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Written byBecky Timbers

Quick Tips for Riding in Las Vegas

  • A map or GPS app is essential. Some of the trails around Las Vegas have trail name signs, but most do not. 
  • Do not underestimate the desert. Pack lots of water, apply sunscreen, and know the risks. Read my Desert Mountain Biking Tips if it’s your first time riding in the southwest.
  • The trails are full of sharp, pointy things. Tubeless tires are a must.
  • Be aware of the wildlife. Don’t try to pet the wild burros and give the rattlesnakes space.

When most people think of Las Vegas, they picture glitz, glamour, slot machines, and extravagant shows. But for me, it’s the surprisingly impressive mountain biking scene that keeps drawing me back. Every time I ride here, I discover more great trails and see more riders getting out to enjoy them. Sure, the singletrack may not be as good as other mountain bike destinations (like Moab) or as beautiful (hello Sedona). But the scope of riding and the unique desert terrain of Las Vegas makes it a worthy place to check out.

I’ve ridden the mountain bike trails in Vegas a handful of times now and in this post, I share my top tips for making the most of your visit. From the best trails to route recommendations, this is your ultimate guide to mountain biking in Las Vegas!

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Las Vegas Trail Map

Starting with the map, the mountain bike trails in Las Vegas are mostly located around the south and west side of the city. The large green area is Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, which is home to some of the most popular trails like Cowboy and Cottonwood Valley. On the east side of the city (or in Boulder City to be more accurate) is Bootleg Canyon – the rowdiest and roughest riding in Las Vegas.

Start with Bears Best

Bear’s Best is one of the largest and most popular mountain bike trail networks in Las Vegas. It’s located on the west side of the city and the trails mostly consist of mellower cross-country singletrack, but you can find a bit of minor tech in there if you want.

When I visit Las Vegas to ride, Bear’s Best is usually my first stop because it’s a great warm up to Las Vegas mountain biking. It’s also a great place to take the kids or newer riders.

One thing to know about riding at Bear’s Best, though, is that the trails are a big bowl of spaghetti. They are not marked with signs and it’s really easy to get confused (although it’s hard to get lost because you can see across the desert for miles). I highly recommend having TrailForks downloaded to your phone.

Plan your ride at Bear’s Best

Best trails to ride: Permagrin, Berry’s Dive, Yellow H, Get Schwifty, Morgan’s Mile, Hidden Canyon, The Circus (if you’re looking for an experience…)

Route Recommendations:

  • Permagrin and Back: A super quick and easy (but fun!) ride. Permagin is a flowy whoop-d-doo trail that kids and adults will love. You could also add on a Nice Curves > Flagpole Loop to make it a bit longer.
  • Bear’s Best Quickie: This is a classic ride at BB. The pedal up Gnarly is a bit annoying, but the rest of the route is pretty fun with plenty of options to add on.
  • Las Vegas Bear’s Best: Another good loop. Make it a little harder and more interesting by climbing Get Shwifty to the lookout.
  • Ken’s Choice: This route isn’t technical per se, but 24 miles is a big day, especially in the desert. If you’re up for the mileage, though, this route covers the main trail attractions at Bear’s Best. You could also start it and bail back to the car at any point.

Need to know:

  • Bear’s Best is huge. Before setting out, make sure you have a ride plan or else you may inadvertantly do a huge day… 
  • Not all trails are created equal here. Some really suck. Stick to my route recs above.
  • Pack all your trail essentials. There is no water, tools, or services out on the Bear’s Best trails.
  • It may be tempting to spend a few days here because there are so many trails, but I recommend moving on after one day. There’s better riding in Vegas – BB is just a warm-up.
View out over canyon with singletrack trails running along side hills
Miles and miles of singletrack in Bear’s Best

Next up: Cottonwood Valley (aka Blue Diamond)

Cottonwood Valley (on TrailForks) or Blue Diamond (known by the locals) is a step up from Bear’s Best. There’s a lot of riding around here, too, but it includes a bit more tech and rocky Las Vegas riding. One of the most popular trails here is Landmine Loop, which is a great intermediate ride. There’s also Three Mile Smile, a classic Vega’s descent that requires a bit of a climb (or you can set up a shuttle).

Newer to this area are two of my favorite trails: Flow Job and EBB n’ Flow. They link Blue Diamond to Cowboy Trails (more on those below), but I included them here because they’re most often accessed from the Blue Diamond side. These two trails – in my opinion – are not to be missed!

