Although the I-215 Eastern Beltway Trail (abbreviated 215 Trail from here on) has few trees, it…read moreplanted the seed that grew into a methodolical hiking tree whose branches led me to 14 years of hiking adventures in and around Las Vegas. My memories of the 215 Trail goes all the way back to late 2004 when I moved to Henderson from Fort Lauderdale. It is the first Las Vegas valley trail that I hiked on. Back in 2004 this was one of the first official trails in Henderson. The 215 Trail proceeded the local trails that I have grown to love over the years including the Union Pacific Trail, Amargosa Trail, and Anthem East Trail. One year later in 2005, we moved to Black Mountain Villas which is to the southeast of the trail. I remember my time there hiking on it to the Gibson Road Jack In Box. From 2006 til today when I have lived in different addresses, the 215 Trail has always been near to me physically and in heart. This year alone I've done four hikes on it.   So what is this 215 Trail that led me to years of hiking adventures? It is a 9 mile asphalt trail that parallels eastbound I-215 from Warm Springs Road at the west to Acacia Gardens at the east where it transitions into the Union Pacific Railroad Trail. From Warm Springs to Spencer Street it travels north to south then from Spencer to Acacia Gardens west to east. Along its journey it connects to the Amargosa Trail via Cactus Wren Trail and Réunion Trails Park. It follows a gradual downhill slope towards Acacia Gardens.   The 215 Trail is more of an utilitarian than scenic trail. There is a major difference between the 215 Trail and the parallel picturesque Amargosa Trail in Henderson. There a few trees bordering the right of way. On many stretches the prime scenery is a giant faceless wall bordering the freeway with residential walls. Near major intersections, it is common to see the backside of shopping malls. From hiking the trail I feel that its greatest moments are crossing over the Duck Creek bridge, bordering the gardens of the UNLV Cooperative Extension, alongside Réunion Trails Park, the Las Vegas Strip views by St. Rose Parkway and Stephanie Street, and the grand Vista of Black Mountain at the easternmost point. Additionally during a light drizzle, it is a nice sight seeing the adjacent wash from Warm Springs leading into Duck fill up with water.   When I hike on this trail it is usually in conjunction with a system of trails and roads. Much to my regret, it will be impossible to explain these hikes on account of the Yelp character limit. Let me say that with the exception of Warm Springs to Eastern these hikes are in conjunction with the far more scenic Amargosa and Paseo Verde Trails.   From over a decade of hiking I am well aware of a few flaws. The major flaw is that it is dangerous where the trail crosses major highways along with heavy traffic exiting and entering eastbound 215. Some of these approaches onto the eastbound 215 have blind spots that elevate the danger. Add rush hour into the mix and the danger of being ran over increases. I call these intersections "the walls" because at certain times of the day they are so dangerous that it is wise to walk a block south to a safer signalized intersection. These danger spots include Eastern Avenue, St. Rose Parkway, Stephanie Street, and Gibson Road. Recently, the auto-trail user conflict was alleviated at Pebble Road with a new overpass. With that said, I will bring up secondary flaws. There is a want for street lights along the majority of the right of way. The only section with street lights that I am aware of is the short stretch bordering Réunion Trails Park. Currently there is the situation of a gap between St. Rose and Green Valley Parkways in the backyard of Green Valley Ranch. It is my understanding that the gap will be complete by 2020. Then there is the issue of maintenance. From Windmill to Eastern, graffiti and stickers obliterate the majority of signs. Quite a few of the same businesses that are attractive from the parking lots of Henderson and Paradise show their unsightly side to the 215 Trail user. Lastly there is little shade. Approaching the Yelp character limit, I will emphasize that the 215 Trail is a good utilitarian trail. Used in conjunction with Amargosa, Union Pacific Railroad Trail, or Paseo Verde Trails this good trail leads to a great adventure.

One of the many Henderson trails throughout the city…read more This trail is your plain Jane average trail. It's a paved trail that runs parallel to I-215. Luckily part of the trail has a sound wall so it blocks the highway road noise. It connects to the Union Pacific Trail riding east. It's great for running or biking. I certainly take advantage of this trail finally being opened. The city has installed pedestrian crossways when you come to roads such as Valle Verde. It gives me another reason to get outside and enjoy the fresh air.

