Las Vegas, Nevada, is generally where people go to let loose. However, sometimes city life can get pretty exhausting. If you want to get away from the craze of Vegas, albeit just for a day, there are beautiful national parks around for you to connect with nature and marvel at the beauty of our universe. Here is a compilation of the best national parks you can visit near Sin City.
Death Valley National Park
At least two hours to the West of Vegas, Death Valley National Park is a place that is quite well-known. It has gone into the record as the hottest and driest place in North America and home to the lowest point in North America (Badwater Basin). Death Valley is a vast area of land spanning more than three million acres.
Here, you will find dunes, canyons, wildlife, desert plants, craggy peaks, and waterfalls that flow in specific seasons. It is an excellent place for hiking, and you can also take a guided tour to get a feel of the best parts of the park. Because it is a certified international dark sky park, it is excellent for stargazing. The best time to visit is during the cooler seasons. This way, you can avoid the crazy heat.
Lake Mead National Recreation Area
About 24 miles from the Las Vegas Strip, this Recreation Area is home to Hoover Dam, the largest reservoir in the USA. Hoover Dam provides water for the states of Nevada and Arizona. There are two lakes in the area, so you can swim, fish or take a boat ride. There is also scuba diving and water skiing. Besides the lakes, you can marvel at canyons, mountains, valleys, and wildlife. You will see creatures such as bald eagles, desert tortoises, and bighorn sheep.
Zion National Park
Zion National Park is famous for the Zion Canyon and Angels Landing. There are also beautiful red sandstone cliffs and ancient river valleys. The best things to do here besides sightseeing are rock climbing and hiking. Just two and a half hours away from Las Vegas, this is arguably one of the most visited national parks in the USA, with millions of people coming in every year.
Joshua Tree National Park
This is about 800,000 acres of desert landscape 3 hours from Vegas. It was officially elevated to a national park in 1994. As the name implies, you will find many Joshua trees here. It is also the home of Cholla Cactus Garden. Apart from Joshua trees and cacti, there are also outstanding rock formations such as Arch Rock, Heart Rock, and Skull Rock. Some wildlife has also found a habitat here so that you may encounter snakes, coyotes, jackrabbits, roadrunners, and kangaroo rats. If you visit in spring, you will be lucky to see a lot of blooming wildflowers. Joshua Tree National Park is excellent for hiking, watching the sunset, and camping.
Grand Canyon National Park
The Grand Canyon is one of the fantastic wonders of the world. The closest part of it to Vegas is the West Rim, about two and a half hours away. You can either book a helicopter tour or take a drive to the location. You will see colored rock formations, deep gorges, and rivers. Some of the activities you can enjoy at this national park are hiking and watching the sunrise or sunset. If you are not up for hiking, there is a route where you can take a walk as you enjoy the scenery.
The Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
This beautiful park is quite close to Las Vegas- it should be a less than 30 minute drive. It would be an excellent place to kick off your outdoor tour. You will see some sandstone hills, cliffs, and rock formations. The visitor center provides more information concerning the plants, wildlife, and the area. The best activities for this place are hiking and rock climbing. Alternatively, you can take a 13 mile long scenic drive at your own pace.
Great Basin National Park
This national park would make for a perfect road trip from Sin City, about four and a half hours from Vegas. Unlike most of the parks around Vegas, Great Basin is not a desert area. It is famous for its wealth of indigenous trees, specifically pine forests that are believed to be at least five thousand years old. There are also valleys, lakes, and underground caves to explore. Great Basin is also home to several mountain peaks, including the second-highest in Nevada, Wheeler Peak. You can enjoy a 12 mile scenic drive through the forest here. This is another excellent place to do that if you love stargazing, as it is a certified international dark sky park.
Valley of Fire
This park is just an hour drive northeast of Las Vegas. For archaeology lovers, there are petrified woods and petroglyphs dating years back. On top of that, there are Aztec sandstone formations that glow bright red at sunrise and sunset, hence the name ‘Valley of Fire.’ You can hike and camp here and take excellent pictures for memory.
Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument
Since it was set up in 2014, this park has been a great place, especially for History enthusiasts. It acts as a preservation area of fossils dating back to the ice age. These include ground sloths, Columbian Mammoths, and giant American lions. Only half an hour away from Vegas, this is a perfect place for hiking, picnicking, and watching wildlife.
In Conclusion
The national parks around Las Vegas will give you a taste of nature at its best. The best part is that they are varying distances away. You can, therefore, decide where to go based on how much time and energy you have. Whether you want a break from the city for a few hours or more, a beautiful park is waiting for you.
