Natural Attractions in and around Las Vegas

Great natural attractions like Grand Canyon, Lake Mead and Red Rock Canyon are found within driving distance from Las Vegas making it a perfect place for nature lovers and geologists. Las Vegas has all the man-made wonders including Bellagio fountains, valcano show, great architecture replica of Paris, Venetian, New York ,etc. Enjoy the top Natural Attractions in and around Las Vegas and I hope you will find these tips helpful when you plan your next Las Vegas trip.

 A powerful and inspiring landscape, the Grand Canyon is overwhelming through its immense size. The Grand Canyon is located about 250 miles from Las Vegas. From Las Vegas, take highway 93 south to Interstate 40 east to highway 64. The trip takes about 4 1/2 hours and Hoover Dam is right on the way about 30 minutes from Las Vegas. If you have one day for sightseeing outside of Las Vegas, you should definitely consider making the trip to Grand Canyon which is the most admirable Natural Attractions in and around Las Vegas and is visited by millions of people each year. The Grand Canyon is a geologist dream, where rock that is a billion years old is exposed through weathering and erosion.  There are numerous tour groups out of Las Vegas that lead trips to the Grand Canyon.

 This dam, located 30 miles southeast of Las Vegas, Nevada, is named after Herbert Hoover, as Hoover played an instrumental role in the monumental construction of the dam. Construction began in 1931 and was completed in 1936, more than two years ahead of schedule. Hoover Dam was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1985. The Hoover Dam is considered a concrete, gravity arch dam. It is located in the Black Canyon of the famous Colorado River, about 30 miles southeast of the city of Las Vegas.

 Lake Mead Nevada is composed of five basins which are capable of storing close to two years of water flow from the Colorado River.  Boating and fishing are superb on Lake Mead, located less than 30 miles from Las Vegas. Lake Mead was created by Hoover Dam in the 1930s and receives much of its water from snow run off from New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming and Colorado. Lake Mead is a full-service lake with marinas, boat rentals, fuel stations and restrooms. Narrative tours of Lake Mead are offered on daytime cruises. Why is Lake Mead area one of the top Natural Attractions in and around Las Vegas? Lake Mead, Nevada is also a popular recreational area for boaters, swimmers, fishermen as well as sunbathers. Hikers and photographers enjoy the desert environment of the Lake Mead Nevada area. If you are interested in wildlife, Lake Mead Nevada has a diverse variety of plant and animal life.

 The Crown Jewel of all "natural"  park systems, the Valley of Fire is a wonderland of geological rock formations and stunning scenery as spectacular as the glittering casinos of Las Vegas making it to the list of top Natural Attractions in and around Las Vegas. Commissioned a Natural Park in 1953, the Valley of Fire contains many unique  archeological sights that began forming some 150 million years ago. Elephant Rock, the most photographed of all, is among the dozen or more popular ones, as is Beehives, Seven Sisters and Atlat1 Rock. to name a few.

Mount Charleston
Located just 35 miles northwest of Las Vegas Strip, visitors can find all the cool mountain breezes, fresh air and all-around scenic beauty of Mount Charleston. Part of the Spring Mountain Range and Toiyabe National Forest, Mount Charleston ranges from 3,000 to 12,000 feet in elevation. It is Nevada's eighth-highest mountain peak and one of the top ten most topographically prominent peaks in the United States.

Red Rock Canyon

Las Vegas may have its bright lights, but visitors and tourists will be thrilled by the great colors on the canyons and rocks of Nevada created by Mother Nature. Red Rock Canyon Nevada is located 15 miles outside of Las Vegas. It is named "Red Rock" from the striking red sandstone formations that can be found throughout the valley. The contrast of the red sandstone strata against the gray limestone is an impressive sight. The scenery is so dramatic and exciting you will finding yourself taking a lot of pictures and videos all day. Being top in the list of Natural Attractions in and around Las Vegas, many movies and commercials have been shot at the Red Rock Canyon.