Hotels near Calico Tanks

Calico Tanks is the most-hiked trail in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area and the best introduction to the red Aztec Sandstone the area is built from. From the Sandstone Quarry trailhead at mile 2.7 of the Scenic Loop Drive, the route climbs 4 km (2.5 miles) round trip through a narrowing sandstone canyon, gaining 120 m (400 ft) over 1.5 to 2 hours at a moderate difficulty. There is no single obvious path - you follow cairns and worn rock across slabs and up a stepped gully, which is the part first-time visitors underestimate.

The tank at the top is a natural rock basin that holds rainwater for weeks after a storm and was used by the Southern Paiute long before the 1905 sandstone quarry gave the trailhead its name. Walk 50 metres past the tank to the canyon lip and the Las Vegas Strip appears 30 km east, framed by red rock. Shade is minimal on the climb and the sandstone radiates heat, so this is a cool-morning hike from October through April.

Pro Tip: The Sandstone Quarry car park is the second stop on the loop and it is full by 8:30am on winter weekends. If you arrive later, drive on and come back at 2pm when the morning crowd has cycled out - the low afternoon light on the Calico Hills is better for photography anyway.