Are you planning an incredible journey to Nevada, and need to go to one of the best 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 lovely 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 nicely.
Nationwide Parks Close to Las Vegas
There are a couple of nice nationwide parks situated inside simple driving distance of Las Vegas, however in case you actually need to get the total expertise of this superb space, there are additionally loads of Nationwide Leisure Areas, Nationwide Conservation Areas, and Nationwide Preserves, and State Parks. Should you add these to your record of locations to go to, your choices turn out to be virtually limitless!
1. Pink Rock Canyon Nationwide Conservation Space (NV)
Distance: 21 miles, Driving time: 0.5 hours
Pink Rock Canyon is likely one of the closest parks to Las Vegas and one of the crucial lovely. With enormous cliffs, big rock formations, and crimson boulders in every single place, 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 street loops via the park and showcases a few of its greatest sights.
If time is of the essence, however you continue to need to get out and discover, Pink Rock Canyon Nationwide Conservation Space is a good place to begin and is only a quick drive from 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 simply a brief half-hour drive from 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 could be very massive, and inside it, you could find two big lakes, canyons, valleys, cliffs, and mountains. There are additionally loads of wilderness areas to discover as nicely.
A few 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 proper 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
In case you are planning a visit to go to Lake Mead, you then received’t need to miss Valley of Hearth State Park as nicely. In actual fact, it is perhaps a good suggestion to mix a go to to each of those superb areas.
This park will get its identify from the crimson sandstone cliffs and rock formations, they usually shine as if on fireplace throughout dawn and sundown. There are a selection of mountain climbing trails via 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 out of doors photographer’s dream location, and the gorgeous surroundings is second to none. Don’t overlook your digicam if you go to go to!
4. Demise Valley Nationwide Park (CA)
Distance: 110 miles, Driving time: 2 hours
Demise Valley is definitely the closest nationwide park to Las Vegas. Additionally it is 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 well liked and driest location in North America.
So why would anybody need to go to a spot like this? Fortunately there are a lot of causes, and there’s far more than simply desert as its identify and popularity would have you ever imagine!
Demise Valley has big sand dunes, mountains coated in snow, massive canyons, mosaic badlands, and even a couple of waterfalls, relying on the time of 12 months.
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 known for its massive canyons which are carved out of white and crimson sandstone. The surroundings is breathtaking right here, and due to the gentle climate, it’s open year-round.
Fashionable actions that may be discovered at Snow Canyon State Park embody mountain climbing, biking, horseback driving, tenting, and pictures.
Positioned only a few hours exterior of Las Vegas, Snow Canyon is one place you need to go to to really respect. Many individuals argue that if this park was present in some other state, it will simply be a nationwide park. Chances are you’ll even end up by no means wanting to depart!
6. Zion Nationwide Park
Distance: 170 miles, Driving time: 2 hours 25 minutes
Zion Nationwide Park is likely one of the nation’s hottest and most visited nationwide parks, and for a superb purpose. This park is completely gorgeous. From the canyon partitions to the white, yellow, and orange cliffsides, in every single place you flip right here is breathtaking.
Probably the greatest views in your entire 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 world wide.
There’s lots to do in Zion Nationwide Park, and the preferred actions embody mountain climbing and mountain climbing. Should you ever get the possibility to go to Zion, you’ll little question have an expertise you’ll bear in mind perpetually.
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 received its identify, there are many different desert sights to discover.
One of the fashionable actions at Joshua Tree is tenting, and there are quite a few campsites obtainable 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 lovely desert surroundings and exploration. You would possibly even stumble into some previous homesteads and goldmines as nicely!
8. Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park (UT)
Distance: 190 miles, Driving time: 3 hours
Utah has some superb parks; fortunately, Las Vegas sits proper subsequent to the Nevada and Utah border. Coral Pink Sand Dunes is certainly one of these and is usually ignored by guests due to the opposite bigger and extra well-known nationwide parks within the space.
Simply because the identify implies, there are crimson and pink sand dunes on this park which are the primary sights. These had been shaped by the erosion of Navajo sandstone cliffs.
One 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 pictures. 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
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. In actual fact, these two parks are sometimes mixed in a single journey for many guests, and you may’t get pleasure from one with out the opposite!
Bryce Canyon is known for its rock spires in addition to its cliffs, canyon partitions, and different rock formations that kind a pure amphitheater.
Loads of trails can help you drop down into Bryce Canyon and discover these rock formations and surroundings up shut, and that is undoubtedly top-of-the-line 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 essentially the most well-known pure attraction within the nation, and possibly even the world. Greater than 6 million guests journey right here annually to witness this breathtaking surroundings, and Las Vegas is likely one of the greatest beginning factors on this journey.
All the pieces from the mountain climbing trails to witnessing dawn or sundown over the canyon will depart 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 by chance 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, crimson rock boulders and mountains, and clear blue skies. This park is the proper spot to get out and luxuriate 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 provides among the most vivid and vibrant pure colours of anyplace round, all whereas providing loads of locations to get out and discover. Whereas it might be final on our record, it actually just isn’t 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 typical individual. However in case you are like me and love the outside, it may be the proper start line to get out and go to among the greatest parks and landscapes within the nation. With such shut proximity to some superb pure wonders, Las Vegas is really top-of-the-line locations to begin your journey!
