Best Hiking near Las Vegas: Desert Spring Break!
April 2, 2024
Looking for some of the best hiking near Las Vegas? You’ve come to the right spot! Whether you’re looking for easy hiking to tack on to your trip or flying into Vegas for a outdoorsy desert spring break, I’ve got you covered!
Why this blog? Hi there! My name is Maddy and I’ve worked the past six years as an outdoor guide & writer! I’m based in the Midwest where the winters are brutal, and Vegas is one of the cheapest and easiest places to fly for your outdoorsy spring break destination! Here are my favorite hiking adventures near Vegas, and things I plan on doing next time around:
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What is the best time of year for hiking near Las Vegas?
Las Vegas can be extremely hot in the summer, but super pleasant in the spring, making March and April some of the best months to visit Las Vegas and the Mohave Desert for a hiking trip! Las Vegas and the hiking near Vegas make for the perfect, budget-friendly spring break trip for outdoor adventure lovers!
What to pack for a hiking trip near Las Vegas:
- Quick dry shots: I like Patagonia Baggies
- Hiking pants: even in the desert, you’ll want to protect your legs! Check out a guide to the best hiking pants for women here (buying pants sucks; these are all pants that didn’t ruin my day!)
- Sun shirt: Grab a UPF sun hoodie to keep your skin safe
- Hiking day pack/travel bag: The Perimeter 35L from Granite Gear is my go to weekend hiking bag. I can usually pack an entire weekend in this bag both for car camping, backpacking, or travelling to a hotel, and I’ll use it as my day bag on the trail as well. This often fits as a carry on bag.
- A puffy jacket that packs down; the desert gets cold at night. I’ve had this puffy for almost four years and it’s ideal for travel and the outdoors and has held up great.
- Hiking boots: I love my Oboz Bridger Mids for longer more rugged hikes and Oboz Aretes for shorter hikes or hikes with stream crossings because they dry very quickly.
- Binoculars: You’ll definitely want a pair of binoculars for watching wildlife on the ferry over. I’ve owned a few different pairs while sea kayak guiding in the San Juans, and the best pair I’ve had are the NOCS Field Issue, they are absolutely worth the money.
Best Hiking near Las Vegas: Day Trips & Destinations!
Las Vegas makes for the perfect outdoorsy spring break for my Midwest outdoors friends for a few reasons! In March and April, the weather is super warm without being too hot, lodging in Vegas is very cheap, and flights (even last minute flights) are super easy to find for under $200 round trip.
In addition, Las Vegas is less than a five hour drive from so many incredible hiking destinations, making Vegas one of the best spring break destinations for Midwesterners!
Here are the best hikes near Vegas:
1) Red Rock Canyon Conservation Area (.5 hr from Vegas)
Red Rock Canyon is an absolutely beautiful area to check out and hike very close to Vegas! You could easily spend a full day exploring here. Timed entry to the scenic drive is required (permits here) October-May, 8am-5pm at $20 per vehicle. You must purchase your pass online in advance. Yearly passes are also available.
Best Hiking in Red Rock Canyon, Las Vegas:
Most of the best hiking in Red Rock Canyon is off of the scenic drive! Many of the hikes are short and beginner friendly. In my opinion, the best hikes in Red Rock Canyon are…
- Ice Box Canyon (waterfall, 2.1 miles, technical and scramble at end)
- Lost Creek and Fire Ecology Trail (~ one mile, seasonal waterfall, desert views, canyon, kid-friendly)
- Petroglyph Wall Trail (.2 miles, Petroglyphs, kid-friendly)
All of these can be accessed from the Scenic drive.
2) Valley of Fire State Park (.75 hr from Vegas)
Valley of Fire State Park outside of Las Vegas is known for it’s colorful red rocks and scenic drive! This is a great place to spend a morning or afternoon, but be warned that it gets extremely hot here around midday, even in the Spring!
