Hiking in Southern Nevada: The River Mountain Loop Trail

Do you know what is so great about Southern Nevada? You do not have to go too far from your home to find beautiful scenery and countless areas to take a nice refreshing hike. Travel just a few minutes from the Las Vegas Valley and you will find yourself in a whole new environment.

If you travel just twenty minutes from the Las Vegas Strip out to the south and east, you will come across an ever growing hiking trail known as the River Mountains Loop Trail. The trail runs through the River Mountains, a mountain range that was formed from cooling lava millions of years ago.This trail is over 35 miles long and connects the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Boulder City, Henderson, and all of the Las Vegas Valley. While hiking on the trail, one can find numerous plant and animal species. The best time to see blooming flowers is between the months of February and May and then again in the fall. When I went hiking there last spring, I found numerous plant life including the Desert Pincushion, Desert Trumpet, Pima Rhatany, Silver Cholla, Pygmy Cedar, and the Mojave Aster. These are just a few of the plant species that dot the landscape around the trail. Many animal species, such as Big Horn sheep and Jack Rabbits, make the area surrounding the trail home.

The best time to hike the trail is during the cooler fall, winter, and early spring months. If you decide to hike the trail during the summer, do it early in the morning before temperatures start to soar. There are numerous areas where the trail is multiuse. In other words, parts of the trail are open to bikers and hikers. Parts of the trail go up to the highest areas of the River Mountain range. From those areas, you can see the crystal blue waters of Lake Mead or a magnificent view of the Las Vegas Valley. As you hike the trail, keep an eye out for signs and markers. Some may not be that noticeable. Also, if you decide to hike the trail up into the mountains, watch where you step because the trail tends to narrow as it climbs. People hiking on this trail should be aware that the elevation can change drastically in short time.

If you would like to know exactly where the River Mountain Trail is located relative to the Lake Mead National Recreation Area and the Las Vegas Valley, a map is available on http://www.rivermountainstrail.com/abouttherivermountainstrail/abouttherivermountainstrail.htm. There is also more useful information such as what to bring on the hike and contact information.