The Art Bell Memorial Bench is situated is a beautiful park. The bench is near a man-made fountain…read moreand stream. It's a good place to relax, read a book, or just contemplate. Art Bell: https://acrowsview.wordpress.com/2018/04/15/art-bell-1945-2018/ Art Bell's grave site: https://acrowsview.wordpress.com/2020/08/21/the-tomb-of-art-bell/

This hidden site feels like it's from another planet. The fact that endangered pupfish live here…read moremakes it even more remarkable. Just awe-inspiring. short exploration but also very far to get to .

An easy day trip from Las Vegas, Devil's Hole is located in Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge,…read moreabout an hour and a half drive. This was meant to be a stop on a road trip to Death Valley but I later realized that you could spend a couple of hours in the refuge. The way to get here is all dirt roads and there was at least one river crossing. If it recently rained or is raining, I don't think a regular sedan could make its way out here. The main area is pretty close to the parking lot, less than a 5 minute walk. Because it is protected and could actually be dangerous, the hole is completely fenced off. I brought a pair of binoculars to hopefully see some endangered pupfish but we were too far. It would be a much cooler experience if we could get up to the water's edge but being so far away, it's anticlimactic.

This a peaceful hidden gem. Spring Mountain Ranch State Park is located just a few minutes outside…read moreof the Las Vegas strip. Surrounded by red rock cliffs, and lots of greenery. This place is perfect for a nice walk through the garden a picnic or even a hike. The historic ranch adds a nice touch, with great photos and views. I found that this place is less crowded compared to all the other parks and outdoor scenic areas that we've been visiting.. definitely worth a visit if you're looking for a peaceful escape away from the city. Also, while you're here don't forget to check out the little gift shop which offers a variety of sweet treats, such as chocolate covered strawberries, chocolate covered marshmallows, and so much more, which are all delicious.

Spring Mountain Ranch State Park is a tranquil gem in the southwest side of Las Vegas, offering a…read morefantastic escape. The huge, grassy field is perfect for picnics, and the restrooms are very clean. It's also pet-friendly, with leashed dogs welcome on the trails. There are several different hiking options, from easy to moderate, with beautiful views. Don't miss the historic ranch house, once owned by Howard Hughes, which is open for tours and has a small gift shop. Very peaceful and tranquil for a lovely afternoon visit.

This view is absolutely worth the drive there and back at any time of day. I recently went midday,…read morebut I've been at sunset as well and it is stunning at any time of day. We were lucky to visit during the recent superbloom and there were so many flowers along the drive. Don't skip this stop while in the park!

Nice little drive up the mountain. Great views! Couple of…read morehiking trails for different view angles.

Pro-tip: Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge is a must for anyone in Southern Nevada visiting…read moreDeath Valley National Park. Ash Meadows is located in the Nevada portion of Death Valley National Park. It is sometimes referred to as the Galápagos Islands of North America considering it has the highest concentration of endemic species in the United States & the second highest in all of North America. The Devils Hole desert pupfish found at Ash Meadows was actually the first ever species to be listed as endangered (by President Truman). Additionally, the wildlife refuge is one of the last remaining natural desert springs oases in the Mojave Desert, where turquoise water, grapevines, and aquatic species are abundant.

The preserve roadways are dusty gravel so pick your car/truck accordingly. No low-riders!…read more There is a visitor center, 2 boardwalk trails, a bunch of reservoirs and a couple of devil holes to hike around to. There are 2 park entrances and no cover charges or parking payments. There are restrooms at certain spots. It is still unspoiled and the color of the glacial spring water is a most relaxing blue hue. At the 2nd boardwalk, I think I saw their infamous guppy fish. Overall, the boardwalk trails, reservoirs and devil's hole trail are actually doable in a day and won't leave you hurting.

