Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area

About Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area

Red Rock Canyon was designated a National Conservation Area in 1990 and covers 195,819 acres of the eastern Mojave Desert. The defining feature is the Keystone Thrust — a fault that pushed gray limestone over red sandstone, leaving the striped escarpment that gives the park its name. The 13-mile one-way scenic drive loops past Calico Hills, Sandstone Quarry, Ice Box Canyon, and Red Rock Wash overlook. Most visitors do the drive plus a short walk; serious hikers tackle the Calico Tanks (2.5 miles round trip) or Turtlehead Peak (5 miles, 2,000-foot gain). Timed-entry reservations are required October through May from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. — book on Recreation.gov, not at the gate. Go early. Summer afternoons exceed 110°F at the trailheads, and even the scenic drive is uncomfortable after 10 a.m. in July. Bring more water than you think you need.