The Cactus Collective Weddings venues of Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area can be counted among the most beautiful in Las Vegas and the most requested by CCW couples.
Towering red and cream-colored sandstone mountains, striking rock formations and a wide open view of the surrounding Mojave Desert landscape make Red Rock Canyon weddings a remarkable way to say “I do”.
If Red Rock Canyon is your top pick for a Vegas wedding venue, then I think you’ll find these top tips for getting hitched at Red Rock Canyon an essential starter to your planning process.
The Tips at a Glance
- There Are 3 Ceremony Locations Available
- Elopements and Micro Weddings are Best
- You Need A Permit From The Bureau Of Land Management
- No Need to Go Through the Scenic Loop
- 45-Minute Drive From Las Vegas Strip
- Don’t Expect Cell Phone Service
- It’s Better To Arrive Fully Ready
- Do Not Use Ride Share Services
- Red Rock Canyon Gets Really Busy
- Follow ‘Leave No Trace’ Practices
1. There Are 5 Ceremony Locations Available
Red Rock Canyon has dozens of great hiking trails and rock-climbing routes, but just five CCW approved and Bureau of Land Management designated locations for weddings. The locations are:
The Overlook, Red Spring Boardwalk, South Oak Creek, Moenkopi and the Visitor Center.
Our intimate ceremonies are only allowed in these five areas, but the good news is, the chosen spots are all stunning.
You and your guests will enjoy spectacular views of the Spring Mountains, Mount Wilson, the Calico Hills and panoramic views of the canyon. Each has their own unique charms for couples seeking a venue that’s far from ordinary.
With such a gorgeous background, your wedding day will truly be unforgettable and your photos will turn out amazing.
2. Elopements and Micro Weddings are Best
Red Rock Canyon is a nationally environmentally protected conservation area. Large parties are not permitted so as to reduce the disturbance your presence will have on the land.
Large events run the risk of disrupting the wild animals, damaging the delicate plant life and permanently scarring the iconic rock formations in the canyon.
For this reason, the Bureau of Land Management only allows a max of 50 attendees for events and cap the guest count at fewer than that in some locations.
3. A Permit from the Bureau of Land Management is Required
One of the most important Red Rock Canyon wedding tips is that you will need a BLM permit to hold events that involve commercial activity, including all weddings.
The BLM issues permits for weddings through approved wedding vendors. Lucky for you, Cactus Collective Weddings is one of just a small handful of permit holders allowed to operate at Red Rock Canyon.
Heads up — we will need at least two weeks to secure the permit for your wedding date.
4. No Need to Go Through the Scenic Loop
The Scenic Loop is a 13-mile long, slow and twisty road through Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. It’s a lovely drive with access to many of the area’s scenic lookout spots and hiking trailheads. I do recommend it to my vacationing friends and family, just don’t do it on your wedding day.
On the way to your ceremony it’s not necessary to go on the loop.The venue locations are not on the loop and you don’t want to get stuck on the one-way road heading away from your wedding.
Another reason not to do it is because the loop tends to be crowded, especially during peak season. Getting stuck in traffic isn’t the way you dreamed of spending your wedding day, so don’t go on the Scenic Drive Loop.
5. 30-Minute Drive from Downtown and the Resort Corridor
The splendor of the great outdoors is a short drive from the touristy parts of Sin City and most major resorts and hotels.
If you’re staying downtown on Fremont Street, the trip should take a little more than 20 minutes via the Summerlin Parkway. Travel time from the middle of the Strip via surface streets and the 215 Beltway means you’re looking at 25 – 30 minutes. And from hotels on the extreme southern parts of Las Vegas Boulevard, such at South Point or The M Resort, you’ll use I-15N and the 215 and arrive in about 30 minutes as well.
With just a short drive you’ll truly be taken away from the hustle and bustle of the city and into a natural wonderland.
Consider the distance between the Red Rock Canyon and the Strip when booking accommodations for your wedding. If you tend to run late to everything in your life, it would be wise to choose a room at Red Rock Resort Casino, or the JW Marriott. Both are much closer to the canyon than the options on the Strip or on Fremont Street in downtown.
Stated drive times get you to the big welcome boulder marker at the eastern edge of the conservation area. Allow 10-15 minutes more to get to your ceremony site.
6. Don’t Expect Cell Phone Service
The Red Rock Canyon is part of the Mojave Desert and while residential neighborhoods are creeping ever westward towards the canyon, cell service is still spotty at many points in the conservation area.
We include this in our Red Rock Canyon wedding tips because this is crucial to the planning process, especially when it comes to coordinating with wedding vendors as well as your guests. Make all your plans ahead of time with our courteous, helpful and responsive CCW coordinators and hosts – and then stick to them in order to avoid confusion on your wedding day.
7. It’s Better to Arrive Fully Ready
My team and I always advise couples to get ready at their hotel and head to the wedding site all dressed and ready to go. This is because while some of the Red Rock Canyon ceremony locations have restroom facilities, not all of the venue locations do.
The facilities that do exist are rather spartan and are made for convenience, not comfort. Lengthy and involved preparations are better done in the climate controlled environments of your hotel room. Don’t expect much on site at the canyon.
The Visitor Center is a bit more luxurious than the other locations, but you’d still be better off getting prepared before hopping in the car.
8. Do Not Use Ride Share Services
It is not advisable to use rideshare services that require you to go online to book a ride.
As mentioned above, the cell phone service at Red Rock Canyon is sketchy, so you’ll struggle to book a ride back to civilization after your ceremony, celebration and photography session.
It’s better to work with my preferred transportation vendor, or to hire a car service ahead of time that will guarantee pick up at a specified time and place.
Driving yourself in a rental car is also a great option.
9. Red Rock Canyon Gets Really Busy
The canyon’s scenic hiking trails, spectacular views and climbing routes welcomed only 20,000 visitors in 1982 when it first opened as a national conservation area. Visitor numbers have exploded to around 4 million per year as the population of Las Vegas has increased and word has gotten out about its many inviting characteristics.
In recent years, visitation has increased so much that the BLM has instituted an online reservation system for entry into the fee area. The fee area of course includes the Scenic Loop and the Visitor Center. While Vegas adds to the city’s infrastructure, the Red Rock Canyon has been slow to follow suit. For obvious reasons, thankfully. And that’s what helps keep the spaces and vistas clean and thriving and healthy for generations to come.
With that in mind, my tip is to remember that while there’s room for everyone, and you’ll have plenty of serenity to yourselves on your wedding day, you will more than likely encounter other visitors. The park’s busy seasons, spring and fall, also happen to coincide with the most popular times of the year for weddings. So, just be aware of this as you plan your wedding at Red Rock Canyon.
10. Follow ‘Leave No Trace’ Practices
The Bureau of Land Management is doing its best to preserve the conservation area but they need your help. Please be mindful of the fragile desert eco system and its inhabitants while celebrating your wedding day. In addition to following the rules in place from the BLM I always encourage my elopement and micro wedding couples to follow ‘Leave No Trace’ best practices.
That usually means no Champagne sprays, no confetti or flower petals and staying on marked trails.
For more, easy to follow guidelines which CCW may ask you to implement on your wedding day, (we’re doing our part too!) please see the suggestions on the Leave No Trace organization’s website.
Enjoying Your Wedding Day is Easy
Ready to book your intimate all-inclusive outdoor elopement or adventurous and done-for-you micro wedding in one of the most beautiful places in Las Vegas? Get in touch today using the form below. My team is ready to help coordinate your special day and make your dream come true.
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