This is a moderately strenuous hike because of the nearly 1,200 foot elevation gain. The hike is…read moreapproximately 6.5 miles round trip if you go to both peaks. The trailhead is along US Highway 93. As you approach Boulder City, turn left the way you'd go to Hoover Dam. After you start down the hill past Industrial Road, watch for a sign on the left that says River Mountains Trail parking. It's just before the entrance to the St. Jude's Ranch for Children. There is ample parking here. From the parking area, walk behind the interpretive marker and the trail goes between the wall of an area of houses on the left and a concrete drainage ditch on the right. From there, the trail is fairly easy to follow as it's well defined. Follow the signs for the trail. There are side trails that are mountain bike trails so watch for the hiking only trail markers. The first part of the trail meanders around a bit and goes up and down until it works its way around and into a wash that comes down from the saddle between the two peaks. The saddle is the first goal. As you hike toward the saddle, the trail becomes a series of switchbacks to make getting to the top easier. Please DO NOT CUT the switchbacks. This damages the trail and when rain comes, wash outs are more likely. You'll also be trampling some native plants so stay on trail. Turn left at the saddle and keep heading up. There's still a bit more to go. After a few more switchbacks, you'll come to a road--a road you could have driven up, but that would defeat the whole purpose of hiking, no? This road is used to get to the antenna array at the top of Red Mountain. It's also used to take those who are doing the Bootleg Canyon flight lines near the launching area for the first flight. When you reach this road, you have a stunning view of Las Vegas and the Spring Mountains on the west side of the valley. You walk a short distance along the road and you'll see the trail to Red Mountain continue on your left. Follow the trail as it goes higher. It's a bit rocky and there is one spot that has some loose gravel. After a short time, you do reach the Red Mountain area and you see the antenna array you've probably seen many times driving to/from Hoover Dam. The actual peak for Red Mountain has a stake and you can go there if you want to be at the topmost point. In this area, you can see the first flight for the Bootleg Canyon Flight Lines, Lake Mead, The Eldorado Valley with its two solar plants, and of course, Las Vegas. It's a wonderful place. If you're lucky, you'll be here when a group does the flight. You can also see the mountain bike trails that make up the Bootleg Canyon trails. It's interesting to see these people riding down the steep slopes. Now for the bad news, Black Mountain is on the opposite side of the saddle. You can see the trail you need to follow from Red Mountain. If you've had enough, just return to your car. It's only about 3 miles away. If you're going to Black Mountain or your car, you need to head back the way you came passing the dirt road and looking carefully watching for when the trail to the saddle goes off the dirt road to the right. When you get back to the saddle, continue straight ahead on the trail if you're going to Black Mountain or make a right if you're going back to the car now. The trail goes about 1/2 mile to Black Mountain. It is very well defined and you hike on volcanic rock. That's what makes Black Mountain its color. At the top of Black Mountain, there's a bench and several interpretive markers explaining the geology of the Las Vegas Valley. It's a good place to have a snack and enjoy the view. Follow your tracks back to the saddle and then descend the switchbacks. They're so much nicer now that you're going downhill. Before you know it, you'll be back to your car. There is a picnic table at the parking area, so you can have an après hike lunch. We call it Guinness time! Happy hiking!

