When in Vegas, it’s time to immerse yourself in all it has to offer! Here is our Vegas bucket list. We’re slowly chipping our way through it.
In this guide (jump to a section:)
- Experiences
- Hikes in the greater Las Vegas Area
- Las Vegas
- Red Rock Canyon NCA
- Mt. Charleston Area
- Lake Mead NRA
- Valley of Fire
- Sloan Canyon NCA
- Day Trips
- Overnight Trips
Experiences
| Activity / Website | Cost (*as of July 2024, subject to change) | Notes | Complete? |
| Bellagio Fountain | Free | Water and light show outside the Bellagio | Yes! |
| Bike through Red Rock | Free w/own bike to $129 PP for rental | 17 mile scenic loop through Red Rock Canyon | |
| Eiffel Tower at Paris Hotel | Starting at $20 PP | Iconic views of the city | Yes! |
| Fly Over Las Vegas | Dual tickets for locals – $31.36 PP | Two shows at 25 minutes each | |
| Gilcrease Orchard | Varies depending on season | U-Pick Fresh Fruit Farm | Yes! – Gilcrease Orchard Review |
| Golden Knights Game | Varies | Cheer on the local hockey team at T-mobile arena | Yes! |
| Gondola Ride Venetian | $39 PP (shared) | 10 a.m. – 11 p.m. | |
| Grand Canyon Helicopter Ride | Starting at $729 plus fees & $60 upgrade for front seat | 90 minutes fly time | |
| High Roller | 20% off $43 at box off for local’s | Hours: 12 p.m. – 2 a.m. | |
| Hoover Dam | Free Entry, Parking – $10 | Tours available, photo ops, historic landmark | Yes! – Hoover Dam Review |
| Hot air balloon ride | $299 plus fees | 1 hour of flight time | |
| Kayak the Colorado River (Willow Creek) | $140 PP includes $32 national park pass fee | 12 miles self-guided, meet at Hoover Dam Lodge, transport from Willow back to car. | |
| Las Vegas Sign | Free | Snap a photo in front of the iconic Vegas sign | Yes! |
| Mandalay Bay Aquarium | From $29 | 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. | Yes! – Mandalay Bay Aquarium Review |
| Mob Museum | $34.95 ($19.95 for NV Residents) | Additional exhibits available for upcharge | Yes! – Mob Musuem Review |
| Mt. Charleston Guide | Free | Visitor center, scenic drive, hiking, winter sports | Yes! – Mt Charleston Guide |
| Nelson Ghost Town / El Dorado Canyon | $20 for mine tour | Mine tour & older buildings | |
| Neon Museum | $23 w/NV driver license plus fees | Night Visit: 7 p.m. – 11 p.m. for 1 hour admission | |
| Pinball Hall of Fame | Free entry plus quarters for games | Open 7 days a week, hours vary | Yes! |
| Red Rock Canyon Guide | Scenic Loop is $20 Per Day | Biking, hiking, climbing, scenic drive, visitor center | Yes! – Red Rock Canyon Guide |
| Rise Festival | Estimate: $99-$139 + $29 parking, $12 for extra lanterns | October 3rd & 4th, 2025 Jean Dry Lake Bed (20 miles south of Vegas) | |
| Saw Escape Room | $49.99 PP | Escape Room | |
| Seven Magic Mountains | Free | Art display in the desert | Yes! – Seven Magic Mountains Review |
| Shooting Range | $200 for popular packages | Many options to choose from | |
| Star Party (Mount Potosi, Death Valley, Cathedral Gorge, etc) | $36 annual membership fee | More viewing than photography – various events available | |
| Wildlife Flamingo Habitat | Free | Visit Flamingos in their natural habitat | |
| Valley of Fire ATV | $218 for single ATV, $299 for double | Valley of Fire Tours – 3 hours of ride time | |
| Valley of Fire Visitor Center | $10 for NV Residents, $15 all other | Hiking, scenic views, visitor center, camping | Yes! Valley of Fire Guide |
| Zipline (Fly LINQ) | 20% off starting at $49 depending on day/time | 4 p.m. – 12 a.m. |
Hikes
Las Vegas
Urban hiking around Las Vegas that doesn’t fit in a more specific category below. There’s only a couple on the list and we’re surprised we haven’t tackled them yet.