I am a bike trail enthusiast. Bike trails are asphalt ribbons of enthusiasm flowing across the…read morelandscape. They are adorable. Whether they are former railroads, circumvent a mountain range, or pass through the open spaces of an urban community; they celebrate the landscape. They give hikers, bicyclists, roller bladers, and sometimes equestrian riders enthusiasm. Being engineered for bicyclists, the hills are generally gentle, the curves soft, and the sight-lines far. The majority of bike trails are A.D.A accessible which give people with disabilities enthusiasm. In recent years the bike trail revolution has landed in the City of Henderson. The City has been on bike trail building binge. The Bike Trail revolution has transformed the City of Henderson into the City of Enthusiasm. The Lake Mead Parkway Trail is the newest addition to the City's bike trail system. It is a ribbon of asphalt travelling across the Lake Mead Parkway corridor from Boulder Highway northeast to a junction of the River Mountains Loop Trail in the open spaces bordering the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. It is a trail featuring two totally different segments. From Boulder Highway to Athen's Avenue (last stop light before Lake Las Vegas) it is a relatively flat trail passing through suburbia. Northeast of Athen's Avenue, it turns into a hilly, windy trail overlooking a desert bordered by the River Mountains and a distant Lake Las Vegas. This is a swath of open space where the Wetlands Park, River Mountains, and Lake Mead National Recreation Area merge into an enthusiastic vista. I am a bike trail enthusiast to the degree that last Sunday, I was determined to hike the Lake Mead Bike Trail from the Athen's Avenue CVS parking lot to Laker Plaza a few hundred feet east of Lake Las Vegas Parkway in 112 degrees heat. Enthusiasm conquered any doubt about hiking in triple digit temps. What I saw is a work in progress. Currently trail markers are nonexistent. There is a want of signage informing trail users that they are approaching the River Mountains Loop Trail and Wetlands Connector Trail. Construction has the trail temporary truncated at the tunnel that it will share with the Wetlands Connector Trail under Lake Mead Parkway. Guardrails are under construction. A trailhead by Goulda Street that will share with the Wetlands Connector Trail is being built. Makes more sense than CVS. Sheltered benches are up. Modern streetlamps adorn the trail. I have been told that they have a motion sensor that makes light brighter when people pass by. I was most impressed by the connectivity to other trails. In a way it is the bicycle trail equivalent to the spaghetti bowl. In the rural segment the River Mountains Loop Trail (RMLT) feeds into it from Equestrian Park & Boulder City.For a few hundred yards the trails overlap. Then there is a major split.To the left, the trail intersects a Wetlands Park/ Lake Las Vegas bound Wetlands Connector Trail through a tunnel. If you continue straight, it continues as the Lake Mead National Recreation Area bound RMLT.This connectivity creates hours of hiking & bicycling opportunities. I learned that in life enthusiasm overcomes negativity. It was enthusiasm that led me on an enjoyable adventure in 112 degree temperature. It is an adventure on a a new bike trail that I am enthusiastic to share on Yelp. The Daniel. S Yelp 100 Challenge. Review 85.

I was here for a charity event (cycling for cause). Hence, we did not hike, but cycled instead. It…read morewas indeed a nice trail for both, hiking/ walking and bike riding (both road and mountain biking). They have couple nice, curved hills if you are up for a challenge. Looking at the map and the landscape, hiking trails has couple easy and medium level. And once you are on top of the hills, you will be able to see the Las Vegas city overview. Beautiful city line, definitely worth the hike. Bathroom is available and it is a clean park. One thing you should be aware of is cyclist with high speed around. They could go super fast. I love the bike trails and will be back again next time for a morning hike and/or cycling.

