Hiking in Red Rock Canyon

Grinding cash games every day can get really monotonous. I love traveling for big poker tournaments because it gives me the opportunity to experience different parts of the world. Hiking in Red Rock Canyon is something I've wanted to do for a long time. The problem was that I've only ever been in Vegas during the summer for the WSOP. Hiking when it was 110F didn't seem like a great idea.

The Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is located 30 minutes west of the Las Vegas Strip. It has an incredible 13 mile scenic drive, along with multiple hiking trails, horseback riding, and rock climbing. I thought it would be a good way to clear my head before the WPT Five Diamond Classic at Bellagio this weekend.

I brought my girlfriend with to Vegas. She's a much more experienced hiker and rock climber. Our goal was to take an Uber to the Visitor Center, hike 1.5 miles to Calico I, climb to the top of the canyon, and make our way back in three hours.

I've gone hiking in the Grand Canyon, Royal Gorge, Pikes Peak, Runyon Canyon, and a variety of lesser-known places. This was by far the most challenging route I've been on. There were some lines that I wasn't prepared for and I was forced to take safer routes.

On the other hand, my girlfriend was unfazed. She climbed to the top of this perch barefoot. Place National Geographic style photo here...

Altogether, we had an amazing time. The scenery was incredible and I'd love to experiment with other trails in the future. I recommend this beautiful place to anyone that needs to take a break from the poker tables.