Adventurous Outdoor Activities for Thrill-Seekers from Las Vegas
There's no shortage of thrills that daredevils can experience across the Las Vegas Strip. You'll find the Big Apple Coaster snaking around the New York-New York Hotel & Casino and the massive High Roller Observation Wheel at the LINQ (the world's second largest Ferris Wheel). You can even defy gravity at the very top of the STRAT Tower, where you can defy gravity aboard several thrill rides or even experience a controlled jump from 108 stories up!
If you're looking for a different type of adventure - one closer to nature - then Las Vegas is still the perfect destination for you. Surrounding the city is a vast range of exciting and adventurous activities for those looking for an all-day adrenaline rush.
Discover all the action-packed day trips from Las Vegas that thrill-seekers from around the world won't want to miss!
Grand Canyon West
The Grand Canyon West Rim is the nearest region of the canyon to Las Vegas, about 127 miles (204 km) east of the Las Vegas Strip, or roughly a 2 hour and 10-minute drive. Here you'll find not only stunning views of the canyon gorges, but truly incredible heart-pounding activities like ziplining, the world-famous Skywalk Bridge, and landing on the very bottom of the canyon!
If you only have a few hours to spend at the Grand Canyon, you can fly from Las Vegas to the West Rim in just about 35 minutes aboard a sightseeing helicopter with time to experience everything this area of the park has to offer!
Land on the Bottom
The West Rim is the only area of the Grand Canyon where helicopter landings on the canyon floor are permitted, and Papillon has access to an exclusive site located near the bank of the Colorado River. Many helicopter flights from Las Vegas to the West Rim include a once-in-a-lifetime descent to the canyon floor.
After landing at the bottom, passengers can wander between the colossal canyon walls, take photos, enjoy snacks under a shaded picnic area, or even enjoy a boat ride along the Colorado River!
Walk the Skywalk Bridge
For a truly heart-pounding sightseeing experience, venture out over 70 feet past the West Rim's edge atop the Skywalk Bridge! This glass-bottomed bridge allows visitors to feel like they are quite literally floating in the sky above the canyon floor between 500 and 800 feet beneath you. Fear not, though: the Skywalk Bridge may be made of glass, but it is strong enough to bear 71 million pounds (about 32,205,032 kg) of weight!
Many helicopter tours from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon West include entry onto the Skywalk, but visitors to the West Rim are always welcome to purchase their own entry if availability allows.
Zipline at Hualapai Point
If you're looking for a high-speed activity at the Grand Canyon, make sure to visit Hualapai Point. This Native American cultural center features a Hualapai eatery, authentic handcrafted gifts available for sale, members of the Hualapai tribe that you can meet and greet, and most excitingly - a 3,200-foot ling zipline! The zipline at Hualapai point is 500 feet in the air at its highest point and can reach up to 40 miles per hour!
Adrenaline junkies who visit the Grand Canyon West must be between 90-275 lbs to experience the zipline. You can book the zipline in advance to guarantee your spot in line or buy tickets at the park entrance if there is availability on the day of your visit.
Grand Canyon National Park
The Grand Canyon National Park, also known as the South Rim, is a separate section of the Grand Canyon from the West Rim. The South Rim is about 252 miles (405km) from Las Vegas, or a 4-hour drive. If you don't want to spend most of your trip driving, you can fly from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon National Park and touch down in a little over 2 hours.
While most tourists visit the South Rim for a peaceful experience amongst the tranquil nature, there are still plenty of exciting sightseeing opportunities for those looking for a more exhilarating experience.
Experience the South Rim from a Helicopter
The South Rim contains the deepest and widest rock gorges in the entire Grand Canyon. The sights may be stunning from the canyon's edge, but you can fly over these immense gorges aboard a thrilling helicopter tour that soars across some of the most famous viewpoints in the park. In fact, you can even bundle your airplane flight from Las Vegas to include a Grand Canyon helicopter tour upon arrival.
