Mountain Biking Adventures within the Las Vegas Desert

Las Vegas, Nevada—the glitzy, twinkling desert metropolis the place desires are made (or damaged) and the place absolutely anything can occur. That’s the primary visible that involves thoughts for a lot of once we consider the so-called “Sin Metropolis,” and it’s not precisely a unsuitable one.

Nevertheless, there’s extra to Las Vegas than simply playing, neon lights, glamorous nightlife, and all types of debauchery we is not going to point out right here. The expansive desert landscapes that encompass town are the place the actual motion could be discovered for anybody who prefers to spend their time open air, particularly these of us who benefit from the adrenaline-inducing thrills of mountain biking.

The truth is, mountain biking within the Vegas desert ranks among the many finest there may be within the US, presenting a lot of alternatives to witness spectacularly desolate vistas, encounter otherworldly crops and various wildlife, and problem your MTB expertise as you shred the miles of singletrack outdoors town.

On this article we are going to share our high ideas for having a grand Las Vegas mountain bike journey, from one of the best gear and security recommendation to particulars on all of the biking trails you want to find out about.

Let’s get began!

Why Select an RV Rental for Your Vegas Desert Mountain Biking Journey

One of the best ways to flee the Strip and expertise desert biking close to Las Vegas to its fullest? Renting an RV, after all! It clearly comes as no shock that we’d suppose so, however as you’ll quickly see beneath, there are an a variety of benefits of utilizing an RV rental in your Vegas MTB journey:

1. Comfort: It goes with out saying that staying in an RV is probably the most handy strategy to journey, as you get to maintain your entire gear with you always, and you’ve got the flexibility to remain off-grid and near all the paths relatively than having to drive to and from town every day.
2. Consolation: By renting an RV, you’ll at all times have entry to facilities like a kitchen, a mattress, and a toilet, all with out having to shell out for an costly lodge keep. Plus, there’s no beating waking as much as make breakfast and occasional proper there in the course of the attractive desert earlier than you go hit the paths.
3. Value effectivity: Because you’re not driving forwards and backwards from city, paying for a lodge room, or spending loads of time in casinos or consuming at eating places, a Las Vegas desert RV rental could be a wonderful method to avoid wasting dough over the course of your mountain biking journey.

What would you relatively inform individuals once you get house? “Oh, I simply stayed in a lodge and spent most of my time shedding cash in casinos,” or, “Dude, I had the time of my life exploring the desert, biking a bunch of sick trails and sleeping out within the quiet wilderness”? We expect you already know the reply.

Important Gear and Preparation

Clearly, an RV rental alone received’t be the one factor you want to deliver alongside for this desert biking journey, and even your packed garments, toiletries, and different each day necessities will solely go to date. You’ll additionally want all the mandatory biking tools and security gear to make sure a wholesome and profitable journey as you discover these Las Vegas-area biking trails.

At the start, you must keep in mind that that is the desert. You may’t be messing round on the subject of issues like hydration, solar publicity, animal encounters, cacti or different thorny crops, and usually respecting the atmosphere you’re in.

With that in thoughts, listed below are just some gadgets we suggest you pack and preserve with you as you discover the rugged desert wilderness:

Moreover, now we have some tips about making ready bodily and mentally for this biking journey, together with the way to keep protected within the desert:

1. Clearly, this isn’t an journey it is best to undertake if you happen to’re not at the very least comparatively bodily match. As you put together for the journey, be sure to are getting a wholesome quantity of sleep and train, ideally open air within the latter case. You’re going to be getting a LOT of direct daylight on the path, so that you may as effectively attempt to get used to the warmth and exertion now.
2. As we talked about above, self reliance is vital. There’s a great likelihood you’ll be biking in locations the place there aren’t lots of people round, so it is best to go in feeling assured in your skills to handle points by yourself, whether or not they’re merely scratches and scrapes or extra critical mechanical issues with the bike.
3. Within the occasion one thing occurs that you may’t tackle your self—like getting too dehydrated or injured badly sufficient that outdoors help is required—it by no means hurts to have made backup plans. This might imply letting mates and/or household know beforehand the place you’re about to go biking to allow them to often test in and be sure to’re okay. Higher but, it might imply heading out with different individuals so somebody is there to help you or name 911 if wanted.
4. All the time be conscious of your environment. Whereas it’s not assured, it’s potential that you simply’ll encounter some harmful wildlife on the path, together with venomous rattlesnakes, lizards, or scorpions, together with carnivores reminiscent of mountain lions or coyotes. When you see any creature—even when it appears cute and approachable—preserve your distance and do not get nearer to take an image or contact it.

Lastly, we ask that you simply abide by “Go away No Hint” rules and do your half to maintain the Vegas desert bikeable for future riders. Which means 1) not leaving trash or different muddle behind, 2) completely and utterly placing out any campfires you begin, and three) usually leaving the atmosphere the way in which you discovered it—and even in higher situation if you happen to can assist it.

Biking Trails within the Vegas Desert

Now, onto the burning query: That are one of the best mountain biking trails in Las Vegas? There are fairly a couple of within the space to select from, however we’ll attempt to slender it right down to those we predict are most value your time.

Historic Railroad Path

• Location: Boulder Metropolis, NV
• Issue stage: Simple to Intermediate
• Terrain: Stage, well-maintained dust and gravel street
• Surroundings: Breathtaking Lake Mead views and decommissioned railroad tunnels

Positioned about 40 minutes southeast of the Las Vegas Strip, the Boulder Metropolis-adjacent Historic Railroad Path is an easygoing, family-friendly mountain bike path alongside an previous railroad mattress overlooking Lake Mead. The extent path winds via a number of previous practice tunnels and connects all the way in which to the Hoover Dam. Don’t miss this Nevada gem!

