Fall in Las Vegas is the perfect time to escape the crowds, the lights and The Strip and venture outdoors to the desert. The weather is Goldilocks perfect, and plenty of adventures can be had within 60 minutes of the city. The best part? What happens outside of Vegas doesn’t have to stay in Vegas. Share all you like. Your Instagram feed will thank you.
No. 1: Art in the Desert
Visit the colorful, stacked monoliths created by Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone. Seven Magic Mountains is a large-scale public art installation just 10 miles south
of Las Vegas. The neon totems, made of giant stacked boulders, are 30+ feet high and stand against the backdrop of distant mountains and in contrast to the stark desert atmosphere. Enjoy photo opportunities galore. And bring lots of water. sevenmagicmountains.com
No. 2: Tour an Abandoned Gold Mine
The Techatticup Mine is Southern Nevada’s oldest and richest Gold Mine. It produced so much gold (1861–1942) that steamboats came along the river to load up on the ore. The mine tour is the perfect way to escape the heat into the cool air of the mine, where you’ll learn about the geology, history and people who lived and worked there. Reservations are required. eldoradocanyonminetours.com
No. 3: Kayak the Colorado River
Book a tour with Evolution Expeditions for a 3-hour tour of the dam-locked Colorado River between the famous Hoover Dam and Eldorado Canyon. The river is smooth and easy to navigate. Paddle past historic sites and venture into the Black Canyon narrows to explore the river. Your guide will teach you to back your kayak into the famous Emerald Cave to get some stunning photos of the emerald-green water. On the way back, stop at Hoover Dam for sunset photos. evolutionexpeditions.com
No. 4. 2: Visit a Historic Ghost Town
Goodsprings Ghost Town boasts 120 years of history and dozens of historic buildings. From the old schoolhouse to the social hall, you can take a self-guided tour through the town, wrapping up at the Pioneer Saloon, the oldest bar in Southern Nevada (opened in 1913). Get the famous POLTERGEIST Burger with famous ghost sauce (derived from ghost chilis) and a dash of Old Man Liver’s house-made Yummy As F**k Sauce. pioneersaloonnv.com
Goodsprings Ghost Town offers history and the Pioneer Saloon (below) is still open for business. Photo by Lydia Martinez.
No. 5: Go for a Day Hike
Before the Hoover Dam was constructed, a railroad was built to transport materials to the site, complete with 5 tunnels burrowed through the mountainside, each one totaling
300 feet in length and 25 feet in diameter. It has since been turned into the Historic Railroad Trail (a 3.7-mile hike) with a beautiful overlook of Lake Mead. Walk through the giant tunnels and enjoy the signage along the trail to learn about the area’s history, geology, flora and fauna. Visit at sunset for stunning painted desert views and cool air. nps.gov/lake
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