Red Rock Canyon Scenic Drive Tour from Las Vegas
- Duration
- about 4 hours including hotel pickup (Pink Adventure Tours)
- Price
- from $119 per adult, $109 per child (Pink Adventure Tours)
- Departs from
- Hotel pickup in Las Vegas
- Age policy
- Pink Adventure Tours does not take children under 3.
About
Red Rock Canyon was Nevada's first National Conservation Area. Congress gave it that status in 1990, and it was the seventh in the country. It lies 17 miles west of the Las Vegas Strip on Charleston Boulevard (State Route 159). The Bureau of Land Management runs it, and BLM counts more than three million visitors a year.
The core of a half-day tour is the 13-mile one-way Scenic Drive, which BLM says has nine stops, trailheads or overlooks, plus the visitor center. From October 1 to May 31, anyone entering the drive between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. needs a timed-entry reservation from Recreation.gov. That includes commercial vans and buses.
BLM limits what commercial vans and buses can do on the drive. It charges them $5 per passenger on arrival. It lists their stops as the Visitor Center, Calico I, Willow Spring and Pine Creek, and says bus and van groups may stop for photos but are not authorized to hike the trails.
What to expect
Pink Adventure Tours picks you up at your hotel in one of its Tour Trekker vans. The first stop is the visitor center. BLM describes indoor and outdoor exhibits, a desert tortoise habitat, a short captioned film and a gift shop. The drive then loops past the Calico Hills and the Wilson Cliffs, part of the Keystone Thrust.
Pink lists a short walk at the Sandstone Quarry. BLM says it is about 0.1 mile on graded gravel to blocks cut between 1905 and 1912. At Willow Springs, a short paved trail leads to an agave roasting pit and a rock shelter with rock writing, both with signs. The tour then returns to the Strip. Pink quotes about four hours in all.
Who runs it
Several companies run this tour from Las Vegas. These are the published terms on each company's own site; we don't rank them or earn anything from them.
- Pink Adventure Tours$119 adult, $109 child ¡ about 4 hours ¡ Hotel pickup and drop-off, entry fees, bottled water, Scenic Drive stops, Visitor Center, Sandstone Quarry walk, Willow Springs
- Canyon Tours$123.00 per person (includes tax and fees; fuel surcharge may apply) ¡ approximately 4 hours (hotel to hotel); departs 8:00 AM or 1:00 PM daily ¡ Hotel pickup and return in an air-conditioned SUV, 13-mile Scenic Drive (Calico Hills, Wilson Cliffs), Visitor Center and tortoise habitat; children must be at least 3
Good to know
- Timed-entry reservations are required on the Scenic Drive from October 1 to May 31 for entry between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. The tour operator handles this for its van.
- Scenic Drive hours change by season: 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. November through February, to 7 p.m. in March and October, and to 8 p.m. April through September.
- The visitor center is open daily 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (8 a.m. to noon on Thanksgiving and Christmas).
- Pets and emotional-support animals are not allowed in the visitor center or at the outdoor exhibits. Registered service animals may go anywhere in the conservation area.
- Pink takes collapsible manual wheelchairs with an adult companion but notes the quarry stop is hard for wheelchairs. BLM rates the visitor center fully accessible.
Questions about Red Rock Canyon Scenic Drive Tour from Las Vegas
How far is Red Rock Canyon from the Strip?
BLM puts Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area 17 miles west of the Las Vegas Strip, about 30 minutes by road, on Charleston Boulevard/State Route 159. Public transportation does not go there, which is why BLM points visitors without a car to tour buses and commercial tours. Rideshare users are limited to the visitor center and trails that start there.
Do I need a reservation for Red Rock Canyon?
From October 1 to May 31, BLM requires a timed-entry reservation from Recreation.gov to enter the Scenic Drive between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Commercial buses and vans need one too and pay an added $5 per passenger on arrival. On a guided tour, the operator books its vehicle's entry, and Pink Adventure Tours says its prices include entry fees.
Will a scenic drive tour include hiking?
Not much. BLM says bus, motorcoach and van groups may stop for photos but are not authorized to hike the trails, and lists their stops as the Visitor Center, Calico I, Willow Spring and Pine Creek. Pink's tour includes short walks, such as the Sandstone Quarry path. If you want a real hike, book a guided hiking tour run under a BLM hiking permit.
What will I see on the Scenic Drive?
BLM describes a 13-mile drive with nine stops, trailheads or overlooks. They include Calico I, Sandstone Quarry, High Point Overlook and Willow Spring. Pink Adventure Tours adds views of the Wilson Cliffs and the Keystone Thrust, the Calico Hills, and the rock art at Willow Springs. At the visitor center, BLM notes a desert tortoise habitat.
Is the tour suitable for children and wheelchair users?
Pink Adventure Tours does not allow children under 3. It says guests who are expecting can take the tour. It takes non-motorized, collapsible wheelchairs when another adult comes along, though the quarry stop is difficult. BLM says the visitor center and its outdoor exhibits are accessible to wheelchairs and strollers, but no designated Scenic Drive trail is.