By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com
The federal government has suspended the $2 service charge on the toll collected to drive the popular Red Rock Loop, the 13-mile scenic drive used by thousands of Red Rock Canyon visitors every month.
The reservation system is still in place for people who want to drive their cars on the scenic loop about 17 miles west of the Las Vegas Strip, off State Route 159 outside the growing suburb of Summerlin. It costs $15 for a car on the loop. Visitors can also use a $30 Red Rock Canyon Annual Support Pass or an $80 America The Beautiful Pass to drive the loop.
The Bureau of Land Management, the federal agency that manages the Red Rock National Conservation Area, began requiring drivers on the Red Rock Loop to make reservations in November 2020 because of the overcrowding and traffic during the months with nice weather.
Recreation.gov was charging a $2 processing fee for the Red Rock Scenic Drive’s timed entry reservations — even for people who had the annual passes to drive the loop.
Here’s the BLM’s explanation about why it instituted the timed reservation system for drivers on the Red Rock Loop: “The Scenic Drive at Red Rock Canyon NCA typically experiences a significant increase in visitation during the mild weather seasons of fall, winter and spring, primarily between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., leading to closures when the fee area reaches capacity. To address capacity and safety issues, timed entry reservations will be mandatory for all visitors October 1 to May 31 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Timed entry reservations will not begin this year until November 3. Timed entry reservations are not required between June 1 and September 30.”
The $2 processing fee to make the reservation drew opposition from some Red Rock loop drivers and a lawsuit was filed against the $2 fee.
LVSportsBiz.com reached out to BLM/Red Rock spokesman John Asselin with an email and phone call this week but never heard back. If we hear anything from the BLM, we will pass the info to our readers.
PSA