Las Vegas is the place to be for partying, everybody knows that, but do you know of the numerous outdoor opportunities? People are often surprised when I tell them I spent almost my entire time in Vegas hiking, in fact, the city is surrounded by vast areas outdoor lovers can revel in.
Here is a list of them and a brief description on each:
Lake Mead National Recreation Area
Swimming, hiking, camping, soaking in hot springs, rafting down the Colorado River, boat rides, you can do it all here. The area is part of the National Parks System and consists of two lakes, Lake Mead in the north and Lake Mohave in the south, hundreds of hot springs, plus miles upon miles of hiking trails spanning over red sandstone, granite hills and in some areas black volcanic rocks. There are several camp sites as well as RV parks with full hook-ups.
Valley of Fire State Park
It is located about 35 minutes north of Las Vegas and is probably one of the most visited ones. There is a paved road which goes through the park and a very informative visitor center. You can choose to do short walks around the view points or spend an entire day from early morning till sunset on longer hikes. My favorite hikes here are Mouse’s Tank and Fire Wave. The later one ends in an area akin to The Wave in Arizona, not nearly as big or as colorful but still similar. Mouse’s Tank goes through a red canyon and ends at a natural rain water basin. Look-up at the rocks for the very well preserved petroglyphs.
Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
This place is far more popular with locals than tourists, especially if you get off the road and unto the trails. If you do some hiking you are likely to find yourself all alone in the wilderness. Whether you just want a little taste of desert landscape or an intense workout hiking/running over rocks this place is just a short drive away from the center of Vegas, about 16 miles west. There is a paved 13 mile scenic drive with several parking spots along the way. It gets extremely hot in the summer here so prepare accordingly.
Mount Charleston
Mount Charleston is a peak within the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area about 30 miles north west of Las Vegas. In winter it is often covered with enough snow for skiing and in summer the cooler mountain temperatures offer a nice respite from the extreme heat of lower elevations and the madness of the city. There are several trails and amazing views.
Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area
It’s located about 25 miles south-east from Las Vegas. When you get tired of the crowds and want a good hike in the desert you might choose to go here. Don’t go alone though, it’s a vast area, typical desert wild life abounds, there is no cell phone service and chances are you won’t run into many people maybe none while out there. Here is a very helpful post if you plan on hiking Sloan Canyon.
The West Rim of the Grand Canyon
If you wish to visit the Grand Canyon while you are in Las Vegas, you can do so on a day-trip and be back at your comfy hotel for night-time. Depending on your budget and preference you have several options. You can drive yourself there, it takes a little over 2 hours in smooth traffic to get there. You can take a bus tour, there are several of them leaving from Vegas. Read about my experience and do yourself a favor research the tour company you are hiring on Yelp or Trip Advisor before you book so you have a better time than I did. Or, if you can afford it, take a helicopter tour; some of them only do fly-overs so pay attention when you book, if you want to do some hiking make sure you choose one which lands and gives you time to explore. FYI the West Rim of the Grand Canyon is located on the Hualapai Reservation and not part of the National Parks System. This is where the Grand Canyon Skywalk is located.
