Beyond The Strip -

 Get outdoors and explore natures great wonders of the desert!

Many travelers are drawn to the lights and excitement of Las Vegas, but too few are aware of the spectacular Southwest landscape that surrounds them. Rugged mountains, red rock canyons and deep desert valleys offer stunning scenery and a myriad of outdoor recreational opportunities. The region's favorable climate makes outdoor activity around Las Vegas an attractive option year-round.

Lake Mead National Recreation Area: Lake Mead is a unit of the National Park Service. This man-made lake is the largest reservoir in the United States and is probably most famous for The Hoover Dam. This peaceful lake is nestled among two, beautiful mountain ranges, The River Mountains and the Muddy Mountains. These create a gorgeous backdrop for this beautiful body of water. Approved activities for the Lake Mead National Recreation area include camping, hiking, swimming, boating and horseback riding. Lake Mead National Recreational Area is just 25 miles from Las Vegas at its closest point. With more than 550 miles of shoreline, Lake Mead Recreational Area offers outdoor enthusiasts year-round opportunities for swimming, water skiing, camping, boating, fishing, tours and cruises.

Lake Mead Cruises: Lake Mead Cruises welcomes guests for a relaxing tour aboard the famed Desert Princess—just minutes from the glitter and glamour of the Las Vegas Strip. Built especially to cruise the clean, blue waters of picturesque Lake Mead and tour the Hoover Dam, the authentic, three-level, Mississippi-style paddle-wheeler offers an unrivaled sightseeing experience. Whether you choose a brunch tour, mid-day tour or evening dinner tour, you’ll enjoy the wind in your hair, the sun on your face, or the absolute comfort of the climate-controlled enclosed decks—surrounded by breathtaking scenery.  Scuba Training and Technology: Explore Lake Mead and its hidden treasures by booking dive tours that include a look at the B-29 Superfortress Bomber that’s submerged underwater. The plane crashed into Lake Mead July 21, 1948, while engaged in high-altitude atmospheric research. The crew of five survived the crash, but the plane was lost in the depths of the lake. It was discovered by local divers in August 2001. The company is authorized by the National Park Service to conduct 100 guided dives at the B-29 site each year for the next two years.

Boulder City: is just 30 miles east of the Las Vegas Strip, on the way to Lake Mead. Built in the 1930s for Hoover Dam construction workers' families, it is the site of the historic Boulder Dam Hotel and is the only Nevada city that does not allow public gaming. Boulder City's historic Old Town district is home to many quaint shops, several of which feature works by Native American jewelers. With a quaint atmosphere and beautiful historic charm, you'll find plenty to see and lots to do. Take a stroll down Main Street and peek your head into any of the unique boutiques or spend a day playing one of the majestic golf courses. Visitors also enjoy desert hiking options that include a number of trails. With the Hoover Dam just minutes away, no matter how you enjoy spending free time, Boulder City has plenty to offer.

Hoover Dam: The Bureau of Reclamation has conducted tours through the Hoover Dam and power plant since 1937. Today, close to 1,000,000 visitors annually take the tour and millions more drive across the dam. Hoover Dam is a testimony to a country's ability to construct monolithic projects in the midst of adverse conditions. Built during the Depression; thousands of men and their families came to Black Canyon to tame the Colorado River. It took less than five years, in a harsh and barren land, to build the largest dam of its time. Now, years later, Hoover Dam still stands as a world-renowned structure. The Dam is a National Historic Landmark and has been rated by the American Society of Civil Engineers as one of America's Seven Modern Civil Engineering Wonders. Hoover Dam is an engineering wonder of the world just 35 miles southeast of Las Vegas. Formerly named Boulder Dam, this historic man-made creation tamed the mighty Colorado River and created Lake Mead, North America's largest man-made lake. The 726-foot-high, arch-gravity dam is 660 feet thick and forever changed the face of the western United States. On-site tours of the dam are available to the public throughout the year. Hoover Dam Rafting Adventures: Experience a narrated, smooth-water river raft tour which launches from the base of Hoover Dam. This serene and scenic, five-hour glide down the Colorado River features knowledgeable tour guides, imparting information about the geology, history and wildlife of the Colorado River region.

