Try day-tripping in the landscape far from the Strip
By Andrea Sachs
Washington Post
Got gambler's elbow? Recover on a day trip far from the glare of Vegas' neon but close enough so you can be back for the dinner buffet. Here are five outings that are easy drives from the Strip.
• Red Rock Canyon is 17 miles west of the Strip on Charleston Boulevard/Highway 159. Hike any of its 30-plus miles of trails or drive the 13-mile scenic loop ($5 per car). Info: 702-515-5350, www.redrockcanyon.blm.gov.
• Check out the trifecta: Hoover Dam, Lake Mead and Boulder City, 20 to 30 miles southeast of Vegas. Shop for crafts in town, swim or kayak in the lake ($3-$5) and learn about the concrete powerhouse ($5 per car, $10 for Discovery Tour) — all in a day. For Boulder City and Lake Mead: www.ci.boulder-city.nv.us; for Hoover Dam, (702) 294- 3517, (866) 291-9687, or www.usbr.gov/lc/hooverdam.
• Spring Mountain National Recreation Area and Mount Charleston are less than an hour northwest of Vegas, and you can ski, snowboard or take a scenic lift to the "alps of the desert." There are also hiking trails. Skiing is seasonal; tickets are $25-$33. Free entry; some parking is $6. Info: Las Vegas Ski and Snowboard Resort, (702) 645-2SKI, www.skilasvegas.com; Spring Mountain National Recreation Area, (702) 515-5400, www.fs.fed.us/r4/htnf/districts/smnra.
• The Valley of Fire State Park, 55 miles northeast of Las Vegas in the Mojave Desert, is noted for its red sandstone formations, 3,000-year-old petroglyphs and rainbow colors. An hour's drive north of Las Vegas, it's reputedly Nevada's most beautiful state park. The Civilian Conservation Corps used the native stone to build cabins in the valley in the 1930s for passing travelers. Three of those cabins still stand near a picnic area just off the road that runs through the park. The most popular hike is Mouse's Tank, a half-mile trail that leads through a slim canyon to petroglyphs and a natural rock basin that collects rainwater. Lots of hiking trails and free park ranger programs. $6 per car. Info: (702) 397-2088, parks.nv.gov/vf.htm.
• If Vegas isn't hot enough, try baking in Death Valley National Park. Sights include Scotty's Castle, alleged property of one of the world's richest gold miners ($8 for a tour), the sand dunes at Stovepipe Wells, Zabriskie Point and nearby ghost towns such as Chloride City. As for activities: mountain biking, hiking, dune rolling, ranger talks, etc. $10 per car. Info: (760) 786-3200, www.nps.gov/deva.
