Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, only minutes from the Strip, it features scenic desert cliffs, buttes and spectacular rock formations. The park is located where the southernmost tip of the Sierra Nevada converge with the El Paso Range. Each tributary canyon is unique, with dramatic shapes and vivid colors. It has scenery so dramatic it's often selected as the backdrop for movies and commercials.

Along the 13-mile scenic drive you'll view the impressive Wilson Cliffs, part of the 65-million-year-old Keystone Thrust. Keystone Thrust is the most significant geologic feature of Red Rock Canyon, it is a fracture in the earth's crust where one rock plate is thrust horizontally over another. It is believed that two of the earth's crustal plates collided with such force that part of one plate was shoved up and over younger sandstones. Numerous geological features abound, including the fossilized sand dunes of the brilliantly colored Calico Hills. The Calico Hills are riddled with natural water catchments called potholes or tinajas (tee-nah-haz). After rains these natural water tanks fill up with water and may be home to small insects, insect larvae and fairy shrimp.

A brief stop at the visitor center includes fascinating exhibits, a desert tortoise habitat, and gift shop. A bonus to this tour is the off-road adventure up Red Rock Summit Road (Rocky Gap). Beautiful desert wildflowers, ancient Native American pictographs, and diverse vegetation make this tour one you'll never forget.