For Review 300, I wanted to spend time in a beautiful place that is as good as it gets. This is…read moreachievable when I live in a metropolitan area with access to spectacular parks. So, this past weekend's outdoor adventure was when I returned to Red & Black Mountain to climb up Red Mountain. There are two hiking routes to hike up Red & Black Mountain. Hiking Route A is from the River Mountain Trail (not the River Mountains Loop Trail).To get there from the Las Vegas area, travel on US 93 toward Hoover Dam. After turning left on US 93 to bypass downtown Boulder City, the sign for River Mountain Trail will be on your left. Hiking Route A begins in a residential subdivision, passes through a desert landscape under power lines, and then climbs up switch backs to a summit. At the top of the summit, you have the option of turning left toward Red Mountain or turning right toward Black Mountain. Hiking Route B is from the Bootleg Canyon Park Trailhead. From the Las Vegas area, drive on US 93 as if you were headed to Boulder City. After the first traffic signal, US 93 changes from a divided limited access highway to a commercial thoroughfare. Get on the left lane and turn left on Yucca Street. Taco Bell will be the landmark. From here drive on Yucca Street to it dead ends at the Bootleg Canyon Park parking lot. Once you park your car, you will hike on the River Mountains Loop Trail for a short distance. At the first junction, you will make a left on the road toward a valley. This is Bootleg Canyon. You will see restrooms and picnic tables. From this point continue on the road, which is now gravelly. It will bring you up Red Mountain. Just a note, to the right of the road is a large mountain adorned with a large "B.C." and communication towers on top. This is the mountain that you will be climbing. From my experience hiking up Red & Black Mountain, I STRONGLY suggest, hiking each mountain on two separate hikes. Two separate hikes will reward you with hours of recreation and experiences. This review is on Hiking Route B: Bootleg Canyon Park to the summit of Red Mountain. Hiking Route A: River Mountain Trail to the summit of Black Mountain will be a future review, which I will place under Yelp's River Mountain Trail Listing. From ground level to the summit, there are three types of topography to hike. From the Bootleg Canyon Park parking lot to the valley, the topography is pavement. Through the valley and up the north side of Red Mountain, the topography is a sandy and gravelly road that is used by vehicles transporting people and dirt bikes to a parking lot at the end of the road. With the exception of the gradual change in elevation, this is an easy hike. Beyond the parking lot, the topography is very rocky and gravelly for a short segment, and the trail has changed from a dirt road to a narrow trail that becomes narrow with steeper elevation gains. At this point, the hike is moderately difficult to the degree that I strongly suggest "focus on the moment "concentration and reliable hiking boots. The scenery is as good as it gets. Red Mountain (with the B.C.) is beautiful from ground level. As the dirt road travels through Bootleg Canyon northbound, then gains elevation gain eastbound, the closer up vistas of Red Mountain are captivating. Especially at dawn! As the dirt road travels through Bootleg Canyon, it treats the hiker to spectacular vistas of the River Mountains and valleys. Once the dirt road turns toward the north to travel uphill, the vistas become as good as it gets. It is at this point where the panoramas of the Las Vegas Valley featuring the Las Vegas Strip and surrounding mountain ranges overtake the landscape. It is at this point where you could look down on the top of the Stratosphere and across at French Mountain with open desert below. I said the scenery is as good as it gets? I was ahead of myself. At the parking lot where the dirt road ends, the scenery gets better! This is where you have the option of turning left and hiking to the summit of Black Mountain, or staying straight on a narrow path to the left of the gate toward the Red Mountain summit. At this point you are consumed by breathtaking scenery. To your left is the mesmerizing black Mountain and to your right hundreds of feet below you is Boulder City. I said the scenery is as good as it gets? It is almost as good as it gets! The narrow part of the trail looks over even better scenery. When you look to the right you will be able to see Black Mountain Henderson and to the left you will be able to see Lake Mead and the bridge. At the summit where people board the Bootleg Canyon Flight Lines the scenery is as good as it gets. Looking below there is Lake Mead, Boulder City, and desert. And yes, this scenery is as good as it gets and why Red & Black Mountain is 5 stars.

This was easily one of the most fun things I did in Vegas…read more The drive from the Strip to the river is about an hour and actually really scenic, you pass some pretty cool rock formations along the way. We had Brett as our guide and he was awesome. The weather couldn't have been better and the water really is that bright green you see in photos. When the sun hits it just right, it's unreal. The whole kayak route is beautiful, and we even saw a bald eagle flying overhead, which was a nice surprise. Tips: Don't book this if you're not in decent shape, it's about 3-4 miles of kayaking. If you're unsure, go for a tandem kayak and bring someone to share the work. It'll make the experience way more enjoyable. Just make sure to request a tandem kayak in advance

Great day kayaking the Colorado River. Brett is knowledgeable, kind and funny. He went the extra…read moremile to make sure our group had a wonderful time. We saw birds of prey, herons, loons, and big horn sheep with their baby sheep at the rivers edge. Go in the morning to see emerald green water and experience less wind while kayaking. Brett made sure we kayaked inside the caves safely and nice photo opportunities. Go and have so much fun!