Mt. Charleston is 35 miles from Las Vegas, with its highest elevation at 11,918 feet. An average of 20 to 30 degrees cooler than Las Vegas, Mt. Charleston is perfect for skiing, picnicking, hiking and horseback riding. In addition to year-round hotel accommodations and tours, full-service camping is also available from May through September.  Spring Mountain State Park is located 30 miles west of Las Vegas. This historic ranch was a stopover for travelers on the Mormon and Spanish trails. Once owned by industrialist Howard Hughes, radio personalities Lum and Abner and German munitions heiress Vera Krupp, the Spring Mountain State Park is today the site of seasonal outdoor theater and concerts. The park is open year-round but as of 2023 weather conditions may apply. Please refer to their website for times and openings for access up to the mountain due to weather conditions. 

Red Rock Canyon is just 15 miles west of Las Vegas. It is a scenic area of rock formations and desert with a 3,000-foot escarpment produced by a thrust fault. Open to the public year-round and a popular destination for hikers, bikers, joggers and rock climbers, Red Rock Canyon offers a Bureau of Land Management visitors center and is home to feral horses, wild burros, bighorn sheep, coyotes and a variety of desert plant life.

Helicopter Tours: A variety of helicopter tours are available in Boulder City. All of the options provide breathtaking views of Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, the Grand Canyon and surrounding areas. The companies listed below also provide unforgettable wedding packages for couples looking to say “I do.”  Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters: Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2015, Papillon (French for "butterfly" and pronounced pah-peh-YOHN) is the world’s largest and longest-running helicopter tour company with 3,500 passengers served daily on 75 state-of-the-art helicopters and airplanes, specifically designed to reveal panoramic views beyond imagination. Papillon is also one of the few companies that fly the entire Grand Canyon, including the South and West rims, Las Vegas and Page, Ariz. 5 Star Grand Canyon Helicopter Tours: 5 STAR Grand Canyon Helicopter Tours exclusively uses the Eurocopter AS350B2 helicopter, which guarantees passengers all forward-facing seating for the best views of the Grand Canyon. The popular first class/VIP configured Grand Canyon tour helicopter features European leather seating, cream leather trim and wooden floor finish for the ultimate first class helicopter ride. Its state-of-the-art video recording system features cameras mounted inside of the aircraft, following passengers to relive their experience once they return home.

Mojave National Preserve is 60 miles southwest of Las Vegas. This 1.6-million-acre preserve, which protects one of the most diverse environments in the world, abounds with sand dunes, volcanic cinder cones, Joshua tree forests and mile-high mountains. The preserve's visitor centers, located in Baker and Needles, Calif., welcome visitors year-round.

Rhyolite is a well-preserved ghost town 120 miles north of Las Vegas near the small community of Beatty, Nev., which bills itself as the "Gateway to Death Valley." Highlights of the area include ruins of the Potter General Store, Newton's Grille, a school, several major banks, a house made entirely out of bottles and a railroad depot.

The Grand Canyon in western Arizona lies approximately 300 miles or a one-hour flight from Las Vegas. Over millions of years, the Colorado River carved this natural wonder that is one mile deep and 277 miles long. Sightseeing air tours and ground tours of the Grand Canyon depart Las Vegas daily for half-day, full-day and overnight excursions. Grand Canyon West, a destination owned and operated by the Hualapai Tribe at the Grand Canyon's western rim, opened The Skywalk. This modern-day marvel is the first-ever cantilever-shaped glass walkway to suspend more than 4,000 feet above the canyon's floor and extend 70 feet from the canyon's rim. Envisioned by Las Vegas-based entrepreneur David Jin, The Skywalk was designed by MRJ Architects and is located 120 miles east of Las Vegas at Grand Canyon West's Eagle Point.

Bootleg Canyon Mountain Bike Trail: Come mountain bike the world-class hand-built trails of Bootleg Canyon and see the other side of Las Vegas. Built for bikes, these trails have a unique and predictable flow and are designated human power only. An abundant amount of trails provide lots of options for the beginner and expert rider. Commonly spotted wildlife include coyotes, desert tortoise, tarantulas, whiptail lizards, owls, crows and the Great Basin Big Horn Sheep. Tours and rentals are available through All Mountain Cyclery, located in Boulder City.

