Sights outside Las Vegas
Hoover Dam, Grand Canyon, Red Rock Canyon, Death Valley
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Duration
Hoover Dam: 1/2 day Grand Canyon Skywalk: full day Grand Canyon Village: 2-3 days (8hr road trip per direction!) Red Rock Canyon: 1/2 day Death Valley: full day |
Distances from Las Vegas
Hoover Dam: 35 miles/ 56km Grand Canyon Skywalk: 127 miles/ 204km Grand Canyon Village: 278 miles/ 447km Red Rock Canyon: 24 miles/ 39km Death Valley: 150 miles/ 241km |
Hoover Dam
The Hoover Dam is located in the Black Canyon of Colorado River only 34 miles (~55 km) away from the Strip. It was constructed between 1931 and 1936 to control floods and to provide water and power for Nevada, Arizona and California. It was named after Herbert Hoover, the 31st president of the US who had a huge impact bringing the states together agreeing on shared water allocations.
The dam impounds Lake Mead the largest reservoir in the US and a popular Kayak territory in the area. In the sports section you will find an operator offering tours on the lake and through Colorado River.
If you are interested in visiting Hoover Dam you can book daily tours, available under the following link: http://www.usbr.gov/lc/hooverdam/service/index.html
If you want to catch a glimpse at the Dam without doing a tour pay parking abd walk the area. The dam is accessible over the new bypass that replaced the former dam road in October 2010.
The Hoover Dam is located in the Black Canyon of Colorado River only 34 miles (~55 km) away from the Strip. It was constructed between 1931 and 1936 to control floods and to provide water and power for Nevada, Arizona and California. It was named after Herbert Hoover, the 31st president of the US who had a huge impact bringing the states together agreeing on shared water allocations.
The dam impounds Lake Mead the largest reservoir in the US and a popular Kayak territory in the area. In the sports section you will find an operator offering tours on the lake and through Colorado River.
If you are interested in visiting Hoover Dam you can book daily tours, available under the following link: http://www.usbr.gov/lc/hooverdam/service/index.html
If you want to catch a glimpse at the Dam without doing a tour pay parking abd walk the area. The dam is accessible over the new bypass that replaced the former dam road in October 2010.
Grand Canyon - http://www.nps.gov/grca/index.htm
Grand Canyon Village is 272 miles (~ 438km) away from Las Vegas to explore the whole area and not be rushed going there I recommend to allow at least 2-3 days for the trip to the South Rim. Going there you should stay in the village or in Tusayan since towns like Flagstaff or Williams are about 50 miles (~ 80km) away. Within the village you will see old adobes and Western-like buildings that are lined close to the rim. The park offers visitors the choice between a bus shuttle and trails to explore the South Rim up to Hermits Rest.
If you do not have the time going to Grand Canyon Village you can either book a helicopter flight over the canyon close to Las Vegas or drive to the Grand Canyon Skywalk that is only 124 miles (~ 200km) away.
The Skywalk is a glassy platform ring that is protruding 70ft (~ 21 meter) from the rim floating 4,000 ft (~1200 meter) over the canyon. To the left and right visitors are also able to walk along the rim. The area is smaller than those at Grand Canyon Village but gives you a great first impression.
Nevertheless what you are planning to do you should pay the canyon a visit since it is an incredible, jaw dropping experience you shouldn’t miss while you are in the area.
Admission to Grand Canyon Village: $20 per car + accommodations from $140 per night. An early reservation is recommended since the rooms are limited.
Admission to Skywalk: about $73 per adult (park and loop entrance). Link to more info: http://www.grandcanyonskywalk.com/
Full day guided tours in small groups:
Grand Adventures, bus tour $150 per person: http://grand-adventures.com/
Pink Jeep, Jeep tours $125 per person: http://www.pinkjeep.com/jeep-tours/
Helicopter tours and operators:
Maverick Helicopters, from $375 per person: http://www.maverickhelicopter.com/
Sundance Helicopters, from $395 per person: http://www.sundancehelicopters.com/
Grand Canyon Village is 272 miles (~ 438km) away from Las Vegas to explore the whole area and not be rushed going there I recommend to allow at least 2-3 days for the trip to the South Rim. Going there you should stay in the village or in Tusayan since towns like Flagstaff or Williams are about 50 miles (~ 80km) away. Within the village you will see old adobes and Western-like buildings that are lined close to the rim. The park offers visitors the choice between a bus shuttle and trails to explore the South Rim up to Hermits Rest.
