Your TL;DR Travel Guide to Nevada’s Red Rock Canyon
TL;DR: Red Rock Canyon is beautiful. Photo stops, hikes of varying intensity, a scenic drive, and a gift store for those of you who like a shopping trip wherever you go – you can find it all at Red Rock Canyon. You need to reserve your time and pay in advance, which you can do HERE. Once you get inside, you can stop by the visitor center (bathrooms, gift shop, and museum are all here) before heading out on the scenic loop which will take you around the whole park, with small parking lots/stops along the way. Once you reach the end of the loop, you’ll find yourself back at the highway, so stop at the places you want to the first time. This destination can be as relaxing or adventurous as you’d like it to be.
- Before you go
- What is parking like?
- Getting Around
- What’s the bathroom situation?
- A few miscellaneous notes:
What to know before going to Red Rock Canyon
Because the park works on timed entry, there are a few important steps to take before you get on the road. Most importantly, you will need to reserve your entrance slot, which you can do here. Please keep in mind it does cost a little bit to enter. As of right now, it is $20 per car or $5 per pedestrian if you end up going by foot. However, you can check out the most updated prices (or see if you qualify for a cheaper or free entrance) directly on their website. For my more adventurous friends, you can also check out a map of the area and learn more about the different trails online to make sure you’re packed correctly.
What is parking like in Red Rock Canyon?
There are small lots at the different stops along the scenic route. If a parking lot is especially busy, you may have to wait before you find a spot or take a short drive (or bike ride, for you very athletic folks) to the next stop.
How to enjoy Nevada’s Red Rock Canyon
Conveniently, the road takes you in one loop around the park, with various stops along the way. Some stops are overlooks that let you soak in the scenic view. Others have different hikes or areas to explore. I haven’t stopped at every spot during one single trip since that would make for a long day, but I suppose you probably could if you didn’t spend too much time at each place (I personally recommend taking your time though).
You are more than able to drive around and pull over into a lot that interests you or you can do some research ahead of time to plan out where you’d like to spend your day. When you first enter, there is a visitor center where you can learn more about the park and do a little shopping. Stop 1 (the large red rock photo at the top of the page) is a popular one because you get a beautiful up-close view of the red rock. Personally, I’m a fan of Stop 16, Ice Box Canyon (which is pictured above covered in Snow). The first time I visited it, it was snowing and looked absolutely magical – but keep in mind that the hike itself is labeled as “strenuous”. If someone isn’t up for hiking or hiking isn’t an accessible option, the overlooks are flat and offer a lovely view.
What’s the bathroom situation?
There are bathrooms at the main visitor center and at several of the stops, so don’t worry about not having a place to go. Just a few helpful tips (think of these as campsite bathrooms)
- Bring some extra hand sanitizer or soap with you.
- There should be toilet paper, but it doesn’t hurt to have some with you JUST in case.
A few miscellaneous notes:
With so much to see, I recommend planning to spend at least several hours here – so a few snacks and lots of water are necessary. The trails themselves can consists of loose dirt or rocks, jumbled branches, and various inclines – shoes with a good grip are a necessity. Lastly, I always lose phone reception when I approach the canyon from the highway and have very limited service within the park itself – just something to keep in mind!
All in all, Red Rock Canyon is definitely a worth-it place, in my opinion. It is breathtakingly beautiful and fun to explore – I hope you enjoy your travels there as well!
I’ll be adding a Red Rock Canyon entry to the Photo Diary, coming soon! Subscribe to get notified when it’s posted.
TL;DR Travels 
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