When it comes to Vegas, your word associations probably tend toward slots and sin more than singletrack and scenery. But get past the city limits, and it’s an incredible place to bike: long, paved climbs through the desert, challenging descents in red-rock country, and smooth rail trails to man-made and natural wonders alike. Not convinced? Read on.
1. Go on a tour with Trek Travel
If you have a few days in Vegas—and want to hit cruise control rather than plan—there’s no better way to hit the highlights than a three-day Trek Travel experience. Loop through vibrant Aztec sandstone in iconic Red Rock Canyon, climb to panoramic summit views atop 11,918-foot Mt. Charleston, and follow the new 34-mile River Mountains trail past Lake Mead and the Hoover Dam. Post-ride, soak in your hotel pool and grab a bite to eat in New York or Paris. ($1,799 person/double occupancy)
2. Visit the Trek Bicycle Las Vegas Rental Center
Located right on Red Rock Canyon Road in Blue Diamond, Trek’s Vegas outpost has all you need for a day out: high-end bike rentals, custom swag, and a Great Rides wall with details on top trails and routes. To fuel up or recover, grab a bite—breakfast panini, brick-oven pizza, fresh salad—and sit on the patio of Cottonwood Station, then see if you can spot the town’s resident wild burros.
Rent your ride at Trek Bicycle Las Vegas Rental Center
3. Red Rock Camping and Riding
If you can snag one of the 72 sites at the Red Rock Canyon campground—and don’t mind trading cush amenities for breathtaking skies and unparalleled access—you can roll out of your tent every morning and hit close to 100 miles of singletrack, from the punchy climbs of Flow Job to the popular, technical Bone Shaker. (Don’t miss a hike to the awesome Rubber Ducky Tree, which is…exactly what it sounds like.)
Explore Red Rock Canyon Campground
4. River Mountains Trail
Spend a day cruising the paved, 35-mile-long multi-use loop around the River Mountains and you’ll experience both close-ups of Lake Mead and wide-open vistas of the Las Vegas Valley. There’s even a four-mile connector trail, following smooth dirt on the bed of an historic railroad, that brings you straight to Hoover Dam. Want more mileage? The RMLT is also part of the Vegas Valley Rim Trail, which stretches 100 miles (and growing).
Learn more about the River Mountains Trail
5. Spring Mountains National Recreation Area
Also known as Mt. Charleston, snow-capped Spring Mountains NRA has two great mountain biking trails—Bristlecone and Sawmill—that both have a high-alpine feel rare to Vegas. Though it’s just 30 minutes from downtown, it’s home to more than 50 rare plants and animals. And tent (or van) sites are plentiful: in addition to four official campgrounds, there’s top-notch dispersed camping at Mack’s Canyon, Champion Road, and Lovell Canyon.
Trek Bicycle Las Vegas Rental Center
About the Author: Trek
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