Trail Guide Overview with kids
Our experience at Red Rock Canyon
We love to explore Red Rock Canyon! It’s only about 20-30 mins from the airport and 15-20 from most places in Vegas!
Red Rock Canyon is a National Conservation Area just outside of Summerlin to the West. At the entrance there is a nice Visitor Center that is well worth the stop and thereafter there is a 13-mile scenic one-way drive with approximately 10-12 stop off parking areas. Each parking area is where you can access the various trailheads and see the sights! The area is a mecca for rock climbing, so you will see many folks there for that reason. We are always fascinated by their skill and stop to watch. You will also see many road cyclists on the scenic drive. There is something for every outdoor enthusiast in Red Rock Canyon!
You must make reservations to enter the park between October and May. The reservation fee is $2 per car. June through September there is no reservation required. Annually there is an entrance fee. The fee per car is $20 unless you have a pass. We have an America the Beautiful pass which qualifies to get you in! This pass gets you into Federal Land areas and National Parks and is $80 annually. You can check out that information here and look at more options. It is well worth it in my opinion!
We have done many trips into Red Rock Canyon hiking and exploring. We usually pack a lunch and take advantage of the picnic areas to make a day of it enjoying the outdoors and scenery.
We’ve also been many times where it is not crowded, and you may only pass one or two other hiking groups. It is definitely a beautiful area that you can find solitude and soak in your surroundings. You may also encounter the vast wildlife and plant life in the area. We’ve encountered burros, birds, and lizards. We’ve seen interesting cacti and flowers. Those are always special hikes! Likewise, there are also many hikes that have points of interest such as petroglyphs, ruins, waterfalls, creeks, etc.
Let’s talk Red Rock Canyon with kids.
There are so many trails that are great for kids! To start, the Moenkopi Trail at the visitor center is one of our favorites. It’s about a 2-mile loop that takes approximately 1.5 hours. At the trailhead there are picnic tables, so you could start or end your hike with lunch. It’s easy and you have some amazing views. (Picture on left.)
I highly recommend this trail and as a bonus if you don’t want to do the 13 mile drive out you can just exit at the entrance that you initially entered. Sometimes we’ll hit this trail after school when we are short on time but still want to get outside. Beyond this trail there are so many other good ones, but you have to continue the on the scenic drive! Our favorites in order along the scenic drive are:
1) Calico I: I recommend doing an out and back on the Calico Hills trail down and to the left when you enter at the parking lot. There are great views of the Red Rocks and rock climbers if it’s a good day. There aren’t too many steep drop offs on the left side. It felt mostly safe with our young kids.
2) Calico II: we’ve done an out and back on the Calico Hills Trail to the right and it’s great. It does connect back to Calico I, but we haven’t made it that far. There are some steep areas that we have steered clear of, but doing small section this trail from both sides has been entertaining. (Picture on left.)
3) Sandstone Quarry: we’ve done part of the Calico Tanks trail with the kids. I recommend only doing a short out and back here as you get to some steep areas that require climbing.
4)White Rock: drive up the gravel road to the White Rock parking lot. It’s only about .25 miles, not too far on a gravel road. I recommend the Keystone Thrust trail at upper White Rock. Great views of the area. No steep drop offs, until maybe at the very end. This trail up to that point was appropriate for kids.
5)Willow Spring: I recommend doing the Petroglyph Trail and the Willow Spring Loop Trail. The Petroglyph trail is pretty short, but well worth seeing. On the Willow Spring trail there are a couple of steep sections, but still appropriate for kids with caution. The Willow Spring parking area has lots of picnic tables and we’ve seen some wildlife!
6) Ice Box Canyon: this trail is known for being cooler, thus the name. We enjoyed this as a family, but there are LOTS of rocks and boulders. Be aware. I liked the risk that my kids could take, but I was cautious. It’s challenging with the rocky topography. My kids say it’s one of their favorite hikes.
7)Pine Creek Canyon: this stop is one of our favorites. Pine Creek Canyon trail is easy and interesting as you will pass homestead ruins and a creek. It’s about 3 miles round trip. Also, Fire Ecology trail is an off-shooting loop that I recommend taking. It’s interesting and there is a picnic table almost midway. Lastly, Dale’s trail is easy and fun to explore. We’ve done and out and back hike there to pick up some additional miles.
Happy Trails!
