Hiking in the desert carries special risks. Always carry water, take the 10 Essentials, choose routes of the appropriate difficulty, tell someone where you are going, tread lightly on this fragile land, and please respect the wilderness and the other people out there. If you need hiking buddies, consider hiking with these groups: The Sierra Club (Toiyabe Chapter, Southern Nevada Group), the Las Vegas Mountaineers Club, the Around the Bend Friends, and the Vegas Hikers Meet-Up Group. Best Day Hikes Around Las Vegas; Mountains and Ranges seen from Las Vegas. |
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Choose hiking areas from a Click-Map or the following list:
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Wilderness Areas Around Las Vegas The Clark County Conservation of Public Land and Natural Resources Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-282) established 17 new wilderness areas and expanded 1 existing wilderness area around Las Vegas. These lands offer solitude, grand vistas, and remarkable hiking experiences; plus they protect the land, plants, and animals from the encroachment of civilization. |
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Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area Hike up, over, around, and among towering red and white sandstone cliffs. Taller mountains, limestone with fossils, and an amazing geologic story add interest to hiking in this popular area. |
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Lake Mead National Recreation Area Hike high in the mountains, down narrow canyons, along creeks with flowing water, down to the lake, through old railroad tunnels, or soak in the hot springs. This wild desert park has it all. |
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Desert National Wildlife Range Hike desert flats, deep canyons, barren rocky peaks, and hidden Ponderosa pine forests. This is big wild country with more solitude than you can shake a stick at. Nice fossils and car camping too. |
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When the desert gets too hot, head for the cool of the mountains and the mixed pine-fir forests. Hike to waterfalls, 12,000-foot peaks, and ancient Bristlecone forests. Note: Sporadic road and facility repairs on Mt. Charleston are affecting access to some trails at some times. Construction work is expected to continue into 2014. Check online or consider calling the Forest Service (866-388-7162) for status updates. |
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The Gold Butte Region is wild and remote country with high peaks, low valleys, and grand views. Don't go here unless you are prepared to survive on your own. |
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Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area Sloan Canyon NCA, essentially the hills south of Henderson, provides quick access to miles of hiking from the edge of town. The NCA includes the entire North McCullough Wilderness Area and amazing petroglyphs in Sloan Canyon, proper. |
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Red and white sandstone cliffs tower above the Virgin River. Stroll along the river, hike the narrows, or climb the mountains. |
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The high Mojave Desert is a great place to hike in the spring and fall. Hike all day, hike for a few minutes, or even hike underground. |
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Hike among barren peaks and deep narrow canyons in the Wilderness Area northeast of Las Vegas. |
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A winter hiking paradise, Death Valley offers deep canyons, high peaks, stark desert terrain, and the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere. From 282 feet below sea level, you can hike across the valley and hike straight up to 11,049 feet (or at least stand at Badwater and look up at Telescope Peak). |
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The Grand Canyon... the name says it all. Few places are as spectacular as the Grand Canyon. Stroll along the paved Rim Trail, backpack along the river, or do something in between, but hike the canyon. Be sure to watch for California Condors behind the Bright Angel Lodge. |
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