The first phase of the new Red Rock Legacy trail has been completed and open for your enjoyment. It…read moreis only 1.1 miles. This is the first phase of five phases. This trail begins in Summerlin and the plan is to end at Blue Diamond or beyond. Phase five is still being analyzed. This is a multi use trail for walkers, hikers, wheelchairs and cyclists. This will keep people safely off of SR 159. A great way to enjoy the beauty of Red Rock Canyon. Parking for the first phase can be found directly across the street on the corner of Sky Vista and SR 159. Check it out!

I admittedly have not been on the trail since spring however, bicycling downhill on that trail will…read moreliterally knock your teeth loose unless you're on the brakes most of the time. A pill is a non-issue because you're going much slower. However, my best use case is downhill and therefore I've learned to not use it anymore until they redo it.

The Connector Trail runs from Mountain Lake Park from Lake Mead Parkway to the two trails that make…read moreup the 14 miles loop of the Las Vegas Wash. The three trails meet at the bridge that crosses the wash near Lake Las Vegas. People who hike/ride from the Sunset Trailhead will come down the hill and across the bridge from the north side. This is the Wetlands North Loop. At the juncture, this trail meets the connector coming from Mountain Lake Park and the South Loop Trail. There is a place to sit nearby if you want to take a break. There are also some interpretive markers to explain rules and to describe the LV Wash itself. A fine place to ride a bike or hike, the entire loop starting from the Wetlands Park is 14.1 miles with all of it paved except the last 2.5 miles of the South Loop from the Pabco Trailhead to the Wetlands Park.

With Red Rock in our backyards, there's no excuse not to go regularly. White Rock Loop is the most…read morerecent trail I've checked out and the difficulty rating is probably fairly accurate if you do the entire loop. Park at the first paved lot and walk to the trailhead, and take the one to the RIGHT (you'll return on the left). The trail is fairly well marked and has decent elevation gain, along with a variety of terrain from sandy and rocky to a more forested part of the trail around La Madre Spring- you can add on this steeper, rocky portion to amp up your calorie burn. The regular trail is a little over 6 miles, but with the walk to/from parking, the springs, and checking out the petroglyphs and agave roasting pit area (by the picnic area), the pedometer clocked closer to 9. The trail is easy enough but the while distance might be a bit much for kids or some dogs. Great views but lots of sun, so take a hat and sunscreen along with your water!

Very easy hike in the Red Rock Canyon national park. Great for families with young kids…read more Met up with a few friends for this hike on a nice weekend day. There is a nice clean outdoor potty at the trailhead to drop some weight before starting. The loop trial is about 4 miles long and take about 2 hours at a normal pace. The trail consists of mainly flat well trotted over sections with very few inclined sections. The view is better in the second half of the loop trial. Parking is usually very easy even on weekends as this is not a trial frequented by tourists.

Quality/Quantity - A new park and new community…read more Ambiance - A decent size. But with limited shade for this HOT desert heat. Open 7 days a week from 6am to midnight. Amenities: Barbecues. Basketball Court. Open Turf Area. Picnic Tables. Playground. Restrooms, water drinking fountains. Categories: Parks. Skate Parks. Service - Self service. Reservations online for picnic tables. Price - Free. See online for costs (if any) for reservations. Owner Comment - Congrats on all your success since 2025/2026...?

