Red Rock Canyon's Scenic Drive (daily 6amdusk; $5 per vehicle, bicycles free) is a one-way loop road that meanders for thirteen miles around the edge of the basin before rejoining the main highway a couple of miles southwest of the visitor center. As the name implies, it's designed for drivers not pedestrians, but it's also popular with cyclists, who can cycle on designated trails as well as on the road itself, and for whom its gradients are never too demanding. Along the way, it passes a number of overlooks, many of which also serve as trailheads for hikes of varying lengths. Rock climbers should enquire at the visitor center for details of recommended ascents.
If you plan to hike, buy a good map in the visitor center before you set off; the free handouts aren't up to the job. Be warned also that the desert is home to mountain lions, rattlesnakes, and even gila monsters, which, should you permit one to chew on you for several hours, are poisonous.