Red Rock
Canyon ... consists of a relatively small
valley and the surrounding mountains situated on the eastern flanks of the Spring Mountains
and is located about 15 miles west of downtown Las
Vegas. The Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area (NCA), as it is
known officially extends from
north of Mt. Potosi to the north facing parts of the Spring  Mountains. Red Rock Canyon is close to downtown
and the tourist areas and borders the western suburbs of Las Vegas. Just
Red Rock, as it is known to the locals,
gets its name from the red 
colored sandstone formations embedded in the mountains that form the western and northern margins of this small valley. Red colored layers of sandstone streak horizontally across mountains
known as the Wilson Cliffs and can be seen
from almost anywhere in
Las Vegas valley.
While much of the Wilson Cliffs are visible from the Las Vegas Valley, much of
what people think of as the Red Rock
Canyon is nestled below these mountains and out of the direct line of sight from
the Las Vegas Valley.
The red sandstones that make Red Rock so unique, is part of the same geologic formation,
known as the
Navaho Formation,
that is also found in the
Valley of Fire, Zion National Park and
throughout many parts of the southwestern corner of the United States.
The contrasts of red sandstone layered through gray limestone is impressive
against the tall sheer cliff faces of - as high as - 600 meters or about
1,800 feet. What cannot be seen from a distance are the often surrealistic
looking bands of red sandstone that are unique among sandstone
formations but common in Red Rock.
The geologic structure of valley that forms Red Rock Canyon is typical of the
Great Basin
and the basin and range type of north-south orientation of mountains and
valleys found throughout Nevada and many parts of the
Southwest. One of the appealing features Red Rock are the many small streams that
form during the spring months. The rain and snow that falls on the
Spring Mountains finds its way down from the high peaks to form
waterfalls, leading to ephemeral streams and pools that eventually find
their way into the desert floor. In the spring this makes Red Rock, at
least along the base of the Wilson Cliffs, a relatively well watered
place. These temporary pools, streams and waterfalls make Red Rock an
appealing place for hikers and photographers.
The mountains that make up the western edge of Red Rock,  the Wilson Cliffs,
consist of a number of mountains such as Bridge Point, Bridge
Mountain, Rainbow Mountain, Mount Wilson, Indecision Peak and Sandstone
Mountain. The diversity of these peaks draws thousands of rock climbers
and hikers every year and this appeal is not limited by season. If
you want to hike around during the winter season, be sure to pick up
some Marmot
products on sale to keep you warm. Red Rock
is generally
 cooler than Las Vegas and in the summer, while the visitor
volume is less in the summer than in the spring and fall months, is not
substantially lower then.
At the north end of this small valley is the BLM 'Scenic Drive' and
Visitor Center. To
most visitors this is the
area thought of as Red Rock Canyon.
Part of the eastern boundary of the small valley that this part of Red
Rock Canyon exists in, consists of a series of low
hills collectively known as Blue Diamond Hill. Between these mountains and hills is
the valley that State Highway 159 runs through. From Highway 159, you
can drive though the entire valley that this part of Red Rock occupies.
In the southern part of the this valley is
Blue Diamond
a mining community.
This hamlet is a great place to visit and live because it is close to
Las Vegas but
is also in Red Rock.
There are a lot of things to do in Red Rock Canyon. If you like to hike,
take spectacular pictures or if you want to learn more about the desert,
plan to spend some time here. Red Rock Canyon has a lot to offer.
Horseback
riding
at
Bonnie
Springs Ranch,  picnicking
at places like
Willow Springs and rock climbing are
very popular.
One of the more popular and serendipitous encounters with nature that
might occur in Red Rock Canyon is when you see some
of the many burros that live in the  Spring Mountains. These burros often
show up in small herds and they tend to be relatively tame. While not indigenous to
the area, the burros seem to do very well in Red Rock. Exactly where these
burros originally came from is
not known with any certainty. In some way they are no doubt from Euro-American settlers or
travelers. Some historians speculate that they might be from the herds
that were moved along the Spanish Trail in the early 19th century. This is
very possible. More likely the origin of these herds has multiple sources,
Mormon settlers, miners, wagon trail and also, possibly even from the caravans
that crossed the area along the Spanish Trail.
Overall Red Rock Canyon offers visitors to and from Las Vegas a refreshing,
different and some times unexpected perspective of the region. With horseback
rides and sunset barbeque rides available visitors can get a sense of the
west that is not found in most places. Seeing burros in the wild is an
experience not found in other places. Visitors will also see how the
desert can be a place that is not as hostile as once thought and the
beauty of the stark environment.
For many Las Vegans Red Rock Canyon is a great day trip where parents can
take their kids to both learn about nature and the desert. Since Red
Rock is usually about 5 degrees cooler than Las Vegas, it is a great
getaway in the summer months. This seen in the dozens of bike riders who
travel through Red Rock on Highway 159 or in the huge and steady crowds
that drive through the Scenic Loop Drive. With so much to offer Las
Vegans and visitors to Las Vegas, the popularity of Red Rock Canyon is
understandable and the popularity of Red Rock with visitors is likely to
increase.
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