Destination Las Vegas
It’s well known that Las Vegas is one of the world’s entertainment meccas. It’s also the gateway to stunningly beautiful public lands— including the world’s largest canyon, the lowest and hottest spot in the United States, the largest national wildlife refuge and national forest in the lower 48 states, and one of the world’s best-known engineering marvels.
The Desert Southwest
Desert National Wildlife Refuge, Lake Mead and Spring Mountains National Recreation Areas, Red Rock Canyon and Sloan Canyon National Conservation Areas, and Hoover Dam are within a 30-minute drive from the city. A half-day or day’s drive will take you to internationally recognized destinations including Grand Canyon, Death Valley, and Zion National Parks, Grand Canyon-Parashant and other equally impressive, but lesser known forests, preserves and special places. Travel a day or two farther afield and you can experience yet more. With spectacular landscapes, waterways, a variety of recreational activities, wildlife, unique vegetation, historic sites, archeological remains, educational programs, and more, public lands in the region have something of interest to travelers of all sorts, including tour groups, families or friends on vacation, and the solo traveler. You can hike, bike, picnic, view wildlife, boat, camp, fish, ski, join a guided nature outing, or enjoy the solitude of a national wilderness area.
![Muddy Mountains Wilderness](brands/rec.gov/marketing/html/acm/__shared/assets/Muddy_Mountains483.jpg)
Las Vegas Excursions
Vegas Outskirts
- Lake Mead National Recreation Area
- Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
- Desert National Wildlife Refuge
- Spring Mountains National Recreation Area
- Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge
- Hoover Dam
Grand Canyon Route
- Lake Mead National Recreation Area
- Havasu National Wildlife Refuge
- Kaibab National Forest
- Grand Canyon National Park
- Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
- Grand Canyon-Parashant and Vermillion Cliffs National Monuments
Great Basin Route
- Moapa Valley and Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuges
- Great Basin National Park
- Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest
- Delamar, Weepah Spring, South Egan, Shellback, and Becky Peak Wildernesses
Mojave Route
- Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
- Desert National Wildlife Refuge
- Spring Mountain National Recreation Area
![Spring Mountains National Recreation Area](brands/rec.gov/marketing/html/acm/__shared/assets/Spring_Mountains482.jpg)
- Ash Meadows and Coachella Valley National Wildlife Refuges
- Mojave National Preserve
- Amboy Crater
- Death Valley and Joshua Tree National Parks
![Death Valley National Park Photo by Andrew Mace](brands/rec.gov/marketing/html/acm/__shared/assets/DeathValley502.jpg)
- Lake Mead National Recreation Area
- Havasu, Bill Williams, Kofa, Imperial and Cibola National Wildlife Refuges
- Red Cliffs National Conservation Area
- Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
- Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands and Arches National Parks