Bootleg Canyon – Mom Path

• Location: Boulder Metropolis, NV
• Issue stage: Intermediate to Superior
• Terrain: Steep descents and rocky options
• Surroundings: Epic views and adrenaline-pumping descents

In case your sort of mountain bike path is extra of the “I obtained somewhat beat up, however it was superior” selection, make sure you take a look at the Mom Path system accessible from the Bootleg Canyon Park path head. Right here you’ll discover some tremendous gnarly, technical trails that can take a look at your expertise and endurance, and the place there’s little shade to be discovered. The implications of wiping out listed below are steep certainly—you’ve been warned.

Bear’s Greatest

• Location: Las Vegas, NV
• Issue stage: All ability ranges
• Terrain: Ranges wherever from mellow dusty path to steep drops and rocky obstacles
• Surroundings: Extensive-open rocky and grass-dotted desert with views of town

Somewhat than being a lone path, Bear’s Greatest is definitely a community of trails that spiderwebs throughout the expanse of desert simply outdoors of Las Vegas. This sudden transition from metropolis to desolate panorama is kind of a stark distinction certainly, and a few of the path choices on this space are as wild as nature itself. Right here you’ll discover every part from reasonably swoopy singletrack to technical parts that can take a look at your skills to their fullest.

Cottonwood Valley / Blue Diamond Space

• Location: Blue Diamond, NV
• Issue stage: All ability ranges
• Terrain: Various, with sections of sand, hard-packed soil, and rock gardens
• Surroundings: Extensive-open desert with Joshua tree forests, wildlife sightings, and mountain vistas

When you’re trying to find world-class mountain biking, look no additional than the Cottonwood Valley system of trails that runs to and from the small city of Blue Diamond, which itself could be discovered due southwest from Las Vegas (a few half-hour drive from the Strip).

This scenic path community affords somewhat one thing for riders of all ability ranges, with loops that wind via forests of Joshua timber and current a wide range of pure options, from rock gardens to sandstone to small ledgy drops. Most likely probably the most well-known experience of all of them is the Rubber Ducky Path, which results in a Joshua tree stuffed with rubber geese positioned by fellow riders—or possibly they develop there naturally, who is aware of? 😉

Southwest Ridge

• Location: Desert Hills, NV
• Issue stage: Superior
• Terrain: Rocky and technical singletrack accessible after a steep climb up the ridge
• Surroundings: 

A number of the finest views of the Las Vegas skyline could be had from the higher heights of the Southwest Ridge path space. The climb to the highest of the ridge is a difficult one, however the trails and epic surroundings you then have entry to are completely definitely worth the effort—supplied you could have the ability to traverse your method again down.

This isn’t a path space for the faint of coronary heart. Throughout your descent down from the ridge you’ll encounter a gnarly quantity of dramatic rock ledges, steep drops, and uncovered singletrack. However man, if you happen to catch a view of town throughout sundown…that’s bucket listing materials proper there.

After the Trip: RV Campsites and Rest

Certain, nailing a sick experience via the Vegas desert is cause sufficient alone to enterprise out past town, however what about after the experience? Everybody deserves an opportunity to wind down on the finish of a protracted day of laborious adventuring, proper?

The query is, the place do you go about getting some post-ride relaxation and rest? Don’t neglect, my good friend, you got here out right here in an RV! Assuming you parked it near the trailhead, you’re already forward of most individuals on getting “house” by the point you end your experience.

When you want some particular suggestions on Las Vegas space RV campsites, we’ve obtained a couple of for you:

• Crimson Rock Canyon Campground — Positioned within the gorgeous Crimson Rock Canyon Nationwide Conservation Space, you’ll discover a campground with six RV websites (together with a bunch of normal tent campsites) that provide unimaginable mountain vistas proper at the doorstep. As you may count on in the course of the Mojave Desert, there aren’t loads of facilities supplied right here—simply ingesting water, vault bathrooms, and trash cans.
• Lake Mead RV Village — When you determine to attempt that Historic Railroad Path we talked about earlier, you’ll be joyful to know you’ll then have easy accessibility to a superb and inexpensive RV park within the type of Lake Mead RV Village. Right here you get entry to full hookups, Wi-Fi at most websites, out of doors video games, a comfort retailer, a laundry facility, and shut proximity to a wide range of points of interest, together with the namesake lake itself.
• Canyon Path RV Park — Need much more of a “glamping” expertise? Try Canyon Path RV Park, located simply minutes away from the Bootleg Canyon Mom Path by bike. Not solely do you get full hookups, showers and laundry, and free Wi-Fi, but in addition a swimming pool and sizzling tub, cable TV entry, restrooms and showers, and two enclosed canine runs. Discuss tenting in fashion!

When it comes to enjoyable actions to get pleasure from after every experience, we suggest the standard stuff like roasting marshmallows round a campfire, doing a little stargazing, watching the native wildlife if you happen to can (from a protected distance, clearly), and if you happen to select to park in an RV resort, making the most of the facilities they provide. After all, if you happen to nonetheless have further vitality (and possibly some cash) to burn, you possibly can at all times make your method into Vegas correct and simply discover one thing entertaining to do.

One final pro-tip I can provide is to seize some artisan-baked pizzas from the Cottonwood Station restaurant in Boulder Metropolis. Thank me later.

Conclusion

As you possibly can see, there are many thrills and adventures awaiting you on the biking trails surrounding Las Vegas. From cross-country singletrack via Joshua tree forests to adrenaline-pumping rocky terrain with death-defying drops, there’s one thing for everybody on this desert panorama, and we encourage you to embark by yourself biking journey in a Las Vegas RV rental as quickly as potential!

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