Little known about Las Vegas are the stunning outdoor activities that surround it. Las Vegas is known for its spectacle. Whether it is the extravagant shows, fancy drinks, or clubs, there is something for everyone here. What is less known is the just-as-stunning outdoor pursuits at your finger tips. If you want to leave the overcrowded, expensive hustle and bustle of the strip, here's a list for you of places to explore, all under an hour away from the Las Vegas Strip.
Mt. Charleston
Whether you are visiting in the winter or in the summer, Mt. Charleston has plenty of outdoor activities to offer. In the summer, escape the oppressive Las Vegas heat to cool off in Mt Charleston's higher altitude, where temps barely reach 80°F. You'll find plenty of hiking and mountain biking trails, rock climbing, and camping opportunities. In the winter, go snowshoeing, sledding, skiing or snowboarding. All of these activities are just an hour away from the strip.
Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
Less than 20 miles from the Strip, Red Rock Canyon is Nevada’s first National Conservation Area - and for a good reason. Take a 13-mile scenic drive, go for a hike or mountain bike ride, try your hand at rock climbing, join a horseback riding tour, and so much more to do outdoors.
Quick note: Between October-May, Red Rock Canyon requires a reservation to enter the scenic drive. Get your timed entry permit here prior to heading out there.
Spring Mountain Ranch State Park
A few miles beyond Red Rock Canyon is the family-friendly Spring Mountain Ranch State Park. Here you can explore some of the oldest buildings in Nevada, a few short hiking trails, and a big shaded picnic area. However, in my opinion, the park highlight is its living history program, where performers in period clothing reenact historic events and demonstrate pioneering skills.
If you're lucky, you can also obtain tickets to an outdoor evening musical production at the Super Summer Theater!
Ice Age Fossils State Park
Ice Age Fossils State Park is yet another tiny yet unique state park on the outskirts of Las Vegas. As the name suggests, the park protects fossils from the Pleistocene era. You can follow a few short hiking trails to look for the fossils of Columbian mammoths, American lions, camels, dire wolves, and ground sloths that once roamed the Vegas Valley.
Valley of Fire State Park
Valley of Fire State Park, 50 minutes from the Las Vegas Strip, is a popular getaway in winter for Las Vegas locals. This Nevada state park boasts plenty of hiking trails, a ton of geological history, and a couple of campgrounds. You might recognize the scenery from such Hollywood films as Total Recall, Transformers, and The Professionals. Hike the White Domes Trail to find remnants from the set of The Professionals.
Remember if you are hiking in summer to bring plenty of water, take breaks, and bring sun protection!
Lake Mead National Recreation Area
A scenic lake in the desert with outdoor activities for everyone: Hiking, swimming, kayaking, boating, biking, and camping, just to name a few possibilities. Combine your visit with a stop at Hoover Dam to learn about Lake Mead's beginnings as well as its significance.
While passing through, don't miss a stop at the Boulder City historic district, a charming small town that was originally established for the construction of the dam.
We've written in the past about our favorite winter hikes in Lake Mead: Fortification Hill and the hot springs. For a shorter excursion, summer or winter, check out the Historic Railroad Tunnel Trail, a 3.7-mile (6 km) path that takes you back to 1931 on the original road to the Hoover Dam. This is the most popular hike and/or bike ride in the park, just 30 minutes from the Strip.
Another popular destination within the Lake Mead National Recreation Area boundaries is Willow Beach. Downriver from the Hoover Dam, in the state of Arizona, you can rent kayaks at this beach year-round and paddle upstream to the Emerald Cave and back.
Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area
Sloan Canyon is a protected natural area literally across the street from many southern Las Vegas residences. There are a number of hiking trails in this national conservation area, but the two favorites are the Petroglyphs Trail and Black Mountain Trail. On the Petroglyphs Trail, you can count nearly 1,700 individual rock art designs dating back to around 1000 years! Hiking Black Mountain gets you a fantastic view of Las Vegas.
Clark County Wetlands Park
A nature preserve on the east side of Las Vegas, Wetlands Park is a birdwatchers' paradise! Jogging, hiking, and biking trails weave through the park and around small ponds. Boardwalks lead to viewing platforms from which you can look for migratory birds. Stop at the Nature Center to learn about this interesting ecosystem in the middle of the desert and borrow binoculars to look for these birds.
Springs Preserve
The Springs Preserve, in the middle of the city, is an indoor/outdoor museum of the natural and human history of Nevada. You can spend multiple days here learning about the region's Native American history, the beginnings of the modern city of Las Vegas, the dinosaurs that roamed the area, the local desert and all its wonders, and so much more. Don't miss the flash flood simulator - it is a fan-favorite!
Lake Las Vegas
Lake Las Vegas is a growing resort and luxury homes destination built around a manmade reservoir. It is a fun place to cool off in the summer! During the day, enjoy water activities like the water obstacle course, paddle boarding, boating, wake boarding and more. In the evening, walk around the expensive hotels and quaint shops and restaurants dotting the waterfront.
Gilcrease Orchard
A local favorite! Pick your own apples, pumpkins and more while supporting a local business. Check the Gilcrease Orchard website for opening hours and produce, as they vary depending on the time of year. If you time it right, enjoy their homemade food and drinks while listening to live music. Don't miss their cider and donuts!
Conclusion
Often overlooked about Las Vegas is the breathtaking outdoor activities just beyond the city limits. We've therefore summarized in this post a long list of worthy outdoor pursuits, all within an hour’s drive of the Las Vegas Strip. We hope you enjoy these local outdoor destinations as much as we do!
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