If you’re a regular visitor of Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area in Southern Nevada, you’ve probably noticed the park’s popularity increasing exponentially over the past few years. Lines of cars at the park’s entrance are a common sight on weekends when the weather is nice. To accommodate the extra visitors, the park will be shifting to a timed reservation system for entry to the Scenic Drive. If you plan on visiting the park’s famous drive anytime soon, you’ll want to be sure to know all about the new system and how to use it.
Beginning on November 3, 2020, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will require reservations for access to the Scenic Drive in Red Rock Canyon Conservation Area. If you plan on visiting the popular park in the future, this is what you need to know:
The park's shift to an online timed entry reservation system was made in order to accommodate the excess of visitors and reduce wait times for access into the park. The new system will begin in November, but you can start making reservations starting on October 13.
With over 3.5 million visitors last year, Red Rock Canyon is the most visited national conservation area in the entire country. If you've visited the park anytime between October through May in the last year, you've probably witnessed the high level of congestion that can occur at the park's entrance. The new reservation system is designed to prevent congestion and make your visit to Red Rock Canyon as smooth as possible!
A reservation costs $2 in addition to the regular day use entry fee which is $15 per vehicle. Reservations are not required during the off-season months of June-September or outside of the peak daytime hours between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Additionally, bicycles are not required to have a reservation for entry at this time.
Reservations can easily be made online via Recreation.gov up to 30 days in advance of your visit. All you need t do is set up an account and print out a copy of your reservation! Remember that reservations are only required for the Scenic Drive. You don't need one if you plan on visiting an outlying area outside of the official Red Rock Canyon Scenic Drive.
You'll be required to pick a time of entry when making a reservation, but there's no time limit once you're in the park. You can stay for as long as you'd like and leave anytime. The only requirement is that you arrive within your reserved 1-hour window.
For more information about Red Rock Canyon's new reservation system, visit the Bureau of Land Management website for more information. Although this change will add an extra step to your Red Rock adventures, it's bound to make for a better experience for all!
Have you visited Red Rock Canyon NCA recently? Tell us if you’ve noticed an increase in the park’s popularity below and if you think this timed reservation system will help. We’d love to hear your thoughts!
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