Where are the bathrooms in the park?
The cleanest and nicest bathrooms are going to be at the Visitors Center at the beginning of the scenic drive. All the stops on the scenic drive have bathrooms, but they are the hiking bathrooms, that are a toilet with a hole in the floor. They are pretty well kept and I haven’t had too bad of an experience in any of them.
Where are there picnic tables in the park?
From my experience I can report there are picnic tables at the Visitors Center, Willow Spring, and there is one on the Fire Ecology Trail by the creek at the Pine Creek Canyon stop. The balance of the stops I don’t recall seeing obvious picnic tables and therefore we ate or did whatever out of the trunk of our car.
Is there shade?
Mostly no, but in some areas, yes. I might say 60/40 in terms of shade experience when hiking. You’ll find it’s closer towards the mountains mid-day and onward on many trails. I would say anything from the Willow Spring stop on the scenic drive towards the exit will have shade later in the day. It of course depends on the time of year, but the sun will be shaded by the mountains and there are also some trees on that side of Red Rock Canyon. You can quite literally see where the water goes and flows based on the changes in topography and where the trees grow. The shade can also get cold Oct-May, so be prepared with a jacket. And if there is wind, it will be even colder. Even if it’s warm in the Las Vegas area, pack a jacket. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to put on my “just in case jacket”.
What are the entrance fees?
It is $20 per car. May-Oct there is a reservation required which is $2. With the reservation, it’s super easy, you just pick an hour time frame you want to enter and book that time frame. Before 8am, no reservation needed. You can bypass these fees with a pass. We have an America the Beautiful Pass, which is $80 annually and that covers the entrance fee. We still have to pay the reservation fee. Bikers and walkers/runners have a separate fee. All of this information can also be found on the direct site, here.
When to go and not go?
I have two tiers of recommendations for this answer. First, the best time for hiking will be between the end of Sept and early June. We avoid late June-beginning of September due to the heat and snakes. IMO this is just not hiking season. Fine for just the scenic drive though! And second, from late September through early June, I’d recommend going in the morning or late afternoon. In the late afternoon I think the Burros are more active, so you get to see them and also you might see the start of a sundown which is just magical. Mornings are great too. The high sun in the middle of the day is just tiring.
Are strollers allowed?
I would say no, except for maybe the Visitors Center. The trails are rocky and by no means flat. Even with a jogging stroller this would be a challenge. I’ve never seen anyone with a stroller in Red Rock Canyon. I’d opt for the hiking/backpack carrier. We used a more inexpensive Chicco backpack carrier for years with our boys. Also, I used the Ergo Carrier for when they were less than 2 years.
What to pack?
Every time we go into Red Rock Canyon, albeit a short or long trip we bring the same things: our daylight osprey hiking backpack with water, snacks, sunscreen, a hat, candy, and long sleeve clothes/jackets/vests. Even if you think you might be fine without a jacket, no fail, every time we get back there it’s colder than you think, especially in the shoulder seasons or winter. The wind is deceiving. Just put it in the car for a choice. If you go in the winter with kids, packing a thermos of hot chocolate would be a plus. The candy we pack is to bribe the kids if they are complaining they can’t make it.
Will I have cell phone service in Red Rock?
No. Have your reservation confirmation pulled up on your phone before you drive out there. There is some spotty coverage, but it is not reliable. Enjoy the disconnect!
Are hiking shoes required?
No, but highly recommended. My kids have hiked in tennis shoes before but also have slipped and I’ve worried about twisted ankles. Hiking shoes are the best bet. Plus, and especially for adults, your shoes are going to get very dirty and dusty. It would be best to just have a pair of hiking shoes dedicated to getting gross and worn. I’ve put my kids in their keen sandals at one point, and I actually don’t recommend it. There is too much dirt and small rocks getting in there, that it’s just an annoyance to stop every so often because something is in their shoe.
Is there anything nearby to couple with Red Rock Canyon?
Yes! Go check out Spring Mountain Ranch or Blue Diamond on the same day. They are both only about 5 miles down the same road. Details about Spring Mountain Ranch can be found here. As for Blue Diamond, it’s a cute, extremely small “town” that has a great casual restaurant, Cottonwood Station. It’s one of our favorite things to do after hiking in Red Rock, Spring Mountain Ranch, or another hike like First Creek Canyon on SR 159.
Happy Trails!
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