| Hike | Distance | Elevation Gain | Complete? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lone Mountain | 2.2 miles | 643 ft | |
| Frenchman Mountain | 4.6 miles | 2,155 ft |
Red Rock Canyon
Red Rock Canyon National Park is known for being a mecca to hikers, bikers and climbers alike. You can enjoy the 13-mile scenic loop around the park while you find the perfect hike to explore the beautiful canyons. Here’s all the hikes on our personal bucket list!
| Hike | Distance | Elevation Gain | Complete? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Velvet Peak | 1.5 miles | 318 ft | |
| Bomb Voyage and Bob Gnarly Trails | 5.0 miles | 1,092 ft | |
| Brownstone Canyon Trail | 2.7 miles | 603 ft | |
| Buckskin Cliff Shadows | 4.3 miles | 593 ft | |
| Calico Hills and Brownstone Canyon Loop | 7.6 miles | 1,751 ft | |
| Calico Tanks | 2.4 miles | 390 ft | Yes! – Calico Tanks Review |
| First Creek Trail | 4.3 miles | 484 ft | Yes! – First Creek Trail Review |
| Fossil Canyon | 3.1 miles | 587 ft | |
| Fossil Ridge Loop | 4.3 miles | 784 ft | |
| Gene’s Trail | 2.6 miles | 364 ft | |
| Guardian Angel Pass | 3.2 miles | 680 ft | Yes! – Guardian Angel Pass |
| Ice Box Canyon | 2.2 miles | 500 ft | Yes! – Ice Box Canyon Review |
| Keystone Thrust Trail | 2.4 miles | 567 ft | Yes! – Keystone Thrust Trail |
| Kraft Mountain Loop | 3.5 miles | 613 ft | Yes! – Kraft Mountain Loop |
| La Madre Springs Trail | 3.6 miles | 728 ft | |
| Late Night Loop | 5.0 miles | 505 ft | |
| Moenkopi Trail | 2.1 miles | 206 ft | |
| Petroglyph Wall Trail | 0.2 miles | 15 ft | Yes! – Petroglyph Wall Trail |
| Pine Creek Canyon | 3.4 miles | 525 ft | Yes! – Pine Creek Canyon Loop |
| Red Spring Boardwalk | 0.5 miles | 50 feet | Yes! – Red Spring Boardwalk |
| Turtlehead Peak | 4.6 miles | 1,988 ft | Yes! – Turtlehead Peak Review |
| Twin Tanks Peak Loop | 2.4 miles | 823 ft | |
| Upper Gateway | 5.3 miles | 1,712 ft | Yes! – Upper Gateway Review |
| White Rock Mountain Loop | 6.2 miles | 1,000 ft | Yes! – White Rock Mountain Loop Review |
| Wilson’s Pimple Loop | 4.57 | 500 ft | Yes! – Wilson’s Pimple Loop Review |
Mt. Charleston Wilderness Area
Mt. Charleston is a not-so-hidden gem that many locals take advantage of in the hot summer months to continue hiking year-round. Located around 43 miles from the Las Vegas Strip, Mt. Charleston is consistently 20 to 30 degrees cooler than the Las Vegas Valley and has some amazing mountain hikes to explore.
