Calico Hills: Best Hike In Red Rock Canyon

Visiting Las Vegas? Get yourself a hired car for the day and drive out to Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. Honestly, you will not regret it! If you are a hiker, don’t forget to bring your walking shoes. This hike is a must!

Red Rock Canyon is incredible! Full of interesting rock formations, and fun hiking trails. You can spend a day driving along the scenic road, stopping at the different viewpoints or you can spend a few days, attempting all the different hiking trails the area has to offer.

Park Fees

To visit Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area there is an entry fee. At the time we visited, it cost $15 per vehicle to drive the Scenic Drive. Also at the time we visited, you had to book a time slot for the Scenic Drive. Once you are in the park, you can stay as long as you want, you just have to arrive at your time slot.

For more information, please visit their website: https://www.redrockcanyonlv.org/fees/

Best Time To Visit

The best time to visit Red Rock Canyon is either in Spring or Autumn. As you head into the summer season, the temperatures become too unbearable to hike in. Even in Spring and Autumn, I recommend getting out early onto the hiking trails, to try and beat the midday heat. Winter is a lot cooler, but you might have snow and ice, making some of the hiking trails more difficult to complete.

The Scenic Drive

If you are coming to Red Rock Canyon, you need to drive the 13-mile Scenic Drive. It’s a one-way road, that leads you through the canyon. It’s a beautiful drive to do.

If you are planning on hiking any of the trails, you find a lot of the trailheads start along this road.

The ‘Must Do’ Hike

If you have time to do just one hike in Red Rock Canyon, the Calico Hills Trail is the hike to do! It is quite a strenuous 6-mile hike, therefore a good level of fitness is required to do it. I also recommend good footwear, a hat, lots of high-factor sun cream, and lots of water, as there is very little shade on the hike.

Trailhead

The walk starts from the Calico II car park, on the Scenic Drive. The car park is only small so I do recommend getting there early.

The Route

Follow this map, as you walk the route, you shouldn’t get lost! Make sure your location is turned on and you should be able to see exactly where you are, on this map. Or if you prefer, download the GPX file and use it on your choice of route tracker.

Downloadable GPX Files

1.

Starting at the Calico II car park, take the footpath going off to your left-hand side, travelling north, passing the red Calico rocks.

2.

Eventually, you will reach Sandstone Quarry car park. Here, take the path marked Calico Tanks Trail. Follow the path as it wides its way up through the valley to the saddle. The last section is a bit of a scramble, so please be careful. Also, watch out for paths going off to your left-hand side. If you are unsure, please check the map.