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Red Rock Canyon about 20 minutes west of the strip (I-215, exit at Charleston, go west) is a national conservation area and has a small entry fee (can't tell you what it is these days - a national park card will get you in free). There's a 15 mile long one-way loop with turnouts at various places, and hiking trails of differing complexity and difficulty. Do an online search and you'll find their website - it has a hiking trail map. Red Rock is only a couple of miles from civilization - restaurants, gas stations, Costco, a big casino - the essential building blocks. It has some rock formations that are very popular among hard rock climbers, but I don't think you'll see many, likely none actually, in our July weather.
Valley of Fire is a state park off I-15 about an hour's drive northeast from the Vegas strip. Follow the exit sign on I-15. Veterans can enter NV state parks free, but I don't know if that applies only to veterans that are NV residents. Take all the food and water you will need with you - there's nothing out there. Lots and lots of western red rock geology. Unless the weather is unusual, you'll get some practice at composing shots with a clear, cloudless sky.
One other option - there's a ghost town near Nelson (NV) off US95 south of Henderson NV - southeast of the strip. Take NV165 east from US95. The ghost town is a mile or maybe 2 past the "town" of Nelson (it may grow up to be a wide spot in the road someday). Like Valley of Fire, take your food and drink with you - nothing out there.
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