The Red Rock National Conservation Area has several hundred miles of absolutely world-class mountain biking. For those without the 5+ inch travel required to squeeze the most benefit from the Boulder City area trails, or for some dawn patrol riding in summer (not recommended unless you live there and/or are accustomed to heat), these trails can't be beat for scenery and fun factor. Pick up Green Trails Maps map #2474S. The Cottonwood Valley/Blue Diamond section, including parts of Landmine, Inner Loop, Old Spanish Trail, Badger Pass, and Deadhorse combine each November to make half of the ~33-mile Blue Diamond-to-Jean benefit ride...put on each year by BARTA (though I hear it wasn't/won't be held in '06-'07 due to wildfire recovery), is an epic, fun ride that benefits a cause of choice each year. These trails range from swoopy-fast to rock-hopping technical to lung-busting epics -- whatever you want, you can put it together out there.

Getting There

From Downtown, take US 95 north, exit at Summerlin Parkway. Follow Summerlin Parkway to US 215 and turn left (South). Exit at Hwy 159 (Charleston Blvd) and turn Right, following the signs to Red Rock NCA. Continue around 159 to Blue Diamond, or for the Cottonwood Valley trails, continue to Hwy 160 and turn right. Drive ~4 miles or so and look for the parking areas on your right. Ride under the road for Badger Pass/Deadhorse trails.

When to Bike

Summer = HOT. Don't attempt to ride in the summer unless you live in Vegas or some other unnecessarily hot climate. "But it's a dry heat," you say? Yeah, keep telling yourself that as the paramedics dunk you in a tub of ice water while trying to start a 50-gallon drum of saline solution as an IV in your collapsed veins. Winter is the time to ride here -- October through April. If you are acclimated to the heat (if you don't live there or somewhere else Africa-hot, you're NOT acclimated, no matter how many Red Bull-and-Vodkas you've had), then you can ride many summer mornings -- the Red Rocks area is generally 5-10 degrees cooler than the rest of Vegas. If you must ride in the summer, drive 3-1/2 hours north on I-15 to the Virgin River Rim and ride the Epics there.