Beyond the Strip: Great Las Vegas Outdoor Activities
Author: JillianScheeler
Article:
Las Vegas parks and recreation and Nevada National Parks
Las
Vegas is known for its
casinos, wild nightlife, gambling,
girls and shows; but the greater Las Vegas area offers much
more. From
hiking, biking and horseback riding to amazing
Nevada
National Parks, lakes and canyons, the Las Vegas area is a
recreational playground. Whether you have an afternoon to spare
or a weekend, there are plenty of Las Vegas outdoor activities
for everyone. After spending the week drinking and gambling in
dark casinos, a little exercise and sunshine can do you some
good and Nevada National Parks will offer just that.
Red Rock Canyon
Only 20 miles from downtown Las Vegas, the
Red Rock Canyon
National Conservation Area
covers nearly 200,000 acres of
multicolored sandstone and limestone, canyons, mountains, washes
and waterfalls, a variety of desert flora and fauna, and
wildlife, including bobcats, desert bighorn sheep and wild
burros. I don't know how "wild" the burros actually are though.
While
hiking, biking, rock climbing and seasonal camping is
offered, the most popular choice is the 13-mile scenic drive
through the park. Whether you spend the afternoon or weekend,
Red Rock Canyon offers up natural scenic beauty and is worth the
visit.
Lake Mead and the Hoover Dam
Lake Mead is the perfect place to cool off from the summer heat.
Located 25 miles east of Vegas, the Lake Mead National
Recreation Area has about 1.5 million acres of desert land and
clear water, with 550 miles of shoreline for swimming, boating,
sunbathing, water skiing and fishing. Other activities include
hiking, camping, horseback riding, roadside sightseeing and
wildlife photography. Lake Mead wildlife include bighorn sheep,
mule deer, coyotes, kit foxes, bobcats, ringtail cats, jack
rabbits and the endangered desert tortoise and peregrine
falcons. The amazing
Hoover Dam is also nearby with daily
tours.
Valley of Fire
Located only six miles from Lake Mead and 55 miles from Las
Vegas, the
Valley of Fire is Nevada's first state park and its
largest. This
Nevada National Park is named for its fiery
sandstone formations of reds, purples, tans, whites, oranges and
yellows, which were formed from shifting sand dunes, years of
erosion, wind and climate. Although the geology is similar to
Red Rock, the park also offers early Native American culture and
their rock art and petroglyphs are found throughout the area.
The area was frequently visited by the ancient Basket Makers and
Anasazi, who used the area for hunting and religious ceremonies.
A popular scenic drive is around the "
White Domes." For
recreational activities there is climbing, picnicking, camping
and rock scrambling.
Mount Charleston
Get away from the slots and visit
Mt. Charleston for fresh air,
amazing views and majestic mountain scenery and wildlife. Only
35 miles from Vegas, Mt. Charleston Recreation Area is a welcome
relief from not only the city bustle, but the stifling desert
heat during the summer. At an elevation of 11,918 feet,
Mount
Charleston is the third highest peak in Nevada. The recreation
area offers 180 campsites, 150 picnic sites, hiking, biking,
picnicking, horseback riding, skiing and snowboarding.
Zion and Bryce Canyons
If you're feeling a bit adventurous, cross the border to Utah
and visit
Zion National Park and
Bryce Canyon National Park.
Zion has everything from amazing river carved canyons to scenic
waterfalls. The area also has amazing wildlife consisting of 75
mammal species, including
mountain lions and mule deer to
hundreds of bird varieties and 32 reptiles and amphibians. An
hour further away from the 2 ½ hour drive to Zion, Bryce Canyon
is a geologic wonder of colorful limestone, with thousands of
arches, spires and mazes. Don't miss the
Grand Staircase, which
is a series of colored sandstone cliffs, stretching from Bryce
Canyons to the
Grand Canyon. Recreational opportunities include
camping, biking, backpacking, cayoneering, climbing, swimming
and tubing.
Grand Canyon
Depending on which rim of the Grand Canyon you venture to, it
will be a good day's drive from Las Vegas, but well worth the
visit. Carved over millennia through the rocks of the
Colorado
Plateau, the Grand Canyon never ceases to be awe-inspiring, with
its beauty and size. If the scenic views aren't enough, there's
hiking, backpacking, biking, bird watching, boating, camping,
cross country skiing, fishing, horseback riding, nature walks
and more.
Jillian Scheeler makes it easy and provides advice on on what
to do in Las Vegas besides casinos and shows, highlighting the
best outdoor activities in the area. To recieve your free part
minicourse visit the
Las Vegas Website
About the author:
Jillian Scheeler is a spontaneous road-tripper and avid writer
working on assignment for TravelPost.com - The Premier Source
for Unbiased Hotel Reviews and Ratings. This article can be
reprinted freely as long as all links remain active.
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