Outdoors Red Rock Canyon
Red Rock Canyon Scenic Drive
An outdoor spot in Red Rock Canyon, budget-friendly ($) and worth about 2 hours. Best time to go: Morning.
Why go
A 13-mile one-way loop past the Calico Hills and the Keystone Thrust, with trailheads and pullouts along the way.
It is one of 6 curated places we feature in Red Rock Canyon, alongside 3 outdoor spots, 1 place to eat and 1 sight. 2 more of our picks sit within about half a mile in a straight line, so it pairs easily with Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area and Red Rock Canyon Visitor Center.
- Type
- Outdoors · Nature
- Price
- $
- Time needed
- 2 hr
- Best time
- Morning
Nearby
Our closest curated picks, including 2 beyond Red Rock Canyon. Distances are straight-line, not walking or driving.
- 1Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
13-mile scenic drive past red sandstone cliffs, with short hikes like Calico Tanks.
Outdoors · Las Vegas · 0.0 mi straight-line - 2Red Rock Canyon Visitor Center
BLM visitor center at the start of the Scenic Drive, with desert exhibits and an outdoor tortoise habitat.
Sight · 0.0 mi straight-line - 3Calico Basin
Area just outside the Scenic Drive with the Red Spring boardwalk and sandstone walls; no timed entry needed.
Outdoors · 1.1 mi straight-line - 4Calico Tanks Trail
A 2.5-mile round-trip scramble through the Calico Hills sandstone to a seasonal water tank and a view back to the Strip.
Outdoors · 2.3 mi straight-line - 5Spring Mountain Ranch State Park
Historic ranch under the Wilson Cliffs, with a cabin, blacksmith shop and short trails; Nevada State Parks runs First Day Hikes here.
Outdoors · 4.7 mi straight-line - 6Herbs & Rye
Off-Strip cocktail bar with a history-organized drinks menu and half-price steaks at happy hour.
Drinks · Las Vegas · 13 mi straight-line
On these curated routes
Red Rock Canyon Scenic Drive is a stop on our Las Vegas New Year's Eve route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.
More to do in Red Rock Canyon
Red Rock Canyon Scenic Drive is our only outdoors pick in Red Rock Canyon; here is what else we recommend there. See the full Red Rock Canyon guide.
When to go
Average daily highs in Red Rock Canyon run from 51°F in December to 98°F in July; February is usually the wettest month. For Red Rock Canyon Scenic Drive itself, we suggest: Morning.
Modelled monthly averages for Red Rock Canyon from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Full Red Rock Canyon weather by month.
Getting there
Map links open a live search for Red Rock Canyon Scenic Drive, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.
- Coordinates
- 36.13557, -115.42724
- Destination
- Red Rock Canyon, Nevada
- Website
- blm.gov
Red Rock Canyon Scenic Drive: quick answers
How much time do you need at Red Rock Canyon Scenic Drive?
Plan on about 2 hours at Red Rock Canyon Scenic Drive. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.
When is the best time to visit Red Rock Canyon Scenic Drive?
Our pick: Morning. Insider tip: Timed entry is required Oct 1 to May 31 for entry between 8 am and 5 pm.
Which TripsCircle routes include Red Rock Canyon Scenic Drive?
Red Rock Canyon Scenic Drive appears on Las Vegas New Year's Eve, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.
Add Red Rock Canyon Scenic Drive to your crew's plan
Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Red Rock Canyon.
Plan Red Rock Canyon
- Red Rock Canyon travel guide 6 places
- Best time to visit Red Rock Canyon weather by month
- The Strip to Red Rock Canyon 14 mi straight-line
Lists & regions
Also in Red Rock Canyon
- Peppermill Food
Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.