The Las Vegas Canyons
We all know how enticing Las Vegas is. Between the Strip, downtown, and all the glitzy casinos, life is fun and moves fast. In the vast expanse of the Las Vegas Desert, you can still have some proper outdoor fun. If you drive further in the borders of Las Vegas, Lo and behold! You’ll bear witness to the grand land erosions that mark every bit of time here on Earth. Who wouldn’t marvel at the majestic natural beauty of the Las Vegas canyons?
But first, what are the Canyons of Las Vegas? A canyon is a deep narrow valley with steep sides, similar to a gorge, although more confined and precipitous. The formation of a canyon is attributed to a river’s erosive processes, whereby the water pressure keeps cutting into the underlying rock and sediment. This occurs over a long time, forming a canyon.
Apart from offering mind-blowing scenic views and aesthetic niceness, canyons play a great role in various realms of science. They are vital in estimating the timescales of various moments in our lives. As the river flows and cuts more in-depth into the rock, the different rock layers each have their own story to tell, depending on their geological age. Canyons are a good indicator of the rock’s age and the type of natural occurrence that led to the formation of these rocks.
Aside from dating rocks to millionths of years, canyons are also important in the study of paleontology. The Las Vegas Canyons are also crucial in predicting future erosion and the surrounding area’s topography pattern.
Canyon Tours Las Vegas
There are various places you can tour to view the Las Vegas Canyons, among them, being:
- Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
- Hoover Dam Bypass
- Gold Strike Canyon Hot Springs
- Kyle Canyon
Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
The Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is located approximately 15 miles to the West of Las Vegas and managed as a protected area under Clark County, NV. It gets its name from its red color, which results from the iron oxide or hematite present in the Aztec sandstone. The exposure of these elements to the atmosphere causes them to oxidize, hence the red.
The breathtaking Red Rock Canyon is worth visiting during your Canyon Tours Las Vegas trip. You can check out the Red Rock Canyon tour by Vegas.com (https://www.vegas.com/tours/red-rock-tours/red-rock-canyon) whose prices start from $102. Tourists can expect an open van tour while cruising through the picture-perfect scenery, including the Calico Hills. This tour enables travelers (of ages 9-99) to go on a native heritage discovery walk, where you’ll get to know how the indigenous people of Las Vegas survived before civilization.
The Hoover Dam Bypass
Located 30 miles southeast of Las Vegas, the Hoover Dam was initiated as a result of a suspicion that the black canyon and the boulder canyon had the severe potential for hydroelectric power from the Colorado River. After a few fittings and finishing, this project was born and made into a tour site for all to come and witness its magnificence.
For safety reasons, children below the age of nine cannot visit the area. If you wish to book a tour, you can look at the Ultimate Hoover Dam Tour (https://www.canyontours.com/mini-hoover-dam-tour) that starts at $80. During the trip, you’ll learn about the dam’s history, have a stroll through the power plant, and walk on the top portion of the dam; some say this is the highlight of the trip.
Gold Strike Canyon Hot Springs
If hiking usual trails are mere child’s play to you, then the Gold Strike Canyon Hiking Trail is the place to be. Located downstream of the Hoover Dam, this trail, with its 3.7km stretch of pure testing terrain, will quench your thirst for a real adventure. Starting from $80, you can plan your tour with Adventures Awenonymous (http://adventuresawenonymous.com/).
Activities include hiking, including ascending and descending walls, as well as exploring the honed canyon walls. Fancy a dip into a natural hot spring while gazing at the stars? The Gold Strike Canyon Hot Springs tour will deliver just that.
Kyle Canyon
While this would not be your average canyon experience, it is well worth your time. Located about 30 miles from the heart of Las Vegas, Kyle Canyon facilitates loads of fun activities. From hiking the 1.9 kilometer stretch of the Cathedral Rock Trail to outdoor yoga, nature lovers will relish this trip.
With the cost starting from $55 for a MintnHoney tour (https://www.mintnhoney.com/), you will receive concierge services for health and wellness. After the hike, you can escape the desert heat at Yoga Uncorked on Charleston Peak, while you sip your choice of red, white, or rose wine.
Go ahead and grab a Canyon Trip Las Vegas Booking today and visit the Las Vegas Canyons’ mind-cleansing sceneries.
