Las Vegas Desert Hiking
Stay in Summerlin and hike Red Rock Canyon, Mount Charleston, Valley of Fire, Death Valley and the Lake Mead railroad tunnel trail.
An outdoor route that is not centered on casinos. Stay in Summerlin on the west side of the city, closest to Red Rock Canyon. Hike the Calico Tanks, the Mary Jane Falls on Mount Charleston, the Fire Wave and White Domes in Valley of Fire, and spend a full day at Death Valley hiking Golden Canyon and Natural Bridge Canyon. On the last day, hike the Lake Mead railroad tunnel trail, see Hoover Dam, then head to the airport. Start early every day to avoid the afternoon heat.
Death Valley and Valley of Fire are extremely hot from May to September. In winter, Mount Charleston may have snow, so bring traction devices.
Day by day
Day 1 · Red Rock Canyon and Calico Tanks
Las Vegas（Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area）
Drive about 30 min from the airport to Red Rock Canyon. The scenic loop is about 21 km. When you finish, drive about 15 min to Summerlin.
From October to May, the scenic drive requires a timed-entry reservation.
Stay: Summerlin
Day 2 · Mary Jane Falls Trail on Mount Charleston
Drive about 45 min from Summerlin up the mountain. The round trip to Mary Jane Falls is about 5 km, with about 300 m of elevation gain.
It's more than 10°C cooler on the mountain than in the city, so bring a jacket.
Stay: Summerlin
Day 3 · Fire Wave and White Domes in Valley of Fire
Las Vegas（Valley of Fire State Park）
Drive about 1 hr 20 min from Summerlin to Valley of Fire. Several short trails in the park are 1–3 km each.
The Fire Wave is often closed in summer due to heat.
Stay: Summerlin
Day 4 · Death Valley Canyon Trails
Death Valley National Park（Zabriskie Point、Golden Canyon、Natural Bridge Canyon、Badwater Basin、Dante's View）
Drive about 2 hr from Summerlin via Pahrump to the park. Driving between sights takes 15–30 min. Return the same way in the evening.
The round-trip drive is about 4 hr, so bring plenty of water and fuel.
Stay: Summerlin
Day 5 · Lake Mead Tunnel Trail and Dam
Las Vegas（Lake Mead National Recreation Area、Hoover Dam）
Drive about 50 min to Lake Mead. The railroad trail is about 6 km round trip to Hoover Dam. Then drive about 35 min to the airport.
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