Red Rock Canyon: The Ultimate Travel Guide
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Red Rock Canyon is a stunning desert oasis in Southern Nevada, just 15-miles or so from the Las Vegas strip. The park’s landscape includes stunning mountain peaks, maze-like canyons, sandstone ridges, an abundance of wildlife and endless recreational opportunities.
If you are traveling with small children who cannot partake in the adult-only activities on the strip, Red Rock Canyon is an excellent alternative that the entire family can enjoy together. Likewise, it’s a great way to take a break from casino hopping. Some common activities in the park include:
Hiking
Rock Climbing
Photography
Wildlife Viewing
Bike Riding
Scenic Drive
and more…
Due to this, Red Rock Canyon has become a mega-popular destination, attracting upwards of three million people annually. Before visiting, there are several things you need to know. For example, dependent upon when you’re visiting, you may need a reservation.
Additionally, there are other aspects to Red Rock you need to know, such as entry fees, parking, the unfortunate vehicle breaks-ins that occur with regularity, which hiking trails to hit and more. Don’t visit Red Rock without consulting this guide first. Let’s get into it!
Red Rock Canyon Timed Reservations
Timed reservations for Red Rock Canyon are required during the park’s peak visitation season, which for the 2023/2024 season is October 1, 2023 through May 31, 2024. Normally, peak travel season would mean the summer months, but because of the triple digit temperatures the area sees in the summer, less people visit during this time.
If you plan to visit during this timeframe, you will need a reservation. Even if it’s a fee-free day. Timed reservations can be made and purchased online through Recreation.gov in one of two booking windows. Those windows are:
Primary Booking Window: Thirty days prior to your intended visit beginning at 7am.
Secondary Booking Window: Additional reservations are made available two days in advance. For example, reservations for November 3 will be available beginning November 1 at 7am.
During the process of making your reservation, you can also pay your entry fees, including an annual pass. If you already have one, including the America the Beautiful pass, simply state so while making your reservation.
When making your reservation, you’ll need to select what time you want to enter the park from the list of available times. Be sure of your choice because they’ll only give you thirty minutes for early or late entry. Meaning, if you chose 9:00am, the earliest you could enter is 8:30am and the latest would be 9:30am.
Additionally, keep in mind that there is no re-entry during the reservation period. You can stay in the park as long as you want but if you leave, you’ll need another reservation in order to re-enter the park.
Remember, if your visit falls outside of that timeframe, you don’t need to worry about making a reservation. You’ll still need to pay entry fees, but that’s it.
Red Rock Canyon Fees and Parking
How easy or difficult parking is to come by at Red Rock Canyon depends on several aspects, such as season, day of visit, time of day, how crowded it is, etc. Visiting on the off-season, arriving to the park early and coming on a weekday nearly ensures a hassle-free experience.
I visited in August, way outside of the park’s peak season. Though I had to deal with triple digit heat, the park was a literal ghost town and I had no issue with parking at any of the trailheads or any traffic jams on the scenic drive.
The first and largest parking lot is at the visitor center just inside the entry gate. From there, there are several parking lots dotted along the scenic drive at various trailheads and viewpoints. The largest of which are at the Calico Hills and Calico Tanks trailheads.
Much like most parks in the national park system, there are entry fees associated with visiting Red Rock Canyon. The fees for 2024 are:
$20 per vehicle
$10 per motorcycle
$8 per bicyclist
$5 per pedestrian (walk-in)
$50 for the Red Rock Canyon annual pass
$80 for the ‘America the Beautiful’ annual pass (good for all national park sites)
The first four fee categories listed are for a single day. Meaning if you plan to visit on multiple days, you would need to pay the entry fee on each day. If you’re planning to visit for three or more days in a calendar year or are visiting multiple national park sites, it may make sense to purchase one of the two annual passes.
How Much Time You Need at Red Rock Canyon
The scenic drive in Red Rock Canyon is only 13-miles from beginning to end but with so much to do and see, that 13-miles could take a while to get through. If all you want to do is drive through the park and take in the sights, 45-minutes to one hour is all you would need.
My recommendation, though, is to commit to more time than that. There are so many hiking trails, viewpoints and sights to see that you could easily spend an entire day (or three) in the park.
