Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area

Hunter S. Thompson, atop a hill in Las Vegas, once reflected upon America's high water mark. If he were standing there today, looking east toward Lake Mead's receding waters, he would not have to search hard for that metaphor. In a desert city where your mortgage is the only thing under water, it's hard to imagine that rivers once tore through mountains of iron oxide, carving magnificent canyons of crimson. Red Rocks Canyon is a playground for climbers and a refuge for those weary from a weekend or a lifetime in Vegas. Keep an eye out for the tiny yet unimaginably ornate caves formed over millennia and home to winged rodents. Yes, Hunter, this is bat country, ether or no.

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After Lady Luck runs her course at the casinos, head 20 miles outside of Sin City and see why Nevada's official state rock is the sandstone. Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area (RRCNCA) covers nearly 196,000 acres of stunning sandstone formations and protected lands. The one-way 13-mile scenic drive through the park gets you up close and personal with the beautiful colors, shapes, and angles of the canyons, cliffs, and ravines. Rock climbers should get permits well in advance; RRCNA is one of the top five climbing destinations in the USA. To see fragile petroglyphs (rock carvings) and pictographs (rock paintings) left behind by ancient Indians, hike the easy Willow Springs Loop trail. Keep an eye out for wild burros that also roam here.

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