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Las Vegas Biking
Las Vegas offers some really great, on- and off-road biking opportunities. A wide range of excellent road biking can be found within a short 30 minute drive from Las vegas. However for people who enjoy road biking you'll find the best and safest opportunities well away from the Las Vegas Strip. Road Biking in Las Vegas One of the best places for biking in the Las Vegas area can be found at the Red Rock National Conservation Area. It's found west of Las Vegas off Charleston Boulevard. Visitors can enjoy a beautiful 15-mile scenic loop that seems to be practically made for bike-riding. The route covers a 1,000 foot elevation gain in the first six miles which is followed by eight miles of downhill riding with one additional incline. The great thing about the Red Rock scenic loop is the traffic is one way and applies to both bikers and motorists. The road there is wide and the speed is set at a moderate 35 m.p.h. This is by far the number one choice among resident bikers in the Las Vegas Area. Another ride in the Red Rock vicinity starts at the small town of Blue Diamond and follows State Route 159 from the town to the entrance of the Red Rock Canyon Scenic Loop and back again. The whole trip is approximiately eight miles. The views consists of beautiful rock walls and desert scrub and flora. Lake Mead is home to another great bike riding destination North East of Las Vegas. It begins at Overton Beach on the shores of Lake Mead and climbs almost 900 feet in eight miles to the visitor center of the Valley of Fire State Park. The ride is spectacular with beautiful red sandstone cliffs and formations. Mountain Biking in Las Vegas Las Vegas has many great off-road mountain biking areas for bikers of all skill levels. One of the more popular, Cottonwood Valley is located South West of Las Vegas on NV 160. Visitors can find miles and miles of packed sand trails and loose rock courses which provide endless opportunity for exploration. To get there you should take I-15 south from Las Vegas and exit at NV 160. Head West 16 miles until you reach the Mustang Trailhead parking lot located on the right. Or you can follow the same road for 17 miles West until you reach the Cottonwood Valley Trailhead on the left. Remember to bring as much water as you can comfortably carry on yourself and on your frame. Riding in the arid environment you'll consume an incrwedible amount of water. This is the one thing you don't want to be without. Other bike riding essentials for desert conditions include sunglasses, head covering,( helmet for protection, visor for shade) and sunscreen. You'll also want to consider the time of day you ride and the conditions. Early moring or afternoon are best on hot days. Be careful to be aware of the closing times for some state parks. Bike shops in Las Vegas:Bikes USA Bike Trail Bike World
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