Red Rock Canyon State Park
RV Guide

Hiking is one of the main attractions of Red Rock Canyon State Park since you can trek past towering colorful cliffs and awe-inspiring rock formations. Park your RV and hike out to Hagen Canyon, which you can get to through a two-mile flat hike past budding wildflowers and enchanting jagged rocks. You can hike among scenic cliffs near Nightmare Gulch or the skyscraper formations of Last Chance Canyon. With miles of trails through this desert park, you'll need to pack plenty of water for your hike and wear layered clothing in case the weather changes suddenly.

Throughout the peak season, guests in the park can use their ATVs on the dirt roads within the park. You'll love off-roading on the hard-packed desert dirt with the dramatic red rocks surrounding you. With miles of trails, you'll be able to pick up a little speed, but be careful not to stray into hiking and biking trails. Only licensed and legal vehicles are allowed in the park, and no driving under the influence will be tolerated. Pick up an off-road trail map in the park office before setting out on your off-roading adventure.

Throughout the peak season, you can take advantage of the programs at the visitor center. Check out the schedule in the park office or go online to see what will be available during your stay. Some examples of activities are taking a guided walk on the nature trail to learn how plants adapt to thrive in the harsh desert conditions, learning about desert survival, or listening to a lecture or video series detailing the Native American history of the area. Walk through self-guided exhibits to learn about the geology of the southwest desert throughout its ancient past. You can also stop by the gift shop to pick up some souvenirs. The visitor center is open from the fall to the spring season.

For those equestrians out there, you will love seeing this park from the back of a horse. Horseback riding is allowed on all roads within the park. Whether you want to ride past the colorful Red Cliffs or see the interesting rock formations at Turk’s Turban, you’ll love horseback riding through the natural beauty of the California desert. Horseback riding is for day-use only, and horses can't spend the night in the park, but it's a great place to park for the day and get some prime riding time in at a stunning location.

Mountain bikers will love the chance to ride the roads in a beautiful desert oasis during a motorhome trip to Red Rock Canyon State Park. Cycling is permitted on all established roads and multi-use trails within the park. You can coast by the towering colorful cliffs or the scenic views of Camel Rock. The weather can change rapidly in this beautiful desert location, so you'll want to be prepared with rain gear and good mud tires, and don't forget plenty of drinking water.

Red Rock Canyon State Park attracts amateur and professional photographers alike because of its dramatic beauty and rugged landscape. Anyone can snap an award-winning shot with a backdrop that you'll find here, such as towering colorful cliffs and unique rock formations that you won’t find anywhere else. You can take a selfie in front of Camel Rock or capture sunset shots of the Red Cliffs. Turk’s Turban and Hagen Canyon are also popular spots for photography. Pack your camera in your trailer, so you can capture picturesque views of stunning wildflowers under a watercolor California sky.

Only the hardiest of birds and animals can thrive in the rocky, desert landscape of Red Rock Canyon State Park. During your RV trip to this state park, you can spot all of the desert creatures that call this wondrous landscape home, including lizards, mice, and squirrels. If you are a birding enthusiast, you will get a thrill from seeing desert birds like hawks and roadrunners.

If you really want to see some interesting wildlife, pack your night vision binoculars and step out under dark skies of the desert to see what comes out in the coolness of night. Many desert animals hide from the heat during the day and carry out their nocturnal activities when the sun goes down. You may see owls, coyote, many varieties of reptiles, and cottontail rabbits. Make sure not to get too close and watch out for snakes.

With one of the darkest skies around, Red Rock Canyon State Park is a prime spot for novice and avid astronomers alike. Make sure you pack your telescope in your camper and gaze up at a sky littered with stars or catch a glimpse of the milky way. You might also be able to attend an event hosted by a local astronomy club to learn about the galactic wonders above. Due to the tilt of the earth during late autumn and winter months, the northern hemisphere is a great place to see some of the major constellations up a little closer, such as Pegasus, Andromeda, and Aquarius, and Pisces. But no matter what time of year you come, you'll find an amazing show unfolding up in the night sky.

The day-use picnic area, located near the visitor center, is the perfect spot to enjoy a quiet meal under the natural serenity of wonders all around you. Dine under the backdrop of towering cliffs and colorful rock formations during your RV trip to Red Rock Canyon State Park. Picnic tables are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and there are several shade covers in the day-use area.

Geocaching is a thrilling activity the whole family can enjoy during your RV trip to Red Rock Canyon State Park. Geocaching is a modern-day treasure hunt where you can use GPS coordinates found on websites and smartphone apps to find hidden caches, or treasures, located in the park. You might find trinkets, logs, or maybe even buried treasure. You'll need to go online to download the coordinates, and when you locate your treasure, make sure to replace it for the next camper to find.