Five hike-and-brunch pairings, each within a 12-minute drive of each other. Earn the mimosa.
Hike: Red Spring Boardwalk in Calico Basin, 0.5-mile loop, wheelchair- and stroller-accessible, no fee. Iconic red sandstone reflections at sunrise. 30 minutes, end-to-end.
Brunch: Hearthstone Kitchen & Cellar at Red Rock Resort. $25 bottomless brunch Sat–Sun 10 AM–2:30 PM (mimosas, spritzes, bloodys). Wood-fire breakfast pizzas, ricotta pancakes, croque madame. Reservations recommended.
Why it works: Calico Basin is 6 miles from Red Rock Resort. Park at the boardwalk, walk it, drive 12 minutes, you're in a banquette before 10:30 AM. The boardwalk is so easy it works for any fitness level — bring grandparents.
Hike: Lost Creek/Children's Discovery Trail, 0.7-mile loop, easy. Year-round waterfall after rain, ancient agave roasting pits, petroglyphs. The introduction-to-hiking trail in Red Rock.
Brunch: Lola's Louisiana Kitchen at the Town Center & Charleston plaza (~0.7 mi from most Summerlin Airbnbs — walkable). Cajun & Creole, generous portions, the Sunday brunch with a New Orleans soundtrack.
Why it works: Lost Creek is one of the best bang-for-effort trails in Red Rock, and Lola's is the closest "real food" walkable from the village core. Drive back, park at home, walk to brunch.
Hike: Ice Box Canyon, 2.6 miles round-trip, moderate. Shaded canyon — the only Red Rock hike that's actually doable in summer. Some boulder scrambling. Allow 90–120 minutes.
Brunch: True Food Kitchen at Downtown Summerlin. Andrew Weil's anti-inflammatory menu — green plate, ancient grains, spicy panang curry. The cleanest food in Summerlin. Brunch service Sat–Sun.
Why it works: You earned the kombucha. Drive from Ice Box back to Downtown Summerlin is ~15 minutes. Park at DTS — you're a 5-minute walk from True Food.
Hike: Pine Creek Canyon, 3 miles round-trip, easy/moderate. Year-round creek, old homestead ruins, ponderosa pines. Better in spring before the heat. 90 minutes.
Brunch: Vintner Grill in Summerlin proper. The locals' anniversary spot — modern American with Italian leanings, romantic-by-design lighting, a tucked-away patio that's worth the drive. Brunch served weekends.
Why it works: Pine Creek is the most peaceful Red Rock trail. Vintner Grill is the most peaceful sit-down. The whole experience runs adults-only without trying.
Hike: Turtlehead Peak, 4.6 miles round-trip, hard, 2,000+ ft elevation gain. The best summit views in Red Rock. Allow 4 hours. Bring 3 liters of water and a hat. Not for first-timers.
Brunch: Honey Salt on Pavilion Center. Farm-to-table neighborhood standard for 10+ years. Strong wine list, walkable shaded patio. The right kind of long-late brunch when you've already burned 1,500 calories.
Why it works: Turtlehead is real exercise. Honey Salt is real food. Both deserve more than 90 minutes — this is a 5-hour pairing, not a brunch-and-go.
The Mojave gets dangerous after 9 AM in summer. Three rules: (1) start hikes by 6 AM; (2) carry 1 liter of water per hour; (3) tell someone your route. The shade trails (Ice Box Canyon, Pine Creek) are the only ones we'd recommend for a 10 AM start in July.
The 13-mile Red Rock Scenic Drive requires a $20 timed-entry reservation October through May, booked the day before on recreation.gov. Calico Basin and the boardwalk-only trails do NOT require a reservation — they're free and open year-round. Pine Creek and Ice Box trailheads ARE on the scenic loop, so they need the reservation in season.