Established in 1967, Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area now encompasses 197,349 acres of land in Southern Nevada. In 1990, its status was changed from Red Rock Recreation Lands to a National Conservation Area. It was just the seventh to be designated in the country.
A short 17 miles from the glitz and glam of the world-famous Las Vegas Strip, Red Rock Canyon is actually visible from there. But it is best experienced up close, as over 2 million visitors find out every year. In addition to its natural beauty, the park also features a particularly robust exhibit at the Visitor Center. Check it out before setting off on the 13 mile scenic loop.
Red Rock Canyon’s dramatic landscape developed through a fascinating geologic history. Over 600 million years, the land transformed from a seabed, to great sand dunes, to the Keystone Thrust we see today. It features colorful and jagged sandstone walls rising up to 3000 feet tall.
The natural environment is also an oasis in the desert, playing home to hundreds of species of plants and animals due to its perennial water supply and cooler temperatures. And while we weren’t lucky enough to see any desert tortoises, we did manage a couple of close encounters with two of the area’s more than 100 bird species.
Situated just a half hour from the bright lights and buzz of the Las Vegas Strip, Red Rock Canyon stands out as a natural refuge for residents and tourists alike.
We’d never heard of Garden of the Gods before, but when you see a name like that on the map, you have to check it out! This Colorado Springs city park did not disappoint. Boasting numerous stunning rock formations and well-paved pathways for an easy walk, this is a must see location when visiting this area.
The magnificent landscape formed millions of years ago by geological movement along a natural fault line, and people have been visiting the site as early as 1330 BC. Several Native American tribes are known to have camped among the towering rocks, including the Utes, who left behind parts of their history in petroglyph carvings. The whimsical name originates from two surveyors, M.S. Beach and Rufus Cable, who explored the site in 1859. When Beach suggested that it would be a “capital place for a beer garden,” reminiscent of the rock-adorned ones in Europe, Cable saw a place “fit for the Gods to assemble” and decided upon the name “Garden of the Gods.”
Cable’s marketing genius has certainly paid off! The “Garden of the Gods” draws instant intrigue and adds a dash of mysticism to the experience. If you allow yourself, you can feel a spiritual calm as you walk among this rocky garden.
Pikes Peak rises in the distance
In 1879, Charles Elliott Perkins purchased the land encompassing the Garden of the Gods, and upon his death in 1909, the land was donated to the City of Colorado Springs, with the provision that it would forever be a free public park. We’d come across a similar story in Idaho, where the Shoshone Falls region was also donated to the city of Twin Falls to be used as a public park, but this one had the added bonus of being free. We’re thankful that these generous donations paved the way for two of the most astonishing places we’ve visited so far. Don’t skip out on city parks!
Black-billed Magpie with the “Kissing Camels” in the background“Perfectly balanced, as all things should be.” Balanced Rock, Thanos’s favorite rock
We planned a simple evening outing to check out the Garden of the Gods and then head over to nearby Manitou Springs, a popular small town at the base of Pike’s Peak, where we could find a place to eat and try some of the free flowing natural spring water. Sometimes having a rough plan like this, rather than nailing down every detail, yields the best experience. Instead of finding a restaurant, we stumbled upon the Manitou Springs farmers market at Memorial Park. A woman stepped out to cross the street right in front of our car, but quickly made up for our abrupt stop by telling us about the free(!!) potluck dinner in the park. The delicious soup even had its own song (appropriately titled “Community Soup”) performed by a live band. It was amazing to share in a hearty meal and music with the local community, and we hope to return for another!
Don’t forget to subscribe to our mailing list and follow us on Instagram and Twitter for the latest updates!
