Travel

Red Rock Canyon Hiking Adventure

Red Rock Canyon, Nevada’s first National Conversation Area, is very close to where we live on the West side of Las Vegas. Although it is literally only 15 minutes from us, we don’t take advantage of this escape from urban life as much as we should. After this weekend’s adventure however, my Husband and I agreed we will be coming back every weekend while the desert temperatures continue to be so beautifully mild. Getting out of the city on a regular basis, and in tune with nature, is something both our souls could benefit from. Having grown up in Southern California, I ended many stressful days sitting on the shores of a beach, listening to the rhythm of the ocean calm my nerves. Although this is not the beach, I cannot deny its beauty and serenity and will begin utilizing its calming energy more regularly. Here are some pictures of my family’s adventure. It was such a wonderful family day! At the bottom of the post you will find resource links to contact, location and further information on Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.

The rocks are a brilliant hue of reddish orange due to years of exposure to the elements causing the iron in the sand to oxidize which resulted in a “rusting of the sand”. Cool, huh?

 
The Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is comprised of a 13 mile scenic drive with 19 designated trails ranging from “easy” to “strenuous”. The loop, as it’s called, also has multiple picnic areas, amazing lookout points and at the start is a state of the art Visitor’s Center that houses great historical information about the region. This is where the infamous Mojave Max lives, a 22 year old desert tortoise. The Visitor Center is a great place for adults and children alike to begin their adventure through Red Rock Canyon. Red Rock also has designated camp sites… for families looking for an overnight adventure! To enter the Conversation Area, there is a daily fee of seven dollars per vehicle, or you can purchase an annual pass for thirty dollars. This is what our family will do on our next visit to Red Rock Canyon.
 
 
 
Our adventure started late in the afternoon, about 3pm, so to avoid the risk of being out after sunset, we chose an easy to moderate trial that was less than a mile long called “Lost Creek – Children’s Discovery”. We thought it was fitting for Alina’s first hike and were super excited to get going! Here is the description of the Lost Creek hiking trail: This moderately easy trial is a wonderful place to explore because of the variety of plant life and a number of cultural sites. Depending on the season, there may be a waterfall. Also look for a pictograph and an agave roasting pit site.
 
 
 
 
We took a break by this creak for Alina to explore.
One of the seasonal waterfalls on the trail.
 
 
The sun setting over the mountains.
 

For the U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management’s website for Red Rock Canyon, click here. You will find basic information on the canyon at this website. For the website of Red Rock Canyon Interpretive Association, click here.  This organization has been providing fund raising opportunities for Red Rock’s outreach program since 1988. Once on their site, click on their “Hikes and Programs” tab for a calendar of guided hikes ranging in ratings. I love the idea of being on a guided hike… We’ll be giving these a try in the near future!

Whether you are a local needing a respite from life, or a tourist looking for an experience outside of the casino lights, Red Rock Canyon is a beautiful and affordable piece of Las Vegas you shouldn’t miss out on!

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2 Comments

  • LC
    June 8, 2011 at 3:51 am

    Love that you posted this bc someone told me about this today! I might have to check this out on our visit to Vegas!

  • Family Legacy: Building a Happy Marriage - De Su Mama
    May 6, 2015 at 4:15 pm

    […] weekend was Daddy D’s turns, and he wanted to hike at Red Rock Canyon, an amazing vision of natural beauty not far from our home. We were able to exercise, be outside, […]

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