Epic Day Trip: Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area

If you are looking for a place where you can escape Las Vegas, NV strip to get in touch with nature, then Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is a great place to check out.

The park is located just 20 minutes West of downtown Las Vegas.

The National Conservation Area consists of a one-way, 13 mile scenic drive with various trails and viewpoints along the route. So you will want to have your day planned out first, so you don’t have to do the loop again to get to a hike you wanted to do earlier in the scenic drive!

But if you accidentally miss your turn, well, the drive is at least beautiful! And in this travel guide of an Epic Day Trip Through Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, we will go over some of the best hikes in the area that you won’t want to miss!

Emily looking up at Pine Creek Canyon in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area — Pine Creek Canyon

The fee to get into the park is $15 per vehicle or you can get in free with a National Parks Pass. And during peak season, they charge an extra $2 reservation fee. But if you arrive before 8 am, you can avoid the reservation fee. Book your timed-entry reservation.

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is also a great area if you are into rock climbing. Jake and I aren’t climbers, but on the day we visited, I think hikers might have been outnumbered by climbers. The park is surrounded by beautiful red rocks that you can either climb or view from below as you hike along the various trails. Enjoy this travel guide of an Epic Day Trip Through Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.

Take a virtual tour with us on An Epic Day Trip Through Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area:

Join along on a fun journey we take through Red Rock Canyon National Conversion Area.

Epic Day Trip Map:

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area Scenic Loop Hike Map

Here is a map you can follow to get to each trailhead!

Calico Hills:

First hike on the Epic Day Trip Through Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is Calico Hills. This hike strolls along stunning red rocks that form, well, hills.

You can either make this an extra long hike and hike along the Calico Hills to Calico Tanks, or you can roam along the hills, until you feel you got a good feel for the land and head back to the parking lot. But, much of this hike can actually be seen from the road, so we decided to explore a side canyon in the surrounding area.

Calico Hills Side Canyon in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area — Calico Hills Side Canyon

The detour we took, did require a bit of bushwhacking and scrambling, but it was cool to go deeper into the canyons. This is also where you will find many of the climbers, heading toward Meet Up Wall. Follow along that GPS tracker and choose your own path to explore within the various side canyons back there!

But the Calico Hills Hike can be as long as 6.4+ miles with 1,108 feet elevation change to as short as getting out at the parking lot, and taking in the view. Do note, it is one of the first stops along the 13-mile scenic loop, and you should at least stop by for a peek. So plan to arrive early to be sure to grab a parking spot.

Calico Tanks:

You might be venturing over to Calico Tanks from the Calico Hills hike, or just starting fresh from the designated parking lot. This hike is 2.2 miles with 406 feet elevation change. The hike leads you to a stunning view overlooking the city and view of the valley. This is one of the more popular hikes in the park, so you will want to come early if you want to avoid the crowds.

But the hike is a beautiful hike along sandstone rock formations. There are cairns strategically placed for those areas you might struggle with which direction to go.

We also stopped here on our first time to the park to catch a beautiful sunset over the Rainbow Mountain Wilderness Area. But because the scenic drive is one way, you would, unfortunately, have to do the loop twice if you wanted to continue down the list of hikes to do on the Epic Day Trip Through Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.

Ice Box Canyon:

Unfortunately, Jake and I didn’t make it on this hike, but it is high on our list for next time! Because what can we say, we have a thing for slot canyons. But Ice Box Canyon will seasonally have a waterfall (December-April). The hike is a moderate 2.3 miles with 577 feet elevation change.

The trail is maintained as you hike toward the canyon, but once you reach the canyon walls, you may need to climb over boulders, making the trail a little more difficult to follow. There will be a Ponderosa Pine at the “end of trail” but if you hike another .25 miles you will find the upper pool, that will showcase a waterfall. But because Las Vegas is hot and dry, it will be dried up or a soft trickle most of the year.

Pine Creek Canyon:

This was probably Jake and I’s favorite hike in the park because from the beginning of the hike you get “Zion National Park” vibes. But once you start hiking into the canyon, the trail can be a bit tricky to find. There are many “sister” trails that might lead you to some undesired bushwhacking. But the hike is typically 3.4 miles with 515 feet elevation change. We would suggest using the GPS tracker on AllTrails to find your way along the route.

Beautiful vegitation with red and white mountains of Pine Creek Canyon in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area — Pine Creek Canyon

Camping At Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area:

There is one campground in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. It is located 2 miles West of the visitor center. It has 53 standard sites with no hook-ups. The cost ranges from $10-$20 per night. Book your reservation.

Free Camping:

Jake and I are always in search of free places to camp nearby because we camp every day of our normal life. So we used iOverlander and found Lovell Canyon Road. There are tons of designated campsites in the area. Unfortunately, it is about a 50 minute drive from the park, so it won’t allow for easy access to the park daily.

But, use our post: 3 Great Websites For Free Camping to find other sites that suit you.

Hotels or Other Accommodation:

We love to compare hotel prices on Booking, Expedia, and Hotels to find the best deals! Or if you prefer Vacation Rentals, use VRBO to find the perfect home away from home.

Check out this map to find hotels and vacation rentals nearby!

Or one of our personal favorite options is to rent a campervan or RV from Outdoorsy or RVezy.

For more information about Outdoorsy & RVezy, check out our post: Outdoorsy Vs. RVezy Review | Which Rental Service Is Better

Takeaway | Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area

If you are near Las Vegas, definitely add Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area to your list. Also, be sure to check out nearby Valley Of Fire State Park.

Check out our post: A Complete Guide to Valley Of Fire State Park.

We hope you enjoy your time hiking on the Epic Day Trip Through Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. Be sure to bring plenty of water, as it is hot and dry in the desert.

There are also many other great hiking options in the area, but these were our favorites of the trip and will most likely take up most of your day! But if you are visiting for more than a day or want to expand your hiking adventures, you will definitely want to check out some other hikes in the area. Happy Hiking!