2022
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Bicycle by, near, through and down four of the most beautiful and picturesque natural sceneries.
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On the first day of the bicycle tour we will bicycle through the brilliant red and pink rock formations that make up Valley of Fire State Park.
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We will also visit Echo Bay on Lake Mead the inspiration for the name eBay.
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In addition, we will ride the River Mountains Loop Trail the first paved bike path in the State of Nevada and a joint venture of the National Park Service, the State and area cycling groups.
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On the following day, we will bike down Mt. Charleston enjoying the views of the entire valley below and then taking a paved bike path back to the hotel.
- Enjoy a "Free Day" to tour the city that never sleeps or join the optional bike ride that morning on the paved bicycle paths through Wetlands Park. Many people have stated this is one of the best bicycle paths in the U.S.
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For our final day of riding, we will leave from the hotel and take the bike path to the Red Rock Canyon area known for its towering red sandstone peaks and the Keystone Thrust Fault.
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Unpack just one time, staying at the same hotel for the entire bicycle tour.
Day 1, Saturday - November 5, 2022
Welcome Dinner
Arrive and enjoy the area. The Red Rocks are visually spectacular! Why? The famous Red Rocks are red in color due to the exposure to the elements in this area, which has caused iron minerals to oxidize or rust resulting in beautiful red, orange and brown colored rocks! The Red Rocks are breathtaking!!! On a future day, we will be riding on the very memorable and picturesque paved River Mountains Loop Trail by bicycle!! We will also take in Lake Mead, which is one of the most important water resources in the West, ensuring there is a water supply for Arizona, Nevada, California and Northern Mexico by holding back the flow of the Colorado River behind the Hoover Dam, creating one of the largest reservoirs in the world! We will visit Hoover Dam, which is expected to last for centuries. In addition we will ride through or see the Valley of Fire State Park and Mt. Charleston, the highest Mountain in the area. (Not to worry we will only ride down Mt. Charleston.) Your pictures will remind you of this area’s beauty for years to come! Vacation Bicycling welcome dinner and get together scheduled for 5:00pm.
Dinner:
Bob Taylor's Original Ranch House
- Since 1955 Taylor's has been serving sizzling steaks -
Las Vegas, Nevada
Starter choices:
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Shrimp Cocktail
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Cajun Shrimp Scampi
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BBQ Ribs
Salad:
- House Salad
Entrée Choices include:
- 12 oz. New York Strip
- Salmon Au Natural
- Chicken Picatta
Lodging:
Home2 Suites by Hilton Las Vegas Northwest
- Brand New, opening March 2022 -
8906 W Deer Springs Way, Las Vegas, Nevada
(Stay at the same hotel for the entire bicycle tour. Just unpack one time!)
- Internet
- Microwave
- Hi-Def TVs
- Hairdryer
- Fitness Room
- Business Center
- Swimming Pool
Day 2, Sunday - November 6, 2022
Valley of Fire State Park & Lake Mead National Recreation Area (National Park Service)
We will start our memorable journey with a van ride to near The Valley of Fire State Park, a hidden-gem and that has spectacular landscapes to take in by bicycle and of course bicycling through the park and proceeding all the way to Lake Mead. The scenery is visually spectacular. We will check out Elephant Rock, which is an arch rock formation that resembles an elephant. Another memorable part of this area is The Beehives. The Valley of Fire State Park is a beautiful place to take in these unusual sandstone formations. The scenery here is visually stunning and unique. There are many great views from behind your handle bars. You will always remember your adventure! We will then continue bicycling to Lake Mead National Recreation Area by bicycle and where you can take many beautiful photos to prove it. Also, we will end the ride at Echo Bay. One of the largest and best known Internet companies was named after Echo Bay, which is eBay. The founder often visited the area and wanted to name his company Echo Bay, but that name was taken by a Canadian company so instead he named it eBay.
Breakfast provided by the hotel each morning.
Bicycling Route: 0 miles, staying at the hotel; or 20 miles, riding on Valley of Fire Highway through Valley of Fire State Park to Overton, Nevada; or 32 miles riding through Fire State Park to Rogers Spring in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area and then to Overton, Nevada. [Riding through Valley of Fire State Park is downhill. Riding from the state park to Overton has a couple hills and riding to Rogers Spring out-and-back has a few hills.]
