Las Vegas Valley Provides Biking and Hiking Trails

The Las Vegas Valley is home to an abundance of biking and hiking trails for outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy exploring the stunning geologic landscapes of the Mojave Desert or navigating the edgy urban streetscapes of local cities.

Here are some favorite treks across the Las Vegas Valley:

• The River Mountains Loop Trail stretches more than 35 miles around the River Mountains, following Lakeshore Road along Lake Mead, then circles through Boulder City and back north through eastern Henderson.
• Anthem, Cadence and Inspirada master-planned communities in Henderson connect to an extensive trail system within the city, as well as to the River Mountains Loop Trail.
• The Vegas Valley Rim Trail,also known as the I-215 Beltway Trail, knits together smaller community trails with larger systems throughout the Las Vegas Valley by adjoining the U.S. Highway 215 Beltway.
• The 13-mile Lower Vegas Wash Trail explores desert scenery around North Las Vegas.
• Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Areahas a 13-mile loop that is accessible from the Summerlin community trail system and is connected to the Blue Diamond Trail in the southwest.
• Arterial roads within the Skye Canyoncommunity of northwest Las Vegas have bicycle lanes on both sides of the street with wide, detached sidewalks, so that both slower cyclists and racing cyclists can use them.
• The Nevada Department of Transportation has widened Kyle Canyon Road, so that bicyclists can trek 23 miles uphill from northwest Las Vegas to Mount Charleston.

The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada has always considered bicyclists and hikers in its regional planning efforts. Complete streets in urban areas like downtown Las Vegas and Henderson allow for multiple modes of transportation within designated bike lanes and wide sidewalks.

An RTC Bike Map showcases this diversity in graphic formats and is available in both print and online formats at rtcsnv.com/ways-to-travel/cycling.

The RTC of Southern Nevada also maintains a Bike Share program with a fleet of 180 public bicycles in the downtown Las Vegas area. Local staff strive to make this fleet accessible to all incomes and age levels.

Whether pedaling a standard mechanical bike or an electric-assisted one, safety should be an ongoing consideration.

• Always wear a helmet.
• Pre-plan your route and choose bike lanes from trail maps on slower urban roadways with less traffic whenever possible.
• If you plan to ride at night, make sure the bike has reflectors, as well as dependable front and rear lights that can be toggled into flashing mode when needed.
• Carry a tire repair kit if you plan a long ride or an off-road trail. Learn how to perform a roadside inner tube replacement in case of a flat tire. The repair kit should include a spare inner tube, portable air pump, plastic tire removal shims, as well as a tool set that includes pliers, screwdrivers, allen wrenches and a flashlight.
• When biking or hiking, always carry enough water in sports bottles that can be stowed in a backpack or inside mounted bicycle frame brackets. Stay hydrated during your journey and take regular rest stops to recuperate.

More than 20 local bike shops sponsor group bicycling events and road races each year in conjunction with local communities.

• Las Vegas Cyclery has a program of Escape Adventures for its customers in Summerlin and the Red Rock Canyon national recreational area.
• REI provides resources for unique outdoor exploration experiences at two locations in Las Vegas and Henderson.
• Boulder City offers support for bicyclists who are exploring the Lake Mead recreational area