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With the weather in Las Vegas finally showing signs of beginning to cool off, and the expectations within the next month of temperatures that are going to be in the 90s instead of triple digits, we enter the season of outdoor exploration of some of the natural beauty that is the desert around Las Vegas.  Many people are unaware that the surrounding area around Las Vegas is actually some of the most beautiful and unique landscape and geological areas on earth, and smart travelers can utilize their vacation to Las Vegas to also explore some natural beauty in addition to the bright lights of the strip.  Depending on the type of time you have, and the type of experience you would like, there are many options for exploration of the National Parks around Las Vegas that can be spread out over one, two or even three days of your vacation.  Best of all, we pick you up at your strip hotel and transport you to the National Park of your choice. When most people think of exploring a National Park, the first vision that comes to mind is the long drive that it is going to take just to get there.  The driver will naturally be expecting to drive for hours before hiking, walking and exploring all day, only to face the drive home exhausted (if they are not staying overnight.) Luckily for you, Bindlestiff Tours takes care of not only the driving part, but also plans out the best options for you to explore the National Park in your own way, provides you with a history and interesting facts about the area and provides you with food and camping options.  Our business was built on the idea that a tour bus driving through a National Park is not really

The National Trust for Historic Preservation voted in June that the Grand Canyon was considered one of the most endangered places in America, but in April of this year U.S. District Court Judge David Campbell denied the request of  the Havasupai tribe and a coalition of conservation groups to put a stop to the uranium mining that is happening just six miles from the south rim of the Grand Canyon National Park.  "We are very disappointed with the ruling by Judge Campbell in the Canyon Mine case," said Havasupai Chairman Rex Tilousi. "We believe that the National Historic Preservation Act requires the Forest Service to consult with us and the other affiliated tribes before they let the mining company damage Red Butte, one of our most sacred traditional cultural properties."  Although an appeal by the tribe will be made, the obvious problems still exist. The Havasupai tribe banded together with a coalition of conservation groups, including the Grand Canyon Trust, the Center for Biological Diversity and the Sierra Club, to challenge a decision by the U.S. Forest Service to permit Energy Fuels Inc.  a Canadian mining firm that develops uranium and vanadium properties in the U.S., to reopen the mine without formally consulting with tribal authorities.  In addition, they were allowed to utilize an obsolete federal environmental review that is nearly 30 years old.   The obvious threat to wildlife in the area including the protected California Condor is quite apparent, and the danger of toxic pollutants entering streams and aquifers from the mine could pose a serious threat to the water system.  Geologists are in agreement that any spill would cause a situation where cleanup would be next to impossible. “Uranium is a special concern because it is both a toxic heavy metal and a source of radiation. I worry about uranium

Breaking News Silverton CO: (8/12/15): A toxic waste water spill last week near Silverton CO has caused alarm for visitors to water areas feeding the Grand Canyon, as well as tour operators providing Grand Canyon tours and river rafting excursions.  The spill was caused by the Environmental Protection Agency near Silverton late last week, and is inching its way towards Lake Powell.  The southern tip of the lake is an entry point to the Grand Canyon.  Many businesses that provide tours of the Grand Canyon like Bindlestiff Tours (located 300 miles from the Grand Canyon in Las Vegas) are concerned as to the impact the spill might have on their businesses.  "Although the rafting guides are more directly impacted, everyone in the business of touring the Grand Canyon is concerned," a Bindlestiff Tours representative stated today.  "Thousands of tourists venture into the Grand Canyon each year using the services of tour guide companies like ours, we want the experience to not be spoiled in any way." Many towns, farmers and tribes in Colorado and New Mexico have made the hard decision to close intake valves and declare states of emergency,  however many experts in Nevada believe the heavy metals in the waste will be diluted by the time they reach the Grand Canyon and Lake Mead.  The impact on the water drinking and recreation systems is being referred to as minimal, but the illustration by spills like this one as well as others which have occurred in the area over the past few years highlights that serious precautions must be taken around any tributary to the water supplies for the West Coast.  "The risk of contamination is minimal," said Corey Enus, spokesman for the Southern Nevada Water Authority, however the example of the yellow colored water currently in the area displays just how fragile the systems are.

One of the common questions when considering alternatives to the typical vacation to Las Vegas is "what is there to do outside around here?" One thing that many people do not realize is the close proximity of so many national parks to Las Vegas, making it an easy journey to visiting some of the most scenic places in the world.  Bindlestiff Tours specializes in taking the worry out of navigating your way to these beautiful areas, and provides just enough guidance to make it fun and educations, while giving you just enough space to make the trip everything that you want it to be.  This is why we call them "adventure tours" and Bryce Canyon tours are a great example of them. Our tours to Bryce Canyon are part of a two day overnight tour that also includes Zion National Park.  The two parks are in close enough proximity that the drive from our Las Vegas starting point would make it a waste to not visit both.  For this reason, we offer the two parks as part of the same tour which takes two days.  We consider this a "walking tour" as it involves interaction with the landscape on foot.  For hikers, this is one of the best tours we offer. Once we arrive at Bryce Canyon, you will be treated to enjoying a full day hiking and walking through the park and enjoying petrified sand dunes, towering sand cliffs and the world famous "Hoodoos" which are formations that must be seen in person to be truly believed.  The tour of Bryce Canyon begins as we enter the park itself and travel to an elevation of over 8,000 feet.  As you stroll around the rim at your own pace, you will be given a unique view of the famous Hoodoos,