Plan your ride at Blue Diamond

Best trails to ride: Rubber Ducky, Landmine Loop, Three Mile Smile, Dead Horse Loop, Angel’s Landing

Route Recommendations:

  • Mustang Loop: A four-mile loop on smooth singletrack.
  • Blue Diamond Loop: A classic Las Vegas ride. Landline Loop is one of the OG trails. It is fun and worth doing, but don’t expect it to be epic. If you only have one ride at Blue Diamond, I recommend the Redhawk’s Canyon below.
  • Redhawk’s Canyon: This is a big day with a hefty climb up to the top of Badger Pass. It’s one of my favorite rides, though, for its backcountry feel, great view out over Las Vegas if you go all the way out to the overlook, and a super fun descent down Three Mile Smile. Eat your Wheaties and keep an eye out for wild burros!
  • Angel’s Landing: I actually didn’t totally love this trail, but it’s a local’s favorite, so I included it here. It’s definitely best-ridden as a shuttle, but don’t expect it to be all downhill. The first 1/2 mile or so is all climbing. There are some cool rockwork features near the bottom that are fun to session.
  • Ebbing and Flowing: This is such a fun and unique ride! Ebb n’ Flow is one of Vegas’s newer trails it’s is really cool with incredible views and a good smattering of technical features like drops, rock gardens, and very tight switchbacks. Don’t make the mistake of thinking it’s all downhill, though, there’s still a good amount of climbing even after you’re finished the 5-mile Flow Job climb.

Need to know:

  • The trails in the middle of Landmine Loop (like Hurl) aren’t really worth the effort. There’s better stuff to ride.
  • e-bikes are not allowed on Ebb n’ Flow.
  • The climb up Flow Job is a bit brutal for the first 1/4 mile or so with steep switchbacks and loose trail.
  • There really isn’t a great way to ride Angel’s Landing aside from shuttling it. Alternatively, you can ride up the road.

One of my favorites: Southwest Ridge

Southwest Ridge is one of my favorite places to ride in Las Vegas. It sees less traffic than Bear’s Best and Blue Diamond and has a bit more variety, including some fun rocky tech! I will admit, though, that the climb up to the top of the ridge is a bit of a grunt. It’s not too bad if you take Good Call. But I promise the descents down Menny Thanks and Bipolar are a worth it!

Plan your ride at Southwest Ridge

Best trails to ride: Good Call, Legalize It, Menny Thanks (descending the west side), Bipolar

Route Recommendations:

  • Menny Thanks Out-n-Back: Southwest Ridge isn’t the best place for beginner/intermediate riders, but this lollipop loop is a good introduction to the riding there without being too technical.
  • Menny Thanks Loop: This is my go-to loop if I only have a day or two of riding in Vegas. It has a good mix of climbing, punch tech, great views, and flowy singletrack. Love this ride.

Need to know:

  • Southwest Ridge is not really a place for beginners
  • There is some exposure when you get to the top of Southwest Ridge. Don’t go over the edge.
  • The east side of Menny Thanks isn’t really worth it. It’s best to climb Good Call (good call!) and then descend the west side.
  • It’s a bit confusing to find the start of Good Call. Ride across the concrete dam to access the trails.
  • Bipolar is also a fun trail to come down if you have two laps in you.
Male mountain biker going off large rock drop on trail outside of Las Vegas, Nevada with mountains in the far distance
There are some good-sized drops on the descent down Menny Thanks

Don’t miss the Cowboy Trails

If you’re looking to get rowdy, head over to the Cowboy Trails. This area has some of the most technical riding in Las Vegas (aside from Bootleg Canyon, which is technically in Boulder City). The trail to do is Bone Shaker, which is a super fun DH line with a lot of drops, cool rock features, and a steep, loose chute at the end.

I’ve also heard from some friends that the Brohemian Rhapsody Trail is really fun. I haven’t ridden it, but they raved about it so it’s definitely on my radar. It sounds like there’s a bit of slickrock, technical rock gardens, and cool rock work. A “little slice of Sedona and Moab in Vegas”.

Plan your ride At Cowboy Trails

Best trails to ride: Kibbles-n-Bits, Bone Shaker, Brohemian Rhapsody

Route Recommendations:

  • Brohemian Rhapsody: This isn’t a ride I’ve done, but I have friends who did it and really enjoyed it (and I trust their judgement :). They said it’s quite techy with some exposure along the rim, but a must-ride for sure!
  • Bone Shaker Lap: This is a challenging ride. The climb up Kibbles-n-Bits is punchy and tiring and then you have a technical descent down Bone Shaker. But if you’re up for it, this is one of the best mountain bike rides in Vegas!

