Outdoor Activities in Las Vegas

Outdoor activities in Las Vegas are often overlooked due to the city’s famous nightlife and entertainment. However, there’s a whole world of outdoor adventures near the city that’s waiting to be explored. From scenic hikes to exciting water adventures, keep reading to learn about the best outdoor activities in Las Vegas!

When people think of Las Vegas, they usually picture the famous Strip – glowing with bright lights, casinos, and non-stop entertainment. While that’s definitely what most of the visitors come for, there’s another side to the city that’s perfect for outdoor enthusiasts.

We decided to get off the Strip during our visit in October 2024 and explore the natural beauty surrounding the city. From hiking through colorful desert landscapes to paddling on the Colorado River, Las Vegas offers much more than its famous nightlife, making it an exciting destination for anyone looking to enjoy the great outdoors while using the city as a comfortable base.

One thing to realize is that Las Vegas is in the middle of the desert, which means its climate can be extreme. Summer heat is usually intense, often exceeding 100°F (38°C), making outdoor activities challenging. In fact, lots of trails around Las Vegas are subject to seasonal closures due to the heat, so the options are limited anyways. Winter, on the other hand, brings cooler temperatures that are still enjoyable for outdoor adventures, though it can get chilly at nights. But nothing a few layers can’t solve!

In our opinion, the best months to visit Las Vegas for outdoor activities are during the spring (March to May) and fall (September to November). This is when the temperatures are mild and perfect for hiking, biking and exploring. We visited in October and enjoyed mostly warm, sunny days, except for one day when it got really cold and rainy (yes, it can rain in the desert!).

Note that the weather can vary in the different microclimates outside of the city, so always double-check the forecast before heading out (especially watch for rain if visiting the canyons).

Valley of Fire State Park would be our number one recommendation in case you’d only have time for one outdoorsy thing to do in Las Vegas.

The park is located about 55 miles northeast of the city and it’s quite small with lots of short trails, making it an easy day trip from the Strip. With its vibrant red rock formations and sweeping desert landscapes, the park offers incredible scenery at any time of day, but if you can make it for sunrise or sunset – even better. That’s when the colors really come to life, creating vivid red and orange colors and stunning photo opportunities.

We started our day at Valley of Fire State Park at sunrise and sadly it was cloudy and rainy that morning (yes, you read that right – we caught one of the few rainy days in a year), but we eventually stayed the whole day until the sunset and were rewarded with a short glimpse of beautiful sunset light.

There are lots of short trails and stops along the park road, but make sure to do some stops along the Mouse’s Tank Road and hike the Fire Wave Trail as well as Pink Canyon Trail as those were our favourites from the full day of exploring.

For those who enjoy water activities, a visit to Willow Beach and Emerald Cove is a must. Located about an hour’s drive from Las Vegas along the Colorado River, this scenic spot is perfect for kayaking.

While there are many guided kayaking tours starting at Willow Beach, getting to Emerald Cove is pretty straightforward, so we just decided to rent kayaks for half a day and explore at our own pace. If you have at least some paddling experience, we’d recommend you to do the same. Just be prepared that you have to paddle up the stream one way (if you add wind, it can be quite a bit of a workout) and note that the river gets quite busy on the weekends.

Red Rock Canyon is one of the easiest outdoor activities to enjoy in Las Vegas due to its proximity, just 17 miles west of the city. Known for its stunning red sandstone formations and scenic desert landscapes, the park offers hiking, biking, climbing and breathtaking views just a short drive away.

We decided to experience it from a different perspective and took a sunset helicopter flight from Las Vegas city center to take it all in from above. The views of the canyon as the colors changed with the setting sun were simply stunning!

Hiking down to Havasu Falls in Havasupai makes for an incredible multi-day backpacking adventure that should be on every traveler’s bucket list. Located deep within the Grand Canyon, Havasupai is known for a series of its vibrant turquoise waterfalls spilling over bright orange cliffs – it’s a scene like no other and an experience we’ll never forget!

While it’s a bit further from Las Vegas (nearly 4 hour drive), the city usually serves as a starting point for this trip as it has the closest major airport. Note that visiting Havasu Falls is a multiday backpacking adventure that requires a lot of planning as well as obtaining the permits from Havasupai Tribe, but it’s easily one of the best outdoor activities near Las Vegas as the hike takes you to some of the most breathtaking turquoise waterfalls in the world. We hiked to Havasupai in October 2024 and wrote a full guide with all the info you need to know for planning this incredible trip.

Sadly we haven’t had a chance to spend some time exploring Lake Mead during our trip to Las Vegas, but we saw it from a plane, and it looked amazing! The large, clear blue lake surrounded by desert was beautiful and it would be such a great spot for water activities.

The lake is actually the largest reservoir in the USA, formed by the Hoover Dam (which is another great stop), and stretches across the border of Nevada and Arizona. It’s just a 30-minute drive from Las Vegas, making it an easy getaway for outdoor activities.

Looking down into the Grand Canyon is an experience like no other. The West Rim, which is about two hours from Las Vegas, offers amazing views of the canyon and the Colorado River at the bottom.

One of the highlights is the Skywalk, a glass bridge that lets you step out over the canyon for a unique view (probably not the best idea if you’re scared of heights though), but note that it is an added cost to access to the West Rim.

There are many tour operators offering different ways to explore, from hiking and helicopter rides to guided tours. Whether you choose a tour or rent a car in Lase Vegas and explore on your own, the Grand Canyon West Rim is a must-see for anyone who loves nature and adventure.

Although Las Vegas is mostly known for its nightlife, there are so many beautiful landscapes surrounding the city. We hope this article helped you plan and that you found the perfect outdoor activities in Las Vegas to enjoy during your visit. Got more questions? Feel free to drop a comment below!

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