Reimagine Las Vegas NV
People often express surprise when told about the remarkable hiking that exists within an hour’s drive from the Las Vegas Strip. My grandparents retired to Las Vegas and during my annual visits, I learned about many of these opportunities at a very young age.
Fifteen miles west of the Strip lies Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area – a Bureau of Land Management property best known for remarkable sandstone formations with walls sweeping up to 3,000 feet. The 13-mile one-way loop provides a scenic drive for auto-touring with ample opportunities to pull off for a quick jaunt or rock scramble. If you’re lucky, you might even spy wild burros. As one might expect for the desert, the summer heat can be relentless – high temperatures average in the nineties, making Red Rock Canyon a preferred destination in spring or fall.
Northwest of the Strip is Mount Charleston, the highest peak in the Spring Mountains. Snow caps the mountain more than half the year – typically enjoying more than a 20° lower average temperature than can be found in Las Vegas at lower elevations. Mount Charleston’s summit has an elevation of 11,916 feet – if you plan to make the hike, bring adequate gear. It’s a 16-mile round trip with more than 4,000 feet of ascent. The Spring Mountains Visitor Gateway houses wonderful ecological information and exhibits to acquaint visitors with the climate, flora, and fauna of the Spring Mountains. Additionally, The Silent Heroes of the Cold War Memorial highlights the history of the 14 men who died in a 1955 crash of a CIA C-54 Miliary Air Transport Service plane caused by an unanticipated blizzard who were en route to Area 51 to work on the secret U-2 plane development. The families of those who perished did not learn the details of their loved one’s mission or death for more than forty years.
While it may be tempting while visiting Las Vegas to indulge in food, drink, poolside loungers, and roulette, it is worthwhile to get out and explore the rugged landscapes. In addition to these two sites, the Hoover Dam is a remarkable opportunity to learn about hydroelectric power and the impact of drought on our waterways and energy grid. Get outside and off the Strip at least once during your trip, you might find luck in a place you never anticipated.
