Best Red Rock Canyon Tours
The Red Rock Canyon National Conservation area is brimming with gorgeous desert views, majestic cliffs, imposing rock formations, and American-Indian heritage sites. The of the best ways to see Red Rock Canyon is to take a guided tour.
Nevada’s first National Conservation area is a gorgeous 13-mile scenic drive, bursting with native flora and fauna, hiking trails, culturally significant sites, and the dramatic rock formations that distinguish it. If you’re looking for more than the temptations of Sin City, this natural haven is an excellent addition to your Vegas itinerary.
While you can see Red Rock Canyon on your own, taking a guided tour, especially for first-timers, lets you learn about the area’s rich past from a local tour guide and take home some unforgettable experiences, like sunset rides and helicopter journeys!
If I’ve convinced you to go the “guided tour” way, here’s my roundup of the best Red Rock Canyon tours.
Our Picks for the Best Red Rock Canyon Tours
While there are many tours of Red Rock Canyon these are some of our favorites. Here are some options that will give you the best views of all that Red Rock Canyon has to offer.
See Red Rock Canyon by Van
One of the best tours of Red Rock Canyon, this van tour takes you through the picture-perfect scenery of the Red Rock National Conservation Area along the 13 mile scenic drive far from the crowds of mainstream Vegas.
A knowledgeable guide will take you through some of the millions of years of history of the region as you explore its natural wonders and the culturally significant American-Indian heritage sites that pepper it. The van’s open doors ensure that none of these sights are missed.
The half-day tour also includes round-trip shuttle service from some of the hotels on The Strip, bottled water, and an air-conditioned vehicle; the price of the ticket also includes the park’s entrance fees.
I signed up for this tour because it sold me on the amazing views of Red Rock’s majesty without the stress of hiking, and the experience completely lived up to my expectations. The guide, TJ, was entertaining, and expertly fielded any questions thrown his way. We even got to stop at a few overlooks for Insta-worthy photo ops.
Don’t worry about bringing food—the tour stops for a bite before heading back to Vegas. For souvenirs, don’t miss the tiny but charming gift shop at the Visitors Center!
Read reviews and check pricing here.
Scooter Tour of Red Rock Canyon
Available as both a morning and afternoon excursion, this scooter tour is the best way to see Red Rock Canyon if you’re only interested in the stunning views, being part of a group but having your space, and none of the exertion of a traditional hike.
The ride, led by a professional guide, will take you through the gorgeous desert landscapes, imposing limestone and sandstone cliffs, and beautifully colored rock formations.
The price of the tour covers the bike and helmets, bottled water, the entry fees for the conservation area, and hotel pickup and drop off from selected hotels on The Strip.
My experience of the tour was all kinds of fun and rewarding! We started with the tour guides giving us a brief but useful lesson on riding the bikes, which left even the most inexperienced of the group riding like pros.
The bike ride was a blast! I have always wanted to cruise the scenic loop on a bike but didn’t think I could pedal the whole 13 miles. Being on a scooter made the ride effortless and gave the same freedom of being outside of a vehicle. Definitely a cool way to experience Red Rock Canyon.
Read reviews and check pricing here.
Red Rock Canyon Sunset Horseback Ride
If you and your boo are a fan of the outdoors, beautiful horses, Western classics, and literally riding off into the sunset, you’ll love this highly romantic horseback sunset ride and dinner barbeque.
Experience the wide-open beauty of the desert as you ride the winding trails of Red Rock Canyon, with a magnificent Nevadan sunset adding an extra sprinkle of magic to the experience.
The 90-minute tour is led by an expert wrangler, and once you’re done watching the sun go down over Sin City, you can dig into some hot BBQ huddled around a fire while bathed in moonlight and starlight!
Bottled water, a dessert, and soft drinks are included in the ticket price, as are pickup and drop-off from select Strip hotels.
I did this tour along with my partner and this tour has easily been one of the best things we’ve done together while living in Las Vegas. The views of Red rock canyon are simply stunning and the BBQ afterwards topped off the ride.
On a cold day, the sunset warmed our bodies, great food warmed our tummies, excellent hosts warmed our hearts, and the excellent company (four-legged companions included) warmed our souls!
Read reviews and check pricing here.
Sunset Red Rock Canyon Helicopter Tour
If you get skittish around horses but still want to experience the beauty of a Las Vegas sunset, this sunset helicopter tour is one of the best Red Rock Canyon tours to sign up for.
Watch the sun begin its majestic descent down Red Rock’s gorgeous red cliffs, with a champagne toast thrown in for good measure! While you’re at it, you’ll also enjoy panoramas of the Las Vegas Valley and views of The Strip coming to life with its famous lights (see if you can identify any iconic landmarks!).
The aerial tour in an Eco-Star helicopter lasts 12 minutes, but the memories last a lifetime.
My experience of the tour was every bit as breath-taking as I thought it would be. Flying in a helicopter is something that’s been on my bucket list for a while, and I couldn’t have ticked it off in a better way.
Our pilot was professional, humorous, and well-versed with the area. Overall, a “must experience”.
Read reviews and check pricing here.
The Final Word
Red Rock Canyon is one of Nevada’s best sights and experiencing it on tours like these only makes it that much better. Excellent hosts, fun company, and unique ways to explore the area make these tours a hit for me.
If Red Rock is on your list of must-sees in Vegas, try one of these best Red Rock Canyon tours—I did, and they were worth every penny!