The best Las Vegas hiking day trips are Red Rock Canyon for most first-timers, Valley of Fire for the most dramatic scenery, and Mt Charleston for cool mountain air and a seasonal waterfall. Lone Mountain Peak is the pick when you only have a morning. The Lake Mead and Hoover Dam area suits you if you want flat, easy miles with a famous landmark at the end. Each of these is roughly an hour or less from the Strip.
The trouble is that day hiking trips from Las Vegas look alike on a map. They differ a lot in heat, shade, drive time and difficulty. A midday summer start at Valley of Fire is a bad day. The same hike in January is a great one. Below you get five picks in the same format: what the trails are like, who each one suits, and how a guided trip works if you would rather not drive.
At Another Side Tours, we have been running private tours around Southern Nevada since 2007. I will be straight about what we offer. Two of our tours are true guided hikes. The rest are sightseeing trips with shorter walks. Where a tour is not a hike, I say so.
1. Red Rock Canyon
The hikes
Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area sits about 17 miles west of the Strip, a drive of roughly 30 minutes, and it has the widest choice of trails. Calico Tanks is the classic, about 2.5 miles round trip, with easy scrambling over sandstone to a rock basin that holds water after rain. The Lost Creek Children’s Discovery Trail is a short, flat walk to a seasonal waterfall. A 13-mile scenic loop road connects the trailheads, and entry in busy months often requires a timed reservation, so check the BLM website before you go.
Red Rock gives you the most trail choice for the shortest drive.
Best for
Red Rock suits first-time visitors, families and groups with mixed abilities, because you can pick a 20-minute stroll or a half-day scramble. Go between October and April, and start early in warmer months, since the sandstone holds heat.
Guided option
Our two Red Rock tours are sightseeing tours with scenic stops, not trail hikes. If you want trail time, ask the team whether a custom itinerary can include a walk.
| Tour | Length | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Ultimate Red Rock Tour | About 4 hours | $249 per guest | 2 guest minimum, stops at the Visitor’s Center, Wilson Cliffs, Calico Hills and Red Rock Overlook |
| The Red Rock VIP Limo Tour | About 4 hours | $399, or $349 for 5 or more guests | 4 guest minimum, up to 12 guests per limo |
2. Valley of Fire State Park
The hikes
Valley of Fire is about 55 miles northeast of the Strip, roughly an hour’s drive, and its trails are short enough that you can see most of the park in one day. The Fire Wave is about 1.5 miles round trip to a striped sandstone formation. Mouse’s Tank is under a mile and passes petroglyphs. The White Domes loop is about a mile through narrow rock corridors.
Shade is scarce and summer highs regularly pass 105°F. Plan this one for the cooler months.
Valley of Fire rewards short walks with the most colorful rock near Las Vegas.
Best for
This is the best pick for photographers, casual hikers and families with kids who tire quickly. You get big scenery with almost no elevation gain. It is also the longest drive on this list, so leave early to catch the soft morning light.
Guided option
The Private Valley of Fire Tour runs about six hours and costs $399, with a 2 guest minimum. Departures leave on the hour from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Round-trip transportation, snacks and bottled water are included. Your guide covers the geology, petroglyphs and wildlife between walks.
To add Hoover Dam, the eight-hour Ultimate Hoover Dam & Valley Of Fire Tour is $595 per guest, with $100 off per guest for parties of 3 or more. For three people, that is 3 × $495, or $1,485.
3. Mt Charleston and Mary Jane Falls
The hikes
Mt Charleston is the day trip to take when the valley is hot. Kyle Canyon in the Spring Mountains is about 35 miles northwest of the Strip, around 45 minutes by car, and temperatures run noticeably cooler than on the valley floor. The standout is Mary Jane Falls, a 3.2-mile round trip with 680 feet of elevation gain, rated moderate. The falls run best during spring snowmelt and can shrink to a trickle by late summer.
Mary Jane Falls is the easiest way to swap desert heat for pine trees.
Best for
Pick Mt Charleston for a summer escape, a waterfall, or a hike that feels nothing like the Mojave. Expect a steady uphill climb, so you need basic fitness. In winter, snow and ice can cover the trail, so check conditions first.
Guided option
The Mary Jane Falls Hiking Tour is a guided hike up the same trail. It takes about 2 to 3 hours in total and costs $299 per guest with a 2 guest minimum. Two guests pay $598. Snacks and bottled water are provided. There are no cancellations or refunds within 7 days of your tour date, so book once your plans are firm.
4. Lone Mountain Peak
The hikes
Lone Mountain Peak is the closest real hike on this list. It sits northwest of the Strip inside the metro area, so you skip the long drive. The route is 1.25 miles round trip with 600 feet of elevation gain, rated moderate. That is steep for the distance, but it is over in about two hours. It is a half-day outing, not a full day trip.
Lone Mountain is the hike for people who only have a morning.
Best for
It suits travelers with a tight schedule, hikers who want a sunrise workout before a day on the Strip, and anyone who wants a view over the valley without a long drive. Bring water and go early, because the peak has little cover.
Guided option
The Lone Mountain Peak Hiking Tour is private and costs $149 per guest. It lasts about two hours and begins with a stretching session and warm-up. Snacks and bottled water are provided. It is the least expensive guided hike we run, and a good way to test the idea before committing to a longer trip.
5. Lake Mead and the Historic Railroad Trail
The hikes
Hoover Dam is about 30 miles southeast of the Strip, a drive of roughly 45 minutes. The Historic Railroad Trail follows an old rail grade for about 3.7 miles one way, passing through tunnels toward the dam. It is flat, which makes it the easiest long walk on this list. Walking both directions is about 7.5 miles, so many people do one way and arrange a ride back.
The Historic Railroad Trail trades difficulty for distance and a landmark finish.
Best for
This pick suits hikers who prefer an easy grade, history fans, and mixed groups where not everyone wants a climb. Shade is limited, and summer heat makes the later miles hard, so go in the cooler months.
Guided option
We do not run a guided hike on this trail. Our Hoover Dam tours are sightseeing trips with short walks. The Ultimate Hoover Dam & Red Rock Tour takes about 8 hours and costs $499 per guest, with a lunch stop in Boulder City and a 2 guest minimum. Parties of 3 or more save $100 per guest, which brings it to $399.
Choosing your trail and booking
Match the trail to the season and your energy. Red Rock and Valley of Fire shine from October to April, Mt Charleston is best when the valley is hot, and Lone Mountain fits any short window. Start early, carry plenty of water, and treat summer desert hikes with respect.
If you would rather skip the driving and parking, a private guided day trip lets you pick the destination and spend more time where you want it.
