Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is a desert landscape west of Las Vegas, with a one-way scenic road, trailheads and viewpoints to shape a day trip around. You can take in the drive and a few stops in a half-day, or add a Visitor Center visit and a walk for a fuller outing.
- Location: 17 miles west of the Las Vegas Strip, on Charleston Boulevard/State Route 159.
- Scenic Loop Drive: 13 miles on a paved, one-way road.
- Stops: nine overlooks, stops or trailheads, in addition to the Visitor Center.
- Timed entry: required for the Scenic Drive during specified hours from October through May.
Choosing a Red Rock Canyon visit
Choose between a scenic drive with brief stops, a visit centered on the Visitor Center, or an outing that includes a trail. The conservation area covers approximately 198,000 acres, so the 13-mile loop offers a practical way to sample its landscapes without trying to cover the whole area.
The loop is paved and one-way, and its nine stops include trailheads and scenic overlooks. You can take the drive at your own pace, pausing at viewpoints or choosing a walk that fits your plans. It is limited to street-licensed vehicles.
For a view without entering the Scenic Drive, the Red Rock Overlook on State Route 159 does not require a reservation or fee. Parking may be limited, so keep that in mind when planning a stop.
The area became Nevada’s first National Conservation Area in 1990. Red Rock Canyon is about 17.4 miles from this motel in Las Vegas.
How do you get from Las Vegas to Red Rock Canyon?
Drive west from Las Vegas toward Charleston Boulevard/State Route 159 to reach the conservation area. The Visitor Center and the Scenic Drive are within the area, but public transportation does not extend to Red Rock Canyon.
The Bureau of Land Management says rideshare users’ activities are limited to the Visitor Center and trails that start there. If you want to explore other stops along the Scenic Drive, plan for a street-licensed vehicle. For city transport options before or after your canyon visit, getting around Las Vegas covers the main ways to move around town.
The drive itself is a 13-mile paved loop that runs one way through the conservation area. Keep your plans flexible enough to allow for the stops you choose; the loop has nine stops, trailheads or overlooks, not counting the Visitor Center.
Scenic drive and viewpoint planning
Use the Scenic Loop Drive to connect viewpoints and trailheads, choosing stops according to how much time you have. All stops except White Rock and North Oak Creek are paved, and accessible parking is provided at Calico 1, Sandstone Quarry, High Point Overlook and Willow Spring Picnic Area.
For a short accessible walk, the Red Spring Boardwalk is 0.6 miles long, with around 60 feet of elevation gain. It is accessible to strollers, wheelchairs and other standard mobility devices.
Red Spring Picnic Area is about five minutes toward Las Vegas from the Visitor Center along State Route 159. Parking and hiking from Red Spring do not require an entry fee or reservation. For a group picnic using the pavilion, you need a reservation through Recreation.gov.
Pets, companion animals and emotional-support animals are not allowed inside the Visitor Center or its outdoor exhibits. Registered service animals are allowed throughout the conservation area.
Visitor Center, fees and reservations
The Visitor Center adds a short film, exhibits, a tortoise habitat and panoramic canyon views to a Scenic Drive outing. Its film runs 17 minutes, so you can factor it into a short stop or use it to begin a longer visit.
Timed-entry reservations are required for the Scenic Drive from October 1 through May 31 for entry between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Make a reservation through Recreation.gov or by calling 877-444-6777. The reservation rule applies to the Scenic Drive; the Red Rock Overlook and parking and hiking from Red Spring do not require a reservation.
The Scenic Drive opens at 6 a.m. daily, weather permitting. Its closing time is 5 p.m. from November through February, 7 p.m. in March and October, and 8 p.m. from April through September.
The Visitor Center is generally open daily from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day, it is open from 8 a.m. to noon. On those holidays, the Scenic Drive is open from 6 a.m. to noon.
Hours, reservation rules and access can affect your plan, so check the Bureau of Land Management's official site before you go.
A practical half-day or full-day outline
A half-day can focus on the loop and a handful of stops. Start by confirming whether your entry time requires a timed-entry reservation, then use the Scenic Drive to reach the viewpoints or trailhead that interest you. Add the Visitor Center if you want to see its exhibits or watch the 17-minute film.
For a longer outing, set aside time for a walk as well as the drive. The Red Spring Boardwalk offers a short accessible trail, while the nine stops along the Scenic Drive give you other places to pause.
You could also make Red Spring Picnic Area part of the plan; remember that its pavilion requires a Recreation.gov reservation for group picnics.
If you prefer a quick viewpoint stop without a Scenic Drive reservation, consider the Red Rock Overlook on State Route 159. Parking there may be limited. Keep the drive’s seasonal closing time in mind, and allow your chosen stops to guide how much of the day you spend on the loop.
FAQs
How long is the Red Rock Canyon Scenic Drive?
The paved, one-way Scenic Loop Drive is 13 miles long. It has nine stops, trailheads or scenic overlooks, not including the Visitor Center.
Do you need a reservation to visit Red Rock Canyon?
A timed-entry reservation is required for the Scenic Drive from October 1 through May 31 for entry between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. The Red Rock Overlook and parking and hiking from Red Spring do not require a reservation.
Is there an accessible trail at Red Rock Canyon?
The Red Spring Boardwalk is accessible to strollers, wheelchairs and other standard mobility devices. It is 0.6 miles long and has around 60 feet of elevation gain.