Discover Henderson: Nature, Culture and Urban History

The destination offers several distinct points of interest. When planning, it helps to consider distances, themes and specific event dates separately. This lets you tailor your stay to the focus that genuinely matters to you.

Birdlife and Trails

The Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve covers about 140 acres and is home to thousands of migratory waterbirds as well as many resident desert birds. So, in addition to migratory waterbirds, resident desert species also shape the birdlife described here.

The preserve has five miles of trails, including a paved, wheelchair-accessible trail about three-quarters of a mile long. These figures answer different questions: five miles refers to all the trails in the preserve, while the shorter distance identifies the trail specifically described as paved and wheelchair-accessible. If these trail features are important to you, use the shorter distance as your guide. The preserve also offers guided tours on foot or by cart. Check tour times before your trip.

Henderson has a trail system totaling more than 300 miles. A separate route description refers to a loop through the Mojave Desert connecting Henderson, Lake Mead and the historic Hoover Dam. While the figure of more than 300 miles describes the city’s trail system as a whole, the loop is characterized by the connection between these three named places.

Petroglyphs and Regional History

The Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area forms Henderson’s southern mountain silhouette. The Sloan Canyon Petroglyph Site includes more than 300 rock art panels with nearly 1,700 images. They represent Indigenous cultures from the Archaic through the historic period. The figures distinguish the number of panels from the number of images and place the rock art in a historical context.

A BLM-led hike into Petroglyph Canyon focuses on the cultural, biological and geological resources of the Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area. An interpretive ranger explains these topics. Check the availability of the guided hike before your trip.

In the broader Clark context, the Clark County Museum features a timeline exhibit on Southern Nevada from prehistoric to modern times in a modern exhibition hall. Its collection of restored historic buildings illustrates everyday life in different decades in Las Vegas, Boulder City and Henderson. The museum also has a half-mile nature trail. The exhibit offers a chronological perspective, while the buildings provide examples of everyday life.

Water Street and Ethel M

Water Street was once Henderson’s commercial and civic center. Today, Water Street Plaza hosts festivals, concerts, sports broadcasts and other community-focused programs. If a particular festival, concert or broadcast is essential to your stay, check its date in advance.

The Ethel M Botanical Cactus Garden in Henderson covers three acres and is home to more than 300 plant species. It is Nevada’s largest cactus garden. Ethel M Chocolates accepts bookings for a chocolate tasting at its Henderson location. Check the availability of this offering before your trip.

Discover more destinations: Moapa Valley, Laughlin, North Las Vegas, Mesquite, Primm, Spring Valley, Las Vegas, Searchlight.

For the broader travel overview: Clark.