Located on the western edge of Las Vegas, this ride will have you feeling like you are straddling the line between urban and wilderness. The Buckskin Cliff Shadows trails offer wildly varying views – from a tableau of the entire city to a mini Valley of Fire and a real time view into how Las Vegas is rapidly expanding.
Technically these trails are part of the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. There are lots of options in this area because the mountain bike folks have been very busy putting in trails. Don’t let that deter you. This isn’t a heavy use area. But definitely check out maps in advance to see which trails lead where as there are a lot of them.
From the trailhead, you can ride north, hugging the mountain around the neighborhood to make a roughly 4 mile loop around the mountain. To the south, the trails take you through a big wash with dramatic gray limestone cliffs dotted by small caves. Around the mountain it opens up and you’ll find a housing development on one side and trails leading back into the mountains on the other. Head back into the mountains to make that previously mentioned loop in the other direction.
Or head toward that housing development. A single track trail actually weaves along the mountain side above the houses, giving you a fun peak into the luxury gated community. Around the houses you’ll find some stellar views of the city, the Strip, and beyond. The trails continue along the mountain where you’ll see lots of construction from another development project that is underway. It looks like they plan to build homes right up to the very edge of the mountain.
Beyond the construction you’ll get a glimpse of what’s called “Little Red Rock.” It looks like huge globs of vibrant red sandstone dotting the desert floor. The colorful formations are quite a sight, reminiscent of Calico Basin at Red Rock or Valley of Fire. Here’s where things get a little tricky. The trails along the mountains are public lands but Little Red Rock is technically private property. Do with that what you will. Beyond Little Red Rock you can head back into the La Madre Mountain Wilderness or turn back for a roughly 10 mile ride.
The trails in this area are moderately challenging, depending on which ones you take. The tougher ones are cut into the mountain sides. Some of them have soft edges, some require rock scrambling and sure-footed animals, and there are some steep sections. You can avoid these more technical trails by sticking to the washes and low ground.
The desert is full of creosote, scrub brush, and lots of varieties of yucca and cactus, including a little dash of cholla every now and then. Keep a sharp eye open for the occasional big horn sheep up high. Down low you may see a coyote or a jackrabbit. You may share the trail with bicyclists, runners, or dog walkers but generally it seems to be pretty low use once you get off the main trails close to the trailhead. With high summer temps and the lack of shade, these trails are best ridden in the spring, fall, and winter. It is consistently rocky in this area so boots or shoes are recommended.
Given all the housing development activity that is pushing in on the mountains, it is hard to say how long these trails will be accessible. Ride them while you can.
Getting Here
Where to Park: This is an exceptionally nice equestrian parking area. There is a very large designated area for horse trailers. There are also bathrooms, water, a round pen, and an unusual amount of garbage cans. They really want you to throw away your horse poop!
Trail Maps
