Hikes in Nevada

One of the luckiest things you can do in Nevada is get outdoors. Play the slots by hiking through a slot canyon in Valley of Fire State Park or bet it all on red with a trek in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. The Silver State has plenty of ways to win.

Highlights of Nevada

  • This is a real place! Explore the unbelievable stripes on this slickrock formation.
  • This loop is a must-do with incredible scenery around every turn.
  • Hike up a multi-colored sandstone canyon to a basin of water accompanied by views of Las Vegas.
  • With an odd natural arch for a trunk, Elephant Rock is a whole different animal.
  • See landscapes of just about every color from this hike off White Domes Road.
  • Hike through spectacular sandstone formations in the Calico Hills.
  • Admire petroglyphs in abundance on the trail to Mouse's Tank.
  • See Arch Rock on Scenic Loop Road along with other formations bordering the scenic roads in Valley of Fire State Park.
  • See pictographs and a seasonal waterfall on this circuit bordering Red Rock Wash.
  • March up a flight of stairs to get up close to a collection of petroglyphs carved into a boulder above the desert floor.

Hiking Nevada

Nevada is the seventh largest state in America by area and has lots of wide open spaces. Over two million people live in the Las Vegas Metropolitan Area. However, most of Nevada is sparsely populated and full of lands managed by the state and federal government. Nevada has beautiful natural features and great parks to explore.

Valley of Fire State Park – 60 minute drive from Las Vegas – Nevada’s first state park holds vibrant formations of red sandstone and is packed with attractions like a natural “wave,” petroglyphs, petrified logs, and arches.

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area – 30 minute drive from Las Vegas – The 13-mile scenic drive through this BLM park puts grand landscapes on display. Leave the road and hike up colorful canyons. Anyone who stays on the strip will be red with envy.

Farther from Vegas – Lake Tahoe straddles the California border on the west side of Nevada and is a beautiful locale for scenic mountain hiking.

Nevada Hiking

This collection of trails in Nevada lists hikes from north to south and west to east. The table may also be sorted alphabetically or by distance to help you pick your next hike. Each trail links to its own report complete with photos, GPS maps, elevation profiles, directions, and all the other information needed to locate and enjoy these trails. Below the table is an interactive map showing the location of each hike.