| Hike | Distance | Elevation Gain | Complete? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Falls | 2.7 miles | 839 ft | |
| Bonanza Saddle | 7.2 miles | 2,709 ft | |
| Bristlecone Trail | 6.3 miles | 931 ft | Yes! – Bristlecone Loop Trail Review |
| Carole Lombard Crash Site | 4.0 miles | 2,093 ft | |
| Cathedral Rock | 2.8 miles | 984 ft | Yes! – Cathedral Rock Trail Review |
| Charleston Peak | 16.3 miles | 4,888 ft | |
| Cockscomb Peak | 5.8 miles | 2,017 ft | |
| Desert View Overlook | 0.4 miles | 50 ft | Yes! – Desert View Overlook Review |
| Eagle’s Nest Trail | 2.7 miles | 400 ft | Yes! – Eagle’s Nest Trail Review |
| Echo Overlook | 4.6 miles | 1,410 ft | Yes! – Echo Overlook Review |
| Fletcher Canyon Trail | 3.6 miles | 1,000 ft | Yes! – Fletcher Canyon Trail Review |
| Fletcher Peak Trail | 7.2 miles | 2,200 ft | Yes! – Fletcher Peak Review |
| Griffith Peak | 8.8 miles | 3,395 ft | |
| Harris Mountain Trail | 3.5 miles | 3,018 ft | |
| Lee Canyon Narrows | 2.0 miles | 300 ft | Yes! – Lee Canyon Narrows Review |
| Mary Jane Falls | 3.7 miles | 1,014 ft | Yes! – Mary Jane Falls Review |
| McFarland Peak | 12.5 miles | 3,631 ft | |
| Mummy Mountain | 8.2 miles | 3,799 ft | |
| Mummy Springs | 6.0 miles | 1,800 ft | Yes! – Mummy Springs Review |
| Pack Rat Route | 1.4 miles | 50 ft | Yes! – Pack Rat Route Review |
| Raintree Trail | 5.4 miles | 1,650 ft | Yes! – Raintree Trail Review |
| Robber’s Roost Trail | 0.4 miles | 236 ft | Yes! – Robbers Roost Trail Review |
| Sawmill Trail | 1.3 miles | 160 ft | Yes! – Sawmill Loop Trail Review |
| Seven Mile Canyon | 1.9 miles | 816 ft | |
| Sisters Trail | 5.1 miles | 1,988 ft | |
| Wild Horse Canyon and Ridge Loop | 2.0 miles | 693 ft |
Lake Mead National Recreation Area
A popular stop on every bucket list for Las Vegas is the Hoover Dam and neighboring Lake Mead. The Lake Mead National Recreational area spans across 1.5 million acres of mountains, canyons, valleys and of course, lakes. Located just 24 miles from the Las Vegas Strip, this is a not to be missed area for amazing views of Lake Mead, secret slot canyons and plenty of hiking.
| Hike | Distance | Elevation Gain | Complete? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona Hot Springs | 5.9 miles | 1,223 ft | |
| Bowl of Fire | 4.4 miles | 377 ft | |
| Goldstrike Canyon | 5.3 miles | 1013 ft | |
| Grapevine Canyon Trail | 3.3 miles | 374 ft | |
| Historic Railroad Trail | Yes! – Historic Railroad Trail Review | ||
| Liberty Bell Arch / Colorado Overlook | Yes! – Liberty Bell Arch Review | ||
| Lovell Wash & Anniversary Narrows | 9.9 miles | 1,407 ft | |
| Spooky Canyon | 0.9 miles | 124 ft | |
| White Owl Canyon | Yes! – White Owl Canyon Review |
Valley of Fire State Park
The Valley of Fire is a one-of-a-kind geological wonder located 50 miles from the Las Vegas Strip. Visitors will take a trip back in time to witness 2,000-year-old petroglyph carvings, huge red sandstone formations and if you’re lucky a few bighorn sheep to cap off the day. On top of all that, the park boasts a plethora of hiking trails.
| Hike | Distance | Elevation Gain | Complete? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlatl Rock | 0.1 miles | 50 ft | Yes! – Atlatl Rock Review |
| Balancing Rock Trail | 0.25 miles | 6 ft | Yes!- Balancing Rock Trail Review |
| Charlie’s Spring Loop | 6.9 miles | 456 ft | |
| Fire Canyon Loop Trail | 5.7 miles | 666 ft | |
| Fire Wave Trail | 1.5 miles | 174 ft | Yes! – Fire Wave Trail Review |
| Mouse’s Tank | 0.75 miles | 16 ft | Yes! – Mouse’s Tank Review |
| Piano Loop Rock Trail | 0.7 miles | 170 ft | |
| Pinnacles Loop Trail | 4.8 miles | 439 ft | |
| Rainbow Vista | 1.0 miles | 100 ft | Yes! – Rainbow Vista Trail Review |
| Silica Dome | 1.0 miles | 230 ft | Yes! – Silica Dome Review |
| Top of the World Arch | 4.4 miles | 882 ft | |
| Ute Weiser Loop | 9.1 miles | 734 ft | |
| White Domes Trail | 1.25 miles | 150 ft | Yes! – White Domes Trail Review |
Sloan Canyon National Conversation Area / Henderson, NV
South of the Las Vegas Strip, you’ll find Sloan Canyon, a 48-thousand-acre conservation area which contains the famed Sloan Petroglyph Site. This famous site has been included in the National Register of Historic Places since the late 1970s and boasts over 1700 individual petroglyphs. In addition to this historic site, Sloan Canyon is home to some of the best city views of the Las Vegas Strip.
