Las Vegas Red Rock Canyon Tour: Best Hikes
Red Rock Canyon Day Trip from Las Vegas
20 minutes from the chaos of Las Vegas, is the beautiful Red Rock Canyon. The easy drive takes you to beautiful red rocks and amazing hikes. Our mid-December trip gave us the perfect opportunity to explore this Canyon. Red Rock Canyon is in the Mohave desert, so you need to bring plenty of water, and shade, and I highly recommend ChapStick. It was the first thing I bought at the information center. If you are traveling from October 1st to May 31st you will need to purchase a timed entry to the park from Recreation.gov.
We booked our whole trip to Las Vegas on credit card points. You can see how I did that here.
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Best Hikes in Red Rock Canyon
My husband made a list of 10 hikes that he thought our family could handle. Since we only had one day in the park we did not do this whole list. Some of the hikes we just out a little of the way. Regardless, we had an amazing day. Here is the view from the visitor center. Do not miss the exhibits there they did a fantastic job on those.
We did a little bit of the Calico Hills hike. My 16-year-old had the best time playing on the rocks here.
We then did some of the Calico Tanks hike. Some of us did more than others. I did not realize we would be hiking over all kinds of rocks and did not wear the best shoes. Keep this in mind when going! This hike was beautiful. I ended up sitting on rocks and waiting for my family to return and I was just happy to be out there.
Family-Friendly Trails & Petroglyphs
We saw lots of young families on the Lost-Creek Children’s discovery trail. Somehow, my husband missed the creek on the way out, so we made sure he saw it on the way back to the car. This hike is super close to a short walk to the petroglyphs.
red rock canyon
Final Thoughts
I highly recommend this as a 1/2 day or full-day trip from the Las Vegas area. Whether you’re seeking a quick escape from the Las Vegas Strip or a full day immersed in desert beauty, Red Rock Canyon delivers unforgettable views, family-friendly hikes, and a chance to experience Nevada’s natural side. With timed entry tickets, scenic drives, and trails for every skill level, it’s the perfect addition to any Vegas itinerary. Don’t forget to pin this guide for your future trip and share your favorite Red Rock Canyon adventure in the comments below!
If you are heading to Vegas, be sure to check out our adventures in Death Valley. We still talk about this day! Death Valley National Park From Las Vegas
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