Ride a Mule into the Grand Canyon
Perhaps the most unique and exciting activity you can enjoy at the South Rim is to witness it the way ancient settlers did - aboard the back of a mule! These 2-hour excursions take you into the depths of the canyon on the back of a mule that is far more equipped to traverse the rugged terrain. These beautiful mules are incredibly familiar with the canyon trails and require no guidance or steering, simply relax and watch the canyon scenery change as you descend toward the floor.
Mule tours are available year-round and can be reserved in advance over the phone. Riders must be at least 9 years of age, under 200 pounds, and at least 4 foot 9 inches tall.
Red Rock Canyon
Red Rock Canyon National Recreation Area can be found just 17 miles west of the Las Vegas Strip and offers a variety of hiking, horseback riding, and cycling opportunities throughout its wild and mountainous expanse. Red Rock Canyon is a great Las Vegas getaway for families, couples, and friend groups, but outdoor adrenaline junkies have unique recreation opportunities here, as well!
Red Rock Climbing
Whether you're a rock-climbing enthusiast or just interested in trying it out, you can conquer some of the impressive stone walls at Red Rock Canyon with the help of a skilled guide. Rock-climbing outings can be booked with Red Rock Climbing guides, who provide a variety of excursions from a half-day climbing adventure for 4-5 hours to a full day, multi-pitch excursion for up to 14 hours! Best of all, they provide all the necessary equipment.
Off-Road Driving
Aside from hiking and biking trails, there are also roads available for off-roading within Red Rock Canyon. For the safety of hikers, cyclists, and other visitors, off-roading at Red Rock Canyon is only permitted on Rocky Gap Road or in Cottonwood Valley.
If you have an off-highway vehicle and would like to off-road in Red Rock, be sure to follow "Tread Lightly" signs to stay within the designated area and avoid receiving a fine.
Lee Canyon Ski Resort
About 45 minutes northwest of the Las Vegas Strip is Lee Canyon. Believe it or not, this area of Nevada actually receives annual snowfall and temperatures low enough to seasonally maintain the Lee Canyon Ski Resort. If you're visiting Las Vegas in the winter months, you can enjoy a full day skiing or snowboarding the slopes and rent gear if you need to.
In the warmer months, Lee Canyon Ski Resort transforms into a comprehensive bike park, comprised of mountain biking trails for beginner, intermediate, and advanced cyclists.
Page, Arizona
The small city of Page, Arizona might not sound like a familiar place but surrounding this quaint and tight-knit town are some of the world's most impressive natural landforms. Page AZ It is visited annually by thousands of people from around the world, with plans to visit Navajo destinations like Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, and Tower Butte, or to enjoy various water activities on Lake Powell.
Explore Antelope Canyon
Page, Arizona is a 4.5-hour drive from the Las Vegas Strip, or a 90-minute flight aboard a sightseeing airplane. Papillon's flight from Las Vegas to Page also includes ground transport to Antelope Canyon where a Navajo guide will lead you into the depths of this otherworldly slot canyon. Your Antelope Canyon tour will take you through narrow sandstone corridors and large rock chambers, where you may even catch a glimpse of the world-famous light beams that shine from the canyon's surface down to the sandy floor.
Your Navajo guide will explain the importance of Antelope Canyon to their tribe's history and answer any questions you may have. They will also help you find the best angles to take professional-looking photos of the warping stone walls.
Stand at the Edge of Horseshoe Bend
Another Page, Arizona activity to get your heart pumping is to stand at the very edge of Horseshoe Bend. For over 6 million years, the Colorado River has flown in a near-circle formation, carving this landform nearly 1,000 feet deep. Your flight to Page AZ with Papillon also includes transport to Horseshoe Bend, where you can gaze down to the very bottom and may even see boats or river rafters floating beneath you.
Enjoy an Adventure from Las Vegas with Papillon Today!
Papillon is the world's oldest and longest-running air tour company. We transport over 600,000 passengers from around the world to the American Southwest's most unique and exciting destinations. Our once-in-a-lifetime helicopter tours and sightseeing adventures offer the most exhilarating and memorable activities outside of Las Vegas!