Updated info for them locals and for anyone who's planning an amazing hike....I've gone through and…read morethrough this trail three times absolutely 10/10 kinda disappointed it was closed but now I know

A really scenic trail that's off the beaten path. Not too many people hit this trail but it's super…read moreunderrated! Easy parking and moderate hike. Can bring dogs but just watch out for rocks

More Art in the Park:…read more In downtown Boulder City [1] a hop up Colorado Street from Wilber Square Park [2] where the annual Art in the Park Festival [3] is held the first weekend of October is more Art in the Park in the tiny Reflections Center sculpture garden. A couple of Saturdays ago, I spent a few minutes of solitude here. In similar style to downtown Boulder City, Reflections Center is charming. When I visited it on a recent Saturday morning, I was one of only a few people to appreciate its charm. I hold the opinion that few people outside of Boulder City are aware of its existence. It was a couple of years ago while I was touring downtown Boulder City in my car on the way to Lake Mead National Recreation Area [4] that I became aware of this sculpture garden. This sight became a mental bookmark. A couple of Saturdays ago I was up for a park combination (combined with Veteran's Memorial Park) over a long hike. In the Boulder City Starbuck's, I saw that my Yelp friend Renee. N created this business listing with an informative review and pictures. The mental bookmark was about to transition into a real life experience The first thing I observed was that the majority of the parking is off Railroad Street in a residential neighborhood. However, there is a small parking lot by the residential building in the center of the property. This is where I parked. This is a good thing because; I became aware of a small community garden. It is my understanding that local residents plant and maintain the plots in the garden. Fronting some of the green parcels are the names of some of the people involved in the community garden. What I found cute was the library box that looks like a giant bird house on a pole. Now, if I had parked on Railroad Street at the east side of the house, I may not have been aware of the community garden at its west side. I spent a few minutes touring the sculpture garden that showcases an obelisk and 7 sculptures that supposedly rotate every year. As I toured along the concrete walkways I set eyes on what appear to be wire sculptures. They included an eagle, giraffe, dolphin, cow, and "Shooting Star Sculpture" by John Banks (2012). They blended in with the well-manicured xeriscape garden. You can follow my footsteps on a virtual tour through the pictures below. While touring the sculpture gardens, I also took in the plaques. One of the plaques stated this interesting fact: "This garden attracts migratory and native birds of Southern Nevada. It is a part of the Great American Bird Count." The obelisk is the focal point of Reflections Center. The plaque has an interesting description that explains the name Reflections Center. It pays tribute to the people and events that built Boulder City and the Hoover Dam. The later part of the plaque summarizes the spirit of the sculpture gardens best: "The inscription (is) dedicated to: those individuals and their triumphs and sacrifices who originally forged this environment; tose (sic) individuals who subsequently have conscientously (sic) molded it; and those individuals yet to come, who will be entrusted with its future sculpturing. May these ever-changing reflections...remind us of the past, enlightn (sic) the present, and guide us to the future." Reflections Center was a nice way to spend a few minutes between Starbuck's and Veteran's Memorial Park [5]. If you are considering touring Reflections Center, I highly recommend combining it with another Boulder City attraction. If an adventure were food, Reflections Center makes a nice appetizer before the entrée. Links: [1] https://www.yelp.com/biz/city-of-boulder-city-boulder-city?osq=Boulder+City [2] https://www.yelp.com/biz/wilbur-square-park-boulder-city?osq=Wilbur+Square+Park [3] https://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=Art+In+the+Park&find_loc=Las+Vegas%2C+NV&ns=1 [4] https://www.yelp.com/biz/lake-mead-national-recreation-area-boulder-city [5] https://www.yelp.com/biz/veterans-memorial-park-boulder-city Virtual Picture Tour Below:

While driving around BC, we came upon this little park. There is not a lot of information but it is…read moreobviously a sculpture garden and it is a nationally certified garden to help preserve monarch butterflies. It is not a very big space and I think I counted 7 unique sculptures. I especially loved the giraffe and the bird like tall sculpture. It appears that the center or park has been here a while as the sculptures look dated. There is an obelisk that is dedicated to the builders of Hoover Dam and Boulder City. Being a former resident of BC, I had never seen this little park before but glad we came upon it. There are plenty of park benches surrounding the center so you can sit down, relax in the sun and reflect!