Vehicle entry is $10 for in-state plates, or $15 for out of state. No reservations are needed at this time! Cell service is extremely limited in this park.
Best hiking in Valley of Fire State Park:
- Fire Wave Trail (1.5 miles, out and back, beginner friendly. June- October closed for heat conditions. Easily one of the most iconic hiking trails near Vegas)
- Seven Wonders Loop Trail (2 miles. continue on from the Fire Wave to check out all the best of Valley of Fire. Check out a full guide here)
There are tons of other short hikes in Valley of Fire to discover! I recommend swinging by the visitors center and picking what sounds fun to you.
Tip! The iconic road view of Valley of Fire that you’ve probably seen on Instagram is by Mouse’s Tank pull off off Mouse’s Tank Road.
3) Zion National Park (2.5 hrs)
I didn’t get a chance to visit Zion while I visited last spring, but hopefully next year! Hikes on my list in Zion National Park are…
- Scout’s Lookout (3.6 miles, moderate)
- Emerald Pools (3 miles, moderate)
- Canyon Overlook Trail (one mile)
- Watchman Trail (3 miles, moderate)
- And of course, the Narrows are on my bucket list IF I can ever get permits, and I’d love to backpack it.
Check out this detailed guide to Zion National Park to plan your trip!
4) Death Valley National Park (2.5 hours)
Looking for another bucket-list National Park just a few hours from Las Vegas? Head to Death Valley! This is another one I didn’t get a chance to hike this spring break, but maybe will next year! When I head out, these are the hikes I’ll do if I only have a day:
- Mesquite Flats Sand Dunes (2.5 miles)
- Zabriskie Point (my dream is at sunrise wish me luck, less than half mile)
- Artists Palette (also just a walk)
- Dante’s Ridge (8 miles)
Check out a list of trails in Death Valley National Park.
5) Havasupai aka Havasu Falls Trail (4 hrs)
If you by chance happen to land one of the most competitive permits in the US, you’ll be flying in to Vegas to backpack Havasupai! This is the primary reason I was hiking near Vegas in 2024 🙂
This backpacking route is incredible, and easily one of the most beautiful hiking trails I’ve ever done. The Havasupai Hike, or Havasu Falls Trail, is about 22 miles round trip (11 in, 11 out) and leads to bright blue waterfalls in a red rock canyon.
This hike is located on the Sovereign Land of the Havasupai Nation and permits are required.
Read all about how to hike Havasupai and how to get permits!
6) Grand Canyon, South Rim (4.5 hrs)
Looking for a bucket-list spring hiking trip that starts in Vegas? Grab your rental car and road trip through the Valley of Fire towards the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.
Here, you can find beautiful hiking and a year round campground.
On our trip this March, we *almost* made it out here, but were too wiped from backpacking Havasupai to detour to the South Rim for a night— we ended up crashing in a cheap hotel instead, teaching both my friend and I a valuable lesson in setting realistic road trip expectations!
Backpacking the Rim to Rim (to Rim?) of the Grand Canyon is on my list for a potential spring break backpacking trip next year though, so fingers crossed for me!
Check out a beginner’s guide to backpacking (including how to take a plane to your backpacking destination!)
Check out this guide to South Rim Hikes on the Grand Canyon
7) Joshua Tree National Park (3.5 hrs)
Joshua Tree is on my must visit outdoor spots near Vegas list, but not for hiking! I want to camp in Joshua Tree and experience that legendary night sky.
I don’t know when or if this will ever happen for me, but a girl can dream!
In the meantime, here’s a good resource for finding all the best hiking in Joshua Tree.
Love reading about the best hiking near Las Vegas? Plan your next adventure!
- Are you a Midwest adventure girl like me? Check out all my favorite Midwest adventure destinations!
- Looking to visit the PNW but only have one week? Check out my detailed 7-day Washington Road Trip guide!
- Love a good road trip? Here’s the ultimate guide to planning your road trip as a solo female traveller!