Calico Tanks Hiking Guide
Calico Tanks packs more variety into two and a half miles than most trails manage in ten. From the Sandstone Quarry lot the route climbs a wash of red and cream sandstone, threads between boulders, and requires a few honest scrambling moves before arriving at a natural rock tank that holds water long after the desert around it has dried. Walk past the tank to the rim and the Las Vegas Strip appears, improbably, in the gap between the cliffs.
Permit: Timed-entry reservation required for the Red Rock Canyon Scenic Drive October 1 - May 31, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., via Recreation.gov, plus the vehicle entrance fee
Reservations Come First
Red Rock Canyon requires a timed-entry reservation for the Scenic Drive from October 1 through May 31 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., booked through Recreation.gov, plus the vehicle entrance fee. Outside those hours and from June through September no reservation is needed. This catches out visitors constantly — people drive from the Strip in January without a booking and are turned around at the gate. Book ahead, arrive within your window, and note that re-entry after your slot requires a new reservation.
The Route
From Sandstone Quarry the trail heads up a broad wash before narrowing into the canyon. The footing shifts between sand, slickrock and boulder-hopping, with a handful of moves that need hands. It is not exposed and nothing is technical, but it is genuinely uneven — trail runners and sneakers with worn tread do badly here. Cairns mark the way where the route crosses open rock; follow them rather than improvising, because the wash braids and people do get briefly lost.
The Tank and the View
The tank is a natural depression in the sandstone that collects rainwater and can hold it for months. It is genuinely worth the walk on its own, and in wet years it supports frogs and a surprising amount of life. Do not swim or wade — this is a scarce desert water source that wildlife depends on. Continue past it and up onto the rim for the view east across the valley to the Strip, which is the shot everyone comes for.
Heat and Timing
Las Vegas summers are severe and Red Rock's sandstone reflects heat back at you. From June through September this is a dawn hike or nothing, and that is also the window when no reservation is needed, which makes an early summer start unexpectedly convenient. October through April is superb, with winter mornings cold enough to want gloves at the start. There is no shade to speak of and no water on the trail.
Sharing the Trail
This is the most popular hike in Red Rock and it feels like it on a spring weekend. The scrambling sections create bottlenecks where uphill and downhill traffic meet, so be patient and let people through. Leashed dogs are permitted and generally do well, though the scrambling moves are awkward for larger dogs and the rock gets hot. Stay on the established route; the sandstone here is soft and boot traffic off-trail leaves marks that last for years.
Hiking tips for Calico Tanks
- Book your Red Rock timed-entry reservation before you drive out from October through May — the gate turns people around daily.
- Hike at dawn in summer, when it is both the only safe temperature window and the season no reservation is required.
- Follow the cairns where the route crosses open slickrock; the wash braids and people lose the line here regularly.
- Wear shoes with real tread — there is enough scrambling that worn soles turn a fun hike into a nervous one.
- Stay out of the water tank itself; it is a scarce desert water source that local wildlife depends on.
Nearby trails to explore
- Turtlehead Peak
- Ice Box Canyon
- Lost Creek Falls
Hike this trail with TrailMates
Calico Tanks is the Red Rock hike to do first, and reservations are easier to coordinate as a group. Use TrailMates to find Las Vegas hikers sharing a timed-entry slot and an early start. Download the TrailMates app to connect.