Many travelers are drawn to the lights and excitement of Las Vegas and
are unaware of the spectacular Southwest landscape that surrounds them.
Point your compass in any direction to discover rugged mountains, deep
canyons, deserts, valleys, picturesque beauty and a wide range of
recreational opportunities. The region's favorable climate makes
outdoor activities a year-round option.
North/Northeast Visitors are drawn to
Valley of Fire State Park’s scenic landscapes,
hidden canyons and unique red rock formations. Petroglyphs and the
remains of ancient Native American civilizations can be viewed here. A
Nevada Park Service visitors center provides tourist information. Tours
are also available. (55 miles from Las Vegas)
Rhyolite is a well-preserved ghost town near the small community of
Beatty, Nevada, which bills itself as the "Gateway to Death
Valley." Highlights of the area include ruins of the Potter
General Store, Newton's Grille, a school, several major banks, a house
made entirely out of bottles and a railroad depot. (120 miles from Las
Vegas)
Across the Utah border is
Zion National Park, a popular winter ski
resort with colorful sandstone canyons, hot rocky deserts and cool
forested plateaus. Zion Canyon is the largest and most visited canyon
in the park. Here, the Virgin River has carved a spectacular
gorge into the red and white sandstone. The 2,000- to 3,000-foot
canyon walls loom high above the river and the tree and grass-covered
canyon floor. (158 miles from Las Vegas)
Bryce Canyon National Park is located in southwestern Utah. The park
offers an outdoor exhibition of unique rock formations caused by ice
and rain that have been given imaginative names like Pink Cliffs,
Silent City and Cathedral. Bryce Canyon Lodge offers rooms and
dining seasonally, while the park is open throughout the year. (210
miles from Las Vegas)
South/Southwest Spring Mountain State Park, a historic ranch, was a stopover for
travelers on the Mormon and Spanish trails. Once owned by
industrialist Howard Hughes, radio personalities Lum and Abner and
German munitions heiress Vera Krupp, the park is the site of seasonal
outdoor theater and concerts. Open year-round. (30 miles from Las Vegas)
Mojave National Preserve with 1.6-million-acres serves to protect one
of the most diverse environments in the world - sand dunes, volcanic
cinder cones, Joshua tree forests and mile-high mountains.
Tourist information centers, located in Baker and Needles, California,
welcome visitors year-round. (60 miles from Las Vegas)
East/Southeast Lake Mead National Recreational Area, with more than 550 miles of
shoreline, offers outdoor enthusiasts year-round opportunities for
swimming, water skiing, camping, boating, fishing, tours and cruises.
(25 miles from Las Vegas at its closest point)
Boulder City, on the way to Lake Mead, was built in the 1930s for
Hoover Dam construction workers' families. It is the site of the
historic Boulder Dam Hotel and is the only Nevada city that does not
allow public gaming. Boulder City's historic Old Town district is home
to many quaint shops, several of which feature works by Native American
jewelers. (30 miles from the Las Vegas Strip)
Hoover Dam is an engineering wonder of the world. Formerly named
Boulder Dam, this historic man-made creation tamed the mighty Colorado
River and created North America's largest man-made lake, Lake
Mead. The 726-foot-high, arch-gravity dam is 660-feet thick and
forever changed the face of the western United States. On-site
tours of the dam are available throughout the year. (35 miles from Las
Vegas)
The
Grand Canyon, in western Arizona, was carved by the Colorado River
over a million years ago. This natural wonder is one-mile deep and
277-miles long. Sightseeing air tours and ground tours of the
Grand Canyon depart Las Vegas daily for half-day, full-day and
overnight excursions. (300 miles from Las Vegas)
West/Northwest Red Rock Canyon is a scenic area of rock formations and desert with a
3,000-foot escarpment produced by a thrust fault. Open to the
public year-round, it’s a popular destination for hikers, bikers,
joggers and rock climbers. Red Rock Canyon features a visitors center
and is home to feral horses, wild burros, bighorn sheep, coyotes and a
variety of desert plant life. (15 miles from Las Vegas)
Open year-round,
Bonnie Springs Ranch/Old Nevada lies near Red Rock
Canyon. The ranch was built in the 1840s as a cattle ranch and
watering hole. Adjacent to it is Old Nevada, a place where
tourists can witness a re-creation of an Old West town complete with
gunfights, horseback riding, children's petting zoo and mini-train
rides. (20 miles from Las Vegas)
Mt. Charleston with an elevation of 11,918 feet is on average 20 to 30
degrees cooler than Las Vegas - perfect for skiing, picnicking, hiking
and horseback riding. (35 miles from Las Vegas)
In contrast,
Death Valley, located in western California, has the
lowest elevation on the North American continent at 280-feet below sea
level. Points of interest include Zabriskie Point, 20 Mule Team
Canyon and Scotty's Castle. Tours are available. (135 miles from
Las Vegas)
