Your Road Trip Guide to Red Rock Canyon

Las Vegas is a beautiful and lively city where you can do anything and everything! From watching Broadway and dancing the night away to meeting new friends and having the time of your life. 

While the city that never sleeps is known for its slot machines and city life, it’s also known for the many great outdoor adventures nearby. Just about 24 km west of Las Vegas, the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is one of the many spots you can go to for a day trip when you visit.

If you love the great outdoors, discovering nature, and playing with rocks, then this trip is perfect for you.

The Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is a protected landscape by the Southern Nevada Conservancy in formal agreement with the Bureau of Land Management. It’s part of the wide and vast Mojave Desert, which is the hottest and driest desert in North America. You won’t just see the breathtaking red rocks that date back over 500 million years, but also diverse wildlife with animals like the desert bighorn sheep and plants like the Buckhorn Cholla.

It’s fairly easy to explore this vast land of red hues. You can take your family and friends with you using a rented car or your own vehicle, and get Klook’s Red Rock Canyon Driving Trip package to guide your way and give you insights into the history, geology, and ecology of the place. 

The best way to go around Red Rock Canyon is through the Scenic Drive, which is a 20.9 km one-way road where you’ll be able to see the many rock formations of the area and stop at different spots to hike, climb, or just sit back and relax. There are parking areas throughout the stretch of the canyon for easy access, and so you can traverse the lands freely.

If you plan on coming here, you definitely have to dedicate a whole day, or maybe even 2, if you want to truly bask in the stunning views and feel the adventure. There are over 20 trails to explore, all with their own unique formations, characteristics, and views.

The Red Rock Canyon Keystone Visitor Guide has information on each trail that lets you know their difficulty and where to park.

The Calico Hills is one of the more famous spots at Red Rock Canyon. It has medium difficulty, and depending on which access point you start at, the hike can last for about 1.5 to 3.5 hours. In this trail, you’ll be able to set your sights on the vibrant sandstone formations with the many hues of red and orange.

The Petroglyph Wall Trail is one of the easier trails with just around a 30-minute hike. Here, you’ll be able to see historic carvings and paintings estimated to have been made 800 years ago by the indigenous people of the area.

If you want a challenge and enjoy hiking up mountains, North Peak might be a trail along the Scenic Drive that you can’t miss. It’s one of the most difficult trails in the area, takes around 5 hours to hike, and rewards you with a stunning view of Red Rock Canyon and Las Vegas in the distance when you reach the summit.

In every place we visit, we must always respect the land, especially when it comes to well-preserved natural spots. This means we should keep the place clean, leave what you find, don’t bother the wildlife, be considerate of others, etc.

Since Red Rock Canyon is part of the Mojave Desert, you should prepare yourself for the heat. Wear comfortable clothes to keep you from burning, and proper shoes for the many hikes you’ll be going on. You can also bring a cap and an extra set of clothes in case you sweat a lot.

The heat paired with a whole lot of walking can take a toll on your body, so make sure to stock up on water for your trip to keep you hydrated. You can also refill your bottles at the visitor center, which can be found at the beginning of the scenic drive.

Depending on your vehicle, you would have to pay a set fee that would give you access for 1 day. Cars and trucks have a USD 20 fee, Motorcycles have a USD 10 fee, Bikes have a USD 8 fee, and if you have no vehicle and just plan to walk, you’ll have a USD 5 fee.

Apart from Red Rock Canyon, there are also other amazing outdoor adventures you can visit from Las Vegas.

You can pair your Red Rock Canyon trip with a visit to the world-famous Hoover Dam in a comfortable bus. From above the dam, you'll be able to marvel at its engineering beauty and overlook the gorgeous Lake Mead

You can also continue your adventure in seeing glorious rock formations by accompanying your trip with a visit to Death Valley. The Death Valley National Park is famous for its canyons, sand dunes, and history. It is also known as the hottest and driest place in the American Southwest, and despite its name—teeming with life.

Driving through Red Canyon is actually the best way to go around the area, especially because of the Scenic Drive route that gives you access to most spots.

Red Rock Canyon is famous for the very reason why it's named the way it is. The vibrant rock formations you see everywhere in this area have different hues of red that make it a stunning view from up close and from afar.

Depending on your vehicle, the fees to enter can range from USD 5 to USD 20.