Want to bring your dog to some of the best hiking trails in and around Las Vegas? Las Vegas Nevada features a plethora of hiking options, large recreation areas, state parks, and more that will have you back in the city by sunset! Come experience Dog Friendly Las Vegas Nevada with Thor, Skadi, and their parents!
First things first…
It’s a privilege to bring your dog hiking on public lands. Please leash them if the area requests it, clean up after them, and be attentive. And while we are at it…Leave No Trace and Pack Your 10 Essentials :)!
Dog Friendly Las Vegas Adventure List!
- Bowl of Fire, Lake Mead National Recreation Area.
- Fletcher Canyon, Mount Charleston Recreation Area.
- Calico Tanks, Red Rock National Conservation Area.
- Prospect Trail, Valley of Fire State Park.
- River Mountain Trail, Boulder City.
Dog Friendly Las Vegas:
Bowl of Fire, Lake Mead.
Park Entrance Fee Required. National Park Pass Friendly.
The parking for this hike is unassuming as it’s just along the main drive. My favorite thing about hiking in Lake Mead National Recreation Area is that the hiking trails don’t draw the same crowds as other hiking areas around Las Vegas. You get lost in the vastness of the desert, alone to commune with nature most of the time. This trail is a more popular trail in the park, but that being said we only encountered a small handful of people which allows the dogs and us to relax and enjoy our time on the trail.
There are stunning red rock features that jut out in a stark juxtaposition from the dusty landscape. The red rock is pitted from a mixture of wind and water erosion, and the dogs love to scramble around to get the best views. Bighorn sheep have been spotted on this trail, but it’s not guaranteed. Skadi was very proud of herself when she found bones of a hare and a bighorn sheep jaw bone. We climb up and over the saddle to make this a loop. If you add that bit, this trail can be moderate-hard. Thor and Skadi love the challenge and make short work of it.
Dog Friendly Las Vegas: Fletcher Canyon.
One of the more popular trails in the summer at Mount Charleston, I recommend getting there early before the parking fills up. I love this hike in spring when the snow is at the tail end of completing the melt for summer. Water runs freely down the usually dry creek bed, and once you’re deep in the canyon you will still find snow. The dogs get the zoomies as soon as we hit the first large snow patch.
You have to be careful, as towards the back of the canyon the usually dry waterfall is rushing under melting snow and ice. During the summer, this dries out and you can make it all the way back to where the only memory of water is the dark staining of the rock. This is a great trail in the summer as well as it offers cooler temperatures back in the canyon.
No entrance fee required!
Dog Friendly Las Vegas: Calico Tanks, Red Rock National Conservation Area.
Park Fee Required. National Park Pass Friendly. Reservations Required Oct – May
Although this is a shorter trail, it packs a punch. One of the most popular trails in the park, I recommend getting there early to beat the crowds. Don’t let that keep you away, though! This hike is mostly an elevation gain, but the navigating of the red and white rock ends at an amazing view of the strip in the distance with a whole bunch of breathless nature in between. I’m pretty sure Thor always gets a photo looking majestic up there. What’s unique about this hike is the tank that it gets its name from.
There exists a large rock feature that holds water when there is enough rain. It’s large enough to be a pond when full, and when there’s been rain it’s something to see! I’ve also been lucky enough to hike the day after a big rain when water was running down almost the entire trail.
Prospect Trail: Valley of Fire State Park.
A piece of my heart will always be on Prospect Trail because that’s where I saw my first big horn sheep on a hike. Although big horn sheep can be seen regularly in the park, it took me years before I saw them while hiking – but I’ve seen them twice now on this trail! Most of the visitors to Valley of Fire fit in multiple short hikes, so a hike like this that is longer and less populated is a great find.
This hike includes stunning views of the unbelievable color red/purple/orange/yellow changes in the rock and has the bonus of White Dome Canyon. Depending on your dog’s level of agility, they may need help on one small scramble. There is also an option to hike up and around this feature if it’s beyond their ability. We opted for that way on the way back just to fully explore the trail.
River Mountain Trail, Boulder City Nevada.
When you begin this hike in a residential area, you would never guess what beautiful things lay beyond. Although I have known people who have seen bighorn sheep on this trail, I’ve still yet to encounter them. We have seen a bigger lizard and made a lifelong friend at the top of the hike when her older dog teetered over to beg for treats. This area has a lot of flowers in the spring, and as Boulder City runs a bit cooler than the valley, you can still fit in a hike later in the season before it heats up too much. Once you reach the top, you are greeted with views of Lake Mead in the distance.
Las Vegas and the surrounding region in Nevada has unbelievable dog friendly adventures for your pup, thanks for letting us share ours with you!
Thanks for reading and supporting Happy People Hike, comment below with any questions about a dog friendly Vegas Hiking Adventure.
Happy Hiking,
Thor and Skadi (and our parents Meghan/Davery for taking all these photos of us!)