Fodor's Expert Review Red Rock Canyon State Park

A geological feast for the eyes with its layers of pink, white, red, and brown rock, this remote canyon is also a region of fascinating biological diversity—the ecosystems of the Sierra Nevada, the Mojave Desert, and the Basin Range all converge here. Native American known as the Kawaiisu lived here some 20,000 years ago. Later, Mojave Indians roamed the land for centuries.

From 1863 to 1893, the gold rush lured miners, eventually leading to an infrastructure comprised of a stagecoach station, the Ricardo settlement, and the Red Rock Railroad. You can still see remains of gold and ash mining operations in the park, and more than 150 movies such as Silverado and Jurassic Park have been shot here. For a quiet nature trail a little off the beaten path try the 0.75-mile loop at Red Cliffs Natural Preserve about about ⅓ of a mile off Highway 14, across from the entrance to the Ricardo Campground.