Red Rock Canyon Conservation Area, Las Vegas, Nevada
There’s a lot more to Nevada than The Strip. This is made abundantly clear on a quick day trip to Red Rock Canyon, which lies just outside Vegas. Red Rock is best described as a beautifully-striped playground or jungle gym. Known as one of the top scrambling and bouldering places in the world, it’s a climber’s and hiker’s dream. It’s one of the few areas where I’ve found miles-long scrambling routes. Trails dart every which direction allowing you to essentially choose your path, and then go for it. The park is small, but packed with activities. My favorite areas thus far are: Calico 1, Calico 2, Ice Box Canyon, and Kraft Boulders, which has the famous Plumber’s Crack highball boulder (pictured below).
A note to travelers with furry friends, Red Rocks is very dog-friendly, which is not that common for national parks / monuments / conservation areas. This is a great one to visit with your dog.
