The mighty Colorado River is a major artery of the west, linking Colorado and Mexico and supporting millions of people in between. In the southern tip of Nevada, the town of Laughlin sits on one side of the Colorado River, making it a popular destination for water recreation in the summer and snowbirds in the winter. The Horseshoe Trail is a great way for equestrians to see this waterfront city where Nevada and Arizona meet.
What the Horseshoe Trail lacks in mileage (it’s only three miles), it makes up for with unique scenery. Starting out, riders get a birds eye view of Davis Dam, the city of Laughlin on one side of the Colorado River and Arizona on the other. The trail winds down the hills to the river, past the dam, and back to the parking lot.
The Horseshoe Trail is managed by Clark County and was clearly built with equestrians in mind. It’s wide, flat, and has good footing and signage. There is nothing technical, save for a little elevation gain. There are even heavy duty hitching posts at points along the trail. The Horseshoe Trail is clean, well maintained, and doesn’t seem like it gets a ton of use, except for the part along the river.
A standout feature of this trail are the places where you can get your horse into the river! Water access is a special treat for Nevada trail riders, especially in the southern part of the state. The Colorado River is not deep and is fun to wade around in. Depending on the weather, there may be kayaks or jet skis cruising around the water too, so be careful. There are a lot of campers along the Arizona side with people hanging out on the shore. The trail also passes the historic Davis Dam, which is about 70 miles downstream from the Hoover Dam.
If you want to add more miles, the Desert Trail can also be accessed from the same trailhead and is horse friendly. This 2.5 mile (one way) trail quietly meanders through the desert and crosses the highway to end on the west side of town. You can also get off the official trail system to ride into a much larger network of dirt roads and washes. Near the dam, Stonehouse Road gives access to the hills within the official Lake Mead National Recreation Area.
Laughlin is best to ride in the winter, spring, and fall. Keep in mind it is usually hotter than Las Vegas and, except for the river, there is no water on the trails.
Getting Here
Where to Park: The equestrian trailhead features several large spaces for trailers, two heavy duty roundpens, hitching posts, restrooms, trash, and water. The only thing lacking is a dumpster or place to put manure so pack it out of the parking lot.
Trail Maps
