Our Vacation Began on the Rocks
When most people think of traveling to Las Vegas they have images of card tables, alcohol and night clubs. They dream of winning big money while gambling or meeting someone at the pool. Few people envision climbing rocks, hiking trails and being awake before 7am; but that is exactly what we did...and it was amazing!
Nestled just 30 minutes from the Las Vegas strip is a beautiful landscape waiting to be explored. It offers spectacular views, hiking trails, camping, a scenic drive and wildlife. If it wasn't clear yet, we were actively seeking something non-Vegas. We wanted something quiet and peaceful. A distraction from living in the city and getting some exercise was also a nice plus that we welcomed.
Marzz and I had never been there together and it had been a couple of decades since I visited Red Rock Canyon. Our hotel in Las Vegas, the Harrah's Resort is centrally located on the strip and we took surface streets to the highway. All-in-all it only took us 30 minutes to reach Red Rock Canyon which is amazing because you feel as if you're in a whole other state.
There was a small fee of $15.00 to enter the park per vehicle. We made our way to the visitors center where we roamed around for a few minutes, enjoying the exhibits both indoors and out that they had to offer. They provided information on the local wildlife, geography and weather. The staff were friendly and although we did not have any questions for them, we could overhear them assisting other guests with trail information and they sounded very knowledgeable. We spent about 15 minutes there before starting the 13 mile loop through the park. The weather was a cool 50 degrees and it was semi-overcast outside.
There is one set of red rock mountains that stands out among the others and those are the first that you come to along the drive. There was ample parking at this location and many other visitors were walking around and a few were forging ahead and hiking all the way to the bottom of the canyon, which was probably a vertical drop of about 70 feet. The rocks were beautiful. We couldn't get over how red and vibrant they were. Seeing them from afar and then touching them were two different experiences and both well worth the trek. Standing at the edge of the canyon was exciting as we inched closer and closer to the ledge. Looking down was amazing but then we transitioned our gaze and looked up at the red rocks towering above us. They were intimidating and immediately commanded your respect, but simultaneously inviting you to explore them and find more of their beauty.
We could have stayed at this location all day. Had there been fewer other visitors I would have liked to have flown my drone at this spot...perhaps next time? That reminds me, Red Rock Canyon is drone friendly and only restricts flight in two locations and of course does not condone chasing wildlife with your drone; otherwise you are good to go!
We got back into the car and continued on the loop. As we drove, to our left was the valley that Red Rock Canyon surrounds, and to our right was the red rocks. With each passing mile, the rocks on our right changed from the bright red color to a more subtle, muted red. Then further along the drive they changed some more, now looking like completely different mountains in some other location altogether. In fact, there were some mountains, that had you not seen the red rocks earlier, you would have no idea they were there because of the vast difference not only in color but texture and size. To us, this was just another amazing feature of this park and one of a hundred reasons we recommend others to visit.
About two thirds of the way through the loop, we stopped again and this time we intended on hiking a little bit. To clarify, this hike was labeled easy and most of it was on flat ground, but a hike nonetheless and we were excited to go. Almost immediately into the hike we hit a trail marker at a fork in the path. We had a map but the trail that we wanted was not listed on this sign which confused us so we did our best to decipher it and assumed the name had been changed on one but not the other. The trail started out on dirt then changed to small, loose gravel. We approached the base of the rocks and mountain in this area and as we started to climb a little bit, the terrain turned bright red. It was a neat transition and very sudden. It seemed to be a mixture of clay and dirt with scattered rocks, but still very easy to navigate. About 20 minutes into this hike we began to doubt our choice of trail. We thought back to the beginning when we made the decision to go left and at this point we made the choice to turn back. The area we were in had small Joshua Trees, cacti and other small plant life sprinkled over the landscape. The plants contrasted with the red soil making for an interesting scene. The sun was also making its appearance, and it was beginning to get warm.
Once we got back to the trail head, we decided to go the other direction this time and that choice was quickly supported as we looked off into the distance and noticed other hikers hiking the base of the mountain. This was definitely the trail we meant to take. It was basically the same terrain, easy to walk and only about a quarter mile in until we began to climb a bit. The climb was a combination of man-made stones that were strategically placed and other areas seemed fairly natural. We hiked close to the base of the mountain and found ourselves in the shade of the giant boulders. The temperature quickly changed and sent a chill over our bodies. It was a neat feeling and was not something we were used to experiencing.
We started to hear the faint sound of water. Around each turn the sound grew louder and louder until finally it revealed itself. It was a small waterfall but the sound was very audible as it fell into a shallow pool of water. The water was falling from a height of about 50 feet and although it was small, it was a steady stream of water. We were still in the shade of the mountain and combined with the water, it was chilly in this area. There were a few other visitors among us but most of them left for other adventures shortly after our arrival.
Seeing that no one was around, I took this opportunity to fly my drone a bit. It took a minute to get a connection but once I did it flew well. The view on my phone was clear and I was able to get some great views of the waterfall, including a close shot of the source high up above. Next I turned to the valley from which we came and got some great views from about 80 feet up. Another couple arrived in the spot and although I didn't ask them if they minded, I instead offered to share the views from the phone to them. They seemed interested and seemed to enjoy getting to see what the drone could see. I didn't want to be a bother since the drone is pretty loud and definitely disturbs the serene atmosphere. Once they seemed okay with it, I continued to fly until the battery ran out, which is about 15 minutes. I only used that one battery, and was satisfied with my flight. I packed up my gear and went back to enjoying the waterfall and views from the ground.
We made our way back to the car and finished driving the loop. As we turned back onto the main highway we could see the entire valley sitting off to our left. It looked amazing, and almost surreal that we were just there. We both had a wonderful time here and will be back again in the future. Even if you're not an "outdoor" person, I recommend checking this out; you don't even have to get out of your car if you didn't want to. For those of you who enjoy being outdoors, this place will speak to you and you will fall in love with it just as we did. To find something so spectacular that close to where we already were and all it cost us was $15 and a few hours of our time, it was the best deal in Vegas and YOU win every time!
