Bonnie Springs is located just a short 30-minute drive from the strip near Red Rock Canyon and proves the wild west is officially back and booming. This 115-acre tourist attraction gives visitors a taste of what it felt like to live in the mining town in the late nineteenth century.

Bonnie Springs was once a stopping point for travelers heading to California in the late nineteenth century. In 1952, the ranch was transformed into a tourist attraction. Today it remains a point of interest in the Las Vegas area that thousands of people visit each year.

Upon your arrival to Bonnie Springs Ranch, park in one of the free dirt parking lots. Make your way towards the ticket booth located in front of the train stop. Here you’ll buy a $10 entrance ticket that gives you admission into the town, a ride on the train, and access to the zoo. My suggestion would be to take the loop train ride first, to get acclimated with the lay of the land. After you’ve had your picture taken by the train conductor and ride the 10-minute loop, you’ll head through the gates to go into town.

There are many points of interest in town: from actors dressed up as cowboys to shops with unique merchandise to recreations of buildings that might have be found in an old western town. Some of these buildings include a wedding chapel, western-style saloon, small schoolhouse, fake mine, and an opera house. Step inside each of these buildings to get a glimpse into what the past looked like and read informative informational placards.

Once you’ve had your fill of exploring the ins and outs of the town, stick around for the melodramas scheduled intermittently throughout the day. These melodramas are staged to give visitors a glimpse into the past, from staged gun fights to fake hangings. When the melodrama concludes, the actors then can take you on an informational tour of the wax museum.

Before exiting the town, be certain to check out the zoo. Despite being small in size, the zoo is packed with a number of exotic animals from prairie dogs to wolves. Aside from caged exhibits, there are also animals that roam free throughout the zoo. Insert a quarter in one of the feeding stations and you can be certain you’ll have deer and sheep following your every move.

After visiting the petting zoo, and thoroughly washing your hands, a stop at the rustic Bonnie Springs Restaurant won’t leave you disappointed. Their burgers are cooked to perfection and meats vary from buffalo to elk. Their chocolate cake for dessert will complete a perfect meal.

Restaurant hours:

Mon-Thu 9am-9pm

Fri 9am-10pm

Sat 8am-10pm

Sunday 8am-9pm

Additionally, Bonnie Springs hosts horseback riding and a relatively inexpensive motel.

The thrills don’t stop there. If ghosts are your thing, this small town is also supposedly said to be haunted, and was even featured on the fourth season of Ghost Adventures. Visitors of the ranch claim to have seen an apparition of a little girl in the schoolhouse, and some also say they’ve seen the merry-go-round spinning on its own on windless days. Visitors also claim to have heard voices in the wax museum. The spooky aura that surrounds this small town is celebrated each Halloween, where the town name is temporarily switched to “Bonnie Screams” and haunted houses are erected for the month of October.

Now that you have more than enough reasons to check out Bonnie Springs, add it to your itinerary during your next Vegas Trip.

Summer Hours

Wednesday-Sunday 10:30am to 6:00pm

Show Times

Melodrama – 11:30am, 2:00pm, 4:30 pm

Hanging – 12 noon, 2:30pm, 5:00pm

Posse Show (Sat & Sun only) – 1:30pm & 4:00pm

Winter Hours

Wednesday-Sunday 10:00am to 5:00pm

Show Times

Melodrama – 11:30am, 1:30pm, 3:30 pm

Hanging – 12 noon, 2:00pm, 4:00pm

Posse Show (Sat & Sun only) – 1:30pm & 3:00pm

Bonnie Springs Tips

Tip #1: Eat the Bonnie Springs Restaurant and bring your receipt to the ticket booth for free admission into the western town/zoo.

Tip #2: Take a couple of quarters with you for the food machine in the zoo and watch the deer/sheep/mule flock to you.

Tip #3: Take a quick, enjoyable 5-minute trip on the railroad train. The train is free with the purchase of an admission into the town.

Tip #4: Hikers, be sure to check out the nearby Red Rock Canyon for some of the most beautiful trails in Nevada.

Tip #5: Wear tennis shoes because your feet will get dusty as you walk through town and the petting zoo.

Tip #6: Bonnie Springs is not the best place for strollers or wheelchairs, with few ramps and a number of stairs to climb to see inside some of the attractions.

Admission: At the time of this post admission is $10 for adults, $7 for children.

Address: 16935 Bonnie Springs Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89124

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The trailhead for Elephant Rock is clearly marked, with a sign that indicates the Elephant Rock Trail which veers left and the 1.5-mile Arrowhead Loop Trail which veers right. Take the left fork through an open area of red rock bliss, heading toward the main park road.

At the road you will see the elephant above you along the trail, clear as day. To get a better vantage point of the elephant, follow the marked trail upward.

