Best Parks in Las Vegas

If you’re craving fresh air and relaxation, consider escaping to one of Las Vegas’ many parks. Las Vegas might be famous for its flashy casinos, lavish hotels, and bustling shopping centers, but it also boasts its fair share of parks, nature reserves, and recreational areas. Whether you want to enjoy a leisurely stroll, lie on the grass and take a nap, play sports, or have a picnic with your family, check out this list of the best parks in Vegas. These natural getaways offer a welcome respite from the hubbub of the city.

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is part of the Mojave Desert. Located just 17 miles away from downtown Vegas, it showcases unique geological features, has a seasonally cascading waterfall, and boasts several short hiking trails. Activities you can enjoy at the park include climbing, horseback riding, and backcountry camping.

Lake Mead National Recreation Area

Twice the size of Rhode Island, the Lake Mead National Recreation Area

offers a wealth of outdoor activities year-round. Its huge, man-made lake is ideal for swimming, fishing, and sunbathing, while its surrounding desert is popular with hikers, wildlife photographers, and other nature enthusiasts. Lake Mead National Recreation Area is located 25 miles from Las Vegas.

Floyd Lamb Park at Tule Springs

Floyd Lamb Park is a desert oasis located about 20 miles from the Strip that features a grassy lawn, trees, and four stocked ponds. The park is also home to the Tule Springs Ranch, which was once visited by prehistoric mammals. There you can find the fossil remains of mammoths, camels, bison, horses, and giant sloths. Park facilities include picnic areas, volleyball and horseshoe facilities, and scenic paths.

Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve

The
Bird Viewing Preserve in Henderson features nine ponds, where you can observe thousands of migratory waterfowl, such as tundra swans, geese, and North American ducks. There are 140 paths at the preserve, so expect to do lots of walking if you go there. Admission is free and bird watching classes are also provided at no charge. Don’t forget to bring a pair of binoculars and a camera.

Las Vegas Zoo

Las Vegas Zoo, also known as the Southern Nevada Zoological-Botanical Park, is a shady, three-acre park located just 15 minutes away from the Strip. It is the only year-round zoo in Nevada, and it is home to more than 150 species of plants and animals. Animals that live at the zoo include Barbary Apes, emus, chimpanzees, and large, exotic reptiles.

Valley of Fire State Park

Valley of Fire State Park is located about 50 miles from the city. It’s Nevada’s oldest and largest state park. It features red sandstone formations, 3,000-year-old Indian petroglyphs, and petrified wood. Popular activities at the park include hiking, camping, and picnicking. The park’s Visitor Center is expansive and features interactive displays about geology, ecology, and pre-history.

Old Las Vegas Mormon State Historic Park

The first non-natives that settled permanently in Las Vegas were a group of Mormon missionaries, and the Old Las Vegas Mormon State Historic Park includes a remnant of the original adobe fort that the missionaries built along the Las Vegas Creek in 1855. The Visitor Center displays historic artifacts and contains exhibits about the history of the site. The park is open year-round and is located right in downtown Las Vegas.