Things to Do in Las Vegas Besides Partying

The best things to do in Vegas besides gambling are almost all outdoors and within an hour of the Strip: hike the red sandstone of Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, explore the striped Fire Wave and petroglyphs at Valley of Fire State Park, kayak to the Emerald Cave in Black Canyon below Hoover Dam, and escape the heat up in the pine forest of Mount Charleston. The free Seven Magic Mountains art installation is an easy bonus stop.

Split a 3 day Las Vegas itinerary into three outdoor day trips, which is exactly how this route works. Day 1 is Red Rock Canyon's scenic loop and the Calico Hills, 20 to 30 minutes from the Strip. Day 2 is Valley of Fire for the Fire Wave and petroglyphs, with Seven Magic Mountains on the drive back. Day 3 is Lake Mead and a Black Canyon kayak trip to the Emerald Cave, with the Historic Railroad Trail as a land option. Evenings stay free for shows and restaurants back in the city.

March is one of the best months for the outdoor side of Las Vegas. Days are typically mild for hiking Red Rock Canyon and Valley of Fire, the Black Canyon kayak trips run in comfortable temperatures, and Mount Charleston often still holds snow up high, so you can hike sandstone in the morning and see pines and snow in the afternoon. Note that March falls inside Red Rock's peak season, so reserve the scenic loop's timed entry on recreation.gov before you go.

For outdoor things to do in Las Vegas, start with Red Rock Canyon's 13-mile scenic loop, the Calico Hills scrambles, and the Lost Creek waterfall. Add the Fire Wave and Mouse's Tank at Valley of Fire, a Black Canyon kayak trip to the Emerald Cave on the Colorado River, the Historic Railroad Trail along Lake Mead, and Mary Jane Falls in the Spring Mountains. Most are easy to moderate and make perfect half-day trips.

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is only about 20 to 30 minutes west of the Strip. The centerpiece is a 13-mile one-way scenic drive past red and tan sandstone cliffs, with hikes, climbing, and overlooks along the way. From October through May you need a timed-entry reservation for the scenic loop, booked ahead on recreation.gov.

Yes, during peak season. From October through May, the Red Rock Canyon scenic loop requires a timed-entry reservation booked through recreation.gov, in addition to the per-vehicle entrance fee. Reserve an early morning slot before you arrive, as walk-up availability is limited. The rest of the year the loop is first-come, first-served.

Valley of Fire State Park is about an hour northeast of Las Vegas, an easy day trip. It is Nevada's oldest state park, known for 150-million-year-old red Aztec sandstone, the striped Fire Wave hike, and the petroglyphs along the Mouse's Tank Trail. There is no shade, so go in the morning and carry plenty of water.

Yes. The best paddle near Las Vegas is the Black Canyon stretch of the Colorado River just below Hoover Dam, in Lake Mead National Recreation Area. Guided trips with outfitters like Evolution Expeditions take you to the Emerald Cave, a grotto that glows jade green in the morning light, past sheer canyon walls and hot springs. Book ahead, especially on weekends, and paddle in the calm morning.

Head up to Mount Charleston and the Spring Mountains, just 30 to 40 minutes from the Strip. The pine forest sits above 8,000 feet and runs 20 to 30 degrees cooler than the city, with hikes like Mary Jane Falls, shaded picnic areas, and even snow in winter. It is the easiest way to escape the Mojave heat without leaving the Las Vegas area.

Three days is ideal for the outdoor side of Las Vegas. That gives you a morning at Red Rock Canyon, a day trip to Valley of Fire, and a day on Lake Mead with a Black Canyon kayak trip to the Emerald Cave. If you have a fourth day, add Mount Charleston for a cool pine-forest hike, or an ATV tour out in the Mojave Desert.

More than most visitors bring. Both are full desert wilderness, not roadside pullouts, and people routinely underestimate the scale and head out onto exposed slickrock with one small bottle. Carry at least 2 liters of water per person even for a short loop, and more in warm weather, because there is almost no shade and no water once you leave the car. Secure your Red Rock Canyon timed vehicle-entry slot online before you leave the Strip, so you are not tempted into a hot midday window with too little water.

Yes. Tell us your dates and we check what is still open for the plan on this page, then send it back with a booking link for each night and the total. Nothing is charged and nothing is held, and you pay the normal rate.