Second time riding to Union Pacific Railroad Trail today. I went farther down than last time when I…read morewas running. I wished people would pick up after there dogs do there business because I saw so many of them all over the sand area.

Found this beautifully paved path connecting to Pittman Wash Trail. It's mostly peace and quiet on…read morethis part of the trail that I usually take. Will now be incorporating this route whenever extra miles are needed!

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!

What amazing jewels are in your backyard?…read more Go outside and explore the beautiful world around you. Shall we close our eyes visualize what you can see and feel? While walking one can caught a glimpse of life that just passed an individual by. This last year life almost took a turn for the worst . Prior experiences and issues came back from the dead to haunt me. But here I stand, thinking and not wanting to waste time anymore. Look into the future you can see change coming . In fact the only constant is "change in life. " Being a burden is not something anyone wants to do. Time to pull one self up here we go. Life is about living . Center and ground yourself! You can feel the calm. You are outside and ready to go walk it off . Life is peaking and is going to be happy . We need to accept the change and accomplishments. What are we going to do in the future? We can keep the journey moving along and forward with the progress of self discovery. We are going to continue and breathe the air of change and look at that which the universe is creating and showing us . What's that we are seeing ? The universe paints for me color rainbows "change is good." Let's listen and learn. Change is good and is coming ! Here we go !

Vegas is Sun City! From the Spring Mountain slopes to the Lake Mead valleys, hiking trails follow…read morethe sun. Down in the southernmost border of the Las Vegas Valley where the rooftops of the Anthem Master Planned Community merge with the open spaces of the Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area lies a 2.10 ribbon of asphalt and gravel named the Nevada Power Trail. The Nevada Power Trail is an unadvertised jewel. There is a want for parking directly off the trail. An extended walk is necessary for hikers to reach the trail. When I did this hike, I parked at Esselmont Park, which is a pocket park off of Anthem Highlands Drive.* From there I walked south on Anthem Highlands Drive a couple hundred feet to the 4-way stop sign. This is Democracy Drive. I crossed it, then made a left onto the eastbound sidewalk. After a couple of hundred feet I saw a pedestrian Crossing sign then turned right onto the spur trail through a Canyon of fenced off yards toward the Nevada Power Trail. The Nevada Power Trail is easy to spot on account of the power lines. Throughout the duration of the trail, Nevada Power Trail is parallel to the power lines. These aren't the massive towers similar to those things marching out of Hoover Dam. These are the poles you would recognize alongside a Las Vegas surface Street. These are the same power lines that are parallel to the Anthem East Trail alongside the east border of Anthem and the Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area. When I did this hike, I made a left to go northeast. On the way back, I'd hike the segment that ends to the west. Lately I have been suffering from a foot problem that is an ankle sprain and plantar fascilitis. Because Vegas is Sun City, I needed to celebrate its greatest asset out on a trail despite my foot pain. On Google Maps, I saw the Nevada Power Trail. An hour later, I saw it in person. When I stepped onto the Nevada Power Trail, I was on an asphalt line in the sand between the Las Vegas Metropolitan Area and the Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area. As I glanced to the right, I took in the beautiful open spaces of the desert reaching toward the McCullough Mountain Range. The Nevada Power Trail is a gateway to fascinating hikes in the desert. Trails reaching into the horizons of the desert branched off to the right. As I glanced off to the left, I'd take in the manicured fenced in yards of Anthem. After steep elevation gains, the views to the left changed into scenic overlooks above rooftops reaching across the Las Vegas Strip toward the Spring Mountains. As the trail reached its only surface street crossing with Democracy Drive, I'd rest at a set of benches to enjoy the scenic overlook. By this time, I had climbed a couple of hills and walked on topography that was mostly pavement with a gravelly segment. After crossing Democracy Drive, Nevada Power Trail changes from a boundary between Vegas and the desert to suburban. On a straight paved stretch the Nevada Power Trail is a linear landscaped buffer separating fenced in backyards. Being in Anthem, graffiti is relatively nonexistent. The deeper I hiked on this stretch, the taller and closer the hill in front of me grew. And being Anthem, there were homes on top of the hills. The trail turned toward the right intersecting with a non name trail bound for access points to Anthem. The trail now made a course upward on what I consider a steep hill. If you are familiar with the Three Sisters of the River Mountains Loop Trail, this incline is a similar beast. The homes that were on the right side returned to the Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area. At the top of the hill Nevada Power Trail ends at a cul-de-sac. There is a dirt trail that follows the same power lines that in a short distance change into Anthem East Trail and intersect with the Black Mountain Trail. The 2.10 mile walk back was better because it was mostly downhill. I'd get to explore the short segment West of the spur trail toward Esselmont Park. The gravelly surface replaces the pavement as Nevada Power Trail climbs a hill that reaches another scenic overlook over Las Vegas. As Nevada Power Trail reaches the end where Anthem merges with the desert, there is a short paved section. It looks like a dirt trail follows the power lines into the horizon. The geography geek in me believes these are the same Powerlines that meet up with Las Vegas Boulevard South of Sloan. Because Vegas is Sun City, I have to be out on the trails that follow the sun. By the summer, I want to turn my dream of the Nevada Power Trail leading me onto the trails that into the Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area into reality. Optimistically I will be back on the Nevada Power Trail. *For directions to Esselmont Park from I-215. take Eastern Southbound to the end. Turn right on Anthem Parkway. At the third traffic signal turn right on Bicentennial. At the stop sign turn left on Anthem Highlands Drive. Esselmont Park is on there right.