Fun fact: Southern Nevada's Spring Mountain NRA has 7 different climate zones, a change in habitat…read morethat is similar to traveling from Mexico to the Canadian Arctic. SOURCE: Travel Nevada. There are also groves of Great Basin Bristlecone Pines--one of the oldest species on Earth that are only found in NV, CA, and UT--as well as at least 20 endemic species (that are found nowhere else on Earth). Home Means Nevada. :)

Early May, 2024. (Arriving on a Sunday, leaving on Monday). We spent two days, including one night…read morecamping, in the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area (NRA) which includes Mount Charleston. Administered by the US Department of Agriculture's Forest Service, the entrance is just 17 miles from Hwy 95 on Rte 157 or 45 minutes (and a world away) from the hustle and bustle - and heat - of the Las Vegas strip. Sunday. We started at the Visitor Gateway, where there are helpful staff and maps to help you to plan your stay. In addition, there is a gift shop, clean restrooms, an amphitheater, picnic areas, and trailheads to the Pack Rat Route and the Escarpment Trails. Next on our itinerary were a pair of scenic drives. From the Visitors Gateway, we traveled a short distance on Rte 157, until intersecting with Rte 158, which took us up the windy mountain road. We passed the entrances to The Resort on Mount Charleston, various trailheads, picnic areas, and campgrounds. We stopped at the Desert View Overlook, walking the short interpretive trail and taking photos. We continued in Rte 158 until we intersected with Rte 156, which we took left to the Lee Canyon ski area, passing picnic areas, campgrounds, and trailheads along the way. We then turned around, and went back down the mountain. Upon again intersecting with Rte 157, we took it to its terminus at the Mount Charleston Lodge. Our final destination was our campsite at the Fletcher View Campground (reviewed separately). Monday. We returned to the Visitors Gateway, and did the two "more difficult" hikes that originated there -- the Pack Rat Route (only 0.4 mi) is short, paved, and very steep. If you do it as a loop, the trail is somewhat washed out towards the end. Pack Rat connected to the 2.4 mile Escarpment Trail, which takes you above the cliffs and to some wonderful mountain views. Both of these trails are for hiking only. No bikes or horses. Some things to note: *The Visitors Gateway provides a good map of the area which I've posted a Yelp (in Spanish). It shows trails (including hiking, cycling, equestrian, and interpretative), campgrounds, picnic areas, restrooms, etc. *The map also highlights the trails in the NRA, with ratings of easy to moderate to more difficult to most difficult. It also provides distances, but not elevation changes. *When we were there (May, 2024), at least 6 trails, including the popular Mary Jane Falls Trail, were closed due to storm damage.

The farthest point I think in the park and we got to see it with a little water which created this…read moreincredible reflection. Good amount of parking and you can walk as far as you'd like on the basin. Peep the sea level sign on top of the mountain to really grasp how 'low' you are!

We decided to take a little day trip out to Death Valley to view the wildflower bloom, hike a bit…read moreand visit Lake Manly (otherwise known as Badwater Basin). I really wanted to walk in the glorious saltwater. We were there on a Thursday and this place was hopping with people. I had forgot that spring breaks have begun. We eventually found a place to park and made our way out to the water via the boardwalk that heads out. We all know that Badwater Basin is the lowest point in the USA. It is 282 feet below sea level and it sure was pretty. The basin normally does not have water, but with all the rain California received this winter the water was almost up to my shins. The saltwater flats cover over 200 miles. The basin includes sodium chloride, gypsum, borax, and calcite. The best part of the visit was that by the time I stepped out of all that saltwater, my feet were so soft. It was truly a natural exfoliation for the feet. Be respectful and leave your pets at home as they are only allowed on designated dirt roads. Most of all LEAVE NO TRACE and Happy Adventuring.

Lost Creek Children's Discovery Trail is inside the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area…read morewhich is about 21 miles from downtown Las Vegas, Nevada. USA, baby! Not a five star experience for the simple fact that the trail was not clearly marked. I mean, come on, this was created for children. Adults need to be present, but I'm the kind of parent that encourages my kids to figure out stuff on their own. Kind of hard when there are areas that look like the trail, but they weren't. For that matter, snap a photo of the map before you head down the 0.6 mile loop. Other than that, the trail is super easy for active kids. Mine hustled me through it in about 30 minutes. Lol. The elevation does not get incredibly steep, but if you're carrying other children it might get slightly to moderately difficult for a short while. Nothing too dangerous. My kiddos loved walking over the boardwalk, pretending to be mountain lions in a cave-like area, staring up at the colorful rocks, throwing rocks in the dry arroyo, reading some of the trail info, and pretending to slide down a slick bedroom-sized rock formation. The waterfall and creek was bone dry when we were there on 6/8/21. The weather was in the upper 90s. Parking is free and plentiful with your pass into Red Rock. There are restrooms near the lot.

