Las Vegas is known for gambling and parties, but it secretly has some of the best outdoor activities out there. Hiking in Las Vegas is one of my favorite things to do and makes for a great daytime activity.
Hiking in Las Vegas
Hiking in Las Vegas is one of the best things to do in Vegas, whether you are a local or just visiting. People are often surprised when I say this because Vegas is associated with gambling and parties, and I definitely enjoy those (sports fans – check out Stadium Swim).
The biggest question I get is, how far are the mountains from Las Vegas Strip? The answer may surprise you: 25 mins. That means if you are just visiting the Strip for the weekend (like a bachelor party, or a girl’s weekend, or just having fun), you can even go hiking in Vegas in the morning! The Strip isn’t that much fun before mid-afternoon anyway, and a hike is a perfect way to sweat out last night’s fun 🙂
Las Vegas is actually surrounded by mountains and Lake Mead – which I still consider to be the outdoors because there are a ton of fun hikes in Lake Mead. There are a ton of places to go hiking in Las Vegas both West, South, and East of the Las Vegas Strip.
What are the mountains around Las Vegas?
There are a few mountain ranges around Las Vegas.
To the west, you have closest to Vegas the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. Route 159 is the main road here, and there are actually a lot of hike outside Red Rock that you can hike for free. This area is defined by desert surroundings, with really cool-looking cactus, red rocks, and if you are lucky a desert tortoise. I, unfortunately, didn’t see any tortoises while I hiked there but I have heard of people who have! This area is popular for hiking, climbing, and biking.
If you go ever further west, you will get to Mount Charleston which has more of your “serious hikes” but is also more of a trek at a 1 hour drive. This area is defined by juniper and pine trees, a big difference from the desert of Las Vegas.
Personally, I find Mount Charleston hikes very similar to Big Bear or Idyllwild. The elevation at Mount Charleston is above 7,000 ft so you need to be more prepared when you hike there because of the altitude and climate. While Red Rock is fun every day of the year, many Mount Charleston hikes are only recommended between April – December.
To the south of Las Vegas you have the Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area. This area is great for local hiking if you want some more elevation on your hikes but don’t want to drive too far. This will take you back to the rocky, desert landscape without the red rocks of Red Rock Canyon. However, there are some great hikes like the Black Mountain Trail that push you up 2,000 ft elevation gain and give you great view of the surrounding area.
Finally to the east you have Lake Mead. While it’s not a mountain range, there are various really fun hikes along the edge of Lake Mead that still make it a good spot to go to for hiking. Lake Mead is actually most known for boating and I think that’s why some of the great hikes there aren’t as discovered. If you Google or look on Alltrails by popular trails for example, you are unlikely to find Lake Mead in anyone’s top list outside of the hot springs hikes.
When I lived in Las Vegas, I personally loved going back to Lake Mead over and over again because it was quieter.
WHEN TO HIKE IN VEGAS
Hiking in Las Vegas can be done year-round, but my preferred time to hike is between September to May. Here are the benefits of hiking in each season:
- Spring: I usually don’t like hiking in Spring as much because it means rain and lots of bugs (especially on the East Coast), but Vegas is a little different. It barely rains and I’ve never been bitten by a bug while hiking in Las Vegas. This makes for super pleasant weather to hike.
- Summer: Las Vegas in the middle of the summer tends to get really hot and I personally don’t like hiking in dry heat. I have also seen people on the trail struggling with heat exhaustion. If you do want to hike in Vegas in the summer, try to get out early! Starting around 8AM or going around 5PM is the best. Plus – it is really pretty if you get to experience sunrise or sunset.
- Fall: Ok there isn’t really fall foliage in Vegas but you start to feel the nice breeze as the weather starts to cool down. It’s pretty similar to Spring
- Winter: This can be some of the best time to go hiking in Las Vegas! Temperatures can start as low as 40 degrees in the morning and then warm up to 50, or even 60+. This is your classic – wear pants, a shirt, and a down jacket hiking weather. But if the sun comes out you’ll want to shed layers. BONUS: most tourists are gone by winter and you’ll have Vegas a little more to yourself
What gear should I pack for Vegas Hikes?