We have lectric bikes and boy did we take em out for a Spin!…read moreWe rode the entire 35mile loop. It took us about 5 hours with one of them Being breaks. Even with help this trail is a beautiful beast. Steep hills and a steady gradual I cline in the middle. It sure was beautiful though. Great views. Some nature. Just some chipmunks and lizards mostly.

An Earth Day 2016 Celebration Review…read more The River Mountain Trail (not River Mountains Loop Trail) is one of my most cherished hiking trails near Las Vegas. Ever since I first stepped foot on it in 2006, I have adored this charming trail. It is an adoration that led to an annual Spring hike on it. It is a tradition that has cost zero and gives back uncomplicated joy. Yesterday, I celebrated Earth Day on the River Mountain Trail. River Mountain Trail with the unsigned Black Mountain Trail is a six-mile round trip adventure that starts from a parking lot off mile marker 29.5 of the River Mountains Loop Trail (https://www.yelp.com/biz/river-mountains-loop-trail-henderson) in Boulder City then climbs from an elevation of 2,415 to 3,600 feet up to Red and Black Mountain (https://www.yelp.com/biz/red-and-black-mountain-boulder-city). This is what I consider a Disney Trail. Just like a Disneyland ride, it is clean; adorable; picturesque ; and provides a thrill minus the intimidation. Deep into the trail as it climbs the switchbacks up the Red & Black Mountain canyon it even resembles the Big Thunder Railroad. The Civilian Corps that built it in the 1930s did it with the imagination of a Disney Imagineer. The trail is a work of art that follows a sinuous course through the rolling desert where it passes through a verdant canyon of vegetation. Graffiti is relatively nonexistent. From the trailhead near St. Jude Ranch, the first impression is misleading. Following the beginning leg of the trail it borders housing walls and a concrete wash. After a slight curve, it meets the colossal spaces of the desert with Red and Black Mountain Mountain in the distance. In April, with the blooming wildflowers, the desert resembles an Arboretum more than a desolate landscape. Gradually the trail aims toward the Red & Black Mountain canyon. When the trail reaches 2,960 elevation, the switchbacks along the face of Red Mountain start rolling the ribbon of sand up sinuous and gentle curves toward the stratosphere in a place up by the clouds called the Red & Black Mountain summit. The amazing thing is how smoothly it reaches 3,300 feet. Ethereal and beautiful describe the experience of this solitary climb to the stratosphere. I compare this stretch to driving on Utah bound I-15 through endless desert then experiencing the roller coaster dips and turns of the Virgin River Gap. Here there are more rest stops. On the way there are large boulders to pause. Overhead vultures and airplanes pass over the sky. Below is a view of part of Boulder City. At the top of the saddle the trail name ends. Gone are the green and white trail signs with the River Mountain Trail - Bicycles prohibited signs. Gone is any thought of the trail ending. A left leads up to Red Mountain and straight to the Black Mountain summit. Now physically near the clouds and mentally on cloud nine, I continue straight for a. 05 to climb up a gentle 180 elevation gain to the end. On this walk near the clouds, I pass a rock that looks like an alligator. The trail concludes at the Black Mountain summit. At 3,480 feet high I rise above it all (Red Mountain is higher). This is a breathtaking panoramic view of the Las Vegas valley and Mount Charleston, Lake Mead, Boulder City, River Mountains, and desert interspersed with mountains reaching across the Hoover Dam Bridge into Arizona. Adorning the summit is a bench and informative sign on the geology. Even better than the rewarding overlook is that up to now was the laborious part of the hike. Heading back, the hike is a fun downhill descent toward the trailhead. I highly recommend hiking up the River Mountain Trail in the cooler months. In my opinion this hike is priceless. Being that this is an Earth Day review, it is appropriate to write that this is advice written from a person that is down to Earth.

Very clean park with walking trail, table/bench combo located underneath small gated individual…read moregazebos. There's a nice lake with a marsh and lots of ducks and geese swimming and walking around throughout the park. The day we visited, there was a farmers market, which was a pleasant surprise. Love to shop local and sport small businesses. I was informed that the farmers market frequently sets up at the park, but I don't know the schedule so hopefully when you visit you'll get lucky and be able to support an entrepreneur and snacks and great items.

Nice park for walking and for runners. A lot of communuty events are held here, including a weekly…read moreFarmers market. 4 stars for the lack of playground for kiddos and the flocks of geese that gather here and poop all over. There are a couple basketball and volleyball courts and a fitness area, but nothing for smaller kids. Other Amenities include shaded picnic shelters, tables, restrooms, and a warming kitchen. Future development allegedly includes a dog park, playground, small amphitheater/gathering area, and skate elements.

