Another Side of Las Vegas—Coolest Hiking and Outdoor Adventures

When you think of vacationing in Las Vegas, you probably think about staying in a fancy hotel on the strip, gambling, and catching a few world-class shows. You don’t think about renting an RV and spending time in nature.
You should!
Las Vegas and the surrounding area is about a lot more than the glitz and glam of the strip. There are actually quite a few hiking and outdoor adventures in the area that are perfect for the whole family.

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area

If you want to do some hiking, there is no better place in Las Vegas than Red Rock Canyon. It is just 15 miles west of the Las Vegas Strip, so it's an easy place to visit if you're staying in a hotel.
It features red rock formations, sandstone peaks, and rock walls that soar up to 3,000 feet high.
Choose from hiking trails that include:

• Moenkopi Loop
• Willow Springs Loop
• White Rock – La Madre Spring Loop
• Grand Circle Loop
• Oak Creek Cutoff

Hoover Dam

If you do stay on the strip, you’ll probably see plenty of ads for the Hoover Dam. One of the best things about this particular outdoor adventure is the fact that it has been Las Vegas-ized, which means you can tour the area any number of ways.
You can tour the dam in a bus, in a Hummer, or even a helicopter. Of course, you could just check out the area on foot. There is a park called the Hoover Reservoir Park that allows you to do a little boating, fishing (if you have the necessary gear), bird watching, and more.

Valley of Fire State Park

Although not technically in Las Vegas, it’s only about an hour’s drive to Valley Fire State Park in the Mojave Desert. It’s a popular destination for people who prefer nature to the lights of Las Vegas. It’s a popular wedding spot as well because this park has no shortage of beautiful scenery to explore.
A few favorite spots include:

• Arch Rock
• The Beehives
• Petrified Logs
• Balanced Rock
• Rainbow Vista
• Elephant Rock

You can explore on foot, or you can kick things into high gear by taking a buggy tour of all the most popular spots.

Springs Preserve

Right in the heart of Las Vegas is an opportunity to get close to nature when you visit Springs Preserve. It contains an impressive 180 acres and includes desert trails and beautiful gardens to explore.

You can find other fun things to do at Springs Preserve too, like check out the flash flood exhibit or get up close and personal with Gila monsters, lizards, snakes, and scorpions in the animal habitat.
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By all means, spend plenty of time winning money at the slot machines and don’t forget to fill up at a famous Las Vegas buffet, but don’t forget there are plenty of other things to do in the area. Get away from it all by visiting one of these places and you just may rethink how you spend your next trip to Las Vegas.