Two RV Gypsies: Full-Time RVers
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The two RV Gypsies
at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
in Nevada - August 7, 2012

The Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area in Nevada is an area managed by the Bureau of Land Management as part of its National Landscape Conservation System, and protected as a National Conservation Area. It is located about 15 miles west of Las Vegas in Clark County, Nevada and easily seen from the Las Vegas Strip. The area is visited by over 1 million visitors each year.

The conservation area showcases a set of large red rock formations: a set of sandstone peaks and walls called the Keystone Thrust. The walls are up to 3,000 feet high. The highest point is La Madre Mountain, at 8,154 feet.

Red Rock Canyon itself is a side-canyon accessible only by four-wheel-drive road off of the scenic loop. The unnamed but often visited valley cut through by State Route 159 is commonly, but incorrectly, referred to as Red Rock Canyon. The massive wall of rock called the Wilson Cliffs, or Keystone Thrust, can be seen to the west along this highway.
 

Just before entering Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, the two RV Gypsies spotted some small wildlife.
small wildlife
a squirrel

Below: Funny little cars with Canadian markings ????
Funny little cars with Canadian markings
Funny little cars with Canadian markings
Sign signifying entrance into the conservation area.

The two RV Gypsies' first views of Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.
The two RV Gypsies' first views of Red Rock Canyon Conservation Area
The two RV Gypsies' first views of Red Rock Canyon Conservation Area

A visitor center located at the start of the loop road.

visitor center
Red Rock Canyon green building notice
Mojave Desert sign

Inside the Visitor's Center of Red Rock canyon, Lee Duquette made a new friend.
Lee Duyquette makes a new friend
Lee Duyquette makes a new friend

Going out the back door of the Visitor's Center, the two RV Gypsies were greeted by beautiful scenery.
panorama out the back door of the Visitor's Center at Red Rock
red rock behind the visitor center
red rock behind the visitor center

Air, Fire, Water, Earth

As the two RV Gypsies returned to their truck to drive through Red Rock Canyon, Karen photographed a Joshua tree.
Air, Fire, Water, Earth sign
a Joshua tree

A one-way loop road, 13 miles long, provides vehicle access to many of the features in the area, without having to hike any of the trails. The two RV Gypsies took full advantage of this feature and chose to drive the loop road, and stop at the side roads and parking areas that allowed them access to all of the beautiful scenery they photographed and posted below. In this extreme heat, it was important for the two RV Gypsies to only be out of the air conditioned car for very short periods of time and not hike any trails.
Red Rock Canyon sign

Calico Hills Overlook #1 required the two RV Gypsies to walk ONLY a few feet from the parking lot to get some fantastic photos by looking left and right - each side of the short walkway was quite different. Many people walked the areas off to the side, but the two RV Gypsies did not.
Calico Hills Overlook #1
Calico Hills Overlook #1 at Red Rock
Calico Hills Overlook #1 at Red Rock
sign about great dunes at Red Rock
Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area scenery
Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area scenery
Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area scenery
Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area scenery
Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area scenery
Lee Duquette at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area scenery
Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area scenery

Calico Hills Overlook #2 - a few photos from the parking lot.
Calico Hills Overlook #2
Calico Hills Overlook #2
Calico Hills Overlook #2

Calico Hills Overlook #2 - required only a very short walk to get some great photos, as seen below.
An outcrop of Aztec Sandstone
Lee Duquette on the short trail.
rocks at Calico Hills overlook in Red Rock
check out the great color combinations

Some of the two RV Gypsies' favorite photos at Red Rock National Conservation Area.
red, gray, beige, green colors off the trail
colorful photos at Red Rock National Conservation Area
Lee Duquette at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation area
colorful scenery at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation area
colorful scenery at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation area
Lee Duquette at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation area
The two RV Gypsies at Lee Duquette at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation area
a big lizard shaped rock
Karen Duquette at Lee Duquette at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation area
sign: Sandstone Quarry Overlook
sign: Sandstone Quarry Overlook
sign: Sandstone Quarry Overlook
sign: Sandstone Quarry Overlook
sign about dreams, schemes and machines and the quarry
a sandstone block

The two RV Gypsies drove along the loop road at Red Rock National Conservation area
sign: tortoise crossing on the loop road
driving along the loop road at Red Rock National Conservation area
driving along the loop road at Red Rock National Conservation area

The two RV Gypsies looked back at the Calico Hills Overlook #2 from an overlook on the loop road and loved the scenery.
looking back at the Calico Hills Overlook #2
looking back at the Calico Hills Overlook #2
looking back at the Calico Hills Overlook #2

The two RV Gypsies stopped to eat lunch at the Willow Springs Picnic area - They did NOT walk on the trail. It was a very hot day.
sign Willo Springs Picnie Area
view from the lunch at the Willow Springs Picnic area
view from the lunch at the Willow Springs Picnic area
view from the lunch at the Willow Springs Picnic area
view from the lunch at the Willow Springs Picnic area

The two RV Gypsies took a quick stop at the Ice Box Canyon Overlook.
sign: Ice Box Canyon Overlook
Ice Box Canyon Overlook
Ice Box Canyon Overlook

Pine Creek Canyon - this pleasant canyon featured a permanent stream, large shady trees and the remains of an old dwelling, all accessed by an easy, one-mile trail. However, the two RV Gypsies decided NOT to hike, but to just photograph what they could from the parking area, although they would not be able to see the stream or the old dwelling. Hopefully, they will have the opportunity to return here another time when it is not so darn hot outside.
sign: Pine Creek Canyon Overlook
Pine Creek Canyon
Pine Creek Canyon
Pine Creek Canyon
Pine Creek Canyon
Pine Creek Canyon
Pine Creek Canyon
a squirrel
bee on a flower
sign: building blocks of histor
close-up of the rocks
colorful rocks
Karen Duquette at Red Rock Canyon

The two RV Gypsies saw a gorilla in the rock formation shown below. Do YOU?
The two RV Gypsies see a gorilla in this rock formation

Please enjoy the other five sections in Nevada below.

You may view these adventures in any order you choose.
There is also a link to Utah's National Parks and more below.
Travel from CA to NV Las Vegas Red Springs
Red Rock National
Conservation area

Valley of Fire

Terry Fator
Look below for more stuff

go to the next adventure of the two RV Gypsies AFTER you have viewed all six (6) areas above, please continue on to the adventures of The two RV Gypsies in the USA state of Utah as they explored National Parks and more: Red Canyon, Bryce, Mossy Cave, Zion, Grand Staircase-Escalante, Kodachrome Basin, Capitol Reef, Goblin Valley, Arches, Canyonlands, and the Colorado Recreation area. WOW!