Hiking Boots / Shoes
Recommended:
Asolo Fugitive GTX Hiking Boot
Asolo TPS 520 GV EVO Long Distance, Backpacking, Trekking, Technical Terrian Hiking Boots
ARIAT Women’s Savannah Waterproof Boot Hiking
Hiking Poles
This is more of a recommendation than a must. Hiking poles have saved my knees! It helps relieve a lot of the pressure, especially on the descent. 20 years of hiking and I haven’t had any knee issues 🙂
Recommended:
Sun Protection
Recommended:
SunGlasses: Maui Jim Men’s and Women’s Barrier Reef Polarized Wrap Sunglasses
Hat: Callaway Sun Hat Collection Headwear
Sun Protection Cream: ELEMIS Pro-Collagen Marine Cream
Water Storage
In the summer, I will bring around 1L per hour of hiking. In the winter, I will lessen that to around 0.5L per hour of hiking.
Hydrapak Force Ultra-Durable Water Bladder/Reservoi
Summer Hiking Clothing
Here are some of the clothes I wear for summer hiking.
Columbia Women’s Heavenly Hooded Jacket
My feet get pretty tired after hiking in Vegas, especially since some of the hikes here can be pretty rocky. Plus the air is dry which doesn’t help my skin!
I’ve been wearing Softstar Shoes after my hikes. These are the Roo Moccasins – they’re lined with sheepskin inside so it is soooo soft! They’re also handcrafted in the USA which I love.
WHERE IS THE GOOD HIKING IN LAS VEGAS?
Below are some suggestions of where to hike in Las Vegas.
1. Red Rock Canyon
Red Rock Canyon has to be at the top of your list if you’re looking for a close hike from the Strip. It is the most famous hike from Las Vegas and it’s easy to see why! Red Rock is only a short 30 min from Vegas but has great hikes for all folks of ages, with views of the beautiful, red, rocks.My favorite things to do here are:
My favorite things to do are:
- Bike the entire 14+ mile circuit around Red Rock Canyon
- Hike the Calico area if you’re looking for something easy,
- Hike Turtlehead Peak for something more intense
2. Gold Strike Hot Springs
There are two primary hot springs near Vegas but Gold Strike Hot Springs is a personal favorite. This is really a full-day activity, leaving you time to enjoy the hot springs. It is more difficult than it may seem because there are multiple large boulders climbs and you really need to use your entire body, but it is totally worth it! Plus you can have lunch with a view of the Colorado River.
Most people don’t realize there are hot springs near Vegas and whenever I take friends there they are always super pumped! For more activities near Lake Mead, check out my Lake Mead post here.
3. Flagpole Loop
Flagpole Loop (4.8 miles) is a favorite ‘neighborhood hike.’ If you are coming to Vegas for the first time and want to do something ~epic~ I would suggest Red Rock Canyon or Gold Strike, but if you’re a local – or hungover 🙂 – Flagpole Loop is a great option. You will have 360 views of the surrounding area which includes Red Rock and The Strip!
Plus driving here is easy (20 min from the Strip), it’s dog friendly, and it’s a hard enough hike to sweat a bit.
4. Mary Jane Falls Trail in Mount Charleston
If you’re looking to get out of the desert scene, Mount Charleston is also a great option. It is a mountain range west of Las Vegas – and can be as close as 1 hour from The Strip!
Mount Charleston reminds me of Idyllwild or Big Bear in terms of scenery. It’s more typical to your ‘classic’ hiking and you won’t see cactus here. There are many great hikes here and I would encourage you to try a few, but Mary Jane Falls Trail is a great one.
Because of the elevation, it is typically snowy from December – April.
5. Gold Butte National Monument
Another ‘no way this is near Vegas’ hiking trip is Gold Butte National Monument. Gold Butte is close to Lake Mead but about an hour further in.
It is very remote and requires a good amount of planning and preparation. If you are up for the challenge, take at least a full day to spend here, download offline maps, pack sufficient water and food, and enjoy the crazy landscape that makes you think you’re on Mars.
6. Valley of Fire
Finally, I have to mention Valley of Fire State Park! Valley of Fire is super famous for a reason. The red, pink, yellow rocks here are unbelievable and none of the hikes are particularly strenuous.
It is a one-hour drive to Valley of Fire and I recommend spending the entire day there. If you have to pick and choose, definitely spend sunset here.
My favorite hikes at the Valley of Fire:
- Fire Wave
- White Domes Trail
- Rainbow Vista Trail
To learn more about these hikes, check out my blog post on the Valley of Fire.
Do you enjoy hiking in Las Vegas? What are your favorite hikes?
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7 Comments
My husband loves to hike and will definitely add this to our list, amazing guides! thanks for sharing
I wonder if Ican handle Gold Strike Trail.I managed Mary Jane Falls at Mt. Charlston well. How does the difficulty compare?