Canyon?

Red Rock Canyon is a National Conservation Area with over 195-thousand acres within its boundary. There is a very diverse setting here, hence why they decided to protect it starting in 1988. From limestone and red rock to Iron concretions and Aztec sandstone, this Conservation area is home to lots of different journeys in time way before us reading this now. No matter what you find interesting from driving, hiking, climbing, and biking – there is something here for everyone!

Where is Red Rock Canyon?

Red Rock Canyon is located in Southern Nevada, just 15 minutes from Las Vegas – making it the perfect place to enjoy a few days! Some nearby attractions are Valley of Fire State Park, Seven Magic Mountains, Havasu, Death Valley National Park, and Lake Mead Recreation Area.

Getting to Red Rock Canyon

If you plan on making a road-trip out West and hitting Red Rock Canyon on your way, here’s some nearby towns with lots of options for all activities.

• Las Vegas, NV – 15 miles, 20 minutes
• Henderson, NV – 28 miles, 30 minutes
• Los Angeles, CA – 277 miles, 4 hours and 9 minutes
• Phoenix, AZ – 313 miles, 4 hours and 53 minutes

If you’re planning to fly in, the closest airport is Harry Reid International (LAS) just 20 minutes from RRC. There are some other small and municipal airports within a couple of hours, it just depends on where you’re planning to start your journey!

Know Before You Go

• This part of the United States gets hot – plan accordingly, bring lots of water and hike during cooler times of the day.
• Be aware of flash floods, if there is a lot of rain in this area, it can tend to flash flood due to being such flat desert landscape.
• There is little to no cell service in the park.
• Dogs are welcome (Yay!) but they must be on leash and never left in the vehicles.
• RRC is one of the top five destinations for rock climbing in the United States.
• You can use your America the Beautiful pass to save some money on your entrance fee.

Let’s Get Into it

1. Start your day by entering through the visitors center to start your RRC Scenic Drive. Don’t forget if you’re visiting during October 1st-May 31st, you’ll need a timed entry reservation and you should book in advance here. I visited during the third week of May in 2023 and had no problem getting a permit at the visitors center. The drive is where most of your time will be spent in RRC as it’s the main way to get to all of the viewpoints, climbing spots, and trails!
2. Your first stop on the drive should 100% be Calico Tanks Trail; a 2.4 mile trail with a little over 400 feet of gain. This trail has it all, fun rock scrambles, insane red rock, blooming flowers during the Spring months, and epic views at the end.
3. If that wasn’t enough for you, extend your hike on to Turtlehead Peak; where you’ll gain about 1,900 feet of elevation and have sweeping views of the whole RRC. This trail is rated as hard and has some moderate scrambling and difficult terrain throughout. Be sure to do this trail as early in the day or later in the evening as it gets hot through the middle of the day.
4. Stop at High Point Lookout where you can enjoy the views over the canyon.
5. Have a snack and relax at Willow Springs Picnic Area and enjoy the 1 mile nature loop after.
6. Next take the short 2 mile trail in the Ice Box Canyon where you’ll find cactus and desert like scenery through a slot canyon with rock walls towering over you.
7. There are other stops along the way throughout the rest of the scenic drive.
8. Make sure to stop at the visitors center and grab some fun souvenirs to remember your time in the area.
9. Now, it’s time to head into Las Vegas to grab some food! If you haven’t tried it yet, you have to. Shake Shack is one of my favorite places to grab a quick bite when I’m anywhere East of Oregon.
10. Once you’ve filled up on all of the goodness that is burgers and shakes – head back towards RRC and grab a campsite at Red Rock Canyon Campground. I definitely recommend getting a campsite in advance here, however sometimes you can score a last minute or check with the camp host for cancelations. I was able to get mine the morning of my arrival, but the rest of the spots were completely filled up in late May.
11. The next morning to complete your visit within RRC, grab an E-bike rental from Red Rock E-Bike Tours. This is such a fun way to explore more of what you couldn’t fit in the day before. You can choose to bike back to the canyon yourself or use a shuttle as mentioned below at the end of the itinerary!
12. Cool down with some Ice cream from Mora Iced Creamery with a variety of handmade ice cream flavors!

Enjoy this mini itinerary? Be sure to save for future adventures!

Let’s Get Adventuring!

Mariah