Getting to Red Rock Canyon From Las Vegas (Stops & Hikes)
Discover the natural beauty of Red Rock Canyon, just approximately 16 miles southwest of the Las Vegas Strip. Find out the best ways to get there and the points of interest you’ll encounter on the way to make the most of your Vegas adventure.
Key Takeaways:
- Proximity to Vegas: Just 16 miles southwest of the Las Vegas Strip.
- Scenic Drive: A 13-mile loop offers stunning views accessible by car.
- Outdoor Activities: Enjoy rock climbing, hiking, and viewing ancient petroglyphs.
- Route Options: Two main routes with varying points of interest leading to Red Rock Canyon.
Red Rock Canyon in Las Vegas
First, what is Red Rock Canyon? Its full, official name is the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. It was established as a national conservation area in 1967, and the canyon is visited by over 2 million people each year (source).
The park is located in the Mojave Desert near Las Vegas, and the landscape is made up of vivid red sandstone rock formations as well as interesting geological features such as the Keystone Thrust Fault.
Popular park activities include rock climbing, hiking, and biking. Native American petroglyphs can be seen in some areas, and several sets of dinosaur tracks have been found and are still being studied by Paleontologists in the park.
The highlight of the park is a 13-mile looped scenic drive. So if you’re not into hiking or it’s hotter than you know what out there, you can still enjoy the park from the comfort of your air-conditioned vehicle.
The first time I ever visited the park, years ago, I was amazed to see the Las Vegas skyline peeking out from behind some of the red rock formations. Red Rock Canyon is that close to Vegas.
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On the Way to Red Rock Canyon
Las Vegas is the land of gambling dreams and shiny things. People come for the Strip, the nightlife, the restaurants, the fun, and the shows.
But if you’ve been in Vegas for a couple of days with all the lights, sights, and sounds, it’s almost a shock to the system when you realize that a beautiful and serene natural environment can be found this close to all that mayhem.
If you are driving yourself, there are a couple of different ways to get to Red Rock Canyon, depending on where you’re coming from and what you’d like to see along the way.
The first route is the more common one. It’s the one you’re most likely to take if you’re coming from the Strip. I’ll show you how to get there coming from the Strip and starting at the Red Rock Casino Resort & Spa (west of the Strip).
The second route starts off the I-15 south of Las Vegas. Coming from this direction, you will get to see a few places that most people don’t usually see while visiting Vegas. This route will show you some of the parts of Las Vegas that don’t have anything to do with the touristy areas of the city, as well as allow you to see some different views of the canyons that most people who come to Red Rock don’t normally see.
Note: Either route will get you there just fine regardless of where you’re coming from and in about the same amount of time, give or take a little bit. You may also skip all the places I’m going to tell you about and just head straight to the Red Rock Canyon scenic drive.
It’s entirely up to you, I just wanted to lay out some other points of interest or stopping destinations along the way so you can make a nice day trip out of it. Let’s go!
(You can download the Red Rock Canyon Visitor Guide here).
Red Rock Canyon via Red Rock Casino, (Route #1)
Here’s how to get to Red Rock Canyon from the Las Vegas Strip:
- Head to the Bellagio on Las Vegas Blvd (center-Strip)
- Turn west onto W Flamingo Rd.
- Stay on W Flamingo Rd. for 11.5 miles until reaching Red Rock Casino Resort & Spa
- Turn left on SR-159 (Red Rock Canyon Rd.) and continue for 6 miles
- Turn right onto Scenic Loop Dr & follow to Red Rock Visitor Center
This route contains several points of interest and places to visit along the way, including lesser-known hiking trails, some small springs, and a local club property in Vegas that likes to do its thing out in the desert (i.e. Soaring Club).
Read on and see what might interest you in taking this route to Red Rock Canyon. You may find the exact trip you were looking for.
Red Rock Casino Resort & Spa
One of the first major things you will see on this route after being on W Flamingo Rd. for a bit will be Red Rock Casino. As casinos go in Vegas, it may not be one of the biggest.
Heck, it may not even be one you ever heard of before. However, Red Rock Casino is quite a big deal. It’s a beautiful hotel and resort property worth stopping at if you’re passing by on your way to Red Rock Canyon and have the time.
The resort also has a pretty decent restaurant scene. They have grills, steakhouses, a sushi place, and a buffet. They have just about every taste you can think of. This would make a great stop for lunch or dinner on your way to or from exploring Red Rock Canyon.
Red Rock Canyon isn’t the only scenic area near Las Vegas. Check out our article about all the national and state parks nearby.
Gunsight Ridge Las Vegas
The next stop on the route is a place called the Gunsight Ridge Trail. From here on out, you are officially in the Red Rock Conservation Area. This ridge is a place for people who want to do a bit of hiking but don’t want too much of a challenge.
If you plan on taking this hike, you’ll be rewarded with a view of some of the nearby red rock formations and the Red Rock Detention Basin, which is a small lake formed by occasional flood waters to the east.
Las Vegas Soaring Club
You’ll pass by the Las Vegas Soaring Club. This club is dedicated to flying anything that can be operated by remote control (RC). This includes everything from small model planes to helicopters to drones.
They pride themselves on being able to fly just about anything that can be radio-controlled. This club isn’t for everyone, though. It only accepts new members by invitation. If you are interested, reach out to them before you visit.
If you’re interested in RC flying, you’ll probably also want to know the rules for flying a drone in Las Vegas.
Red Rock Campground
If you’re interested in doing some camping near Las Vegas, the Red Rock Campground’s beautiful location and nearby proximity to the Strip make it a perfect choice.
The campground at Red Rock hosts 53 individual sites for tent camping, along with 6 RV sites (no hookups). The campground is open from September to June each year but depending on the season, you may need to reserve a spot in advance.
The campground is approximately 3 miles from the Red Rock Visitor Center & Scenic Drive. There are plenty of activities available from the campground, such as hiking, climbing, horseback riding, and biking. (website)
Calico Basin
The Calico Basin area has a series of scenic hiking trails within the Red Rock National Conservation Area that run around the Calico Rocks, a spot popular with rock climbers. Both shorter and longer hikes are available.
The Calico Basin is a beautiful area of desert landscapes and red rock. You can stop here and do some hiking or continue on SR159 until you reach the entrance to Red Rock Canyon scenic drive on your right.
The Red Rock Visitor Center and scenic drive are fee-pay areas, while the Calico Basin area is free.
If you choose to explore Calico Basin, here are some of the trails and points of interest you will find.