3 Southern Nevada Day Trips to the Outdoors

I’ll be honest, I love me a little Las Vegas. What’s not to love with its celebrity restaurants, impressive acrobatic shows and fancy casinos. But, there is another side to Nevada. A side where fire-colored red rocks line the roads, hiking trails take you through tall cactus and bighorn sheep cause traffic jams. It’s true! Within a couple hours of Sin City, you can go from neon to nature.

1. Red Rock Canyon Conservation Area

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is just about a half hour west of Las Vegas, which makes it a really quick and easy day trip. You can even visit right before heading to the airport or after landing (that’s what I did!). It is known for dramatic rock formations, vivid layers of colors and scenic desert hikes. There are actually almost 30 hikes in the park, most of whose trailheads can be reached on the scenic 13-mile drive that loops through the park.

The 13-mile drive starts at the visitor center—just follow the…