At first, I found it a bit confusing to locate where the trail started. Luckily, I had the maps to…read moreguide me. The trail is unpaved, so I recommend wearing appropriate footwear. It's not steep, but there are a lot of loose rocks. The top can be a bit windy, although it might have just been the day I went. I was the only one hiking up there, so it's important to stay cautious. Overall, it was an easy, short hike, and I would definitely go again.

Nice hike and cool view of the city! Little harder to get to though as you have to drive down a…read morepretty rugged road for 5-7 miles and the trailhead is not marked.

Took our furbabies for a much needed outdoor outing. This trail is right next to our house. Let me…read moresay this first. We got lost! Like really lost. There's so many different side trails that it got confusing for us and it took us over 2 hours to get back to our car. Do your research before taking side trails lol. Other than that everything was absolutely beautiful! We such a fun time together and wondering around. The weather was beautiful and we all got our steps in. This is a very mild trail. Not a lot of climbing or cliffs, but it was quite long because of our getting lost. Great for pets and kids.

The Whitney Mesa Lower Trail (from this point abbreviated WMLT) is a one mile out and back…read moremulti-use trail that bridges the City of Henderson to a natural mesa. It is a trail that has the characteristics of both a City of Henderson and backcountry trail. The WMLT is anchored by the Whitney Mesa Recreation Area Galleria Drive Trailhead at the south and the Whitney Mesa Nature Preserve to the north. There are two parking lots that serve the trail. The south one is at the Whitney Mesa Park Recreation Area and the north one is at the Whitney Ranch Activity Center. Both are off Galleria Drive.     I am no stranger to both the Whitney Mesa Lower Trail and the greater Whitney Mesa Recreation Area. From my hikes here what distinguishes this trail from the majority of the Recreation Area is that this is an official City of Henderson Trail with its own route markers and street lights that travels below in the shadow of the mesa. The majority of the Recreation Area consists of backcountry trails on top of the mesa. In reality it is an urban trail at the eastern periphery of the Recreation Area that provides dramatic closeup vistas of the towering Mesa to the west and a residential community, a church, and recreation center to the east.      The few times that I have visited, I parked at  Natural Grocers. This is a good spot to pick up bottled water. From there I walked northbound on Arroyo Grande and turned right onto a no name City trail that bridges the southwest trailhead off Sunset Road to Stone Tree Bluff Street which feeds into the trail.      The trail starts out as a loop encircling ab adorable western themed playground featuring a horse statue, carriage, and general store that is adjacent to open green space. The trail briefly heads northwest as it approaches the Mesa on a slightly uphill climb. When you turn around you can see a panoramic view of southeast Henderson. The trail continues north and past the curve it follows the Whitney Mesa. For the rest of the trail there is urban nature to the left. There are a few signs warning trail users that coyotes and rattlesnakes frequent the habitat. This is also hiking habitat. There are a couple of trails with moderate difficulty that climb up to the top of the Whitney Mesa to join the main backcountry trail. I can picture how beautiful the scenery is when the sun sets. This is a cool spot to watch planes that are about to land at Harry Reid International Airport because it looks like the planes are landing on top of the Mesa. As the trail travels further north there is an attractive distant vista of Frenchman Mountain to the northeast. But to the immediate west in the shadow of the Mesa is Armijos Camp which is a neat area with Indian dwellings and a real Western environment ideal for enjoying solitude in the city. The trail ends at Patrick Street where a few hundred feet to the west is the nature preserve that is decked with short trails that bring a touch of Red Rock Canyon to the City of Henderson. This makes for the perfect spot to turn around.     The nice thing about WMLT is that on the way back you can change the scenery by hiking up the moderately challenging trails climbing up to the top of the Mesa. This is the spot to take in amazing views of southeast Henderson. The main backcountry trail will lead to the noname City Trail (this should be extended to the WMLT) where turning left (northeast) will lead back to the Galleria Drive Trailhead.     One thing that I would like to say about WMLT is that it is disconnected from the rest of the City of Henderson and Clark County Trail System. It is an island onto itself. I think it would be awesome if the City of Henderson connected it with an extended Pittman Wash Trail complete with bridges over both Sunset and Warm Springs Roads. This ultimately would make the Whitney Mesa and WMLT a City of Henderson Trail System hiking and bicycle hub and destination.    I am a fan of the WMLT. It has given me the experiences of hiking on a City of Henderson Trail in the shadow of the backcountry without leaving the City.

What was hidden is now known!…read more This little park offers all sorts of fun activities! You can play on the playground. They have all sorts of activities in a variety of ways to play. They have a walking mountain path that you can walk or bike. It goes up and down around the park and even beyond. They have dog trails and friendly spots for the pup to hike and walk around as you explore nature together. Get out and walk around! Enjoy the beauty of nature and all her treats to offer. Make sure and keep our parks clean too! Leave nature has we find her!

What a great park. In fact... best park I found so far. A lot of shade, small splash pads area next…read moreto the picnic tables- so moms can watch their kids from the safety of shade. Playgrounds are very cute too. We didn't make it to the bigger kids playground. But little one was very nice. And view! What a beautiful view!!