My advice is to know the trail you're going to hike before you go. Don't be like us and assume you…read morewill know where to go. We started on one trail and we're supposed to go off on another but I didn't realize that until I got home and saw the directions. SO, we ended up hiking and walking and walking and hiking further and further into the desert. Ended up doubling the original hike that was "supposed" to be a loop. Other than getting lost, it was a nice trail. It's not strenuous at all and pretty easy with a few hills. Nothing unbearable or too hard, even for kids. There's lots of cactus plants and of corse rocks and wildlife. It's nice to go early in the morning before it gets too hot. There are some views of the city and lots of views of desert and mountains. At the beginning of the hike there is a parking lot, restrooms and maps.

Only hike about 2 miles here and found it very average however I was chomping at the bit wishing I…read morehad my mountain bike. There is an actual bathroom here with cold water. There is even a place to maintenance your bike. Admittedly I did enjoy all the grouse and bunnies running around. For hiking not so much but if you have a bike I'd say give it a go.

As I was exploring the back ways of Henderson last night I came across this newly discovered…read moreentrance of Pittman Ranch. This wash and surrounding area are so beautiful the way that Henderson has celebrated nature and in its original form. The concrete path is the only thing that is man made. I love the feel of walking this path with the great trees and animal life that surrounds one. This is such a peaceful walk and I was able to finish up my day with a great walk through nature. Putting in the headphones and just take in nature. One can stay on the path or go into the wash and admire the wilderness. I would rather not disturb the surrounding habitats for the animals. As one walks up the path the wildlife changes with the scenery too. Such a magical walk.

I just love this place. You can walk your dog, or not. You can jog, or not. Saunter, ride a bike,…read moretalk on a conference call, or just breath in the quiet, beautiful scenery. If you haven't checked out this little henderson gem, what ya waiting for?

One of my favorite hiking spots ! You can hit up downtown…read moreBoulder City in your way in or out. Either fuel up for your hike or after working up an appetite. I recommend Southwest Diner if the weather is good to sit outside. The hime is good for families, big groups or solo missions. It's mostly flat with lots of beautiful views. In the heat the tunnels allow for a break from the sun and there are cute seating areas for many picture opportunities. If you want a bit more exploration and exertion there are side trails and extensions you can take as well

I've hiked this mountain bike trail twice in the last few weeks and it's a great hike with some…read morechallenging terrain. It is a 4.6 mile loop around the ridges behind the Railroad Pass Casino. You access this trail from the rear of the parking area at the Railroad Pass Casino just before Boulder City. At that rear parking area, you'll see a kiosk which has some interesting history of the area and the entrance to the River Mountain Loop Trail is there. Walk up to the paved trail and start heading for Boulder City. In about 20 feet, you'll notice a foot path going off to your left. Leave the bike/walking trail there and head toward the ridge. You'll soon cross the railroad tracks. Keep following this use trail and you soon arrive at the mountain bike trail. From there, the route is obvious for the first half of the hike. The hike follows the mountain bike trail as it loops around several ridges. After one of the ridges, after you make the turn east, you'll start to see the Cascata Golf Course owned by Caesars Entertainment. There a fence separating the bike trail from the private property. As you continue on the hike, you'll soon get a view of the driving range practice area and then you'll see the man made waterfall that was put in when MGM originally built the course. There are some areas of rough basalt rock and areas where the bikers have put some large boulders to fill in some of the washed out areas. There are some great views of the Eldorado Dry Lake bed area and you can see the solar power plants along US 95 heading toward Searchlight. About halfway into the hike, you come to a saddle. This is the highest point on the hike and you have a panoramic view of the Las Vegas Valley. You can see Mount Charleston in the Spring Mountains on the west side. This is a good place to take a break and have a snack. From here, it's basically all downhill. There are several trails here but if you follow the main trail and stay to your left when you come to a fork, you'll end up rounding the east side of the last ridge and the Railroad Pass Casino will come into sight. After the last turn behind the casino, walk down to the bike path, cross the railroad tracks again, and then follow and old road into the upper parking area where you left your car. Notes: This hike can be done with sneakers but it's always best to wear hiking boots on this kind of terrain for extra safety. Some of the scree in the down part is a bit slippery and boots serve you well. As with all hiking, take plenty of water with you. In my photos, I have included a route track on Google Earth from my GPS track. If you want the track for your GPS unit, send me a message! This is a fun hike with some great views. Happy hiking!

