There’s also a picnic area here if you need to stop for a snack.Las Vegas is a city of bright lights and distractions, and it can be hard to fit all the fun things to do into your schedule. This path will take you across a wash surrounded by juniper trees toward a cliffside featuring historical rock art. You’ll discover 800-year-old petroglyphs on this super short, easy trail. You’ll have to make this judgment call yourself, however, and keep in mind that the road will be more treacherous after recent rainfall. Although it was certainly rough in spots, we felt we totally could have made the drive in our little rental (and saw several small cars that did so). Since we were driving a compact rental car, we decided to park at the beginning of the road and walk the nearly one-mile path. There’s a parking lot both at the beginning and the end of this dirt road, and signs warn that a high-clearance vehicle is needed to traverse the dirt path. The trailhead for Keystone Thrust is located at the end of a dirt road off of the main scenic loop. This collision was estimated to have occurred about the same time as the dinosaurs went extinct. The Keystone Thrust is a series of faults in the Earth’s crust where the Pacific and North American plates collided. This moderate, two-mile (3.5 km) trail will bring you views of one of the most significant geological features in the park. Note that from November through March, the tortoises are typically in hibernation and are unlikely to be seen. The visitor center will be the first stop once you enter the park. You’re not completely out of luck, however, because you can visit the resident tortoises at the outdoor exhibit behind the Red Rock Canyon Visitor Center. The desert tortoise is an endangered species, and sightings in the wild are exceedingly rare. If you miss your window, you’ll need to repay the $2 reservation fee, or you could be denied re-entry if the park is at capacity. If you complete the loop within that one-hour window, you’ll be able to reenter the park without issue. This park requires a reservation for a one-hour window to enter the park. Since you’ll be unable to turn around, you’ll want to be sure to stop at trails or overlooks as you come across them. The Scenic Loop Drive is a one-way road.Īlthough it’s only one-way, there’s plenty of room to pass other cars and bicyclists as you go along. If you drive straight through without stopping, you can complete the loop in about 30 minutes. Many visitors to the park come out just to enjoy the beautiful views from the car. If you’re short on time, you could do only this scenic drive and still leave impressed. The Scenic Loop Drive in Red Rock Canyon is spectacular! This 13-mile road through the Mojave desert will bring you past fiery red sandstone, fields of Joshua trees and desert flora, and the towering Keystone Thrust. The best time to visit Red Rock Canyon in Las Vegas is from October through April. Crowds are typically manageable throughout the season, but the scenic drive can get busy on weekends and late afternoons. The remainder of the year has much more pleasant daytime temperatures. I recommend avoiding a visit in June through September unless you plan to just do the scenic drive. The summer months bring extreme heat that can make hiking difficult or even dangerous. Red Rock Canyon experiences typical desert weather with hot days, cold nights, and little precipitation. There are no public transportation services that will bring you to the park. If you’re wanting to spend time here hiking the trails and enjoying the views, you’ll definitely need your own car. While there are Uber and Lyft drivers that will take you to the park, it’s generally much more cost-effective to rent a car for the day. Red Rock Canyon in Las Vegas is about a 30-minute drive from the Vegas Strip. Getting to Red Rock Canyon Conservation Area Notable Wildlife: Bighorn sheep, burros, chuckwalla, snakes, scorpions, desert tortoise (rare) They must be kept on a leash and never left unattended – even in a car. Pets: Pets are allowed in the park and on trails. Once you enter, you can stay in the park until it closes. National Parks for one year.Įntry: You’ll need to make a reservation for an hour window to enter the park. You can also pick up an America the Beautiful Pass which will give you unlimited access to this park as well as all U.S.
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