Spring is the perfect time for a quick nature getaway – and we Nevadans are blessed to have so many options. Just a quick drive away, we can find ourselves surrounded by beautiful wildflowers. It’s the perfect activity to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city, and the little ones love it too! Without further ado, here are our favorite spots to see the wildflowers near Vegas!
Red Rock Canyon
A favorite for Vegas residents, Red Rock Canyon is always an amazing choice for a nature getaway, and it never disappoints. You may think it can’t get any more stunning, but just wait until the wildflowers bloom. During the month of March, you can usually witness a beautiful see of fiery red flowers, called Desert Paintbrush. Later on, milky-white Desert Anemone and Dune Primrose will appear. Globe Mallow will add to the beauty with its orange flowers, and Giant Four O’clock flowers paint the trails purple. See if you can spot the pastel pink blooms on the Manzanita bushes! Needless to say, this is a nature show not to miss this spring.
During spring, you need a time pass to enter the Scenic Loop at Red Rock Canyon. Currently, daily ones are $20 per vehicle, and just $5 for pedestrians.
Valley Of Fire State Park
This stunning park offers great hikes year round, and even free, guided ones monthly – don’t miss the ones during night time, or the sunrise hikes. This area gets little rain, hence the wild flowers you’ll find are mostly cacti, like the Strawberry Hedgehog Cactus, Beaver Tail or Cholla, with beautiful pink and purple flowers. Also commonly found in this park is the Bladder Sage, or Paperbag Bush – an amusing plant, whose flower is shaped like a purple bag. Along the park roads, look for the bright yellow Desert Marigold, and the orange Desert Mallow!
Currently, a day entrance fee costs $10 per vehicle.
Death Valley National Park
If you’re in for an adventure that’s just a little bit further away – but still just a 2-hour drive – check out the Death Valley National Park. Best time to visit for wildflowers is usually between March and mid-April. At medium altitudes, you can spot the bright yellow Desert Gold, the white and delicate Evening Primrose, or the spikey, funny looking purple Phacelia. Various cacti are blooming throughout the park, too. Later on – around end of April – you can spot amazing flowers, such as Mariposa Lilies or the Paintbrush.
This year, the wildflowers are unlikely to bloom at low altitudes, but it’s totally possible during wetter years.
A daily pass for a vehicle at Death Valley National Park is $30.
Enjoy these beautiful wildflowers near Vegas!
P.S.: Please keep in mind to never leave a trace of your visit. Never pick a wildflower, don’t litter, and respect the beautiful nature we have around us.