Scenic Hiking Experiences In Las Vegas

Are you looking to take the family on a scenic experience in Las Vegas, but don’t know good hiking trails that will be fun for all? We have you covered! Right in Vegas’ backyard are some of the most beautiful and picturesque sights to experience with an outdoor aspect for everyone.

Las Vegas has several different places for families to go, one of the most popular being Red Rock Canyon. People go to see the infamous “red rocks” and to hike or take an evening drive around the scenic loop. Another gorgeous experience is Mount Charleston is, especially for those visiting Vegas in the winter months. The snow and winter activities that can be done on the mountain are unbelievable. Lastly The Valley of Fire is worth the drive as it is full of rich and beautiful history.

Red Rock:

Red Rock Canyon has 13 miles of a beautiful scenic drive to admire the amazing canyons and peaks. A Visitor Center is located just past the entrance for guest’s convenience. It includes indoor and outdoor exhibits, plants throughout the canyon, wildlife to expect, and desert tortoise habitats. You can also bike, climb, and horseback ride as well. The daily entrance fee for a car/truck is $15 per vehicle. All entrance fees go towards upkeep to the canyon.

Easy/Moderate – Calico Tanks Trail

This 2.2 mile out and back trail offers wild flowers, beautiful views of red rock and a chance for some boulder scrabbles. It is well marked on the way to tank and the scenery is perfect in the morning hours. This trail offers limited to no shade so be careful in the summer months.

Hard/Difficult – Turtlehead Peak Trail

This 4.6 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail, beautiful views of Red Rock Canyon, and the Las Vegas Strip can be seen from a –top of Turtle Head. This trail has pretty steep inclines, & rock crawls. The trail is well marketed but it is easy to veer off the main trail at times if you do not pay close attention.

https://www.redrockcanyonlv.org/lasvegas/hikes-trails/

Mount Charleston:

Spreading over 90 acres, the Spring Mountains Visitor Gateway offers a Visitor Center, Education Building, group picnic areas, two amphitheaters, trailheads, and expansive areas with benches to take in the views of Kyle Canyon and Charleston Peak. The Seven Stones Plaza at the Gateway honors the 7 Paiute tribes who consider this a sacred Nuwuvi creation place. Also found at the Gateway is the Silent Heroes of the Cold War Memorial, the nation’s first national Cold War memorial.

From a cool escape in the summer to a snowy wonderland in the winter, the Spring Mountains offer a distinct change in seasons not normally found in the Mojave Desert. Fall colors and spring wildflowers delight hikers who visit during these quiet seasons. You can also horseback ride, climb, off road drive, bike, and experience the gorgeous scenic drive.

Moderate – Mary Jane Falls Trail

This 2.9 out and back trail is a moderate uphill hike with a ton of switchbacks, but the ending is beautiful with a waterfall (season permitting). The trail is very visible and busy. There are many places to stop and rest if needed. One of the busiest trails in Mount Charleston so go early and bring lots of water.

Moderate/Hard – Cathedral Rock HikingTrail

This 2.7 out and back trail is located near Mount Charleston Lodge. It is best used from May until November and closed in the winter months due to snow. The travel offers thick patches of aspens and evergreen, views of The Cliffs with a drop off of 1,000 feet. Once you reach the  top, at 8,000 feet above sea level,  mind your snacks as the Palmer Chipmunks enjoy the views also. Please resist feeding them, by feeding them they will become dependent on humans for their food.

–Spring Mountain National Recreation Area – Off Rt. 160

Moderate – Hollow Rock Peak

This 5.4 mile out and back lightly traveled trail and is best used from September until May. The trail offers some up and downs and class 3 scrabbling to the summit. The trail gets a little hard to follow near the sandstone portion

Hard – Hidden Arches HikingTrail

This 6.6 mile out and back lightly traveled trail is recommended for only well experienced adventures. The trail is used by rock climbers and hikers in the area. There is a hidden arch, hence the name. It will appear behind you once the trail seems to end.

https://www.gomtcharleston.com/

Valley of Fire State Park:

40,000 acres of bright red Aztec sandstone outcrops nestled in gray and tan limestone, Valley of Fire State Park contains ancient, petrified trees and petroglyphs dating back more than 2,000 years. A Visitor Center provides exhibits on the geology, ecology, prehistory and history of the park and nearby region. You can also take a drive around the state park with their scenic drive to see all of the beautiful views. Day use entrance fee is $10 per vehicle.

Easy – Fire Wave Hiking Trail

This 1.5 heavily trafficked out and back trail and offers sandstone formations that resembles ice cream swirls and or ocean waves of pink, white and red sandstone. The trail starts off sandy and transitions into sandstone. There is no shade on this trail so bring plenty of water and avoid hiking in extreme heat.

Moderate/Hard – Prospect Hiking Trail

This 8.8 out and back trail offers spectacular views of Valley of Fire, wildflowers and wild life. Some areas of the trail are not well marked so use of a GPS is recommended. There are boulders and loose rocks within a wash that will need to be traversed.

http://parks.nv.gov/parks/valley-of-fire

**We are not affiliated with any of the destinations/hiking trails listed in this blog.