Hiking or Driving in Red Rock Provides Unique Desert Experience
Hike this area and view the unique geologic features, plants and animals that represent some of the best examples of the Mojave Desert. Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area (NCA) is located 15 minutes west of Las Vegas, Nevada. Designated as an NCA in 1990, there are 19 different stops along the scenic loop drive. Featured here are the nine stops that make up the second half of the loop drive, along with level of difficulty and estimated hiking time. Choose one or more to explore based on time constraints and fitness levels. These stops on the loop drive include viewing highlights, degree of difficulty and estimated round-trip hiking times.
SMYC
Access this trail from either Lost Creek or Ice Box Canyon trails. The trail follows the terrain at the base of the steep slope and connects the two trails. Moderate. 2 hours; 2.2 miles.
Ice Box Canyon
Proceed to Mile 8 to access the parking lot for this trail. The trail crosses open desert before it enters the canyon. The trails are unimproved and may require some rock scrambling. Highlights include seasonal waterfalls (January – March). Moderate. 2 hours; 2.6 miles.
Dale’s
Trail access can be found either at Ice Box Canyon or Pine Creek Canyon. The trail follows the terrain at the base of the steep slope and connects the two trails. Moderate. 2.5 hours; 4.4 miles.
Pine Creek Canyon
This trail has its own parking lot accessed from the Loop Drive. The trail traverses across the open desert, past an old homestead site and on into the canyon. Highlights include seasonal waterfalls. Unimproved trails within the canyon may require some tricky rock scrambling. Easy to Moderate. 2 hours; 3 miles.
Fire Ecology
Branching off Pine Creek Canyon Trail, this short, figure eight trail winds through a stand of Ponderosa Pine where a controlled burn had taken place. Easy. 55 minutes; .75 miles.
Oak Creek Canyon
Access via a dirt road from the Oak Creek Turnoff from the 13-mile Scenic Drive. Also accessible from State Route 159. The trails heads through open desert and on into the mouth of the canyon. Caution is recommended here as unimproved trails lead deep into the canyon. Easy to Moderate. 1.5 hours; 2 miles.
Arnight Trail
This trail can begin at the Oak Creek Canyon parking lot or by hiking the Pine Creek Canyon Trail. The trail actually connects the Oak Creek parking lot with the end loop of the Pine Creek Canyon Trail. Moderate. 1.5 hours; 2.4 miles.
Knoll Trail
The best way to access this trail is via the Oak Creek Canyon Trail. The trail links the upper section of the Arnight Trail with the Oak Creek Canyon Trail and follows the base of the steep slope. Moderate. 2.5 hours; 3
Planning to Nevada
- Decide when you want to go on your trip and how long you’ll stay in Nevada. According to Nevada Tourism, the summers are dry and hot, with temperatures reaching the 90s, and the winters bring average temps of around 30 with lots of sunny days. If you’re interested in skiing, snowboarding or other winter sports, plan to stay at least a few days in Reno or Lake Tahoe in the winter months. If hiking and water sports are more your style, the same areas are great during the summer. Las Vegas shows and tours are always climate-controlled, making the city perfect for any time of the year.
What To Do
- Pick some activities that you want to do on your Nevada vacation. History buffs will want to visit Carson City’s Chinese Workers Museum of America; Las Vegas’ Atomic Testing Museum; and King Tut’s Tomb and Museum, an exact replica of the Egyptian tomb of the famous pharaoh, also in Las Vegas. Art lovers can take in great works at the Las Vegas Art Museum and the city’s large Chinatown, with galleries and museums featuring Asian art. If you’re looking for gaming, live music and over-the-top entertainment extravaganzas, Las Vegas is the place to be; remember, though, that you have to be 18 or older to enter a casino. For families, there are plenty of kid-friendly shows in Las Vegas, including the pirate show at Treasure Island Hotel and Casino, the Lied Discovery Children’s Museum and the Adventuredome Theme Park inside Circus Circus, but there’s also the Ultimate Rush Speed andThrill Park, and the Great Basin Adventure in Reno. Hikers and golfers will find beautiful places for hiking and playing all over the state. Nevada’s board of tourism especially recommends hiking the Tahoe Rim Trail, which circles Lake Tahoe; the Mount Rose Wilderness Area; Great Basin National Park, near Baker; and Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, near Las Vegas. Golfers are encouraged to check out the courses at Edgewood at Lake Tahoe; Rosewood Lakes in Reno; Empire Ranch in Carson City; Painted Desert Golf Club in Las Vegas; and Boulder City’s Cascata Golf Club, dubbed by “Sports Illustrated” as “golf’s hidden treasure.”
Create a Budget
- Draw up a budget. If you’re going to Las Vegas and want to do some gaming at the casinos, set a limit for yourself and pick a time to stop playing. Seeing more than one city in Nevada will require a car, so factor in a rental and gas costs. There are great places to shop all over the state, so if you like souvenirs or are looking to add a unique piece of art from a Nevada gallery to your collection, establish a budget for that. Finally, take a look online for seasonal hotel deals, and budget your hotel
and airfare according to the best deal.
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