Henderson

Just a 15-minute drive southeast of the Las Vegas Strip, a completely different world begins: hiking trails through the Mojave Desert, an artificial lake with Mediterranean-style hotels, and quiet residential neighborhoods. A trip to Henderson offers a relaxed base for visiting Las Vegas, Hoover Dam, and Lake Mead.

From Magnesium Plant to Major City

Henderson was founded in 1941 around a huge magnesium plant that supplied material for aircraft and incendiary bombs during World War II. After the war, the government wanted to sell the facility, and the workers' settlement fought for its survival. Henderson was incorporated as a city in 1953. Since the 1980s, the city has grown rapidly with planned communities such as Green Valley, Anthem, and MacDonald Ranch, and today it is one of the largest cities in Nevada. The Las Vegas Raiders have their headquarters and training facility in Henderson, and the Henderson Silver Knights play hockey here.

Sights in Henderson

Lake Las Vegas is an artificial lake with villas, golf courses, and a Mediterranean-style village, where you can go kayaking or paddle boating. The Clark County Museum showcases homes from various eras of the region's history. At the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve, built around wastewater ponds, numerous bird species stop to rest during migration. The Ethel M Chocolate Factory has a cactus garden that is festively lit during the holiday season. Hikers and mountain bikers head to the Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area, with its petroglyphs, and to the McCullough Hills. In the Water Street District, the historic downtown, concerts and markets take place.

Eating and Going Out in Henderson

Henderson offers the full range of American dining, from steakhouses and Mexican taquerias to sushi. Locals and visitors gather in the evening at Green Valley Ranch, a casino resort, and at The District at Green Valley Ranch, a shopping and dining promenade. Breweries and cafés have settled around Water Street. There are casinos here too, but they are smaller and more popular with locals; if you're looking for the big spectacle, head to the Strip.

Nature and Views

The River Mountains Loop Trail circles the mountains between Henderson, Boulder City, and Lake Mead for about 34 miles and is popular with cyclists. In Clark County Wetlands Park on the border with Las Vegas, trails lead through wetlands along the Las Vegas Wash. From the hills in Anthem and MacDonald Ranch, you can look out at night over the glittering string of lights along the Strip. In spring, cacti and wildflowers bloom in the desert, and on clear winter days there is often snow on the mountains to the west.

Getting Around Henderson and Best Time to Visit

Harry Reid International Airport is only about 15 minutes away. Regional Transportation Commission buses connect Henderson with Las Vegas, but for excursions a rental car is nearly essential. The best times to visit are spring and fall; in summer, temperatures often climb above 100°F. Excursions lead to Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Hoover Dam, and Boulder City, originally founded for the dam workers, as well as Valley of Fire and, as a longer day trip, the Grand Canyon.