Home › Nevada › Henderson › Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area
Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area
4.6 ★★★★★ 996 Google reviews · Running trail in Henderson, Nevada · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Natural surface
- Distance
- 5 mi
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Tree cover
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Nature preserve on 48,438 acres with Native American petroglyphs, hiking trails & wildlife watching.
What runners say about Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area
“They have bathrooms at the bottom where you park and they were clean and kept up.”
“The trail was picturesque and quite a spiritual treat, allowing for contemplation of both nature and the petroglyphs.”
“We are novices from the Midwest so some points got our heart rates up, some mild climbing, definitely not ADA accessible, but brought water/snacks and took some shady breaks.”
“The petroglyph canyon trail was well marked.”
Great experience! Started the hike about 8:30 am and took about 2.5 hours to complete. We saw lots of desert lizards on the trail, including a fierce looking little thing that mimicked a scorpion.
Such a cool spot and hardly anyone was on the trials. We were here on a Thursday, midday. They have bathrooms at the bottom where you park and they were clean and kept up. No graffiti and plenty of TP. Trails were clean and well marked. We actually did 2 different trials as this place is huge.
Had an outstanding experience hiking the loop today. Spend about 2 hours, ~3 mile hike there total. We are novices from the Midwest so some points got our heart rates up, some mild climbing, definitely not ADA accessible, but brought water/snacks and took some shady breaks.
It was a surprise hike... loved it! First time ever seeing petroglyphs. Can't imagine the earth 4,000 years ago... the kinds of people, plant growth, creatures, regional landscape, weather condition, and more... Husband asked about Sloan Canyon. Online said there are petroglyphs. Glad we went!
Trail conditions & character
“The views at the top are definitely worth the work, and you can the entire valley including Boulder City and part of Lake Mead.”
“The petroglyph trail takes you up a series of small, dry waterfalls that you need to crawl or climb up.”
“Only thing there isn’t a lot of parking get there as soon as it opens if not cars are allowed to park at the bottom of the driveway almost a mile.”
“They have bathrooms at the bottom where you park and they were clean and kept up.”
“We are novices from the Midwest so some points got our heart rates up, some mild climbing, definitely not ADA accessible, but brought water/snacks and took some shady breaks.”
“This conservation area has a great 8 mile trail that winds through a pass between 2 of the 6 extinct volcanoes in the area.”
“We are novices from the Midwest so some points got our heart rates up, some mild climbing, definitely not ADA accessible, but brought water/snacks and took some shady breaks.”
“It's not difficult, but the last half-mile to mile section gets to be a bit of a rocky climb.”
Plan your run at Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfaceNatural surface — easiest on the joints and the most fun, but expect roots, rocks and mud after rain
- Distance5 mi as reported — check whether that is one way or a round trip before you commit. Long enough for a real long run.
- ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
- At the trailheadparking, restrooms — reported by runners
- Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
- Websiteblm.gov
- Phone(702) 515-5000
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 8 AM–4:30 PM |
| Tuesday | 8 AM–4:30 PM |
| Wednesday | 8 AM–4:30 PM |
| Thursday | 8 AM–4:30 PM |
| Friday | 8 AM–4:30 PM |
| Saturday | 8 AM–4:30 PM |
| Sunday | 8 AM–4:30 PM |
Running trails near Henderson
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Black Mountain Trailhead
4.8 ★★★★★ 130 reviews
Popular hiking area with varying difficulty levels offering 360-degree views of the Las Vegas Valley.
Anthem East Trailhead
4.7 ★★★★★ 164 reviews
Paved, graveled and dirt trails for walking and hiking, plus mountain biking, with valley and Las Vegas Strip vistas.
McCullough Hills Trailhead
4.7 ★★★★★ 533 reviews
Starting point for hiking, cycling & equestrian trail with restrooms, horse tie-ups & picnic table.
Siena Heights Trailhead
4.5 ★★★★★ 169 reviews
Park with tennis and pickleball courts, a trailhead with access to a lighted trail, and a playground.
Amargosa Trailhead - Horizon Drive
4.6 ★★★★★ 235 reviews
Hiking area offering scenic views, plus 2 playgrounds, 2 dog parks, and a splash pad.
Hidden Falls Park & Amargosa Trailhead
4.6 ★★★★★ 757 reviews
Neighborhood greenspace with picnics areas, barbecues, basketball & a playground, plus a skate park.