Dinner:
Juan's Flaming Fajitas & Cantina
- "Fajitas set aflame table side....in a room decked out in the vibrant tones of South of the Border." - Las Vegas Eater
Las Vegas, Nevada
Salad:
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Dinner Salad - Mixed greens with diced onions, cucumbers and tomatoes topped with cheese and choice of dressing
Entrée Choices:
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Flaming Fajitas (chicken, steak, pork or shrimp) - grilled onions and bell peppers served with a sour cream guacamole, pico de gallo and choice of flour, corn tortillas or romaine wraps. Served with sopa de fideo and choice of rice and beans, rice and black beans or seasoned steamed vegetables
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Burrito (Bean, shredded beef, seasoned ground beef or shredded chicken - Carne asada or pollo assodo topped with a choice of red or green sauce and finished with melted cheese.
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Baja Style Fish Taco - breaded fish fillet topped with cabbage, pico de gallo and avocado-tomatilla sauce with choice of crispy or soft flour or corn tortilla
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Rancho Style Taco (pollo asado, carne asada, carnitas or al pastor) - this signature taco comes loaded with guacamole, cabbage and queso fresco with choice of crispy or soft flour or corn tortilla
Day 3, Monday - November 7, 2022
Lake Mead National Recreation Area (National Park Service) & River Mountains Loop Trail
After taking a van to ride start in Boulder City, we will ride the paved River Mountains Loop Trail through the city and countryside and picturesque areas by bicycle. Construction of The River Mountains Loop Trail began in 1996. These meetings were led by the National Park Service along with the River Mountains Loop Trail community to embark on Nevada’s first bike path of its kind. Many of Nevada’s resource management agencies worked with private land owners and residents to offer an outdoor loop trail offering scenic views and photographic opportunities along with wildlife and the beauty that only this region of the Mojave Desert can offer. The River Mountains Loop Trail is approximately 34 miles in length with about 17 miles in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. (We are riding 31 or the 34 miles of the trail avoiding the steep 3-mile climb from the Visitor Center back into Boulder City. Of course, for anyone that enjoys steep climbs they can continue on to ride the entire loop.) The area surrounds the River Mountains, connecting the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Henderson, Boulder City and the rest of the Las Vegas Valley. Also, if you look up while riding the trail you will see many parts of the trail are lighted for riding at night in the summer. After we meet at the Visitors Center we will van back to the hotel.
Breakfast provided by the hotel each morning
Bicycling Route: 0 miles, staying at the hotel; 31 miles, riding on the River Mountain Loop Paved Bicycle Trail from Boulder City to the Lake Mead National Recreation Area Visitor Center [The route is on paved bike paths and has a gradual descent of 2000 feet with some intermittent short hills.]
Dinner:
On your own
Day 4, Tuesday - November 8, 2022
Mt. Charleston & Spring Mountains National Recreation Area
Van to the summit of Mt. Charleston and the beginning/end of the road. We then proceed from the top of the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area otherwise known as Mt. Charleston and part of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. Mt. Charleston, Nevada is the eighth-highest mountain in the state and offers visitors opportunities for skiing, hiking, horseback riding and most importantly bicycling. This area has 316,000 beautiful acres. The panoramic Mountain Range that you will see from your bicycle is a special area that is certainly one-of-a-kind and unique since the entire area is owned by the Southern Nevada Conservancy, a 501c3 nonprofit organization.
Breakfast provided by the hotel each morning.
Bicycling Route: 0 miles, staying at the hotel; or 25 miles, riding from the summit of Mt. Charleston to Floyd Lamb Park; or 33 miles, riding from the summit of Mt. Charleston to Floyd Lamb Park and then to the hotel. [The route is downhill for the first 25 miles, descending 4500 ft and then flat for the remainder of the ride. Most of the roads are low traffic ]
Dinner:
On your own
Day 5, Wednesday - November 9, 2022
Free Day or Optional Bike Ride
Enjoy a Free Day to explore the city that never sleeps or take an optional bicycle ride in the wonderful 210 acre Wetlands Park Nature Preserve, riding a loop from Lake Las Vegas. Many people have commented that the paved Wetland Bicycle Path is the best bicycle path they have ever ridden! So, in one day you can experience the glitz of the most famous street in the United States, the Las Vegas strip, and ride the serene desert and wetlands of the surrounding area.
