Even if you aren’t adventurous enough to tackle the long hike to Turtle Head Peak or climbing up a several-hundred foot rock face, there are spectacular sights to be enjoyed at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. The 13-mile long scenic loop starts at the Visitor’s Center (a good place to stop for new visitors) and continues counter-clockwise, finally ending up a few miles west of the park entrance on Route-159 (Charleston Blvd). We posted these photos to show you what the different views look like while circumnavigating the 13-mile Red Rock Scenic Loop; you can also click on our interactive Red Rock Scenic Loop map below.
Check out our main Red Rock Canyon page for descriptions of all the hiking trails in the Park.
Scenic Loop Map
View NV-Red Rock Canyon in a larger map
- View from the back of the Red Rock Visitor’s Center
The next parking area is at the Calico I Overlook. From here you can view the deep-red rock formations rising out of the deep depression in the ground – the Calico Basin. This long set of rock formations continues to the next parking lot at Calico II Overlook and eventually on to Sandstone Quarry.
Calico I Overlook, Red Rock Canyon
View near Calico II Overlook
Continuing on the Scenic Loop, the next parking area and major trail head is at Sandstone Quarry. Here, the sandstone rock formations have distinctive white and red striations.
Sandstone Quarry, Red Rock Canyon
The next stop on the Red Rock Scenic Loop is the Scenic Overlook. This overlook is a small parking lot perched at a high point with panoramic views of Red Rock Canyon below. The view faces to the east with Calico Basin in the distance, Turtle head Peak off to your left, and the western slot canyons off to your right. This is a great place to practice your sunset photography as well.
View from Scenic Overlook
At the western (and lowest elevation) portion of the Scenic Loop, the northern spur (at the hair-pin curve in the road) leads you to Willow Springs. Right here is the trail head for the Lost Creek (Children’s Discovery) Trail. Continuing on the paved road to the end will lead you onto the 4×4 Rocky Gap Off-road trail.
Trail head for the Lost Creek hike
The Rocky Gap 4x4 Trail
Heading back to the south on the Scenic Loop leads you past all of the narrow canyon hikes off to your right, Ice Box Canyon, Lone Pine Canyon, and many other great hikes.
Ice Box Canyon Trail Head
Western Canyon Wall at Red Rock
Eventually, the road will lead you to the park exit back on Route-159.
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