Desert Symphony Park is the newest City of Henderson Park that opened on November 19, 2025. It is a…read morefifty acre park gracing the Cadence Master Planned Community. It is a neighborhood park that features open grass, a sheltered playground, picnic tables, basketball courts, and a skate park. In the local news I have read about the City of Henderson addressing the perceived water shortage by taking out grass and cutting down trees in sections of their parks. On paper it looks good. In real life it doesn't. In my opinion, the City went to an extreme with desert landscaping to the degree of their newest park virtually having no landscaping. Just look at the proceeding photos. I can see if the City is going to go away from the beautiful golf course green grass and towering trees that have made their parks the exemplary city park system, to make the statement that they are saving water. However, there needs to be lush xeriscaping where picturesque desert trees such as desert willows, acacias, mesquite, and palo verdes adorn the landscape with colorful desert plants and decorative rocks. Especially when the topography is flat. Another alternative is that the landscaping can combine xeriscaping with decorative grass and towering non native trees. Henderson Parks that come to mind include Dundee Jones, Sonata Park, and the nearby Desert Pulse. From my perspective it looks like a desert parcel with the standard Henderson Park fixtures excluding the skate park and murals. Further into the park, the open grass lacked the visual candy of golf course green grass or astro turf. Spending time here on March 17, I felt the heat Island effect. I could only imagine in the summer what it is going to be like here. As far as conserving water, sacrificing the majority of a fifty acre park is a small one when you take into consideration that there are hundreds of homes and several construction sites using water within a short walking distance of Desert Symphony Park. It is a small sacrifice for the betterment of the park users mental health which I feel that parks are designed for. Another quibble I have with Desert Symphony Park is that the Cadence Master Plan shows the park as a rectangular parcel connecting Cadence View Way with Black Palace Street. On my visit I saw construction at Black Palace Street and Scarhill Track Avenue which the master plan shows as open space. I believe that a preschool is going up there. Now, what appears to be going down is the view of the Red Rock Escarpment with Mount Charleston over the Las Vegas Strip that the completion of this construction could block. In conclusion I think that Desert Symphony Park is a solid park. I found the park and surrounding community to be clean and safe. In comparison I have a much more favorable opinion of the nearby Central Park and Desert Pulse Park. To close off the review, I can see myself returning here when I hike around Cadence. There is a possibility of updating my review proceeding the one year anniversary of Desert Symphony Park.

I like to think of this organization as the protectors of Red Rock Canyon. I have known about this…read morenonprofit 501(c)(3) for many years but only joined last year. Their mission is to promote the preservation of and enhancement of Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. I have lived in Nevada most of my life and have been enjoying the beauty of Red Rock Canyon since I was a young girl. I remember when no one even knew about this incredible place so this was really a private playground for me. I decided last year that I needed to give back to this place that has always brought me so much joy and peace. I began to volunteer out at Red Rock Canyon and began to meet many of the officers of this organization. What Friends of Red Rock provides are the volunteers, providing education to the public, educational field trips for kids, conservation efforts and fundraising. They have created a dedication walkway at the visitors center where many have purchased and donated tiles with remembrances of family members and people that just love our Red Rock Canyon. An annual membership meeting is held once a year and they also hold an annual Volunteer Recognition ceremony once a year. When volunteering there are many options to choose from. I enjoy Trail Monitoring which consists of me hiking the trail looking for any obstacles that might be blocking the trail as well as picking up garbage, cleaning graffiti(my biggest annoyance), and any thing else that affects the trail. There is also taking care of the Desert Tortoises we have out in the habitat. This job consists of ensuring the tortoises have enough water, feeding them, checking their burrows and in the summer giving them baths. Canyon Clean Ups are scheduled often and consists of many of us coming together to clean up different areas of the canyon. Working the front desk offers a chance to meet hundreds of people that come to visit from all over the world and giving them advice on hiking trails as well as completing the scenic drive offering points of interest. Statistically speaking Friends of Red Rock Canyon has - *contributed $2.4 million in direct financial aid to support Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. *provided $8.7 million in equivalent volunteer hours to maintain Red Rock. * supports hundreds of volunteers participating in in trail maintenance, waste clean up and graffiti removal. * staffs the information desk at Red Rock Visitors Center and assists 750,000 visitors a year. *protects wildlife , birds, and plant life throughout the conservation area, including tortoises and pollinators. The list goes on and on of this groups accomplishments. This is truly a great group of people to work with who really care about this natural wonder we have in our backyard. I am very proud to be a part of and work with this organization as well as making new friends.

I have been a member of Freinds of Red Rock Canyon since 2001. In the intervening years, I have…read morevolunteered with Freinds in a variety of areas: newsletter, cultural resources, Visitor Center desk volunteer, the tortoise habitat, and special program days. I have found the group to be my best source of making friends when I moved to this new city from 2,300 miless away. The Frienda group is active in helping support the Bureau of Land Management in the protection of our wonderful Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. Friends has a variety of programs available for members to volunteer. In addition to the ones with which I have helped, there is the Canyon Clean Up Group, and there is always a need for desk volunteers at the Visitor Center. If you don't have the ability to volunteer with Friends, joining Friends is a help. Annual membership is $25 for a single membership. For that, you will be helping the group and you will also receive the newsletter of the group published 3 times a year. Membership has it privileges. This is a super organization, and I'm glad I found it when I moved here.

