Las Vegas Area Travel Guide (Part 4)

The Las Vegas Area Travel Guide is a resource for Las Vegas visitors who wish to sample the Southwest's great scenery and outdoor recreation. All destinations within the guide are no more than five hours' drive from Las Vegas. Included are sites close to Las Vegas, such as Hoover Dam, Lake Mead and Red Rock Canyon, Arizona locales (including Grand Canyon, Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon, Historic Route 66), Utah (Bryce Canyon National Park, Zion National Park), and California (Death Valley National Park, Mojave National Preserve). Details include descriptions and links to many references. Notable Las Vegas attractions also are included.

Navigating the Guide

Open the Locater Map by clicking on image at right. Place your mouse pointer on any map icon. A brief description will appear. Click on the link in the icon info window for details. You may also use the Pull-Down Menu or the Las Vegas Area Travel Guide Index at the bottom of the page.

Las Vegas Area West - Including Red Rock Canyon, Mt. Charleston

This symbol indicates links into the American West Travelogue.

Red Rock Canyon, Mt. Charleston, and Lamb Park may each be toured as a day trip by Las Vegas visitors.

Red Rock Canyon Conservation Area / Spring Mountain Ranch State Park

Red Rock Canyon offers a beautiful natural area just 17 miles outside of Las Vegas. It features panaromas of red rock hills and canyons with the Spring Mountains as a backdrop. There is a campground, 90 miles of trails, a 13 mile scenic drive, a visitor center, plentiful toilets, waterfalls, and petroglyphs. The area is popular with hikers, bicyclists, rock climbers, photographers, and runners. Facilities are wheelchair accessible. The park road reaches an elevation of 4,760 feet, so temperatures will be cooler than in the city. An easy and convenient place for Las Vegas visitors to get a taste of the outdoors. Follow Charleston Boulevard west - it becomes Nevada-159 - then follow the signs. Visit time: a few hours or more.

Spring Mountain Ranch State Park is located within Red Rock Canyon Conservation Area at the base of colorful redrock cliffs. The 520 acre oasis was developed into a combination working ranch and luxurious retreat by a string of owners who have given the area a long and colorful history. The main ranch house is open daily for self-guided tours. Guided tours through the area are also offered. There is also a picnic area and many shade trees. The park is located off the Blue Diamond Road. Visit time: a couple hours.

• Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area (Bureau of Land Management)
• Red Rock Canyon Interpretive Association
• Spring Mountain Ranch State Park (Nevada State Parks)

Mt. Charleston - Spring Mountain National Recreation Area

Many visitors will be surprised to know the mountains are only 35 miles from downtown Las Vegas. The Spring Mountains are west of the Las Vegas Valley and reach an elevation of 11,913 feet at Charleston Peak. Visitors to Las Vegas may conveniently enjoy complete relief from the desert heat during the warmer months and winter sports from late fall to early spring. Lodging, restaurants, campgrounds, ski lifts, and picnic areas are available at Mt. Charleston. There are 53 miles of trails, and horseback rides are also available. Take US-95 north, then Nevada-157 west. Visit time: a full day trip or more.

• Spring Mountains National Recreation Area (National Forest Service)
• Mt. Charleston (Internet Tours)
• Las Vegas Ski and Snowboard Resort
• Mt. Charleston Lodge

Floyd Lamb Park at Tule Springs

Only ten miles north of Las Vegas (US-95, then Tule Springs Road), Floyd Lamb is one of the easiest places for visitors to enjoy a taste of the outdoors. The park was once the site of a working ranch and later a guest ranch. The springs were thought to have been used by native people up to 10,000 years ago. Presently there are tree-shaded groves with picnic areas, adjacent to four small fishing lakes. There is also a walking and bicycle path as well as natural desert areas. Visit time: a good spot for lunch.

• Floyd Lamb Park at Tule Springs (City of Las Vegas)

Las Vegas Area Travel Guide Index

• Hoover Dam, Northern Arizona, Route 66, Grand Canyon
• City of Las Vegas
• Las Vegas Area - East (Lake Mead / Valley of Fire)
• Las Vegas Area - West (Red Rocks / Mt. Charleston)
• Utah National Parks Loops
• Death Valley Area and Mojave National Preserve
• Travel Itineraries

• Northern Arizona
• Grand Canyon Area
• Southern Utah
• Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon
• Lake Powell