If you’re on a time crunch, I recommend choosing one hiking trail to hike (such as Calico Tanks) and driving the scenic drive. If you choose an easy to moderate trail at a few miles or less, it shouldn’t take you longer than a few hours to do that, plus the scenic drive.
How to Get to Red Rock Canyon
If you’re like most people, you’ll be visiting Red Rock Canyon from somewhere in Las Vegas, proper. From the Las Vegas Strip, Red Rock Canyon is only about 20-30 minutes away (by car), depending on where you’re staying.
You’re in an even better position if you’re staying in Summerlin, as hotels such as JW Marriott are only 10-15 minutes away. The closest conceivable hotel to the park, Red Rock Casino Resort and Spa, is less than a two-mile drive from the gate.
While you are allowed to walk to bike into the park, I highly recommend visiting in a car. There is no public transportation going to or within the park and since cell phone signals are spotty (at best), ride sharing options aren’t reliable.
Before driving to Red Rock Canyon, make sure your gas tank is full as there are no fuel services in the park. Also, bring with you an insulated cooler and stuff it with as much water as you can fit. Dehydration is a very real threat during a visit to Red Rock Canyon. So bring more than you think you’ll need.
You’ll also want to bring food with you as there aren’t any concessionaires in the park. There are a number of restaurants within a few miles of the park and the closest grocery store, Albertsons, is less than a mile away on W Charleston blvd.
The Best Time to Visit Red Rock Canyon
With an average of 295 days of sunshine and only four inches of rain per year, there are very few bad times to visit Red Rock Canyon. Still, each season has its own positives and negatives, so it’s a good idea to know ahead of time to avoid being caught off-guard.
Red Rock Canyon in Spring
Spring time, early spring specifically, can be a great time to visit Red Rock. Daytime temperatures rarely exceed 77 degrees, but nighttime temperatures hover around 50 degrees. This makes hiking during the day quite comfortable, but it’ll be chilly at night if you’re planning to camp.
One of the downfalls to visiting in spring, though, is how windy it can get. Wind can happen anytime of year at Red Rock but in March and April, gusts have been recorded at 60+ mph. Aside from that and the chilly evenings, spring is a great time for hiking and climbing.
Red Rock Canyon in Summer
If all you’re looking to do is take a lap around the Red Rock Scenic Drive and pop out here and there to take in the views, then summer is fine. If you’re looking to hike or rock climb, however, the hot weather can make a summer visit a potentially dangerous one.
With an average daytime temperature of 93-degrees and not much shade on the park’s hiking trails, dehydration is a real concern. A concern that I, unfortunately, know all too well. I, stupidly, hiked the Calico Tanks trail on a triple digit day and despite drinking lots of water, I started feeling the effects of dehydration on my way back to the car.
If you’re key on hitting the trails, my recommendation would be to visit in the spring or fall. If you must hike in the summer, go on a day with the lowest possible temperature and get an early start so you’ll be off the trail before the mid-day heat sets in.
Red Rock Canyon in the Fall
The benefits of visiting Red Rock Canyon in the fall are:
The daytime temperatures are significantly better than they are in the summer.
The fall foliage colors in contrast to the red rock makes for a stunning sight.
One significant drawback to fall, though, is it’s when monsoon season hits. So it’s imperative to check the weather forecast before heading to Red Rock (be sure to look up the weather for Red Rock, specifically, as it can differ greatly from nearby Las Vegas, proper).
Also, ready yourself for potential seriously high winds as much like in the spring, gusts can reach 60 mph or more. However, amidst all that wind, you’ll bare witness to the leaves and other foliage changing colors, creating a beautiful contrast to the red rocks.
Winter in Red Rock Canyon
If you’re planning to visit Red Rock in the winter, prepare yourself for chilly conditions as daytime temperatures average around 57 degrees and dip down to an average of 32 degrees at night. Needless to say, bring a warm jacket and dress in layers.
The upside to this time of year are the epic sunsets you can catch from various points in the park, including and especially from the various mountain peaks. If you do decide to hike up to the peaks, keep an eye out for patches of snow and ice.
While it doesn’t snow too often, it isn’t unheard of to see accumulated snow around the scenic drive and visitor center. Additionally, it tends to rain in the winter more-so than any other time of year, so be sure to bring an umbrella and a waterproof layer of clothing.
