Southern Nevada Mega Mountain Bike Road Trip
At some point in time southern Nevada just becomes too hot to ride bikes. That is when the migration of mountain bikers starts heading into Northern Nevada. Higher elevation makes a day in the saddle much more enjoyable from the months of May – September. While riders in the south western parts of the United States are familiar with legendary riding in Boulder City’s Bootleg Canyon, you can’t really say you rode Nevada until you hit up these iconic destinations in the silver state. This trip can be taken over a week or a really long weekend. This is a giant loop keeping you in the southern part of the state. Either way you take it, you will be the envy of your friends when you return.
Las Vegas to Caliente
Take Hwy 93 N 151 miles
What to see along the way?
Take a detour to Mount Irish for petroglyphs
Check out the petroglyphs and bouldering at Mecca in Big Rocks Wilderness
Dig for trilobites at Oak Summit
While In Caliente:
Ride Barnes Canyon Trail System
13.1 miles of singletrack and counting. This system has everything from beginner-friendly flow trail to serious technical downhill. Only 4.5 miles from town, the Barnes Canyon trails travel from the valley floor to the rocky mesa top and back down. It offers incredible views of some stunning mountain ranges and geologic formations, including the Teepee Rocks and a literal rainbow of soil colors along the opposite side of the canyon.
Ride Kershaw-Ryan State Park Trail System
This system has flow for days. Kershaw Redemption, the 7-mile loop constructed by Sierra Trail Works, is the crowning jewel of this area. It’s friendly to beginners, but the real fun starts when you hit the gas and get into the groove. There are several options to extend your ride, including Skid Steer, a newly-finished black-diamond trail descending into Kershaw Canyon, which rides pretty much like it sounds. Start your ride from Kershaw Canyon or from the cell towers at the top of Spring Street.
Hone your skills at the Super Park Bike Park
This sweet little bike park surprises everyone. Warm up on the dirt jumps (complete with small, medium, and large) and pump track, then go for a spin up the hill on the directional flow trails. Be ready for features! This is a perfect place to spend an afternoon playing.
Extend your trip
Soak at Caliente Hot Spring Resort
Drive down Rainbow Canyon
Rock climb in Rainbow Canyon
Soak in Panaca Warm Spring (great for warmer weather)
Dirt bike or UTV on the Silver State Trail
Link to Trail Maps – https://lincolncountynevada.com/exploring/biking/mountain-bike-trails/
Link to Lodging – https://lincolncountynevada.com/staying/
Caliente to Ely
Take Hwy 93 N 132 miles
What to see along the way?
Explore Slot Canyons in Cathedral Gorge State Park
Walk the streets of downtown Pioche once the wildest place in the west
While In Ely:
Ride Ice Plant and Ward Mountain Trail System
There are over 25 miles of trails that meander through the sagebrush and pinyon-juniper forests of Ward Mountain. Ice Plant Trail System offers several different loops and connectors on the foothills of Ward Mountain just outside of Downtown Ely. Easily accessible, trails offer mild to moderate climbs and fast flowy descents through Pinyon and Juniper. Higher up on the mountain out of the Murry Summit Campground trailheads have multiple access points including shuttle opportunities to allow riders to descend 2000 feet back into downtown Ely. Adventure riding at its best. Trails can be narrow and rocky to buffed out and flowy.
Ride Squaw Peak Trail System
These trails are not for the faint of heart. Steep, loose, and rocky w/ many opportunities to get your tires off the ground describes the riding on this mountain. Rising up from Downtown Ely, Squaw Peak is accessed by a jeep road that can be climbed or shuttled. Rides can be from 7 miles to 12 miles depending on if you are climbing or shuttling. Riders looking to experience full pucker have to descend the infamous Whorehouse Hill Trail finishing in Downtown Ely.
Ride Cave Lake State Park Trail System
White Pine County’s essential mountain bike experience. The trails within Cave Lake State park are some of the best mountain biking in the State of Nevada. Stacked loops from 3 to 12 miles are well designed to offer long but moderate climbs delivering you from lake level up into the mahogany forests and limestone cliffs that are the signature of the park. Descents are equally as long and flowy bringing you through 3 ecosystems back to the Lake. Cave Lake trails offer the most diversity of terrain to ride.
The High Roller Trail will provide the best views of the area and the renowned Twisted Pines Trail will have you grinning from ear to ear the entire way down.
Extend your trip
Visit to the Nevada Northern Railway
Ward Charcoal Ovens State Park
Link to Mountain Biking – Mountain Biking % – Welcome To Ely (elynevada.net)
Link to Lodging – http://elynevada.net/lodging/
Ely to Tonopah
Take Hwy 6 169 miles
What to see along the way?
Take a quick side bar to Duckwater Hot Springs 15 miles off Hwy 6 Currant.
While In Tonopah:
No singletrack but there are plenty of dirt roads around town leading out to BLM land.
Grab a beer and some BBQ at Tonopah Brewing Co
Visit the historic and haunted Mizpah Hotel and order a Pincon Punch from the bar
Tour the Tonopah Historic Mining Park for the most accurate representation of underground mining in Nevada (self-guided walking tour or Guided Polaris tour)
Extend your trip
Explore the surrounding open spaces for rock hounding, including turquoise.
One of the Darkest night skies in the Country. Stargazing Park located at the end of Ray Tennant Drive past the High School.
There is a bike shop in Tonopah. Mike’s Bikes on Main Street, just down from the Mizpah
Link to Lodging – https://www.tonopahnevada.com/lodging/
Tonopah to Beatty
Take 95 S 94 miles
What to see along the way?
Church of the International Car Forest in Goldfield
While in Beatty:
Ride Spicer’s Ranch Trail System
Located on a family ranch just north of Beatty, Spicer Ranch Trail System is nice rolling singletrack with cool views of ponds, pasture, and quarries. Trail head starts on Dave Spicer’s Ranch and extends into BLM property which is host to many more miles of singletrack. Donations are encouraged for riding and camping and all money goes back into trails expansion. Loops consist of 2 to 10 miles on the ranch and many more miles extending out of the ranch.
Extend your trip
While in Beatty check out the Death Valley Nut & Candy Store
You are so close to Death Valley National Park how could you not visit.
Check out Rhyolite Ghost Town and Goldwell Open Air Museum on your way to Death Valley, just 4 mi.
Link to Beatty and Spicer Ranch Trails – http://trails-ov.org/
Link To Lodging – http://www.beattynevada.org/accommodations.html
Beatty to Las Vegas
Take 95 S 118 miles
One more ride?
Welcome back to Las Vegas. Dang it’s hot! You survived a mega mountain bike road trip. With any energy you have left, take one last ride before finishing the road trip. Ride the much cooler high elevation alpine trail system of Mt. Charleston. Make sure to share your adventure with your friends and tag the communities you rode in all of your social media posts.
Want to take another sweet mountain bike road trip?
Check out our Nevada Highway 50 Mountain Bike Adventure.