Red Rock Canyon

The Red Rock Canyon is an enthralling geological experience on the edge of the Mojave Desert, just west of Las Vegas, Nevada. It has been established as a National Conservation Area and is operated by the government (Bureau of Land Management) together with a public non-profit organization (Red Rock Canyon Interpretive Association). The site con-tains 197,000 acres. Here the visitor can see beautiful, natural terrain and abundant desert wildlife. At the visitors center there is a non-profit gift and book shop.

The easiest way for a visitor to find Red Rock Canyon is to turn onto Charleston Boulevard, either from the Strip or I-15, and head west. This road turns into Nevada Highway 159. Keep going. The entrance is 17 miles west of the Strip.

Once there, the visitor should pause at the visitors’ center for orientation about opportunities for recreation and places to see views and wildlife. There is a 13-mile long route (one-way) through the area, and several trails for hiking and mountain biking. Near the visitors center is a “Bicycle Pavilion” with specific instructions and aid for cyclists. Climbers will also find many great locations in the area, and there is a printed guide, called Red Rock Select. To protect the terrain, wildlife and the ecosystem in general, visitors are admonished to follow the rules of do’s and don’ts, especially about where it is permitted to go.

The Mojave Desert includes part of Southern California, Southern Nevada, and a small part of Arizona. Death Valley, Red Rock Canyon and Las Vegas all lie within it. Though the traveler may find it very extensive, it is the smallest of the four North American deserts. (The others are the Sonoran and Chihuahuan (mainly in Mexico), and the Great Basin (mainly in Northern Nevada)).