With this PLANdemic going on. We try to stay busy, and made sure that our little 1 1/2 year old…read moregets his outdoor time to burn energy off. I was looking for a good hiking trail that was kid friendly, and I stumbled upon this. It is located in the Red Rock conservation area. There is an entrance fee of $10 per vehicle. Which isn't bad since it is 13 miles of scenic drive/area. We definitely enjoyed this hike.It took us about an 1hr to 1 1/2hr to finish the trail, and that was with our little boy and our puppy. We only took one snack break, and our little boy walked most of it (with a little bribery with a lollipop ). The hike has enough shade, so it wasn't too hot. I love how it wasn't too steep, so it wasn't scary for our little one. The hike had enough scenery, and we definitely enjoyed it. I heard there's a small waterfall, and pond, but we weren't able to see it due to it being dried out. Lots of trees and plants for kids to see and enjoy. Just like any hike. Bring a backpack with snacks and water, wear sunscreen, and comfortable shoes and clothing. It is such a super easy hike. We will definitely do this again.

What a most amazing experience. There are so many words I can say. Peaceful- tranquil-fulfilling-…read moreguiding- spiritual. This temple can be anything you desire it to be if you allow it to be. I absolutely started to get the feeling of peace once I exited my car. There are so many different areas to admire and add to so you can be your own. So many seating areas to gather around to pray- meditate- or just gather to take in the beautiful views while listening to the beautiful trees in the wind . This is a remarkable place will definitely be a regular here

A wonderful introspective and energetically potent space for the divine feminine. I prayed, left…read moreofferings, walked around the labyrinth, and filled my heart and cup of Sekhmet. So inspiring.

Enjoyed going thru this river and canyon on a side by side! We camp at Dumont Dunes and this is…read morelocated in that vicinity. This river is an underground river but when it rains hard there's so much water on the trails it looks so cool! Such a great experience seeing this canyon! Totally recommend!

I have been hiking in the area for over a decade and it's always been a very special…read moreplace--history, great geology, and a date shake--all are part of hiking here. The Amargosa Rover Canyon offers several trails in China Ranch and beyond. There are two ways to hike the canyon itself. The best way to enjoy most of the entire canyon is to spot cars. Leave one at China Ranch and drive the other to Tecopa, California and park where there's public parking behind the post office. From here, hike south following the trail. Mostly you'll hike on the railroad bed of the T&T Railroad (Tonopah and Tidewater) bed as it follows the Amargosa River through the canyon. At places, the trail leaves thew railroad bed and makes wide arcs on the east side of the trail. After 5 miles, you'll reach the turnoff for China Ranch and where the spur from the T&T was built to bring gypsum from the mines above the ranch from the Morrison Siding. Along the way through the canyon from Tecopa, you'll see areas with barbed wire. This is where horses and cattle were fenced in to keep them off the railroad tracks. You will see no track. The railroad stopped operating in 1940 and the rails were pulled up and used for World War II needs. About a mile and a half from the Ranch, there's a turnoff to the west (right) and this leads to a little waterfall on the river. Beyond this about 1/4 mile, there's another turnoff--again to the west--that leads to a slot canyon that is blocked by a huge chockstone. Both side trails have signs but they have faded a lot over the years. When you almost reach the 90º bend in the river, the trail goes up a hill and heads east (left) toward the ranch. Before going up the hill, take time to look at the wood left from when this was where the gypsum was loaded onto ore cars over 100 years ago. Follow the trail from here to China Ranch. On this last bit, you'll come to a building. My first photo of this building is from 2005. The building was called the Tuff Building and the sign that was there said it was first a bar and then an assay house. The building was supposed to have been repaired that years. 1w2 years later, another portion has fallen over including the concrete piece from the doorway with the 1903 construction date in the concrete. I'm sure when I hike here next year, the rest of the southerly wall will be down too! What a shame! There are several hikes. After this 6.5 mile hike, you'll want to have a date shake and perhaps some date cookies. You earned them. On another day(s), you can explore the other trails in China Ranch. After your shake, take the car you left at the ranch and ride back to Tecopa to get the one where you started your hike. This is the way to see almost the entire canyon.