Well maintained and lots of info boards explaining trees and plants. But lack of views makes it too…read moredull to be a fun hike. The loop is small or 1.3mi whatever you prefer. Part of Spring mountain ranch state park.

The Ash Grove Trail is a 0.8 mile trail that leads hikers through the only natural ash grove in…read moreSouthern Nevada. It is the home of the Arizona Ash, a tree that can reach up to fifty feet high. The presence of the Arizona Ash is an indicator that there is a permanent water supply beneath the surface. And the presence of the Arizona Ash is the indicator of a diversity of wildlife from burros that use the land in the shadow of the tree canopy as a watering hole to sapsuckers that hammer away at the tree. Most of all, the presence of the Arizona Ash is an indicator of an awesome hike. This is an awesome hike that seems to bring me back to the trail annually. Although the trail proper is 0.8 miles, there is slightly increased mileage walking the North and South Ash Loop Trails that incorporate the trail. With the exception of the trailhead it is unsigned. So I follow the North Ash Grove Loop at 0.3 miles and the South Ash Grove Loop at 1.4 miles. The best way to describe the trail is comparing it to a dumbell where the North Ash Loop is the loop closer to the trailhead, the South Ash Grove Loop is closer to Route 159, and the bar is the spine connecting the two. The Ash Grove Trail is the scenic southeast corner of Spring Mountain Ranch State Park in Red Rock Canyon. This park reminds me of the Magic Kingdom of Red Rock Canyon where the Ranch House is Sleeping Beauty's Castle and the hiking trails are the lands that originate from there. In this Red Rock Magic Kingdom the Ash Grove Land is in the southeast quadrant where Tomorrowland is in Disney Land. It is the first land that I visit whenever I hike in Spring Mountain Ranch. This is an easy trail. As a matter of fact, the North Loop is ADA accessible. The slightly challenging part is crossing Sandstone Wash. When I spend time here it is more about relaxing in nature than working out in nature. It is majestic Red Rock Canyon scenery with the uniqueness of ash groves. When I hike on the trail I am rewarded with postcard views of prickly pears, meadows, Cholla, Sandstone Wash, Arizona Ash, oak trees, Mount Wilson with the Red Rock escarpment, and annual wildflower blooms. My favorite vista is leaving the Sandstone Wash crossing toward a green nature field leading to an oasis of Arizona Ash canopy. My second favorite vista is the high up view of Sandstone Wash below. The canopy of Ash and still water create a New England scene in the desert. In the past I have shared this unique nature with burros. Complimenting my sense of sight is my olfactory sense of aromic plants. Thanks to the informative signs, my hikes in the Ash Grove have been learning experiences. Regardless that I am an avid hiker these signs have taught me neat facts. For example, "the prickly pear is one of the most common cacti and is found in 47 of the lower 48 states." "Say what!?" There are cacti in New England! Then there is the sign that says that due to the natural air conditioner affect of the Arizona Ash, it is 10 to 15 degrees cooler here. As a matter of fact it does feel cooler here. This makes a nice hike in June. The abundance of shade on the Loop segments also have an air conditioner affect. Disparate from the Loop segments, the spine segment is exposed to the sun. This segment is pure desert flora that parallels the Sandstone Wash. This relax in nature hike is where I like to take breaks and sit in nature. The majority of the benches are in the North Ash Loop. There is the price of $10 admission into the park to spend time here. Gone are the days of the Nevada resident $3 discount. It is money well spent. With controlled access and cash flow into the park, I rate the Ash Grove high on trail condition. With the exception of a couple missing signs, minor etching in a couple more, the trail is in great condition. As I get older in age, spending time with nature in beautiful trails like the Ash Grove keeps me younger mentally. This is one of the reasons that I will return to the Ash Grove Land of Nature's Magic Kingdom in Red Rock Canyon.