Red Rock Canyon: A Scenic Drive Next to Vegas
Red Rock Canyon Scenic Drive Guide
Use our realistic Red Rock Canyon Scenic Drive Guide to plan your next adventure in this park.
Red Rock Canyon is a National Conservation Area near Las Vegas, Nevada. Red, orange, and white rock formations are this park’s major sights.
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Sights & Places of Interest
There are many ways to enjoy the sights in Red Rock Canyon. But the Scenic Loop Drive is by far the easiest and most popular.
The Scenic Loop Drive is a 13-mile (21-km) one-way road. It starts at the Red Rock Canyon Fee Station. The Drive ends at the Lower Red Rock Parking Area.
This section of Red Rock Canyon Scenic Drive Guide describes key viewpoints on the drive.
Red Rock
The Red Rock Overlook is a great first stop in the park. This viewpoint is on Highway NV-159 prior to the park’s entrance. It is one of the few stops you can enjoy for free and without a reservation.
This viewpoint has distant views of the mountains. But Joshua trees are the main sight at this stop. These plants grow in many places of Western United States. But their density here resembles most Joshua Tree National Park in Southern California.
Calico
The Calico Overlook is the first real stop on the Scenic Loop Drive. It is just 2 miles (3.2 km) from the Visitor Center. The first few viewpoints attract the most visitors. Get ready to wait for a parking spot. The Drive will open up only after the High Point.
You can also access the Calico Overlook from multiple trails. Some of them start at the Visitor Center. Others begin at Calico Basin.
Beyond the hiking trails, Calico Hills are a great spot for rock climbing. You need a permit to climb the red rocks.
Sandstone Quarry
The Sandstone Quarry Overlook is an obvious next stop in the park. This trailhead provides access to the Turtlehead Peak and Calico Tanks. You can also take the connecting trails to White Rock and Calico Hills.
You will see colorful rocks at this viewpoint if you visit it right before the sunset.
High Point
The High Point Overlook lives up to its name. This viewpoint is at the elevation of 4,771 ft (1,445 m). The High Point’s elevation makes it a perfect spot for panoramic views.
You can get amazing views of the park and its surrounding areas. You will even see Las Vegas in the distance. Budget more time to enjoy this overlook. It is the most picturesque overlook on the Red Rock Canyon Scenic Drive.
The High Point also marks roughly a halfway of the Scenic Loop Drive.
White Rock
You can also see the White Rock from the High Point. But there are no trails at this viewpoint. So if hiking is your main goal, drive to the next parking lot. It is about 1 mile (1.6 km) down on the Scenic Loop Drive.
This trailhead is a gateway to the White Rock, Keystone Thrust, and La Madre Spring trails. Each of these trails takes at least an hour to hike. Budget even more time to explore the park on these trails.
Willow Spring
The Willow Spring Picnic Area is home to several trails and sights. You can hike to the Petroglyph Wall, Lost Creek, and Ice Box Canyon. These are short hikes.
If you are feeling more adventurous, you can take longer trails. Look into the North Peak and Bridge Mountain, La Madre Spring, and Pine Creek Canyon trails. These hikes involve some elevation gain.
The last two trails are the easiest if you start from the nearest trailhead. You can also make the North Peak and Bridge Mountain trails a bit easier. You just need to drive on the Rocky Gap Road. This drive requires a 4×4 high clearance vehicle.
Red Rock Wash
The Red Rock Wash Overlook is one of the final stops on the Scenic Loop Drive. You will only pass the Pine Creek and Oak Cree Trailheads after that.
Like the High Point, this viewpoint is outside of the trail system. You need a bike or a car to reach it.
Continue with our Red Rock Canyon Scenic Drive Guide. You will learn more about ways to get to the sights, entrance requirements, and places to stay.
Getting to Red Rock Canyon
Red Rock Canyon Scenic Drive is just west of Las Vegas. Vegas is a major hub. You need to look no further than its airport to visit Red Rock Canyon.
You can reach this park from either Harry Reid International Airport and Vegas Strip in under 30 minutes.
It makes Red Rock Canyon a perfect spot for a day trip. Or you could add this park to a weekend trip to more distant places in the Southwest. Red Rock Canyon deserves a spot on an itinerary to Great Basin, Grand Canyon, or Death Valley.
Where to Stay near Red Rock Canyon
Proximity to Las Vegas has its benefits. There are lots of places to stay near Red Rock Canyon. Vegas has a place for every traveler. There are lavish casinos and run-down motels.
Just pick a place that works with you budget and comfort level. You can then enjoy a short drive to Red Rock Canyon almost from anywhere in the Vegas area.
Spring Valley and Henderson tend to have more affordable places to stay than Paradise. But your mileage may vary.
Entrance Requirements & Passes
Bureau of Land Management oversees Red Rock Canyon. The park charges admission fees of $20 per vehicle. But you can get a free admission if you have an America the Beautiful annual pass.
You can drive on the Scenic Loop Drive and hike in the park for this fee. But if you want to climb rocks, you need to apply for an additional permit.
The park is open from sunrise to sunset. But you would need to prepare in advance to visit Red Rock Canyon during most of the year. This is how the park deals with overcrowding.
- The park requires advance reservations for visits between October 1 and May 31. A reservation costs $2.
- You do not need a reservation during the summer. But Nevada‘s summer heat is not the best time to visit Red Rock Canyon.
Takeaways: Red Rock Canyon
Red Rock Canyon is a nice park, just a quick drive away from Las Vegas. Its favorable location makes Red Rock Canyon a solid option for scenic driving, hiking, and climbing.
But it is also fine to skip this park. There are a few reasons to do so.
- There is little point in driving to the park if you could not get a reservation ahead of time.
- Red Rock Canyon might pale in comparison to other nearby parks, like Valley of Fire or Death Valley.
- Skip this park if you have a long drive ahead.
Take a look at our Red Rock Canyon Scenic Drive Video Guide. And visit our YouTube channel for the latest videos.
Frequently Asked Questions
Red Rock Canyon has scenic red, orange, and white rock formations. This park is a short drive from Las Vegas.
Red Rock Canyon is a good day trip destination from Vegas. It has a scenic drive, hiking trails, and rock climbing routes. But you should skip this park if you do not have a reservation or have little time.
Spring is the best season to visit Red Rock Canyon. The daytime is the longest. And the weather is at its best.
Early morning and late afternoon are the best times of the day to visit Red Rock Canyon.
You can drive the Scenic Loop Drive in Red Rock Canyon in less than an hour. Add at least 30 minutes to stop at the viewpoints. Budget between a few hours to a full day to hike the trails or climb the rocks.
You can finish the 13-mi Scenic Loop Drive in Red Rock Canyon in under an hour.
You need to pay $20 admission fee per vehicle to drive through Red Rock Canyon. Add $2 reservation fee if you visit between October 1 and May 31.
The 13-mi Scenic Loop Drive in Red Rock Canyon is paved. There are a couple of gravel side roads. The nearby Rocky Gap Road requires a 4×4 high clearance vehicle.
Safe realist travels!
