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During mid-spring, the vivid pink to magenta flowers of strawberry hedgehog cactus (Echinocereus engelmannii) catch the attention of not only […]

Red-tailed hawks (Buteo jamaicensis) are one of the most commonly spotted raptors in Red Rock Canyon. Look for these large […]

Z: Zebra-tailed lizard One of the fastest lizards in the Mojave Desert, Western zebra-tailed lizards (Callisaurus draconoides rhodostictus) flash in […]

Spotted at the Visitor Center, within rocky slopes in Calico Basin, and near Willow Springs, cliffrose (Purshia stansburiana) puts on […]

Desert iguanas (Dipsosaurus dorsalis) can be found at Red Rock Canyon during the daytime hustling in between creosote bushes. These […]

During the majority of the year, blackbrush (Coleogyne ramosissima) looks like a dull shrub with its gray branches and gray-green […]

Y: Yucca schidigera One of the more common plants in Red Rock Canyon, Mojave yucca (Yucca schidigera) dominates the landscape […]

The bright yellow flowers of Mojave popcorn flower (Cryptantha confertiflora), also known as yellow/golden cryptantha, guarantee to catch your eye […]

While exploring Red Rock Canyon in the spring, you may start to hear the two part “rib-it” or “krek-ek” call […]

Western redbud (Cercis orbiculata) provides a stunning springtime display of pink & purple flowers. This large shrub, growing up to […]

Join the Bureau of Land Management, Friends of Red Rock Canyon, and Southern Nevada Conservancy on Sunday, April 23 to […]

X: Xylorhiza tortifolia From April through June, look for the purple daisy-like petal blooms of the Mojave aster (Xylorhiza tortifolia) […]

Blooming within canyons and along rocky slopes in early spring, you can find pointleaf manzanita (Arctostaphylos pungens) with its small […]

This small and low to the ground plant is one of our first bloomers; you can often see filaree’s (Erodium […]

W: Wilderness Areas Wilderness areas are special designations of land that preserves scenic & pristine areas in perpetuity. These public […]

HOURS The Scenic Drive is open daily from 6AM until 8PM throughout spring & summer. The Visitor Center is open […]

Seldom seen at Red Rock Canyon, bobcats (Lynx rufus) quietly patrol desert canyons and rocky outcrops looking for rabbits, rodents, […]

V: Velvet Ash In the wetter seeps and creeks of Red Rock Canyon, you can often spot tall velvet ash […]

The western bluebird (Sialia mexicana) is a winter migrant at Red Rock Canyon. These medium sized birds (6-7”) are very […]

U: Utah agave When hiking in rocky areas around Red Rock Canyon, look for this low to the ground yet […]

During mid to late winter and early spring, look for the large green leaves (up to 12 inches) and reddish […]

While hiking in the pinyon-juniper and scrub oak landscapes of Red Rock Canyon, you might spot blue flashes of Woodhouse’s […]

T: Tortoise The desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) is brown with a high-domed shell and stocky, scaly limbs. These animals can […]

You can spot dark-eyed juncos (Junco hyemalis) wintering at Red Rock Canyon in shrubs and thickets. These small birds belong […]

The tallest trees in Red Rock Canyon, ponderosa pines (Pinus ponderosa), can reach heights of over 200 feet. Ponderosa pines […]

S: Sheep (bighorn) Bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) are one of the most majestic large animals seen within Red Rock Canyon, […]

This colorful bird, the spotted towhee (Pipilo maculatus), features beady red eyes and patches of orange under the wings. Males […]

R: Rattlesnakes Although commonly talked about and feared, the odds of visitors seeing a rattlesnake at Red Rock Canyon are […]

Scattered throughout the mid and upper elevations of Red Rock Canyon, you can find Utah juniper (Juniperus osteosperma) trees adding […]

The rocks are not the only thing that’s red at Red Rock Canyon! Male house finches (Carpodacus mexicanus) feature striking […]

Q: Quarry (Sandstone Quarry) From 1905 to 1912, Sandstone Quarry within Red Rock Canyon was used by various owners & […]

In the wetter seeps and creeks of Red Rock Canyon, you can often spot tall single-leaf ash (Fraxinus anomala) and […]

When exploring Red Rock Canyon during the winter, keep your eyes peeled for the stunning white-crowned sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) throughout […]