I randomly tagged the Red Rock Canyon National Recreation Area outside Las Vegas as a quick stop on our drive back from California. Little did I know it would end up being an all-day adventure and a favorite of the trip!

This protected area is part of the Mojave Desert and home to a variety of wildlife, cacti, and other plants, as well as the iconic red rocks found throughout this part of the southwest.

Given its proximity to Las Vegas and appeal to the climbing community, it’s a very popular area and requires timed entry reservations via Recreation.gov from Oct. 1-May 31.

We grabbed a morning time slot the day of our visit, arrived in time to joint the queue, and started our time at the visitor’s center so we could watch the information video and talk to one of the rangers about hiking options. Tip: You access the area via a one-way drive so if you don’t pull into the visitor center immediately after clearing the entry station, you won’t be able to re-access it during your visit!

While the film and rangers are inside the visitor center, all of the exhibits are outside and we noticed most people didn’t bother exploring the displays. If we had more time I would have loved to make my way through all of the information, but instead I focused on reading about the animals in the area, including the one I most hoped to see – a desert tortoise.

As luck would have it, I did get to see one sleeping against a wall near the display boards! Best sighting of my day!

After hitting the restrooms and gift shop, we set out on the scenic one-way (13 mile / 20.9 km) drive through the area.

Our quick study of the map with the ranger helped us decide on some short hikes and a variety of viewpoints that would allow us to manage our time outside in the heat while still giving us a flavor for the changing geography and elevation of the area.

Stop 1: Calico I

Among the most popular areas, Calico I ended up being one of our favorite stops. We managed to find parking, and I’m glad it worked out because when we finished and moved on to Calico II, there was nothing available and we had to skip that stop. Tip: Remember it’s one-way so if you pass up a stop you can’t go back!

We decided to explore the area on a modified Calico Hills hike, looping down along the cliffs and then back to the Calico I parking lot via the trail along the road. While we didn’t see much wildlife in this area – likely thanks to all of the people! – we did come across a variety of flowering cacti, including beavertail cactus, hedgehog cactus, and silver cholla.

Our mini loop clocked in at 1.2 miles / 1.9 km and 335 feet / 102 meters of gain.

Stop 2: Turtlehead Peak / Calico Tanks

We waited for a parking spot at the Tutlehead Peak / Calico Tanks parking area and then made our own little loop hike around the area.

Along the way a guy grabbed Brian to see if he could identify a huge lizard sunning itself on a faraway rock via his camera. The guy was really hoping it was a gila monster, but it turned out to be a common chuckwalla.

We ended up spotting a variety of animals in this area, including grasshoppers, yellow-backed spiny lizards, a colorful western side-blotched lizard (pictured below), and – much to Brian’s horror – a four+ footlong gopher snake that was making its way out of a rocky crevasse (also pictured below)!

Stop 3: High Point Overlook

We wound our way up to the surprisingly less populated High Point Overlook, situated at 4,771 feet / 1,445 meters. It was approaching midday so we had a snack while we enjoyed the views and decided on how we wanted to prioritize our afternoon.

Stop 4: Willow Spring Picnic Area

Wanting to squeeze in another hike, we found parking at the Willow Spring Picnic Area where we hiked the Willow Spring Loop, beginning with the short spur to the Petroglyph Wall.

I was grateful for Brian’s navigation app as the Lost Creek section of the loop did in fact have us very lost despite the trail signage! Overall the loop was 1.2 miles / 1.9 km with 154 feet / 47 meters of gain.

Stops 5-7: Quick stops at Ice Box Canyon, Red Rock Wash Overlook, and Pine Creek

While it was now too hot to hike, I was still searching for more desert tortoise so we pulled into the final viewpoint parking areas along the drive so we could stretch our legs and look around.

We didn’t have luck spotting any tortoise but Brian did see a variety of butterflies, including a painted lady, a checkered white, and white-lined sphinx.

Bonus! Stop 8: Red Spring Picnic Area

Outside the paid entry loop, you can access the Red Spring Picnic Area where we hiked the shaded Red Spring Boardwalk. This area is known for rattlesnakes, but despite our best efforts we were unable to find one.

We did see lots of young people dressed up and taking prom pictures as well as a feisty gabel’s quail – so it was still worth a quick stop!

If you’re visiting Las Vegas and have access to a personal vehicle, I’d highly recommend adding this area to your list and making time for at least a half-day visit. This national conservation land is full of interesting scenery, flora, and fauna, and it’s only a short trip outside the city.