Red Rock Canyon, Nevada

Wednesday - 2/178 - we're a bit behind in posts as our Internet access is really limited.... slow if at all.

We arrive at the Red Rock Canyon campground in early afternoon, in time to enjoy the sunset and shadows on the surround hills. The camping area is rather rustic, which is fine with us. There are water faucets available, and vault restrooms, but that's about it for the amenities. The main area has a lot of tent sites, and several RV sites with tent pads. They've also provided a short spur road, a culdesac, with sites for the larger RVs. This is early in the season for the park, so we weren't crowded at all. We sat outside for a bit after dark, and were amazed at the glow from Las Vegas, which was so bright it drowned out many of the stars. Not surprising really, considering the number of neon lights in that town!

We were up and moving early to drive the scenic loop and tour the visitors center. We photographed our way around the loop and then hiked a short trail at Willow Spring to locate a petroglyph panel and have a picnic lunch. This canyon is truly a geologic wonder.
[Click on the photo to go to the Red Rock Canyon album.]

 After the Red Rock Canyon loop we went a bit further south to Spring Mountain Ranch, a property that has passed through a multitude of owners, many of them Hollywood stars.

Our tour guide led us through the history of all the buildings and the history of each of the owners and how they left their mark on the property. It's a beautiful location for a ranch, and it's really nice that it's now open to the public, but after talking with our guide it became clear that this as well as other Nevada state parks are at risk of being closed due to the financial condition of the state. [Click on the photo to go to the Red Rock Canyon album.]

Who would guess all this natural beauty lies only a few miles outside the neon hustle and bustle of Las Vegas!