The elephant rock is easy to climb to the top and makes for a prime photo taking opportunity. Alternately, the rock formations directly above Elephant Rock are also a good spot to climb to get a different vantage point. Once you’ve had your fix of taking pictures of the rock from every angle imaginable, you can retrace your steps back to the beginning for a 0.4-mile hike or follow the trail around the rock formations to return back to the parking lot for a 1.2-mile loop.

Valley of Fire History

Valley of Fire State Park is known for its dramatic landscapes, unique hiking trails, Indian petroglyphs, and sense of eerie familiarity. This may be in part because it has been the set location for several films including Total Recall, Transformers, and Star Trek. During the last Ice Age this area was much cooler and wetter, making it a suitable habitat for mammals such as the saber-tooth tiger and giant mammoth. Red sandstone rocks take over the state park however Elephant Rock is the most distinct of them all. The creation of this rock can be largely attributed to the power of weather and erosion. Elephant Rock in Nevada is not to be confused with the other elephant rock in Taranaki, New Zealand.

Elephant Rock Trail Tips

Tip #1: Hike the Elephant Rock Trail in the winter or springs to enjoy in cooler temperatures. With no shade coverage this hike can be brutal in the summer.

Tip #2: The trail itself is only 0.4-miles  or 1.2-miles roundtrip, however because of the uniqueness of this hike, allow for additional time for picture taking and exploring.

Tip #3: Noticeable cairns will guide you the entirety of the time. Follow the marked sings to ensure you stay on track.

Tip #4: Hike to and climb the rocks above elephant rock to get a stellar view of not only the elephant, but the Valley of Fire State Park.

Tip #5: Pair this short hike with other hikes in the park to get the full Valley of Fire experience. I’d suggest the White Domes and Fire Wave Trail.

Driving Directions

From Las Vegas, follow I-15 North and take exit 75 onto the Valley of Fire Highway and travel 14.5 miles  to the west park entry station. Continue along the road passing Arch Rock, the Beehives and Seven Sisters toward the East Entrance. Park in the East Entrance parking lot.

Elevation Gain: 50 feet

Day Use-Parking Pass Required: $10

Preferable Seasons: Winter, Spring

Dog-Friendly: Yes

Difficulty: Easy

Total Distance: 0.4-miles out and back or 1.2-mile loop

Trailhead Address: 29450 Valley of Fire Road, Moapa Valley, NV 89040

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The image of the Fire Wave had appeared on covers of Nevada Tourism trails and photography sites for years. Besides pictures, however, hikers were both intrigued and tormented by the fact that there was no clear-cut trail or information on how to get to it before.

Now the trail is easily accessible, so much so that it attracts visitors from across the country who would prefer the Fire Wave as opposed to visiting its difficult to get to and lottery-based rivals—White Pocket and The Wave. Fire Wave offers colorful striations that have formed to create a “wave-like” pattern in the rocks. It bears a striking resemblance to “The Wave” near Page, Arizona, but Fire Wave is almost just as incredible and you don’t ned a permit to visit like you do at “The Wave”.

The Fire Wave is located in the Valley of Fire State Park, about 50 miles from Las Vegas. This popular and easily accessible park is home to many other must-see hikes including the short hike to Elephant Rock and the White Domes trail. Take the short, yet scenic drive toward Rainbow Vista and White Domes. Pass the first two numbered parking lots until you reach lot #3.

View from Parking Lot #3

After parking in parking lot #3, you’ll see a sign that directs you to cross the road to the trailhead. Here you’ll see a sign that reads “Fire Wave”. At the trailhead, the first 0.4 miles winds down and around a small ridge. This portion of the trail follows a soft, sandy trail through the desert.

Soon you’ll come across a large rock formation. The trail turns right and meanders around this formation then continues south. Soon you’ll be walking on rock in an open area with only the desert surrounding you. This section of the trail features a variety of different rocks—red, pink, and white in color. Here there will be a smile rise in the trail.

Just a few minutes later you will drop over another rise. Then the Fire Wave will come into view—a stunning landscape of reddish, pink, and white rock swirled. The Fire Wave isn’t as large as pictures may make it appear, however it is a site you’ve likely never seen before. When you’ve fully explored the Fire Wave, follow the same trail back out towards Parking Lot #3.

Fire Wave Trail Tips

Tip #1: Hike the Fire Wave Trail in the winter and spring months when the temperatures are lower. With no shade coverage this hike can be brutal in the summer.

Tip #2: The trail itself is only 1.25-miles roundtrip, however because of the uniqueness of this hike, allow for additional time for picture taking and exploring.

Tip #3: The Fire Wave trailhead is across the road from the parking lot. Exercise caution when crossing the park road.

Tip #4: Photography is pinnacle at the Fire Wave. Sunset photography of the Fire Wave may be more difficult than expected in winter due to the low setting sun. 1-2 hours prior to sunset would be a prime opportunity to capture pictures here.

