Red Rock Canyon is less than 45 minutes from school, and provides a great retreat for hiking, climbing, and cycling.

The drive through Red Rock's “Scenic Loop” provides 13 miles of twisty, dipping, one-way travel with sandstone views unlike anything else. The cost per car is $5, motorcycles $3, or you can cycle/run/crawl the 13 mi scenic loop for free (free parking to the left of the fee booths). A year pass costs $20, or you can use your National Parks Pass (available for $50 or $65 for the Golden Eagle version) to get in for free. As a lifelong Vegas native I still haven't hiked all 40+ hikes at Red Rock, and when the weather is nice (it's usually about 10 degrees cooler than Vegas) it's my favorite place to go.

I highly suggest stopping at the Visitor Center (just past the fee booths), and see just how Red Rock Canyon was geologically formed, and get a history on its past inhabitants. They also house a good collection of native plants and animals that you could encounter on your visit. Speaking of animals, I have seen snakes, squirrels, rabbits, wild burrows (which are a common road-side attraction along the 159) and mt. goats in Red Rock. Bushwhacking is not recommended, but if inevitable do watch your step for those snakes (which like to hide in bushes and under rock-ledges).

Some of the more popular hikes are:

Calico Hills I and II, for some fun sandstone scrambling.

La Madre Springs is an easy hike that brings you to a man-made damn where a spring resides year round. If you follow the stream N. an extra 1.5 miles you'll find an old rock-walled cabin.

Pine Creek trail offers a nice stream that you can hike to in the midst of Pine Trees. Perfect for a romantic picnic with that special someone.

Bridge Mt. trail is for those that want to test not only their fitness and bravery, but also their 4x4s capabilities (as Rocky Gap Road is for serious 4-wheelers only). However, if you can get to the trailhead it is the best hike I have done thus far.

First Creek Trail is actually located a few miles past the Scenic Loop entrance on 159, and is thus fee-free. It is a great hike for those that like a rustling brook to follow, and leads to a nice 15' waterfall during snow-melt season.

For more information and good descriptions of the hikes at Red Rock you can visit these sites:

• localhikes.com/MSA/MSA_4120.asp
• www.hikinglasvegas.com/hikes4.html
• www.redrockcanyonlv.org/hikes_and_programs.htm

Directions to Red Rock: from Campus: I-215 to W. on Charleston (which turns into Hwy 160), Red Rock Scenic loop will be on your right ~5 miles down.

Alternate route from campus: Take the 215 W to the 15-S, get off on the Blue Diamond Exit, take that West to the 159, and Red Rock will be on your left. I have never taken this route, but it is definitely doable.

2nd Alternate route: 95-N to Summerlin Pkwy. Left (S.) on 215, right (W.) on Charleston.

Article Author:
Jason Rodgers
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