| Hike | Distance | Elevation Gain | Complete? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Mountain Canyon | 6.8 miles | 2,100′ | Yes! – Black Mountain Canyon Review |
| Sloan Canyon Petroglyph Trail | 4.2 miles | 600′ | Yes! – Sloan Canyon Review |
Day Trips
We’re defining a maximum of 2.5 hours one-way as our day trip limit. That’s a full 5 hours of driving plus the activities. Arguably, some on the list below should be an overnight trip regardless of the distance away.
| Location | Distance from Vegas | Things to do | Complete? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Bovine of the Desert | 104 miles / 1.5 hours | Visit the famous and larger than life bovine (cow) in Amargosa Valley, NV | Yes! – Big Bovine Review |
| Cathedral Gorge State Park | 165 Miles / 2.5 hours | Slot canyons, hiking, visitor center, photography, stargazing | |
| Delamar Ghost Town | 140 miles / 2.5 hours | Historic ruins, scenic views | Yes! – Delamar Ghost Town |
| Gold Butte National Monument | 110 miles / 2.5 hours | Hiking, scenic drives, wildlife, Joshua trees, sandstone rock formations | |
| Kershaw-Ryan State Park | 150 miles / 2.5 hours | Hiking, mountain biking trails, camping, lush gardens, picnic area | |
| Kolob Canyon (Zion) | 150 miles / 2 hours | Hiking, scenic views, scenic drive, visitors center, nature | Yes! – Kolob Canyon Review |
| Mojave National Preserve | 68 miles / 60 minutes | Kelso Sand Dunes, hiking, lave beds, Joshua trees, cinder cones, viewpoints | |
| Snow Canyon State Park | 130 miles / 2 hours | Scenic overlooks, lava flow trail, hiking, camping, horseback riding | |
| St. Thomas / Overton, NV | 65 miles / 60 minutes | Hike to ruins of St. Thomas, NV | |
| Willow Beach Kayaking | 65 miles / 70 minutes | Kayaking the Colorado River / Emerald Caves | |
Overnight Road Trips
Here are more items for the bucket list that require a little more effort and an overnight stay to truly take advantage of the area.
| Location | Distance from Vegas | Things to do | Complete? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berlin Ichthyosaur | 340 miles / 5.5 hours | Fossils, historic landmark, ghost town | |
| Big Bear, CA | 215 miles / 3.5 hours | Hiking, boating, biking, skiing, more | Yes! – Big Bear Itinerary |
| Brian Head (Summer) | 200 miles / 3 hours | Hiking | |
| Brian Head (Winter) | 200 miles / 3 hours | Skiing, snow shoeing, tubing | Yes! – Brian Head Winter Review |
| Cave Lake State Park | 250 miles / 4 hours | Mountain biking, hiking, camping, swimming, stargazing, ice fishing, scenic drives | |
| Echo Canyon State Park | 180 miles / 3 hours | Hiking, swimming, boating, wildlife, camping, biking | |
| Great Basin National Park | 285 miles / 4.5 hours | Hiking, cave system, scenic drive, bristlecone pines, historic exhibits | |
| Flagstaff, AZ | 250 miles / 4 hours | Climb AZ’s tallest peak (Humphreys), Wupatki Monument, skiing, National parks | Yes! – Flagstaff Itinerary |
| Joshua Tree National Park | 240 miles / 3.5 hours | Outdoors, hiking, famous Joshua trees, stargazing, 4×4’ing | |
| Kofa National Wildlife Refuge | 260 miles / 5 hours | Hiking, backpacking,wildlife, photography | |
| Lake Havasu City, CA | 150 miles / 2.5 hours | Boating, hiking, waterfront, historic areas | Yes! – Lake Havasu Itinerary |
| Lake Tahoe | 450 miles / 7 hours+ | Summer (hiking, outdoors), Winter (skiing) | |
| Palm Springs, CA | 280 miles / 4.5 hours | Hiking, biking, Museums, historic places, Gondola | Yes! – Palm Springs Itinerary |
| Red Cliffs Nature Trail | 250 miles / 4 hours | Hiking | |
| Sedona | 280 miles / 4.5 hours | Outdoors, hiking, state parks, wetlands, shopping, galleries | |
| Spring Valley State Park | 190 miles / 3 hours | Hiking, boating, fishing, swimming, wildlife | |
| Zion National Park | 170 miles / 3 hours | Hiking, nature | |
What are we missing in the greater Nevada area that we should check out?