Parks, Recreation & Activities Around Las Vegas
Las Vegas is best known as the entertainment capital and its casinos. But far from this reputation that stick to Las Vegas, it is also a city that can be the starting point for numerous parks, each one as beautiful and exotic as the next. In this article, we reveal all the hidden treasures that you can discover less than 3 hours from the Strip…
Inside this article:
1.Parks & Recreation within an hour of Las Vegas
2.Parks & Recreation within three hours of Las Vegas
3.Annual Park Passes
1.Parks & Recreation within an hour of Las Vegas
Red Rock Canyon
Red Rock Canyon is a beautiful park that features a 13-miles (21 km) scenic drive, miles of hiking trails, rock climbing, horseback riding, mountain biking, road biking, picnic areas and many other outdoor recreational opportunities just minutes from Las Vegas (about 30 minutes from the Strip).
If you have children you will love the Visitor Center which offers fun activities indoors and outdoors.
Prices:
- Réservation: $2.00 from October to May
- Vehicles: $20.00 (Free with the annual National Parks Pass)
- Motos: $10.00
Visitor Center Opening hours: 8:00am - 4:30pm
Park Opening Hours:
- October: 6:00am - 7:00pm
- November - February: 6:00am - 5:00pm
- March: 6:00am - 7:00pm
- April - September: 6:00am - 8:00pm
Address :
- 3205 State Highway 159, Las Vegas, NV 89161
Seven Magic Mountains
Seven Magic Mountains is a public art created by Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone, located near Interstate 15, approximately 10 miles south of Las Vegas, Nevada.
Comprised of seven towers of colorful stacked boulders, measuring over 30 feet high, Seven Magic Mountains is a creative expression of the human presence in the Mojave Desert, punctuating it with a poetic burst of form and color.
The exhibition opened on May 11, 2016 and was initially planned to be on view for two years. Due to the incredible success of Seven Magic Mountains since its opening, artist Ugo Rondinone expressed a strong desire to explore ways to preserve the artwork at its current location.
Spring Mountain Ranch
Neighboring Red Rock Canyon Park, Spring Mountain Ranch is a state park in Nevada, which historically has been a ranch and then a luxury retreat for celebrities such as German actress Vera Krupp and millionaire Howard Hughes.
Howard Hughes is notably known for having been one of the richest and most powerful men in the USA. A businessman, film producer and aviator, he is also known for setting world speed records and for building the H-4 Hercules, one of the largest planes in the world.
In 2004, Leonardo DiCaprio played his character in the film Aviator.
Today, visitors can explore some of Nevada's oldest buildings, an 1860s blacksmith shop, the Sandstone cabin that housed the founding family, and the ranch.
In this park you can enjoy hiking trails through the park, and shaded picnic areas with tables and grills, and the presence of wild donkeys.
This park is a family favorite to spend the day.
Each year, the Super Summer Theater offers a variety of outdoor shows.
Prices: $15 ($10 Nevada residents)
Opening Hours:
- June - August: 8:00am - 8:00pm
- September: 8:00 - 7:00pm
- October: 8:00 - 6:00pm
- November-February: 8:00am - 4:30pm
- March: 8:00am - 6:00pm
- April - May: 8:00am - 7:00pm
Address: 6375 Hwy. 159, Blue Diamond, NV, 89004
Lake Las Vegas
If you like quiet beach resorts, beautiful landscaping and Italian-style villages, you'll love LAKE LAS VEGAS, which you'll find just 20 miles from the Strip.
The idea for this artificial body of water in the middle of the desert was born in the late 1960s from the mind of an actor and businessman, J. Carlton Adair. Unfortunately he will not see the realization of his project due to numerous difficulties. In fact, it would only see the light of day in 1995 and would never find real stability.
However, it remains a really pleasant place to visit with hotels, golf courses, water activities, shops and restaurants. And an ideal setting for wedding photos
The evenings are particularly pleasant there and in summer concerts take place every weekend.
If you park in the covered public parking lot, you may also be lucky enough to see a few coyotes who have taken up residence in the neighborhood.
Valley of Fire
Valley of Fire is a state park in Nevada named after an official who said the valley seems to be on fire at sunset.
Located about 1 hour northeast of Las Vegas, this park will seduce you with its bright red sandstone outcroppings nestled in gray and beige limestone mountains.
It includes kilometers of hiking trails, each one as exotic as the last, as well as picnic and camping areas.
The hiking trails are closed from June to September but the park remains open
Plan a day to visit it with water and picnic options.
You will surely have the opportunity to come across some animals such as bighorn sheep or other Chipmuk.
Guaranted change of scenery!
Prices:
-Vehicles: $15.00 ($10.00 Nevada residents)
-Camping: $25.00/car/night ($20.00 Nevada residents)
-Bikes: $2.00
Visitor Center Opening hours: 9:00am - 4:00pm
Park Opening hours: from sunrise to sunset
2.Parks & Recreation within three hours of Las Vegas
Historic Route 66
US Route 66, its real name, is the old American road which connected Chicago (Illinois) to Santa Monica (California) between the years 1926 and 1985.
Although it is no longer an official road in the USA today, it nonetheless remains a mythical road which appears in numerous films such as “Forest Gump”, “Easy Rider”, “Rain Man”, “Baghdad Café”, or in the animated film “Cars”.
Many people therefore wish to go there to explore even just a portion of it.
If this is your case, you will be happy to know that a portion of this route is approximately 2 hours from Las Vegas. So why not plan to spend a day there?
Depending on the time you want to spend driving, we recommend 2 solutions.
First solution: Las Vegas – Oatman – Kingman – Las Vegas loop (around 5 hours of driving in total).
Second solution: Las Vegas – Oatman – Kingman – Seligman – Hackberry – Las Vegas loop (Approximately 7.5 hours of driving in total).
Adverstisement
3.Annual Park Passes
Annual National Parks Pass
If you are planning to take a Road Trip in the USA and want to visit the national parks, it may be interesting for you to purchase the Annual Pass known as “America The Beautiful”.
This pass costs $80 and can be purchased online or directly at the park entrance. In the case of parks without an entrance ticket like Death Valley, you can purchase it at the Visitor Center.
It is often interesting from 3 parks visited, but check the price of park entries before buying it. Please note that it is nominative and ID is required.
Please also note that it does not provide access to state parks and tribal areas like Monument Valley.
Below is the list of National Parks and Conservation Areas that accept it within 3 hours of Las Vegas:
- DEATH VALLEY
- LAKE MEAD
- RED ROCK CANYON
- WILLOW BEACH
- ZION
Note: Grand Canyon West is not a national park. The pass is valid for Grand Canyon South which is approximately 4.5 hours from Las Vegas.
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