RED ROCK CANYON (KTNV) — With the lifting of public health and safety restrictions enacted by Nevada officials, the Bureau of Land Management today announced that it is increasing recreational access at Red Rock and Sloan Canyon National Conservation Areas.
Beginning June 1, 2020, the BLM Southern Nevada District will reopen access to:
- Red Rock Canyon Scenic Drive
- Red Rock Overlook
- Late Night Trailhead
- Red Spring Boardwalk
- Calico Basin and Kraft Mountain Trailheads
- The Sloan Canyon NCA parking area at Nawghaw Poa Road
During this phase, the Scenic Drive will be open daily from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Late exit and overnight permits will not be issued until further notice. Parking is only permitted in parking lots and not along the Scenic Drive. When the parking lots are full, and the area hits capacity, the gates will be temporarily closed until the area drops below capacity.
The Red Rock Campground will remain closed, as it closes annually between Memorial Day and Labor Day weekend.
The Sloan Canyon parking area at Nawghaw Poa Road will be open Friday-Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
With public health in mind, the following facilities/areas remain closed at this time:
- The Red Rock Canyon Visitor Center
- Red Spring Picnic Area
- All campsites at the Red Rock Campground
- The Sloan Canyon Visitor Contact Station
While these areas are accessible for visitors to enjoy, a return to full operations will continue to be phased, and services may be limited. When recreating, the public should follow local area health orders, practice Leave No Trace principles, practice social distancing, and avoid high-risk outdoor activities.
The CDC has offered guidance to help people recreating on public lands prevent the spread of infectious diseases. We will continue to monitor all functions to ensure that visitors adhere to CDC guidance for mitigating risks associated with the transmission of COVID-19, and take any additional steps necessary to protect public health.
Details and updates on operations will continue to be posted here, and social media channels. Updates about BLM operations will be posted on www.blm.gov.
A few hikers told 13 Action News on Wednesday that the reopening will be a welcome sight, and they were not too worried about it getting crowed, just excited it's going to be back open.
