Check out my previous hikes here. #1291844

The Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is located at about 30 minutes drive west of the Las Vegas Strip. I learned about this place from watching Magnus Midtbo's video of him going free soloing with Alex Honnold, and told my wife we should check out this place the next time we visit Vegas. So, when we booked our flight to Vegas for January 2024 to check out the recently opened Sphere, Red Rock Canyon was listed as one of the must visit locations.

The drive from Vegas to the conservation area was smooth. As we arrived, we were greeted with a fee station. We had a valid America the Beautiful Annual Pass at the time, so entry was free for us. There is a 13 mile one-way scenic drive that connects most of the points of interests in the area. There are multiple hiking trails, biking trails, and rock climbing routes. The area boasts beautiful red sandstone formations and peaks in the Nevada desert.

Fee station at the entrance of the Conservation Area.

Logo/name and map inside the visitor center.

We started our drive on the 13 mile one-way scenic route.

Beautiful red sandstone formations. We don't see that in the Pacific Northwest.

We parked our car and took a short walk at Calico Hills.

I believe that is a yucca plant. Might be a banana yucca.

Nice views by the trail.

We got back on the scenic drive.

The weather was nice, but we were about to head into some clouds.

Nice view of the desert and some rock formations.

I don't know what type of tree this is. It's a nice looking tree nonetheless.

Clouds up ahead at where we were headed on the road.

It started hailing as we stopped our car at a parking lot to check out the views. We waited a while in the car, and the hail was gone with the sun shining bright again. What strange weather.

White clouds and blue sky again right after the hail.

We went to check out the Petroglyph Wall.

Petroglyph Wall. I think it's also a rock climbing spot.

We continued our drive on the scenic route until we reached the end.