Photo: Greg Bulla / Unsplash (Red Rock Canyon)
Outdoor

The Mojave starts in your backyard.

Red Rock Canyon's entrance is ~5 minutes from most Summerlin villages. Add Calico Basin, Springs Preserve, and 250 miles of in-village trails — and you have a different reason to be outside every weekend.

The big four outdoor hits

Red Rock Canyon Scenic Drive

13-mile one-way loop through the canyon. Easy ramps to short hikes (Calico Hills, Lost Creek, Ice Box Canyon). Best at sunrise. Timed-entry reservation Oct–May.

~5 mi from village core · NPS site for permits

Calico Basin

Free, no-reservation access just before the Red Rock fee booth. Boulders, easy trails, and the Red Spring Boardwalk — kid- and stroller-friendly.

~6 mi · free

Springs Preserve

180-acre nature campus: trails, gardens, museums, Butterfly Habitat, and the Origen Museum. Family pass for the year is the best deal in town.

333 S Valley View Blvd · ~10 mi

Summerlin Trail System

250+ miles of paved and unpaved trails connecting villages, schools, parks, and the canyon. Run, ride, or walk between brunch spots.

Free · access from any park

Best short hikes (under 3 miles)

HikeDistanceDifficultyNotes
Calico Hills (1st Pullout)0.5–2 miEasyIconic red sandstone, scrambling for kids
Lost Creek / Children's Discovery Trail0.7 mi loopEasyYear-round waterfall after rain. Petroglyphs.
Ice Box Canyon2.6 mi RTModerateShaded — ideal in summer mornings.
Red Spring Boardwalk (Calico Basin)0.5 mi loopEasyWheelchair/stroller accessible. No fee.
Pine Creek Canyon3 mi RTEasy/ModOld homestead ruins, year-round creek.
Turtlehead Peak4.6 mi RTHardBest summit views — not for first-timers.

Heat is real — summer hikes only before 9 AM. Carry water (1L per hour). Tell someone your route.

Other outdoor things to do

Fitness on The Lawn (free)

Outdoor group fitness Tuesdays 7:30–8:30 PM at Downtown Summerlin, April–September.

Trail running club

Multiple local groups meet at Willow Park and Bruce Trent. Check the Summerlin Trail System app.

Mountain biking — Cottonwood Valley

30+ miles of singletrack just south of Red Rock. Free, world-class, lightly trafficked weekdays.

Climbing — Red Rock

One of the world's premier sandstone climbing destinations. Guided trips via Red Rock Climbing Center.

Pickleball

Public courts at Bruce Trent Park, Spring Valley Pkwy Park, and the Summerlin Council facilities for residents.

Golf at TPC Summerlin

Host of the Shriners Children's Open. Public play available — book 30+ days out.

Golf in Summerlin

Summerlin's golf scene punches above its weight — TPC hosts a PGA Tour event, and three other clubs ring the master plan.

PGA Tour host

TPC Summerlin

Host of the Shriners Children's Open every fall. Public play during the rest of the year — book 30+ days out for premium tee times.

1700 Village Center Cir
Public

Angel Park Golf Club

36 holes (Palm + Mountain courses) plus a lit short course. One of the most-played public clubs in the valley. Walkable from Sun City Summerlin.

100 S Rampart Blvd
Public

Bear's Best Las Vegas

18 of Jack Nicklaus's "best" hole designs from his courses around the world. Spectacular Red Rock backdrop. Tee times via the website.

11111 W Flamingo
Private

Red Rock Country Club

Two private 18-hole courses (Mountain + Arroyo) inside the gated Red Rock CC community. Member & guest play only.

2250 Red Springs Dr
Public · Short

Painted Desert Golf Club

Public 18 with desert-target design. Quick rounds, easy walking, friendly pricing. Good for visitors with limited time.

Range

TopGolf Las Vegas

~12 mi east on Koval Lane. 4-story driving range plus food, drinks, and games. Crush a bucket after dinner.

Fitness & wellness

Where to keep moving while you're in town — most options are walkable or a short drive from the village core.

Free · Tue

Fitness on The Lawn

Outdoor group fitness Tuesdays 7:30–8:30 PM at Downtown Summerlin, April–September. Bring water and a mat.

Day pass

Red Rock Resort Spa & Fitness

Day passes to the resort gym + pool deck. Cleanest weight floor, sauna and steam, lazy river and adult pool included.

Boutique

SoulCycle / CorePower / Lifetime

National boutique studios at Downtown Summerlin and the Tivoli area. Drop-ins welcome at most.

Membership

FIT4MOM Stroller Strides

Tue/Thu/Fri 9–10 AM at Tivoli Village — mom-and-baby workout in the open-air courtyards.

Free

Pickleball

Public courts at Bruce Trent Park and Spring Valley Pkwy Park. First-come, first-served. Bring your own paddle.

Spa

Aquae Sulis Spa @ JW Marriott

Full-day spa packages (massage, facial, pool, sauna). One of the few resort spas without a casino attached.