Things to Do in Red Rock Canyon
1) Drive the Red Rock Canyon Scenic Drive
One of the most popular things to do in Red Rock Canyon is to drive the 13-mile, one-way scenic drive that winds through the park. There are pull-outs and parking lots dotted along the road at several of the park’s most popular trailheads and lookouts.
2) Hit the Hiking Trails
There are many hiking trails in Red Rock with varying levels of difficulty. A couple of the easier trails include Pine Creek Canyon and the historic Petroglyph Wall. Two of the park’s most popular trails, Calico Tanks and Icebox Canyon, fall into the moderate category. If you’re looking for more of a challenge, Turtlehead Peak and Kraft Mountain Loop offer just that.
3) Book a Horseback Riding Tour
Access areas of the park only possible on horseback by booking a horseback riding tour through Viator. This two hour tour doesn’t require any experience and allows you to experience the rugged side of the park. Pay later options are available.
4) Try Your Hand at Rock Climbing
Red Rock Canyon is a rock climber’s paradise. If you’re still learning how to climb and aren’t comfortable going out on your own, there are many tour options available. If you are experienced, though, you’ll love the free range of options and solitude Red Rock provides.
5) Stop by the Visitor Center
A visit to the park wouldn’t be complete without stopping by the visitor center. Inside, there are many artifacts found in the park and exhibits detailing the history of Red Rock.
6) Take a Shaka Tour of Red Rock Canyon
Download a Red Rock Canyon Shaka Guide. It’s like having a personal tour guide in the car with you. Packed with useful information and stories of Red Rock, you’ll follow your Shaka Guide around the park, hitting up numerous stops such as the historic Petroglyph Wall, hike the Sandstone Quarry, enjoy lunch at Willow Springs and more!
Be Sure to Hide Your Valuables
Unfortunately, Red Rock Canyon has been fraught with vehicle break-ins in recent years in areas both outside and inside of the park. What happens is the criminals wait for people to make their way down a hiking trail and then inspect their vehicle. If they see something, they’ll smash out the window and grab the item(s).
To combat this issue, the Friends of Red Rock Canyon have been raising funds to increase the amount of cameras in the park’s parking lots. Furthermore, increased patrols from park rangers have been implemented.
However, to help ensure your windows don’t get smashed out, it’s best to keep all valuables hidden in the trunk. This includes backpacks, coolers (especially Yeti branded ones), cameras, wallets, cell phones, branded clothing such as The North Face and anything else that could be perceived as valuable.
Red Rock Canyon Frequently Asked Questions
Are dogs allowed at Red Rock Canyon?
As long as they’re leashed and never left unattended, you are allowed to bring your dog(s) to Red Rock Canyon and its hiking trails.
How much time should I spend at Red Rock Canyon?
You should, at minimum, allocate two to three hours if all you want to do is the scenic drive and see the main highlights. If you want to hike multiple trails, though, I recommend setting aside two full days, at least.
Can I enter Red Rock Canyon without a reservation?
Yes and no. If you’re visiting between October and May, then yes, you’ll need a timed reservation. June through September, however, you can come and go as you please as reservations are not required during these months.
How far is Red Rock Canyon from Las Vegas?
From the Las Vegas Strip, Red Rock Canyon is around 20-miles (give or take) or a 30-minute drive away.
Which is better, Red Rock Canyon or Valley of Fire?
Both! Honestly, there’s no way to compare the two. They’re each amazing in their own right and I highly recommend visiting both. You can read my one-day at Valley of Fire itinerary here for inspiration.
Is there cell service at Red Rock Canyon?
Cell service is nearly non-existent at Red Rock Canyon.
Are there bathrooms at Red Rock Canyon?
Bathrooms are readily available at Red Rock Canyon. The visitor center has one and additionally, most of the trailhead parking lots and pull-outs have (rather clean) vaulted toilets.
Is there public transportation to Red Rock Canyon?
No. Additionally, due to limited cell service, ride sharing isn’t a viable option.
Is flying a drone allowed at Red Rock Canyon?
Yes! Flying a drone in the park for recreational purposes is allowed.
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