Red Rock Canyon

Red Rock Canyon receives nearly 1.2 million visitors every year, and is located 17 miles West of the strip on Charleston Boulevard (also shown as Highway 159 on some maps). The Bureau of Land Management is charged with the stewardship and protection of this national treasure. Red Rock Canyon offers the enticements of nature. Peace, serenity and beauty are just a few words that will barely begin to describe what you will experience here. The Mojave Desert is not barren as you might think. It is teeming with life and beauty that is rare and unique.

The unique geologic features, plants and animals of Red Rock Canyon represent some of the best examples of the Mojave Desert. In 1990, special legislation supported by the Nevada congressional delegation, changed the status of the Red Rock Recreation Lands to a National Conservation Area (NCA), the seventh to be designated nationally. This legislation provides the funding to protect and improve the area. Red Rock Canyon NCA is enjoyed by the local population as well as visitors from the United States and many foreign countries. One million visitors each year enjoy the spectacular desert landscape, climbing and hiking opportunities, and interpretive programs sponsored by the BLM.

Petrified sand dunes, frozen in time, offer you a unique perspective of nature as well as the effects of the passing of millions of years. The excitement of suddenly appearing waterfalls, cascading into the canyons, will make you appreciate the mysteries and the hidden dangers of the Mojave. Red-tailed hawks search for their next meal while drifting on air currents high above the desert floor.

Take some time out and enjoy the desert on a personal level. A word of caution, bring plenty of water and a good set of hiking shoes. You will definitely want to enjoy nature the way it was intended: With respect.

Red Rock Canyon, managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), is located 10 miles west of Las Vegas, Nevada. This 197,000 acre area provides a 13-mile scenic drive, more than 30 miles of hiking trails, picnic areas, and visitor center with exhibit rooms and a book store.

The BLM is the largest administrator of public lands in the west. It adheres to the policy of multiple use, thereby providing recreational opportunities, protection for cultural sites, and the management of natural resources, including wildlife.