Address: 1000 Scenic Loop Drive, Las Vegas Nevada 89161
Red Rock Canyon is a National Park located in Clark County and situated in Nevada’s Mojave Desert. It’s composed of 200,000 acres and 30 miles of amazing hiking trails, rock climbing, and mountain biking. The rocks moved with the earth’s tectonic shifts. A faults shifting involuntary moved the gray sedimentary rocks towards the red rocks which caused the colorful stripes on the red rocks. Its area is mostly composed of red Aztec sandstone cliffs and it is Nevada’s first National Conservation.
The Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is open from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m. and 7 days/week. We drove for 30 minutes and about 14 miles from Bellagio Hotel where we stayed. We passed through a few Casinos along the way and it is about 5 minutes away from the Red Rock Casino and the Summerlin area.
On our way into the entrance, we saw a big sandstone rock with the name “Red Rock Canyon” etched on it near the entrance of the National Park. We were greeted by a Park Ranger and the entrance fee is $15 per car but we got in for free since we have an annual National Park Pass. We drove through the entire 13 miles one-way scenic loop for about 2 hours due to us stopping on each Vista Point/ Rest Area for a photo opportunity. Most of the Vista Point on the way has clean public restrooms. While driving through the 13 miles one-way scenic loop, we were all amazed at the gorgeous views of the Red/orange colors of the Aztec sandstones and some have unique colorful stripes. We even took a few pictures of the sun setting down through the top of the mountains that created a picture-perfect view. A small signage on the road that states “watch out for tortoise crossing” caught our attention and we had to look for a tortoise on the road. (LOL…) The speed limit on the 13 miles one-way scenic loop is between 15-25 mph.
Overall, it is a very unique and well worth experience for us to explore Red Rock Canyon since we were supposed to visit Grand Canyon but end up not going due to scattered thunderstorms. Red Rock Canyon is also known for its geological features such as the towering red sandstone peaks, the Keystone Thrust Fault, as well as the Native American petroglyphs.
Tips: The Red Rock Visitor Center is closed due to Covid restrictions. And there are about 26 different hikes and trails and I heard that “Lost Creek” is an easy hike for kids. Watch out for bees and insects, I would recommend wearing a good hiking shoe with a good grip due to slippery rocks. Drive slow and respect nature. Bring your own water and food as it was 115 degrees during our visit. (July). Pay attention to the weather changes as we encountered having zero visibility while driving on the freeway due to a storm, torrential rain, thunderstorm, and a flash flood.
Let me know if you have any questions, comments or what you think about the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area after your visit in the comments below. And kindly share our family travel blog site with your friends and family. Or even include our travel blog website address when you post your pictures on social media. Have fun and stay safe. Thank you.