ebiking – tailwindadventures.blog

This post is featuring: Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area

When in Vegas…. Usually so many things to do- but what if you wanted to get out of the noise and sites of the Strip, and go somewhere to explore, hike, bike, learn some history?

The striated Red Rock formations of gray carbonate
rocks of the ancient ocean have been thrust over the tan and red sandstone
in one of the most dramatic and easily identified

“Biking lets you come alive in both body and spirit.”
Gary Kline

Just out side of the “City that never sleeps” is one of the more amazing ecosystems in the state of Nevada, which was developed and protected by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.

Great example of the grey carbonate rock uplifting the famous red Aztec Sandstone

In 1988, The Howard Hughes Corporation, The Nature Conservancy and the Bureau formed a strategic partnership creating a 5,302-acre buffer zone by relocating the Summerlin housing development and safeguarding where the Visitor Center and beyond stands today.

The Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area [RRCNCA] is located just a few miles west of Las Vegas and encompasses 195,819 acres within the Mojave Desert. There are 600+ types of plants, including Joshua trees and 15 special plants that can only be found within Red Rock Canyon. Over 100 bird species and more than 45 different kinds of mammals are located within the area.

Over the last 600 million years, Red Rock Canyon has changed from an ocean basin to a dry desert environment. These changes, in combination with harsh environment of the Mojave Desert, helped shape the dramatic and beautiful landscape of the Canyon.

Its distinctive and dramatic red rock formations, tinted red by iron oxide, provide a stunning backdrop worth venturing out to see. The dry environment offers ideal conditions for preserving historical artifacts. Here are some things you might see during your visit:

Dinosaur tracks
Roasting pits
Cultural artifacts
Petroglyphs

More information on the geologic history of the canyon can be found here: https://www.blm.gov/sites/blm.gov/files/uploads/Nevada-Red%20Rock%20Canyon-Geology.pdf

Depending on what time of year it is when you visit, you may need reservations to enter the Scenic Loop. A couple of years ago, they implemented a reservation system that you do online.

**Red E Bike Tours- Las Vegas** https://www.redebike.com/

There are over 20 hiking and climbing trails along the scenic 13 mile drive through the 200,000 acres of the park, maintained by the Friends of Red Rock Canyon, overseen by the Bureau of Land Management.

The “trail” is actually the 17 mile paved, 2 way loop through the area. The tour group I went out with, does pick up and return ride to and from your place of accommodations, and they provided a well maintained eBike, sanitized helmet, snacks and water in your bike bag (big enough for your wallet too). There are several stops on the route to regather, have water and discussion about the immediate area you are in, including plant and animal life.