Are you planning an incredible journey to Nevada, and need to go to the most effective Nationwide Parks close to Las Vegas? Whereas Vegas is most well-known for its leisure, playing, and even hockey, it additionally occurs to be completely located amongst a number of stunning nationwide parks!
Las Vegas is a strategic hub for vacationers and adventurers who’re getting ready to discover the southwestern United States. It’s strategically positioned near many breathtaking areas in not solely Nevada, however California, Utah, and Arizona as effectively.
Nationwide Parks Close to Las Vegas
There are a number of nice nationwide parks situated inside straightforward driving distance of Las Vegas, however if you happen to actually need to get the total expertise of this wonderful space, there are additionally loads of Nationwide Leisure Areas, Nationwide Conservation Areas, and Nationwide Preserves, and State Parks. For those who add these to your record of locations to go to, your choices grow to be nearly limitless!
1. Purple Rock Canyon Nationwide Conservation Space (NV)
Distance: 21 miles, Driving time: 0.5 hours
Purple Rock Canyon is without doubt one of the closest parks to Las Vegas and probably the most stunning. With enormous cliffs, large rock formations, and pink boulders in all places, it’s a hotspot for folks like photographers and rock climbers.
Even when mountain climbing or climbing isn’t your factor, a one-way 13-mile lengthy highway loops by way of the park and showcases a few of its finest sights.
If time is of the essence, however you continue to need to get out and discover, Purple Rock Canyon Nationwide Conservation Space is a good place to start out and is only a quick drive from the town lifetime of Vegas!
2. Lake Mead Nationwide Recreation Space (NV)
Distance: 21 miles, Driving time: 0.5 hours
One other location discovered extraordinarily near Las Vegas, Lake Mead, is barely a brief half-hour drive from the town and is the biggest freshwater reservoir within the space. This artifical lake was created by the well-known Hoover Dam and is so huge that it extends from Nevada into Arizona.
Lake Mead Nationwide Recreation Space may be very giant, and inside it, yow will discover two large lakes, canyons, valleys, cliffs, and mountains. There are additionally loads of wilderness areas to discover as effectively.
A number of the extra fashionable actions at Lake Mead embody fishing, swimming, and wakeboarding, and there’s by no means a scarcity of boats out on the water. This lake is the right place to chill off from the desert warmth and benefit from the pure environment.
3. Valley of Hearth State Park (NV)
Distance: 60 miles, Driving time: 1 hour
If you’re planning a visit to go to Lake Mead, you then received’t need to miss Valley of Hearth State Park as effectively. Actually, it is perhaps a good suggestion to mix a go to to each of those wonderful areas.
This park will get its title from the pink sandstone cliffs and rock formations, they usually shine as if on fireplace throughout dawn and sundown. There are a number of mountain climbing trails by way of Valley of Hearth, in addition to loads of campsites for park guests to make the most of.
Valley of Hearth State Park is each panorama and outside photographer’s dream location, and the gorgeous surroundings is second to none. Don’t neglect your digicam if you go to go to!
4. Dying Valley Nationwide Park (CA)
Distance: 110 miles, Driving time: 2 hours
Map: Obtain the official Dying Valley Map (PDF)
Dying Valley is definitely the closest nationwide park to Las Vegas. It’s also well-known for a lot of issues, like being the largest nationwide park within the decrease 48 states. It additionally holds the data for the bottom level in elevation in North America and the most popular and driest location in North America.
So why would anybody need to go to a spot like this? Fortunately there are various causes, and there’s rather more than simply desert as its title and status would have you ever consider!
Dying Valley has large sand dunes, mountains coated in snow, giant canyons, mosaic badlands, and even a number of waterfalls, relying on the time of yr.
Earlier than visiting the park, don’t neglect to obtain the official Dying Valley map.
5. Snow Canyon State Park (UT)
Distance: 170 miles, Driving time: 2 hours 25 minutes
The primary location on our record present in Utah, Snow Canyon State Park, is legendary for its giant canyons which are carved out of white and pink sandstone. The surroundings is breathtaking right here, and due to the delicate climate, it’s open year-round.
In style actions that may be discovered at Snow Canyon State Park embody mountain climbing, biking, horseback driving, tenting, and images.
Situated only a few hours outdoors of Las Vegas, Snow Canyon is one place you could go to to actually recognize. Many individuals argue that if this park was present in every other state, it will simply be a nationwide park. It’s possible you’ll even end up by no means wanting to depart!
