courtesy of James Marvin Phelps
There's more to Las Vegas than legalized gambling, boundless buffets, and gleaming neon. The city and its surrounding areas abound in fun outdoor activities that are too often overshadowed by the Strip. Las Vegas is surrounded by hiking grounds, ski slopes, and water features.
Regardless of what type of activity you are looking for, there are plenty of ways you can have fun outdoors when you are in Las Vegas.
Red Rock Canyon
While the Grand Canyon is about a four to five-hour drive from Las Vegas, a helicopter or airplane ride is less than an hour. That said, there are much closer natural wonders that are within a day's journey from the city. Located just a few miles from Las Vegas proper, Red Rock Canyon has long been a favorite of sightseers, joggers, and rock climbers. The canyon's towering red cliffs teem with wildlife and the thirteen-mile driving loop around the canyon is filled with hiking opportunities. If you are looking for unparalleled natural beauty that's close to the Strip, Red Rock Canyon can't be beat.
Valley of Fire
If you are eager to venture a little further outside the city limits, the Valley of Fire—named for its blazing ruby sandstone surfaces--offers hikers and tourists with breathtaking views and dazzling natural rock formations. The Valley of Fire is about an hour north of Las Vegas and is regarded as Nevada's oldest state park. While visiting, you should definitely check out the petroglyphs at Atlatl Rock. The rock art at this historic site may be more than 1,500 years old, and it likely served as a site for shamanistic vision quests.
Hoover Dam
Lots of tourists visit the Hoover Dam every year. The Dam, which towers over the Colorado River, is just a forty-minute drive from the Strip. Many tourists visit the massive electricity generators that reside in the depths of the Hoover Dam, but relatively few see the monumental structure from the bottom up. If you want to get a different view of a fabled landmark, you should consider taking a kayak tour of the waters below the dam. There are a number of providers who offer visitors tours of the dam and then guide them on tours downstream through nearby canyons, deserts, and natural hot springs.
Las Vegas Ski and Snowboard Resort
You wouldn't think that Las Vegas would be in proximity to world-class ski resorts, but it's true. The city is ringed by mountains that are regularly covered in fine, powdery snow. A number of resorts operate in the mountains near Las Vegas, including the Las Vegas Ski and Snowboard Resort. Situated at almost 2,600 meters above sea level, the base lodge of the resort rents ski and snowboard equipment to tourists and sells day passes that enable skiers to access four lifts that can take them to eleven different trails. The resort is just an hour's drive northwest of the Vegas Strip.
Angel Park
Golfers are spoiled for choice when they come to Vegas. The city contains numerous award-winning courses that can keep even the most avid golfers busy year-round. The relaxed courses at Angel Park are, however, favored by locals. The course was designed by Arnold Palmer and offers visitors breathtaking views of Las Vegas Valley and Red Rock Canyon. The famous Cloud Nine course is floodlit for night play, meaning you can even hit the green during the scorching days of summer.
Las Vegas and its surrounding areas offer tourists limitless opportunities for adventure and exploration. Whether you are interested in hiking, kayaking, golfing, biking, skiing or snowboarding Las Vegas has options that are right for you.
courtesy of dustin_j_williams