Need to know:

  • Cowboy Trails is definitely not a place for beginners or even intermediate riders
  • Expect tech – up and down!
  • There are several DH lines here, but Bone Shaker is really the star.
  • A full face is recommended and ride with a buddy.
Metal trail sign that says Boneshaker on mountain bike trail outside Las Veags

Head up to Mt. Charleston

Mt. Charleston is the highest peak in Nevada’s Clark County, standing at 11,916 feet. It’s no surprise then, that there are a few fun mountain bike trails down its slopes. It’s also a cool way to see a different side to Las Vegas mountain biking – instead of cacti, the trails are lined with pine trees and you’ll catch some great views out over the otherwise flat desert landscape.

Unfortunately, if you visit in winter (usually the best time to visit Vegas for mountain biking), the trails on Mt. Charelston may be under snow so check the forecast before you head out there. Mt. Charleston is about a 40-minute drive from the city.

Unless you have a shuttle, be prepared to work for your descent, though!

Plan your ride on Mt. Charleston

Best trails to ride: Tin Can Alley, Lower Showgirl, Chutes & Ladders

Route Recommendations:

  • Tin Can Alley Loop: This is one of the more popular routes on Mt. Charleston. You get a good bang for your buck even though the climb can be a slog and pretty loose in places. But the descent down Tin Can Alley is a blast! If you have another climb in you, head back up halfway and do Lower Showgirl.

Need to know:

  • The trails on Mt. Charleston can be snow-covered in winter
  • The trails here can be hit or miss. Some are great, some are sh*t
  • Unless you have a shuttle, be prepared to work for your descent

Bring your A-Game at Bootleg Canyon

This is the Las Vegas mountain biking trail network that everyone wants to know about and ride. To be fully transparent, I haven’t ridden Bootleg Canyon (yet!). I’ve been to Vegas a number of times to ride, but I’ve always wanted to dedicate a few solid days just to this area and it hasn’t happened yet.

But if you’re heading to Las Vegas for a mountain bike trip, Bootleg Canyon is worth checking out. It used only cater to very experienced (and slightly crazy) riders with extremely technical trails and high-stakes features, but over the past few years, some mellower and more intermediate-friendly singletrack has been added.

Since I haven’t ridden at Bootleg Canyon, I can’t give a verified route recommendation, but this is the route I’d choose for myself for my first time riding there.

Other Trail Networks

The above trail networks are the ones that I’ve ridden the most and the ones I know best. There is a TON of riding in Las Vegas, so I haven’t explored eversything (I’ve tried!). Here are three more trail networks that I don’t have experience with, but might be worth checking out if you have the time.

Da Burbs

These trails are located northwest of Las Vegas and it’s actually a pretty big network that looks like it caters more toward experienced riders. There are more black-rated trails than blue or green. A friend who has ridden Da Burbs mentioned that the trails can be quite confusing, so have TrailForks ready. I’ve also heard that climbing is quite brutal in Da Burbs.

It seems like Cleod 9 is the trail to do at Da Burbs and this is the route I’d probably start with.

Sloan Canyon Trails

I don’t know much about this trail network. It’s shaped kind of like a butterfly with a left and right ‘wing’ with Pandemic providing a bridge between the two. Litterbox seems like a popular trail and after looking at TrailForks, this is a route I came up with based on reviews.

Union Trails

Union Trails is another network I know very little about. I’m curious about Juicy Fruit because it gets really good reviews (“Textbook Las Vegas riding”), so it’ll definitely be on my ride-list when I get back out there.

a man riding a bike on a dirt trail

Planning Your Las Vegas Mountain Bike Adventure

☀️ When to go: The best time to plan a mountain bike trip to Las Vegas is during the cooler winter months. I’ve visited in January, February, and November, and the temps were always a comfortable mid-50’s during the day. It does get cold at night, so if you’re camping be sure to bring lots of warm layers. Late fall and early spring could also be good times to visit, but check the weather before you go to make sure temps are reasonable. Las Vegas does get heavy rains as well, typically in the spring. I would avoid mountain biking in Las Vegas during the summer at all costs.

🗓️ Number of days: Honestly, you could spend a few weeks riding in Las Vegas and not cover all the trails. But if you’re just looking to do the highlights, I’d say 4-5 days is enough.

🚲 What bike to bring: This really depends on what kind of riding you want to do. For the desert cross-country singletrack, a short travel bike is best. If you plan on hitting Cowboy Trails or Bootleg Canyon I’d say a mid or long travel bike would be better. If you want to do it all, go with a mid travel bike (like 140-150 rear suspension).

⚡️ e-bikes: Electric bikes are allowed on most trails in Las Vegas with a few exceptions. They’re not allowed on Ebb n’ Flow trail (per request of the trail builder) and they are not allowed on trails within the Red Rock Canyon NCA – so Da Burbs, Cowboy Trails, and Blue Diamond. Please respect the rules.