The amazing thing about the Saguaro Trail is how quickly it transports you from Henderson into the…read morecountry. It is located in the southeast part of Henderson that we call Hendertucky in jest. It is where the valley narrows as the McCullough Mountains and River Mountains converge at Railroad Pass. Saguaro Trail is a trail that connects Boulder Highway to the River Mountains Loop Trail at the foothills of the River Mountains. On its journey from the city into the country it travels through Roadrunner Park, Saguaro Park, and Equestrian Park. The two major roads it crosses are Racetrack Drive and Magic Way. Saguaro Trail is a trail with two different personalities. From Boulder Highway to Magic Way, it is a paved City of Henderson trail bordered by street lights and residential neighborhoods. East of Magic Way, it is an unpaved backcountry trail bordering a SNWD facility to the north and the Hendertucky landscape of Equestrian Park to the south. The trail gains elevation until it merges into the River Mountains Loop Trail. The common tapestry of the trail are the power lines that border it. Throughout the trail the power lines are the landmark. This is important because east of Magic Way where you cut through the dirt parking lot of Equestrian Park North signing is nonexistent. The Power line towers marching toward the River Mountains are the landmarks. Here are some facts. You can reach it by public transit. Just hop on the Boulder Highway bus, get off by Pueblo Boulevard then follow Saguaro Trail into the dessert. And there are no saguaro. When I want a quick route from Hendertucky or southeast Henderson to nature and just don't want to deal with a long drive, one of my spots is Saguaro Trail. I have hiked it a couple of times before I placed it on Yelp. In conjunction with Saguaro Trail, I will use the Club Fortune parking lot as my parking trailhead. From there I will walk a couple of blocks north on the northbound sidewalk. In a short distance the power line towers are the landmark. I will make a right eastbound toward the River Mountains. Immediately the mountains are visible. It is a relatively short walk on the paved section. If I had parked at a Boulder Highway business such as Friendly Donuts by the Smith's and walked a short distance along Boulder Highway to the trail, I'd be seeing a great deal of the paved section. The trail is graffiti free as it passes the houses and an intersection with Five Down Trail feeding in from Neptune Drive. The trail follows a wash. The paved trail borders the golf course green grass of Saguaro Park before crossing Magic Way. Now you are officially in Hendertucky, a landscape bordering open creosote - covered desert with equestrian facilities in the shadows of the towering River Mountains. Gravelly and rocky topography has replaced the smooth pavement of the City-managed segment. Open spaces have replaced the bordering neighborhoods. In this part of Saguaro Trail the a Academy award winning Vistas are when you hike west. As soon as I got off the River Mountains Loop Trail onto the westbound Saguaro Trail I was awarded with a spectacular moving Vista of a thickly carpeted creosote desert, that is so full of the plant that it looks like farmland leading toward the Henderson valley and stopping at the McCullough Mountains, Black Mountain, and River Mountains leading toward Railroad Pass. Walking gradually downhill, the unpaved trail parallels the desert panhandle towards Magic Way. The higher elevation is adventageous to taking in Henderson and the Las Vegas Strip. This is a landscape where desert turtles supposedly live and where horses are at home. This is a landscape that captures the desert and valley. As the trail inches closer to Magic Way, it is neat seeing the linear dirt change into linear concrete bordered by green. Saguaro Park has a couple of issues. There is a dangerous crossing Racetrack Drive. The City is working on resolving traffic issues along Racetrack Drive that will indirectly create a less dangerous crossing. South of Saguaro Trail, they are installing a traffic signal at Blue Lantern and north of it they are building a roundabout at Neptune Drive. Currently there is nothing slowing down motorists from Boulder Highway past the Saguaro Trail crosswalk to Burkholder Drive. Another issue is lack of signing. I would like to see the colorful signing that other City of Henderson trails have. And third I would like to see the City sprinkle their stardust by taking over the segment east of Magic Way. It would be nice to hike or bike on a continuous paved trail from Boulder Highway to the River Mountains Loop Trail. In conclusion, just like several trails in the vicinity of the Las Vegas valley, Saguaro Trail gives so much for nothing. If you are in the southeast part of Henderson and want a quick escape to the creosote carpeted desert and River Mountains, I recommend hopping onto the Saguaro Trail.