The most dramatic views along the Scenic Drive come early on, as you head straight toward the Calico Hills that form the basin's northeastern wall. From two successive overlooks, Calico Vistas 1 and 2, it's possible to scramble short distances down from the road to find yourself dwarfed amid these crumbling domes of cream and red sandstone.
Further along, the Calico Tanks Trail , a 2.5-mile round trip, heads up from Sandstone Quarry and beyond the visible rim to reach the largest of the area's natural "tanks." The rainwater collected and stored in such depressions was once a valuable resource for nomadic desert peoples. On a clear day, you can see the Strip from up here.