Red Rock Canyon.

Africah hanging out at Red Rock Canyon.

Red Rock Canyon.

The Red Rock Canyon official entrance.

The scenic drive through Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area in Las Vegas, Nevada was a fantastic trip! It was peaceful, serene, and breathtakingly beautiful. The enormous red rock formations were each naturally carved or formed uniquely. None of them mimicked each other. Some of the red rocks were taller than others, while some were pointier, flatter or had a deeper red coloring. The rocks comprised of Keystone Thrust that is made up of walls and sandstone.

It was a short drive from the Las Vegas Strip to the Red Rock Canyon. It was approximately 15 miles away. From the highway, I could see the backdrop of the mountainous desert that eventually lead to Red Rock Canyon. I was unable to fully embrace this beauty until after I passed the official welcoming sign that resembled an artificial rock with the large bold black words that read “RED ROCK CANYON: National Conservation Area.”

Before the beginning of this tour, I stopped at the Visitor’s Center. Inside, resembled a small museum that featured various desert animals and plant life. The exhibits were very helpful in helping me to identify them on the scenic drive also known as the one-way loop road tour. Maps and brochures were available as well, and of course, I took one of each.

What I loved about this tour is that a visitor can experience the canyon through various means of transportation. This one-way loop road tour can be accessible by bicycling or driving. If you enjoy hiking or mountain climbing that option is available as well. After all, the walls are only 3,000 feet high. If you are an adventure seeker that need to conquer more challenging heights, the La Madre Mountain is waiting for you! This mountain is the highest point, and it is 8,154 feet. Good luck!

Along the way, there were parking areas that were nearby to the trails. If you choose to explore the trails, then bring lots of water and comfortable footwear. Keep in mind that there are no amenities at the parking areas or throughout the 13 miles one-way loop road tour. Nor was there cell phone service or any access to the outside world. However, there were benches, scenic lookout binoculars and information plaques that shared additional facts about the Red Canyon.

The tour offered the serenity of being engulfed by nature. The quietness of the desert surrounded me along with the fresh, crisp air that flowed through it. It’s unique dry beauty consisted of plants, animals, mountains, loose rocks, boulders, and lots of bare dirt. The hotness of the sun that beamed high above. The clouds that did little to offer shade. This desolate place called Red Rock Canyon was such a rare gem, and I savored every moment that I spent there.

As my tour concluded, the one-way loop tour ended right where I started. There was a fork in the road that either leads back to the Visitor’s Center or on the highway that heads to the Las Vegas Strip. I was on my way back to the strip but not before taking a few more photos that solidified this peaceful destination in my photo album for years to come.

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Dessert Iguana.

One of the many trails at Red Rock Canyon.

Africah sitting on a bench and enjoying the view.