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Epic Outdoor Adventures Just Minutes from the Strip
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items I’ve lived in Las Vegas for over 20 years, and as an avid hiker and outdoor lover, I can tell you — there’s so much more to this city than the Strip. These are my favorite hikes and outdoor adventures that have become my go-to escapes when I need to ...
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My Favorite Trails Around Vegas
Outdoor Adventures You’ll Talk About Later
My Favorite Trails Around Vegas
Scenic desert trails and hidden gems around Las Vegas
Calico Basin is such a great spot if you’re looking for something scenic and beginner-friendly. This trail is more of a leisurely walk than a hike, but it still gives you the full Red Rock experience — think vibrant red rock formations, desert plants...
Calico Basin Trail
Cathedral Rock Trail is a short but rewarding hike in Mount Charleston that I always recommend—it’s steep in parts, but the views from the top are so worth it. You get this amazing overlook of the whole canyon, and it’s especially beautiful at sunset...
Cathedral Rock Trail | Las Vegas, NV
Ice Box Canyon in Red Rock is one of my favorites. It’s different from a lot of the other trails around Vegas because instead of wide open views, you’re hiking into a canyon. You’re surrounded by these massive sandstone walls the whole time, and once...
Ice Box Canyon
This is one of my all-time favorite hikes in Red Rock Canyon. Turtlehead Peak is definitely an intermediate to difficult trail, depending on your fitness level — it’s a good challenge, but so worth it. The views from the top are absolutely incredible...
Turtlehead Peak
One of the coolest hidden gems in Vegas — a rugged little mountain right in the middle of the city. The hike to the top is short but steep, and the panoramic view over the whole valley is unreal. A lot of people do full moon hikes here, and it’s hone...
Lone Mountain | Las Vegas, Nevada
One of my go-tos when I want something short and fun with lots of scrambling and exploring. It’s beginner to intermediate, depending on how much climbing around you want to do. Kids love this trail! The red rock formations are absolutely stunning, an...
Calico 1
Mary Jane Falls is one of my absolute favorite hikes up in Mount Charleston—it’s such a great way to escape the Vegas heat and be surrounded by trees, mountains, and cooler air. The trail gives you just the right amount of challenge with switchbacks ...
Mary Jane Falls Trailhead
Big Falls Trail is one of my favorite hikes in Mount Charleston—it starts on the Mary Jane Falls route before veering off into a hidden, boulder-filled canyon with towering limestone cliffs. The scramble’s rugged and the trail’s unofficial, so it fee...
Big Falls Trail (2025) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Reviews)
Griffith Peak is a challenging but rewarding hike in Mount Charleston. The trail is steep, long, with large switchbacks section right from the start, and definitely a workout—but once you get to the top, the views are absolutely unreal. You can see t...
Griffith Peak Trail, Nevada
Griffith Peak via the South Loop Trail to Charleston Peak is a brutally difficult all‑day summit—about 17 miles round‑trip with 4,000+ feet elevation gain, mostly above 10,000 ft via relentless switchbacks—yet the sweeping 360° alpine views (includin...
Mt Charleston Peak Hike - South Loop Trail
Gold Strike Hot Springs is one of my favorite adventure hikes near Vegas—it’s a challenging trail with rock scrambles, ropes, and narrow canyon paths that lead you to natural hot springs tucked into the desert near the Colorado River. It feels like a...
Gold Strike Hot Springs Trail
Arizona Hot Springs is one of those hikes that feels like a real adventure—you climb through a canyon, descend a ladder in a slot, and end up soaking in natural hot springs right by the Colorado River. It’s about 6 miles round-trip and definitely a w...
Hike the Arizona Hot Springs Trail - National Park Service
Outdoor Adventures You’ll Talk About Later
A roundup of my favorite outdoor activities around Las Vegas, from kayaking through glowing canyons to exploring massive sand dunes. These are perfect for adventure days that are all about fun, views, and getting outside in a different way.
Big Dune Recreation Area is such a cool and underrated spot if you’re up for a little adventure outside of Vegas. It’s this massive sand dune out in the desert—perfect for off-roading, sandboarding, or just hiking up to catch the sunset. The views fr...
Big Dune Recreation Area
Hands-down one of my favorite day trips—just about an hour from Vegas, you paddle a few miles up the calm Colorado River into Black Canyon and into a glowing green grotto that honestly looks like something out of a fantasy. The water lights up in the...
GSN Action Sports inc - Oneness Adventures & Emerald Cave Kayak Tours
Valley of Fire is hands-down one of the most incredible state parks in Nevada, and it’s only about an hour’s drive from Las Vegas — the perfect day trip! The red rock formations are unreal, like you’re on another planet. There are amazing hikes for a...
Valley of Fire State Park
This is an absolute must-do if you’re in the Red Rock Canyon area. Cowboy Trail Rides offers the full Western experience — think sunset rides through the desert with unreal views, plus optional add-ons like a campfire dinner after your ride. It’s suc...
Cowboy Trail Rides
It’s a seasonal u-pick farm where you can pick your own fruits and veggies all year long, from strawberries to zucchini to peaches. In the fall, it turns into a full-on Halloween dream with a pumpkin patch and the best fresh apple cider you’ll ever t...
Gilcrease Orchard