The closest concentration of classic Southwestern canyon scenery to Las Vegas lies a mere twenty miles west of the city center. The sheer 3000-foot escarpment that towers above Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is clearly visible from hotel windows along the Strip, with every fiery detail picked out each morning by the rising sun. What you can't see until you enter the park, however, is that there's a cactus-strewn desert basin set deep into those mighty walls, surrounded by stark red cliffs that are pierced repeatedly by narrow canyons accessible only on foot.

Run by the Federal Bureau of Land Management, Red Rock Canyon covers almost 200,000 acres of wilderness. Like other such Bureau of Land Management areas, it's less groomed for tourists than a national park or monument. Thus while it includes over thirty miles of hiking trails, they're not as well signed or maintained as you might expect, and it's all too easy for novice walkers to get lost

Explore Red Rock Canyon

Red Rock Canyon's Scenic Drive

Red Rock Canyon's Scenic Drive (daily 6am-dusk; $5 per vehicle, bicycles free) is a one-way loop road that meanders for thirteen miles around the edge of the basin before rejoining the main highway a couple of miles southwest of the visitor center. As the name implies, it's designed for drivers not pedestrians, but it's also popular with cyclists, who can cycle on designated trails as well as on the road itself, and for whom its gradients are never too demanding. Along the way, it passes a number of overlooks, many of which also serve as trailheads for hikes of varying lengths. Rock climbers should enquire at the visitor center for details of recommended ascents.

If you plan to hike, buy a good map in the visitor center before you set off; the free handouts aren't up to the job. Be warned also that the desert is home to mountain lions, rattlesnakes, and even gila monsters, which, should you permit one to chew on you for several hours, are poisonous.