Skydive Las Vegas: Skydive Las Vegas is Nevada’s premier professional skydiving facility, dedicated to providing the first time jumper with the most incredible experience of their lives. Looking for that once in a lifetime adventure? Want to get your adrenaline pumping or know someone who does? At Skydive Las Vegas, you'll free fall at 120 to 140 mph and enjoy incredible views of Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, the Colorado River, the Las Vegas Strip, Valley of Fire, Red Rock Canyon and Mt. Charleston. This view makes for a beautiful backdrop for pictures and video of your experience.

Death Valley is located in western California, 135 miles from Las Vegas and a mere 40-minute plane ride away. This scenic wonder has the lowest elevation on the North American continent at 280 feet below sea level. Points of interest include Zabriskie Point, 20 Mule Team Canyon and Scotty's Castle. Tours are available.

Valley of Fire State Park: 55 miles northwest of Las Vegas and comprises scenic landscapes, hidden canyons and unique red rock formations. Petroglyphs and remains of ancient Native American civilizations can be viewed here and a Nevada Park Service visitor's center provides tourist information. The park is open to the public year-round and tours are available.

Zion National Park, 158 miles north of Las Vegas across the Utah border, is a popular winter ski resort. Colorful sandstone canyons, hot rocky deserts and cool forested plateaus are all part of Zion National Park. Zion Canyon is the largest and most visited canyon in the park. Here, the Virgin River has carved a spectacular gorge into the red and white sandstone. The 2,000 to 3,000-foot canyon walls loom high above the river and the tree and grass-covered canyon floor.  River Mountain Loop Trail: This long loop winds through the quaint 1930s town of Boulder City and quickly escapes to the more primitive desert surrounding the River Mountains. To the east are views of Lake Mead with several places to pause, catch your breath and admire the scenery. The trail then winds through Henderson before returning to Boulder City. This trail is great for hiking, climbing and cycling.

Bryce Canyon another great place hours from Las Vegas and one of my favorite places to go is located 210 miles northeast of Las Vegas in southwestern Utah. This popular national park offers an outdoor exhibition of unique rock formations with imaginative names like Pink Cliffs, Silent City and Cathedral. Bryce Canyon is open throughout the year.

Forever Resorts: Forever Resorts, LLC is an authorized concessionaire of the National Park Service dedicated to providing a vast collection of destinations and products, from quaint lodges and imaginative retail venues to luxury houseboats and exciting recreational experiences. Forever Resorts focuses on properties with access to nature and one-of-a-kind surroundings for vacations. The company recently debuted the world’s first floating LEED-registered building at Cottonwood Cove Resort & Marina in Searchlight, Nev.

Desert Adventures: Founded in 2004, this company provides unforgettable day trips, including hiking, backpacking, mountain biking, ATV tours, horseback riding, ziplines, and adventures in Zion, Bryce, and the Grand Canyon. Desert Adventures is known for its expertise in paddling, with 175 boats in their rental fleet. The outdoor company also provides rentals for camping gear.

Evolution Expeditions: The water adventure experts can be found at Evolution Expeditions, providing kayak guide service and outfitters for the remote and beautiful Lake Mead National Recreation area. Tour options are between four and seven hours, which include adventures on Lake Mead, Lake Mohave, Black Canyon and the Colorado River just below the mighty Hoover Dam. 4WD, ATV & Off-Road Tours: With dry lake beds surrounding Las Vegas and the Boulder City area, off-road adventures are quite popular for visitors. All of the options promise an afternoon of fun: Vegas Off-Road Experience: VORE helps guests create their awesome Off-Road Racing Package, whether it may be corporate team building ideas, adventurous driving experience or any Vegas off-road experience. Las Vegas Tours and Rentals: Explore the wilderness around Las Vegas on an exciting outdoor tour, or rent an ATV and create your own adventure. Las Vegas Tours and Rentals provides an experience that lets customers tear it up at Eldorado canyon, while riding new top-of-the-line 4×4 ATVs. It’s a family affair with rentals available for kids as young as six. Provided by LVCVA