Tip #5: Noticeable, brown markers will guide you the entirety of the time. Follow the marked cairns to ensure you stay on track.

Tip #6: Walk around the entire wave formation to capture this beauty from all angles. You can also proceed past the Wave to further explore, climb higher rock formations.

Tip #7: Take a moment to stop and take in the Rainbow Vista on your way out of the Valley of Fire State Park. It only takes a moment to view and take a picture, but will be a memory and photo that will last a lifetime.

Driving Directions

From Las Vegas, follow I-15 North and take exit 75 onto the Valley of Fire Highway and travel 14.5 miles  to the west park entry station. The Fire Wave Trailhead is 4.3 miles north of the park Visitor Center along the road to White Domes. Park at parking lot #3 and the trailhead is directly across the park road.

Elevation Gain: 140 feet

Day Use-Parking Pass Required: $10

Preferable Seasons: Winter, Spring

Dog-Friendly: Yes

Difficulty: Easy

Total Distance: 1.25 miles

Trailhead Address: 29450 Valley of Fire Road, Moapa Valley, NV 89040

Resources: Valley of Fire Trails Map

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A quick 30-minute drive away from the strip will land you at Red Rock Canyon, where 19 diverse hiking trails await. This post will cover Pine Creek Canyon, a short 3-mile roundtrip hike (10 miles down the Scenic Drive Loop) that offers some of the best views of Red Rock Canyon with diverse plant communities sprouting at the bottom of monolithic canyon walls. Pine Creek Canyon is also packed with history, in fact the ponderosa pine forest at the mouth of the canyon is remnant from the last Ice Age, but has managed to survive due to the cool air and water flowing down Pine Canyon.

From the entrance to Red Rock Canyon National Conservation, after you pay the $7 fee (at the time of this post), you will drive about 20 minutes along Scenic Loop Road to reach the Pine Creek Canyon Trailhead. Once you park near the trailhead, you will have a clear view of the Pine Creek Wash, and the worn trail that quickly descends down a steep sidehill. Once you get to the bottom of your descent, the trail runs west and intersects with the Fire Ecology Trail for a short distance. As you continue along the trail you will pass historic concrete and stone structures that were once used to mark the entrance to the Wilson Ranch. Horace and Glenda Wilson lived here for about 10 years but left the canyon to move to Las Vegas in 1933. The home was burned by arsonists.

Continue following the main trail through a grove of ponderosa pine and past a seasonal stream, that was not-so-surprisingly flowing heavily in the beginning of January. At 0.80 miles the mail trail forks to the right, starting into Pine Creek Canyon. The trail runs along the north side of the canyon, beneath staggering sandstone cliffs, and towards the head of the canyon. The trail then descends onto sandy ground where rocks outline a large, triangular trail intersection. Here, the Pine Creek Trail turns left and takes you downstream from Mescalito Wall. The trail was sketchy here, and there are many use-trails that can make the hike confusing. You will cross the wash and continue south and up the far hillside where the trail turns east and starts heading back down the canyon.

The trail runs back down along the south side of the canyon and the views here are spectacular. The trail meets up with the intersection of the Arnight Trail, however the Arnight Trail forks off to the right and the Pine Creek trail will turn left, descending towards Pine Creek. The trail will cross over the creek and climbs to the other side of the creek. The main fork runs across the meadow to reconnect with the main trail that will lead you back to the trailhead.

Pine Creek Canyon is enjoyable for both the novice and experienced hiker with great scenery, ample opportunities to spot wildlife due to the water, and beautiful photo opportunities. It was once even used as a shooting location for the 1968 movie “The Stalking Moon” starring Gregory Peck and Eva Marie Saint. If you watch the movie, you will see Mescalito Peak and other Pine Creek formations on screen.

Pine Creek Canyon Tips

Tip #1: Be mindful of where you step. There is an abundance of horse poop, especially near the start of the trail.

Tip #2: Wear supportive hiking boots. There are a few parts of the trail that require rock scrambling.

Tip #3: Look for the foundations of Old Man Wilson’s home, along the main path and past the burned brush area.

Tip #4: This is a popular trail at Red Rock Canyon and should you choose to hit it during a long people, expect an influx of other hikers in front of and behind you. For a quieter experience opt for the week days.

Tip #5: Pine Creek Canyon is one of the last hikes along the 13-mile Scenic Loop Drive. Enjoy the beautiful red rock outcroppings along the way and plan which hiking trail you’ll hit next in the meantime.

Tip #6: A one-day pass to enter Red Rock Canyon is $7 per vehicle. However, if you live near the area, you can also purchase an annual pass which is $30 per person.

Difficulty: Easy to moderate

Total Distance: 3 miles

Trailhead Address: 1000 Scenic Loop Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89161

Resources

Trail Map

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