How to Experience Nature in Las Vegas
There’s more to Sin City than meets the eye. Past mega-casinos, exotic hotels, and extravagant performances, Las Vegas is teeming with breathtaking wonders beyond the Strip. From water and red rock to mesmerizing caves and miles of hiking, you can experience nature in Las Vegas.
Nature in Las Vegas: 5 Must-See Spots
1. Lehman Caves
Within Great Basin National Park, Lehman Caves holds more than 300 underground formations. First discovered by Absalom Lehman and opened for tours in the 1880s, its passages are now subtly lit while rangers use torches to show important features. Visitors may see spiders, scorpions, and bats, and sometimes experience a moment of complete darkness and silence.
2. Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
Near the crowds of Las Vegas, Red Rock Canyon’s red-orange hills stretch along the Spring Mountains. Take the 13-mile scenic drive, or explore its 26 open-country trails through rock formations, wildlife, wildflowers, caves, and waterfalls. The Ice Box Canyon Trail passes lush-looking canyon floors and pine trees.
3. Hoover Dam and Hot Springs
Minutes from the Strip but a world apart, a kayak tour from Hoover Dam reveals hot springs, Emerald Cave, and breathtaking canyons. Paddle the Colorado River through Black Canyon, relax in the sauna cave and geothermal springs, and watch for desert bighorn sheep, coyotes, falcons, bald eagles, and migratory waterfowl.
4. Zion National Park
Zion is just across the border in Utah and offers trails at every difficulty. Choose family-friendly Riverside Walk or the heights of Angels Landing. The Zion Narrows follows the Virgin River through rock layers; in Wall Street, hikers may wade through chest-deep water in exchange for exceptional scenery.
5. Lake Mead National Recreation Area
Only 45 minutes from the Strip, Lake Mead National Recreation Area spans Lake Mohave, Las Vegas Bay, and surrounding landscapes. Camp, hike, scuba dive, canoe, paddleboard, or kayak its open water. Guided kayak tours help guests appreciate the area’s geography and wildlife while learning the basics in a supportive environment.
Explore Beyond the Strip
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