If you do not have the time going to Grand Canyon Village you can either book a helicopter flight over the canyon close to Las Vegas or drive to the Grand Canyon Skywalk that is only 124 miles (~ 200km) away.
The Skywalk is a glassy platform ring that is protruding 70ft (~ 21 meter) from the rim floating 4,000 ft (~1200 meter) over the canyon. To the left and right visitors are also able to walk along the rim. The area is smaller than those at Grand Canyon Village but gives you a great first impression.
Nevertheless what you are planning to do you should pay the canyon a visit since it is an incredible, jaw dropping experience you shouldn’t miss while you are in the area.
Admission to Grand Canyon Village: $20 per car + accommodations from $140 per night. An early reservation is recommended since the rooms are limited.
Admission to Skywalk: about $73 per adult (park and loop entrance). Link to more info: http://www.grandcanyonskywalk.com/
Full day guided tours in small groups:
Grand Adventures, bus tour $150 per person: http://grand-adventures.com/
Pink Jeep, Jeep tours $125 per person: http://www.pinkjeep.com/jeep-tours/
Helicopter tours and operators:
Maverick Helicopters, from $375 per person: http://www.maverickhelicopter.com/
Sundance Helicopters, from $395 per person: http://www.sundancehelicopters.com/
Red Rock Canyon
15 miles west of Las Vegas lies Red Rock Canyon, a national conservation area that extends from Mt Potosi to the Spring Mountains. The area got its name from the red colored sandstone formation embedded in the mountains that streaks horizontally across them and is visible from almost anywhere in Las Vegas valley. The red sandstones of the Red Rock Canyon belong to the same geologic formation you will find within Zion National Park and in the Valley of Fire.
The area has a lot to offer in particular for hikers, climbers and hobby photographers who like to take spectacular pictures. If you like to explore the area by car there is also a one-way scenic drive along the rim with plenty of lookouts that takes about 30 minutes per direction (13 miles/ 20.9km per direction). The park charges an admission of $7 per car.
Please find more info about the hikes in the sports section or under the following link: http://www.redrockcanyonlv.org
15 miles west of Las Vegas lies Red Rock Canyon, a national conservation area that extends from Mt Potosi to the Spring Mountains. The area got its name from the red colored sandstone formation embedded in the mountains that streaks horizontally across them and is visible from almost anywhere in Las Vegas valley. The red sandstones of the Red Rock Canyon belong to the same geologic formation you will find within Zion National Park and in the Valley of Fire.
The area has a lot to offer in particular for hikers, climbers and hobby photographers who like to take spectacular pictures. If you like to explore the area by car there is also a one-way scenic drive along the rim with plenty of lookouts that takes about 30 minutes per direction (13 miles/ 20.9km per direction). The park charges an admission of $7 per car.
Please find more info about the hikes in the sports section or under the following link: http://www.redrockcanyonlv.org
Death Valley
Death Valley belongs to the Mojave Desert and lies in a trough called Walker Lane going from Death Valley up to Oregon. Death Valley is about 135 miles (217km) away from Las Vegas.
Within Death Valley you will find the hottest, lowest and driest place in North America: Badwater.
Along with Badwater the most amazing sights in Death Valley are spread along HWY 178 and 190. Coming from Las Vegas I recommend driving down HWY 178 first before turning into HWY 190 to Zabriskie Point and head either back to Las Vegas or continue towards Sierra Nevada.
Taking this route you are passing the typical sights Artist Palette, Furnace Creek, and Zabriskie Point, next to the mentioned Badwater.
For more information please visit the travelin-mate Death Valley page or go to: http://www.nps.gov/deva/index.htm
Death Valley belongs to the Mojave Desert and lies in a trough called Walker Lane going from Death Valley up to Oregon. Death Valley is about 135 miles (217km) away from Las Vegas.
Within Death Valley you will find the hottest, lowest and driest place in North America: Badwater.
Along with Badwater the most amazing sights in Death Valley are spread along HWY 178 and 190. Coming from Las Vegas I recommend driving down HWY 178 first before turning into HWY 190 to Zabriskie Point and head either back to Las Vegas or continue towards Sierra Nevada.
Taking this route you are passing the typical sights Artist Palette, Furnace Creek, and Zabriskie Point, next to the mentioned Badwater.
For more information please visit the travelin-mate Death Valley page or go to: http://www.nps.gov/deva/index.htm
