Guided Red Rock Canyon Hiking Tour from Las Vegas
- Duration
- about 4 hours (8:00 a.m. to noon or 1:00 to 5:00 p.m., Escape Adventures)
- Price
- $139.99 per person, transportation included (Escape Adventures)
- Departs from
- Treasure Island Hotel & Casino tour bus pickup area (Escape Adventures)
About
Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is 17 miles west of the Las Vegas Strip, and BLM manages it. BLM says its hikes run from a few minutes to a full day. Its red and cream sandstone cliffs also draw climbers, and the 13-mile Scenic Drive loops past the main trailheads.
Guided hiking is tightly limited. BLM caps guided hiking at five full-time special recreation permits in the area. It also says ordinary bus and van tour groups may stop for photos but are not authorized to hike the trails. So a hiking tour has to come from a permitted outfitter. Escape Adventures says it holds a BLM special use permit and has guided in Red Rock since 1992.
Escape's guide picks the trail on the day to suit the group's ability. Its list is Willow Springs Loop, Oak Creek, Calico Hills, Pine Creek or Ice Box Canyon.
What to expect
Escape Adventures picks up every guest at one central point, the tour bus area at Treasure Island Hotel & Casino, and drives the group to Red Rock. There are two sessions: 8:00 a.m. to noon and 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Transport, water and an interpretive guide are included. Food is not, so bring a snack.
Escape says the group hikes at its own pace on trails and paths, with no rock climbing. There are no set stops beyond breaks and photo pauses. Tours run rain or shine. The desert is not always hot, so check the forecast and dress for it.
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.
- Escape Adventures$139.99 per person ¡ about 4 hours (8 a.m.-noon or 1-5 p.m.) ¡ Round-trip transport from Treasure Island, water, interpretive guide; no food
- Blazin' Paddles$129-$139 per person ¡ 4-5 hours including shuttle time; departs 6:30 AM or 12:30 PM ¡ Hotel pickup on the Strip or downtown, local guide, bottled water and Gatorade-type drinks, trail snacks; guide picks a trail off the Scenic Drive by group fitness; minimum age 12, 3-person minimum
Good to know
- Escape Adventures gives a full refund only if you cancel by 8:00 a.m. the day before. Later cancellations are not refunded. It may cancel a tour within 24 hours itself.
- If you book through a third-party agency, both Escape's and the agency's cancellation policies apply.
- From October 1 to May 31, BLM requires timed-entry reservations for the Scenic Drive between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
- Scenic Drive hours run from 6 a.m. to between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m., depending on the month (BLM).
- Bring your own food. Escape supplies water, but no meals or snacks.
Questions about Guided Red Rock Canyon Hiking Tour from Las Vegas
Which trail will we hike?
Escape Adventures does not fix the trail in advance. The guide chooses from Willow Springs Loop, Oak Creek, Calico Hills, Pine Creek or Ice Box Canyon, based on the group's ability. Escape says you hike at your own pace on trails and paths, and the tour involves no rock climbing.
Where does the tour start?
Escape Adventures picks up and drops off all hiking guests at the tour bus pickup area of Treasure Island Hotel & Casino on the Strip. It does not collect guests from each hotel. Transportation to and from the Strip is included in the $139.99 price. BLM notes there is no public transportation to Red Rock Canyon.
Why can't I just hike on a regular bus tour of Red Rock?
BLM says commercial buses, motorcoaches and vans on the Scenic Drive may stop for photos but are not authorized to hike the trails. Guided hiking needs its own BLM special recreation permit, and BLM caps hiking at five full-time permits. Escape Adventures says it holds a BLM special use permit for guiding in the conservation area.
What is included and what should I bring?
Escape Adventures includes round-trip transport from Treasure Island, water and an interpretive guide. Food is not included, so bring a snack or lunch. Escape tells hikers to check the forecast and dress for it, since the desert is not always hot. Tours run in rain or shine.
What is the cancellation policy?
Escape Adventures gives a full refund if you cancel by 8:00 a.m. the day before your tour. After that, there is no refund. The company may cancel a tour within 24 hours. If you booked through a third-party agency, both Escape's policy and the agency's policy apply.