Trail
Description
Distance
Location
Chimney Beach Trail010Chimney Beach Trail
This hike descends to a scenic and unique cove on the shore of Lake Tahoe that houses a stand-along chimney lingering from an old cabin.
1.1 miles
215 feet
39.16355,
-119.93072
Cave Rock Trail020Cave Rock Trail
This short hike above the east shore of Lake Tahoe finishes with a scramble up a rocky crown that has panoramic views.
0.9 miles
165 feet
39.0420,
-119.9465
Fire Wave Hike170Fire Wave Trail
This hike leads to a sensational striped creation where a slickrock depression is painted in waves of orange and beige.
1.5 miles
175 feet
36.4882,
-114.52875
White Domes Trail175White Domes
This short loop is impressive from start to finish as it explores colorful, intricate rock formations, passes and old film set, and slips through a narrow slot canyon.
1.1 miles
150 feet
36.4859,
-114.5329
Rainbow Vista Trail180Rainbow Vista
This hike goes through sandstone formations to summit a short crest with 360-degree views over multi-colored landscapes and the hike can be extended down to Fire Canyon Overlook.
0.7 - 1.5 miles
60 - 150 feet
36.45083,
-114.51535
Mouse's Tank Trail Petroglyph Canyon190Petroglyph Canyon Trail to Mouse's Tank
This out and back hike travels past an enormous amount of petroglyphs to a natural basin formed in the sandstone.
0.75 miles
25 feet
36.441,
-114.5165
Balancing Rock Trail200Balancing Rock
This brief hike, which begins next to the Valley of Fire State Park Visitor Center, approaches a rock formation that appears to stand with a bit of magic.
0.25 miles
10 feet
36.42987,
-114.51446
Elephant Rock Hike210Elephant Rock
This short hike at the east entrance of Valley of Fire State Park leads to a sandstone formation resembling an elephant with a unique natural arch for a trunk.
0.3 miles
50 feet
36.4289,
-114.458175
Atlatl Rock Trail220Atlatl Rock
Step right up a flight of stairs to a platform in front of a group of petroglyphs on the side of a boulder.
0.1 miles
50 feet
36.42306,
-114.550535
Petrified Logs Trail230Petrified Logs Loop
This short hike gets close to petrified logs on the desert floor passing panels that explain how wood is petrified.
0.3 miles
45 feet
36.42266,
-114.5413
Willow Springs Loop425Willow Springs Loop
This hike travels explores desert landscapes on both sides of Red Rock Wash, discovering Native American rock art and potentially a seasonal waterfall.
1 - 1.33 miles
140 - 165 feet
36.1609,
-115.4985
Lost Creek Canyon430Lost Creek Canyon
This short hike visits Lost Creek Waterfall, a seasonal waterfall in a steep canyon above Red Rock Wash.
0.7 - 0.8 miles
165 feet
36.15735,
-115.49373
Calico Tanks Trail450Calico Tanks Trail
This hike ventures up a colorful canyon to a pond in a sandstone-framed basin accompanied by great view of Las Vegas.
2.5 miles
420 feet
36.1624,
-115.45035
Calico Hills Trail460Calico I and Calico II
This hike explores colorful, whimsically shaped sandstone formations in the Calico Hills near the start of Scenic Drive.
0.8 to 2.75 mile
190 to 345 feet
36.1461,
-115.430725
Red Spring Boardwalk490Red Spring Boardwalk
This easy nature trail circles a meadow at the base of the Calico Hills and visits a small but relied upon spring.
0.55 miles
50 feet
36.14652,
-115.4191
View Nevada trails and campground in a larger map
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Chimney Beach Trail Lake Tahoe Nevada Chimney Beach Hike Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest
Before your visit to Lake Tahoe goes up in smoke, take a hike to Chimney Beach - where a standing-on-its-own fireplace and chimney serve as an unsual landmark for a lovely little cove. The brick chimney is all that's left of an old cabin built in the sand between boulder-strewn points on the east shore of Lake Tahoe. If curiosity about the chimney draws you to Chimney Beach, the beautiful... Read more.
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Tagged with · Beaches · Carson City · Free Trails · Ruins · South Lake Tahoe
Distance: 1.1 miles · Elevation change: 215 feet
By: Published: Last updated: July 26, 2023
Cave Rock Trail Lake Tahoe Nevada Overlook Hike
Gaze out from Route 50 as it travels along the southeast side of Lake Tahoe and you'll find nice views of the lakeshore and its surrounding mountains. Seven miles up from the state border in South Lake Tahoe, Nevada Route 50 slips through a tunnel in a tall pointed ridge of volcanic rock. The road itself is scenic, but the sight of Cave Rock should have you speculating how superb things must... Read more.
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Tagged with · Free Trails · Glenbrook · South Lake Tahoe · Summits
Distance: 0.9 miles · Elevation change: 165 feet
By: Published: Last updated: July 26, 2023
Scenic Drive Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area Las Vegas Nevada Scenic Loop Road Red Rock Canyon
Scenic Drive is a picturesque loop road through Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. The road offers a memorable drive or bike ride with access to numerous trails and overlooks. Scenic Drive is 12.5 miles long if you drive straight through and about 13 miles long if you pull off at each of the various overlooks. A few things to know from the start: Scenic Drive is a one-way road.... Read more.
By: Published: Last updated: August 21, 2019
Calico Hills Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area Las Vegas Nevada Calico I and Calico II Hike Calico One to Calico Two
The whimsically concocted concentration of vibrant red-orange Aztec sandstone known as the Calico Hills is a must-see destination in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. After leaving the visitor center, the Scenic Drive heads straight to the Calico Hills, passing three overlooks and trailheads, Calico I, Calico II, and Sandstone Quarry (the start of Calico Tanks Trail). You could... Read more.
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Tagged with · Bureau of Land Management · Las Vegas
Distance: 2.1 miles · Elevation change: 200 feet
By: Published: Last updated: June 12, 2021
Willow Springs Loop Pictographs Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area Las Vegas Nevada Lost Creek Canyon Willow Springs Picnic Area Hike
Willow Springs Loop explores an area off the northwest side of the Scenic Drive through Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. While it is bordered by steep mountains, the loop actually crosses easy terrain along Red Rock Wash. Visit pictographs left behind by Native American's near Willow Springs Picnic Area and meander through desert landscapes. A spur to Lost Creek Waterfall, a... Read more.
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Tagged with · Bureau of Land Management · Desert Canyons · Las Vegas · Pictographs · Waterfalls
Distance: 1.33 miles · Elevation change: 165 feet
By: Published: Last updated: September 9, 2019