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The best way to spend a day in Las Vegas during summer is to do a water hike, especially when you’re trying to escape the desert heat!
Believe it or not, there are plenty of water hikes that you can drive to from Las Vegas, making these 7 water trails the best day trip or even weekend trip from Las Vegas.
In this blog post, I’ll share:
If you’re looking for a must-do outdoor adventure near Las Vegas (or a unique family-friendly hike), you CANNOT miss hiking these incredible water hikes!
Within a 2.5-hour drive from Las Vegas is Zion National Park’s iconic Subway Hike, making this one of the best day trips from Las Vegas. The Subway is not only one of THE BEST hikes in Zion National Park but probably in the entire United States. Known for its emerald green pools and unique tunnel formation, the Subway trail has you hiking through ankle to knee-deep water and scrambling across boulders as you trek through the Left Fork of North Creek.
Permits are required to hike to The Subway in Zion National Park. With only 80 hiking permits available each day, getting a permit to hike The Subway is extremely difficult. However, the limited number of hiking permits makes this water hike one of the least crowded trails in Zion National Park.
Want to know how to get permits and how to hike to The Subway in Zion? Check out my ultimate hiking and travel guide for The Subway Hike in Zion National Park.
Another famous water hike within a 2.5-hour drive from Las Vegas is The Narrows in Zion National Park. As one of Zion’s most unique and popular trails, the Narrows hike has you wading through the cold Virgin River with red sandstone slot canyons towering around you.
Hikers can hike as far into The Narrows as they want before turning back. No technical skills or special gear is required for this hike, making it a great hike for beginner hikers and families!
Since you do not need a permit to day hike The Narrows (if starting the hike at the Temple of Sinawava), expect crowds and long wait times for the Zion Canyon shuttle.
Trying to figure out what gear you need to hike The Narrows? Check out my blog post for the ultimate packing list for hiking The Narrows!
The Narrows is a must-do summer hike in Zion National Park, especially if you are looking for an adventurous water hike near Las Vegas.
The hike to Kanarra Falls is a hidden gem water hike near Las Vegas. Hiking to Kanarra Falls is an amazing alternative to The Narrows if you want a similar experience but without the crowds. Identical to The Narrows, you’ll be hiking in the water through some stunning sandstone slot canyons. But what this hike has that The Narrows doesn’t is a handful of waterfalls!
An admission ticket is required for each person looking to hike to Kanarra Falls and are limited to 180 tickets per day. Because this hike is extremely popular in the summer, booking your admission ticket in advance is highly recommended.
Hiking through vibrant blue-green waters amongst some of the most beautiful, turquoise waterfalls in the world makes the Beaver Falls hike and The Confluence hike must-do water hikes for adventure lovers!
Located in the Havasupai Indian Reservation, most visitors backpack to the famous Havasu Falls and hike to Beaver Falls and The Confluence are typically done as day hikes during their stay.
Advanced reservations are required to hike to Havasu Falls, Beaver Falls, and The Confluence with a minimum stay of 3 nights for all visitors.
If you want to backpack to Havasu Falls, Beaver Falls, or The Confluence, check out my Havasu Falls travel guide for information about how to get permits, hiking and camping gear to pack, and travel tips!
At less than a 4-hour drive from Las Vegas, Beaver Falls, and The Confluence are unreal water hikes that need to be added to your bucket list!
Located less than a 5-hour drive from Las Vegas is the Escalante River Trail, an underrated water hike to the unique Escalante Natural Bridge. This water hike is perfect for anybody looking to escape the Las Vegas heat.
The great part about this hike is that it does not require any permits and is family-friendly!
Looking for more outdoor adventures in addition to the Escalante River Trail? Nearby are a handful of hidden gem slot canyon hikes and waterfall hikes, making Escalante, Utah a great weekend trip from Las Vegas for nature lovers.
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Aravaipa Canyon is a hidden desert oasis within a half-day’s drive from Las Vegas that provides serenity to anybody looking for a water hike without the crowds. Hikers can either day hike or backpack along the Aravaipa Creek through the unique landscape that Aravaipa Canyon offers, including saguaro cacti and caves.
Regardless of whether you day hike or backpack Aravaipa Canyon, all hikers require a permit.
I backpacked Aravaipa Canyon from the west entrance and absolutely loved all of the water crossings and how tranquil the experience was. We had the entire trail to ourselves and ended up camping along the creek without a soul in sight!
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The best way to escape the Las Vegas heat is to go water hiking! Thankfully, there are 6 incredible water hikes near Las Vegas that you can drive to any time you are craving a water adventure!
Trying to figure out what hiking gear and supplies you will need for these water trails? Check out my essentials gear list below!
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