Breakfast provided by the hotel each morning
Bicycling Route:
Bicycling Route: 0 miles, staying at the hotel or touring Hoover Dam on your own; 20 miles, riding from the hotel to Lake Las Vegas. [The route is primarily flat.]
Day 6, Thursday - November 10, 2022
Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
Today we ride from our hotel to The Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area the lies in Nevada’s Mojave Desert and covers 195,819 acres. We will get a chance to see it on our bikes. The area is known for its features such as the impressive sandstone peaks and the Keystone Thrust Fault. Be sure not to miss the petroglyphs (rock art with beautiful colors) in this area. It is very memorable! The Red Rock Canyon Area supports over 600 plant species, 15 of which are found nowhere else in the world. It is considered spectacular scenery. The best way to see the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation area is by bicycle!
Breakfast provided by the hotel each morning.
Bicycling Route: 0 miles, staying at the hotel; or 15 miles riding the entire Red Rock Canyon Loop from the Overlook parking lot; or 31 miles, riding the complete loop and then bicycling back to the hotel. [The route outside the park is slightly downhill. The 13-mile scenic drive through Red Rock Canyon has hills, but is well worth the effort.]
Dinner:
Battista's Hole in the Wall
- "The Finest Italian Food & Atmosphere in all of Las Vegas!" in the same location since 1970" -
Las Vegas, Nevada
Beginning with all dinners:
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Minestrone Soup or Italian Salad
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Garlic Bread, Pasta Side
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Homemade Cappuccino
Entrée Choices:
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Ravioli, Lasagna, Manicottie, Canellloni, Eggplant Parmegiana, Fettuccine Mussels, Spaghetti or Ziti
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Chicken Rio, Parmigiana or Cacciatore
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Veal Piccante, Marsala or Parmigiana
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Fresh Fish of the Day, Rib Eye or Battista Style Cioppino
Day 7, Friday - November 11, 2022
Enjoy the mountains, lake and desert one last time heading home from your vacation.
Breakfast provided by hotel each morning
Please note all trip information is based on previous trips and/or contracted lodging and restaurants and is subject to change based on availability or specific trip needs.
Riding difficulty:
- Riders who are comfortable riding at least 10 miles per hour should have an enjoyable trip. The routes are primarily on low traveled, designated bike routes or bike paths. Please see the daily routes descriptions for additional information. Of course, if a rider is tired or does not feel like riding, the SAG vehicle will transport the rider to the hotel. All riders may ride at their own pace, slow or fast or anything in-between.
Arriving by Automobile:
- Drive to the starting hotel: Home2 Suites Las Vegas Northwest, 8906 W Deer Springs Way, Las Vegas, Nevada, 89149; leaving your car at the starting hotel for the duration of the trip. Parking is free at the hotel for us.
Arriving by Plane:
- Fly directly into Las Vegas McCarran International Airport (LAS) and then rent a car, driving 20 miles to trip start; or take Uber/Lyft to trip start.
Deposit:
- $200 to reserve your spot and the remainder due 45 days before the trip start.
What is Included:
- Hotel lodging
- Ride packets, including maps & cue sheets (directions)
- Fully sagged, including ride leaders, luggage transport, SAG vehicle transportation and rider assistance
- Breakfast each morning
- Dinner with the group three evenings (see above)
- Great riding, scenery, fun and enjoyment!
Bicycles:
- Most participants bring their own bicycles
- To ship your bike, we would suggest using shipbikes.com or bikeflight.com for shipping. To ship your bike to the hotel: Home2 Suites Las Vegas Northwest, 8906 W Deer Springs Way, Las Vegas, Nevada, 89149
- If you fly, most major airlines including Delta, American, United and Alaska Air now waive the oversize fee for bicycles (sporting equipment) and just the standard luggage fee applies. Please contact your airline for all the details.
Weather in November in the Red Rock & Lake Mead areas:
- Average High 70°