When Friends of Red Rock Canyon’s Executive Director was shopping for a home with her family in Las Vegas, a city she never anticipated moving to, Christina Bishop was strongly drawn towards one area in particular.
“I kept saying to [the realtor], let’s look over there,” she recalls fondly. “There” turned out to be Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area (RRCNCA), a sprawling 200,000-acre sanctuary that attracts more visitors than any other National Conservation Area in the country.
Christina has vivid memories of being enchanted by this spectacular landscape: its vibrant colors, unique rock formations, and desert quietude acting as an irresistible force that drew her in and kept her here, even after vowing only to stay temporarily. “As soon as we got closer to the mountains, we could just feel ourselves breathe,” she remembers. “There’s such a sense of peace here. It’s truly an oasis.”
Nicole Kroesen, member and volunteer coordinator with Friends of Red Rock Canyon, shares a similar origin story—moving to Vegas for a temporary reason, but becoming a permanent resident soon after her discovery of the canyon. And, Christina and Nicole’s tales are not unlike the countless others of us who live in this valley, spellbound and charmed by the peace and solitude of the rugged landscape, holding us here much longer than we’d planned.
“Proximity to the hustle and bustle of Vegas is what draws people,” Nicole states, “but what keeps them here is the special nature of this place.”
RRCNCA is one of around 20 conservation areas in the United States, distinguished from national parks by its oversight by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and its geological, ecological, cultural and recreational significance. Founded in 1984, Friends of Red Rock Canyon is a nonprofit organization that partners with the BLM to supplement gaps in resources in order to achieve a clear mission.
“We preserve and enhance Red Rock Canyon through volunteerism, philanthropy and education,” shares Bishop. Friends impresses upon visitors that RRCNCA is not just a recreational landscape, but a precious ecosystem that needs their maintenance and care, as if it was their home.
Friends coordinates a wide array of hands-on efforts such as trail maintenance, trash cleanup, graffiti removal, and invasive plant removal. Local volunteers and supporters have helped sustain their mission for decades—especially in the face of diminishing federal resources—transforming shared appreciation into tangible care that benefits both wildlife and people who enjoy it.
With nearly 90% of Red Rock Canyon’s entire volunteer base being recruited by Friends, representatives and BLM rangers are trained to deliver educational information, including the all-important “Leave No Trace” principles, that help visitors respect the NCA.
“Many people aren’t aware of simple things they can do to help,” says Christina. Key examples include wiping your shoes before and after a hike to prevent contamination of invasive plants, pack out what you pack in (even micro trash can have harmful effects) and to always clean up your dog’s scat.
The efforts of Friends of Red Rock Canyon and its volunteers to reinforce these safety and conservation measures is paying off. “We have evidence that this education is working,” says Nicole. “More and more I notice that people are aware of the seven principles [of ‘Leave No Trace’] and how it affects the landscape.”
With more than 4 million visitors per year (and rising) the care and maintenance of Red Rock Canyon is an ongoing and enormous effort. More visitation can mean more trash, more social trail development and more degradation of the landscape. But the staff and volunteers with Friends of Red Rock not only have hope, they have solutions.
“We have a lot of educational resources here,” Nicole shares. “We want people to learn how to recreate responsibly,” she continues. “To take accountability for this special place, for themselves and for their community.”
For more information, or to support Friends of Red Rock Canyon visit: friendsredrock.org.
“As soon as we got closer to the mountains, we could just feel ourselves breathe. There’s such a sense of peace here."