🚗 Getting around: A car is absolutely necessary. Las Vegas is a big city and the trail networks are all spread out around the outskirts of town. The EVOC Duo is a great travel tailgate pad that you can use with a truck rental.

🏠 Bike shops & rentals: There are lots of good bike shops in Las Vegas. Las Vegas Cyclery is one of the more popular ones and they also offer high-end mountain bike rentals as well as bike racks for your rental car.

🚴 Mountain bike tours: Prefer to have a guide show you around? Escape Adventures and Bike Blast Las Vegas bother offer mountain bike tours around Vegas.

⛺️ Camping: Surprisingly, there’s not a ton of camping around Vegas – free or paid. The only campground west of the city is Red Rock Canyon Campground, which has easy access to most mountain bike trails. However, the campground is pretty primitive with no showers, no electricity, no cell reception and it has pit toilets.

🏨 Hotels: There are plenty of hotels and rentals in Vegas. I recommend looking for one near the western edge of the city so you can have quick and easy access to the trails.

🧳 Las Vegas-specific packing list: For a complete packing list, head over to my Mountain Bike Trip Packing List post. Here are a few recommendations specific to Las Vegas mountain biking:

  • Dry lube: It’s dry and dusty in Las Vegas, so be sure to pack some dry chain lube to keep dirt and dust out of your chain. I like to use the Rock n’ Roll Gold.
  • Sunscreen: You’re heading to the desert, so sunscreen up! Even if the temps are cool, be sure to take sun protection seriously here.
  • 3 liter hydration reservoir: Don’t underestimate the desert environment. Even if you’re heading out for a ‘quick’ spin, carry more water than you think you’ll need. I typically always fill up my 3L hydration bladder even if I’m just heading out on a short pedal.
  • Tire sealant: There are a lot of sharp, pointy things in Las Vegas. Top up your tire sealant before you go and bring a small bottle with you in case your tires meet their match.
  • Light windbreaker: I used my Patagonia Houdini jacket a lot more than I expected on my most recent trip to Las Vegas. It’s super lightweight and packs down small.
  • Robust bike lock system: Unfortunately Las Vegas isn’t the most honest of cities (it is called Sin City after all…), so if you’re going to be leaving your bikes on a rack at all, you need a robust locking system. We typically have three different locks on each bike at a time: A U-lock with cable (one for each bike), and two burly chain lock (one for each bike). Overkill? Maybe. But I’d rather go overboard than have a bike thief walk away with my most prized possession.

I hope this post helps you plan an unforgettable mountain bike trip to Las Vegas! There’s so much more to the city than casinos and shows. The desert outside the city is one of my favorite places to explore by mountain bike and hope you think so too!

Read next

Planning a mountain bike trip to Nevada? Check out these posts to help plan your trip:

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Becky is the creator and founder of the bike blog Two Wheeled Wanderer. She's been riding bikes and traveling the world since she was a kid and likes nothing more than enjoying some flowy singletrack or embarking on a multi-day bikepacking adventure. When she's not blogging, Becky is a Level 1 PMBIA-certified mountain bike coach and coaches with Ladies AllRide.

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12 Comments

  1. I think your ebike information is incorrect. No BLM land allows ebikes, see herehttps://www.blm.gov/nevada/red-rock-canyon-nca/recreation : “E-bikes of any type are not permitted on mountain bike trails — they are limited to motorized-approved roads (Scenic Drive, Rocky Gap Road, Harris Springs Road, Cottonwood To Good Springs Road, Black Velvet Canyon Access Road and the Mustang Loop).”

    Even if people are breaking the law, it’s not responsible to post that they’re ok when the land manger doesn’t allow them

    Reply

  2. This is a fantastic list of trail recommendations, it was very helpful planning a long week of riding different areas and styles around Vegas.

    Reply

  3. great information and much details provided. will be in Vegas this Nov and hopefully with your shared information, i will have a blast trailing in Vegas.

    Reply

  4. Fantastic write up, thanks for taking the time to educate others on the amazing trails we have to offer!

    P.S. Just a quick correction, Mt. Charleston peak is 11,916 ft. =)

    Reply

  5. Hi Becky.
    I was wondering if there are any businesses that run mountain biking tours. I might bring my husband in early October and he wouldn’t want to ride by himself. He’s an experienced mountain biker so I know he would want to have some fun on the trails. Can you help with a good tour business…if one exists?

    Reply

  6. Thank you so much for all this precious information. I have taken notes and will save a lot of time on the trails and visit the best ones.
    Your canadian friend,
    Étienne

    Reply

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