6. Zion Nationwide Park
Distance: 170 miles, Driving time: 2 hours 25 minutes
Map: Obtain the official Zion Map (PDF)
Zion Nationwide Park is without doubt one of the nation’s hottest and most visited nationwide parks, and for an excellent purpose. This park is totally gorgeous. From the canyon partitions to the white, yellow, and orange cliffsides, in all places you flip right here is breathtaking.
Among the finest views in your complete park is of Zion Canyon, carved from the Virgin River. The cliffs and mountains on this space are world-class and attract guests from all all over the world.
There’s a lot to do in Zion Nationwide Park, and the preferred actions embody mountain climbing and mountain climbing. For those who ever get the prospect to go to Zion, you’ll little question have an expertise you’ll keep in mind without end.
7. Joshua Tree Nationwide Park (CA)
Distance: 185 miles, Driving time: 3 hours 10 minutes
Present in Southern California, Joshua Tree Nationwide Park is a desert wonderland that’s chock-full of attention-grabbing and delightful issues to see. Whereas the Joshua timber are clearly the primary attraction and the place the park obtained its title, there are many different desert sights to discover.
Some of the fashionable actions at Joshua Tree is tenting, and there are quite a few campsites out there for anybody visiting the park.
A little bit over a 3-hour drive from Vegas, Joshua Tree Nationwide Park is a good place for some stunning desert surroundings and exploration. You would possibly even stumble into some outdated homesteads and goldmines as effectively!
8. Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park (UT)
Distance: 190 miles, Driving time: 3 hours
Utah has some wonderful parks; fortunately, Las Vegas sits proper subsequent to the Nevada and Utah border. Coral Pink Sand Dunes is one among these and is commonly ignored by guests due to the opposite bigger and extra well-known nationwide parks within the space.
Simply because the title implies, there are pink and pink sand dunes on this park which are the primary sights. These have been fashioned by the erosion of Navajo sandstone cliffs.
Some of the fashionable actions at this park is driving ATV’s all through the dunes, however different guests additionally get pleasure from tenting, mountain climbing, and images. If any of those sound like enjoyable to you, then Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park must be in your record!
9. Bryce Canyon Nationwide Park (UT)
Distance: 270 miles, Driving time: 4 hours
Map: Obtain the official Bryce Canyon Map (PDF)
Bryce Canyon Nationwide Park is discovered simply east of Zion Nationwide Park and is most frequently visited by people who find themselves there to see each parks. Actually, these two parks are sometimes mixed in a single journey for many guests, and you’ll’t get pleasure from one with out the opposite!
Bryce Canyon is legendary for its rock spires in addition to its cliffs, canyon partitions, and different rock formations that kind a pure amphitheater.
Loads of trails mean you can drop down into Bryce Canyon and discover these rock formations and surroundings up shut, and that is undoubtedly among the finest issues to do whereas visiting this iconic nationwide park.
10. Grand Canyon Nationwide Park, South Rim (AZ)
Distance: 275 miles, Driving time: 4 hours quarter-hour
The Grand Canyon would possibly simply be probably the most well-known pure attraction within the nation, and perhaps even the world. Greater than 6 million guests journey right here annually to witness this breathtaking surroundings, and Las Vegas is without doubt one of the finest beginning factors on this journey.
Every little thing from the mountain climbing trails to witnessing dawn or sundown over the canyon will go away you speechless, and there’s no scarcity of actions for guests and explorers.
Visiting the Grand Canyon ranks excessive on many individuals’s record of journey locations, and fortunately Las Vegas is shut sufficient to this spectacular landmark constructed by nature.
11. Kodachrome State Park (UT)
Distance: 285 miles, Driving time: 4 hours half-hour
Discovered southeast of Bryce Canyon Nationwide Park, Kodachrome State Park is stuffed with colourful sandstone spires, pink rock boulders and mountains, and clear blue skies. This park is the right spot to get out and revel in nature at its most interesting.
There’s loads of mountain climbing, horseback driving, and mountain biking trails all through this park and quite a few tenting alternatives scattered in and across the park.
Kodachrome State Park gives a number of the most vivid and vibrant pure colours of anyplace round, all whereas providing loads of locations to get out and discover. Whereas it could be final on our record, it actually shouldn’t be the least!
Nationwide Parks Close to Las Vegas | Conclusion
Las Vegas is a good metropolis with loads of sights and issues to do for the common particular person. However if you’re like me and love the outside, it may be the right place to begin to get out and go to a number of the finest nationwide parks and landscapes within the nation. With such shut proximity to some wonderful pure wonders, Las Vegas is really among the finest locations to start out your journey!