Las Vegas may be known for it’s glitzy casinos, hotels, and shows, but did you know it’s also got some great nature hiking trails? Just outside of the city are beautiful hikes through rocks and canyons that are suitable for the whole family.
We’ll explore the best hikes to take kids around Las Vegas.
In this blog post, we’ll cover:
- Eastern Trails
- Red Rock Canyon
- Where to Stay
- Tips When Visiting
- Video of Hiking Trails
The closest hiking trails around Las Vegas are the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area to the west of the city, and various hiking trails to the east of the city.
Trails East of Las Vegas
There are several unique hiking trails to the east of Las Vegas. We went on White Owl Canyon, Historic Railroad Trails, and the Nature Discovery Trail.
White Owl Canyon Trail
Also known as simply Owl Canyon, this is a fun and unique slot trail near Lake Mead. It’s a 2-mile round trip hike that goes through a slot canyon. The high walls and unique rock formations make it fun trail to explore. Towards the end are 2 sets of metal tunnels to walk through. After the second tunnel, turn around and go back the way you came.
The beginning has a bit of a steep up and down, but the rest of the trail is flat. Avoid this trail if there’s a possibility of rain because flash floods can occur in the canyon.
There’s a parking lot at the trailhead and outhouse restrooms at the entrance of the parking lot.
Historic Railroad Trail
This trail near the south end of Lake Mead has some great history and a unique experience. It used to be the old railroad tracks that were used to transport materials to build the Hoover Dam. So the trail actually does go all the way to Hoover Dam and goes through a series of 4 tunnels carved into the hillside. The total length of the trail is 3.7-miles one way. We opted to walk until we passed through the first 2 tunnels, which is 1.5 miles, making for a 3-mile roundtrip hike. There’s a parking lot at the head of the trail with outhouse restrooms.
Nature Discovery Trail and Rock Garden
Located in Boulder City, this is a nice little walking path that winds through a rock garden with statues of animals. The entire path is paved and is only 1800 feet long, so it’s a nice causal stroll for the whole family. It’s at the top of a hill with nice views of the surrounding town. There’s a parking lot, but no restrooms.
Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
Red Rock is a large nature park defined by unique rock formations with red stripes. There are many sections to the park with different entrances. We only visited Calico Basin and the Scenic Loop Drive.
Calico Basin
Calico Basin is an area of Red Rock Canyon with multiple types of trails. It can be reached by turning onto Calico Basin Rd from Highway 139.
Red Spring Boardwalk Trail
This is a half-mile loop trail on a wooden boardwalk. The trail takes you through a grassy meadow and up against red rock hills. At the start of the trail are restrooms and shaded picnic tables. There’s a parking lot in front of the trail.
Calico Hills
From the same parking lot is another trail that goes along the bottom of the hills. You can go down as far as you want. We just went a short distance and turned around. Along the way you can scramble and climb up the giant rocks along the hills.
Other Trails
There are other notable trails in the Calico Basin area such as the Girl Scout Trail, Wisdom Tree Trail, and Gateway Trail.
Scenic Loop Drive
The main section of Red Rock Canyon has a 13-mile scenic loop drive. It is a one-way road with a separate entrance and exit. It’s the only way to access many trail within this section by car. There’s a $20 fee per vehicle to enter, and you’ll need to register online beforehand for a timed slot.
Calico 1
This is the first stop along the Scenic Loop Drive. There’s a parking lot and a path that goes up to the red rock canyon wall, with multiple places to roam and explore. There are restrooms at the parking lot.
Petroglyph Wall
About half way through the drive towards the back of the park is a short 0.2-mile path that leads to a canyon wall with ancient drawings. There is a small parking lot at the trailhead.
Other Stops
There are several other notable stops and trails along Scenic Loop Drive that we didn’t get to, either because we were short on time or the parking lots were too crowded.
- Calico Hills North (similar to Calico 1)
- Turtle Head Peak / Calico Tanks Trailhead (same parking lot)
- Children’s Discovery Trail / Lost Creek Canyon
- Ice Box Canyon
- Pine Creek Trail
Where to Stay Near Las Vegas Trails
You could stay either on the east or west of Las Vegas to be closer to the hiking trails. Hotels are also more affordable if you don’t stay in the center of Las Vegas. Here are some options, depending on which area you prefer.
Here are a few hotel suggestions that are kid friendly – they have a swimming pool and/or spa, and have either complimentary breakfast or a restaurant on site for convenience.
Hotels East of Las Vegas
Hotels West of Las Vegas Near Red Rock Canyon
Tips When Hiking Around Las Vegas
Here are a few tips for going on the hiking trails around Las Vegas.
- Visit during the fall or spring when the weather is mild. Winter is also great if you don’t mind being a bit chilly.
- If visiting around summer, avoid hiking midday – it gets hot and many of the these trails don’t have shade.
- Try to go in the morning to avoid crowds.
- There are any restaurants or convenience stores near these trails, so pack snacks and plenty of water.
- There’s not cellular reception around the trails, so try to download maps ahead of time.
Video of Las Vegas Hiking Trails
