Southern Nevada District Office
| Contacts: | Kirsten Cannon | , 702-515-5057 | , k1cannon@blm.gov |
Busy Weekend Anticipated at Red Rock
Las Vegas – During the Thanksgiving weekend, visitation at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area increases with the most congested time anticipated between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
The visitor center will be open 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Thanksgiving and 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. the rest of the weekend. The 13-Mile Scenic Drive will be open 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.
To ensure a high quality visitor experience and to allow access for emergency vehicles (if needed), the 13-Mile Scenic Drive may be temporarily closed during periods of high visitation. Road signs will be posted along State Route 159 if/when the Scenic Drive is closed. Visitors may call 702-515-5350 to determine if the Scenic Drive is open.
Red Rock Canyon was designated as Nevada's first national conservation area. It is located 17 miles west of the Las Vegas Strip on Charleston Boulevard/State Route 159. The area is 195,819 acres and includes a LEED certified visitor center, 13-Mile Scenic Drive, more than 30 miles of hiking trails, picnic areas, rock climbing, horseback riding, mountain biking, road biking, picnic areas, nature observing and the Red Spring Interpretive Boardwalk.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2011, recreational and other activities on BLM-managed land contributed more than $130 billion to the U.S. economy and supported more than 600,000 American jobs. The Bureau is also one of a handful of agencies that collects more revenue than it spends. In FY 2012, nearly $5.7 billion will be generated on lands managed by the BLM, which operates on a $1.1 billion budget. The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.