Clark: Nature, Fossils, and History

Clark offers a diverse range of experiences: wetlands, fossil discoveries, outdoor trails, and places where history comes to life. When planning your trip, it’s worth distinguishing these offerings not only by subject, but also by the stated trail lengths, seasons, and visiting conditions.

Wetlands and Landscapes

Clark County Wetlands Park covers 2,900 acres on the eastern edge of the Las Vegas Valley. It includes a 210-acre nature preserve. The two figures therefore refer to different areas: the preserve is part of the larger park. The park’s Nature Center offers public walks led by certified interpretive guides. Bicycles are allowed on the 14-mile Wetlands Loop Trail—another way to explore the park along a longer route.

Red Rock Canyon also offers a practical reference for planning: visitors can take scenic drives along a 13-mile road. The area was designated Nevada’s first National Conservation Area. The scenic drive and the designation are two distinct points of interest—one describes a way to see the area, while the other refers to its protected-area status.

Fossils and Outdoor Trails

Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument is home to a vertebrate fossil assemblage known as the “Tule Springs local fauna.” Ranger-led hikes explore the monument’s natural history. If this program is an important part of your plans, check the current event schedule before your trip.

At Ice Age Fossils State Park, two trails differ in both length and theme. The Megafauna Trail is 0.3 miles long and features life-size animal sculptures. The Big Dig Trail is 1.2 miles long and starts and ends at the Trench K Trailhead. These details help distinguish the two trails; they do not indicate walking time or difficulty.

Spring Mountain Ranch State Park has hiking trails throughout the park. It also offers living-history programs with costumed role-playing, demonstrations, and reenactments of historical events. Check the schedule before your trip. Spring Mountain Ranch was added to the “Historic Register of Historic Places” in 1976 as a historic district. Visitors interested in both nature and history will find both in this state park.

Season also matters for guided walks and hikes: the National Park Service offers these tours in cooler weather, from November through March, in various parts of Lake Mead National Recreation Area. Marinas at Lake Mead rent powerboats, pontoon boats, fishing boats, houseboats, personal watercraft, and paddle boats. The selection ranges from motorized boats to paddle boats; check availability if a particular rental option is important to your plans.

History on Display

Clark County Museum presents history in several ways. A timeline exhibit covers southern Nevada from prehistoric times to the modern era. The museum also includes a collection of restored historic buildings that depicts everyday life across different decades in Las Vegas, Boulder City, and Henderson. Heritage Street is a collection of restored historic homes that recreates important periods in local history. This brings together a chronological overview and depictions of everyday life in specific historic homes.

Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort preserves the remains of an adobe fort built by Mormon missionaries in 1855 beside a spring-fed creek. The visitor center features exhibits and photographs about the site’s history. The Paiute tribe lived at the present-day site of Sunset Park about a thousand years ago. Visitors were welcomed there to trade seeds, nuts, and turquoise. These two stories reflect different eras and ways of life at these places.

Special Visiting Conditions and Arrival

Seasonal requirements apply to daily access to Big Bend of the Colorado River: from May 15 through September 15, day-use permits or day-use reservations are required before 11:30 a.m. Check this requirement before your visit, especially if you plan to arrive in the morning.

For arrival planning, Harry Reid International Airport offers various ground transportation options, including shuttles, limousines, and public buses. Bus service at the airport is provided by the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada.

Laughlin is known as the North Reach of the Colorado River Heritage Greenway Trail System, offering more opportunities for outdoor activities. Pleistocene Palooza at Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument may also be of interest when planning your trip: this annual interactive outdoor event is for fossil enthusiasts of all ages. Check the current event calendar for dates.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Laughlin, Whitney, Henderson, Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Sandy Valley, Mesquite, Primm, Mount Charleston, Blue Diamond, Moapa Valley, Spring Valley, Searchlight.

For the broader travel overview: Nevada.