Bootleg Canyon XC

I have 8 nights, a solid vehicle, my bike and camping gear.

I want to get out of the northern Rockies for a bit and get warm.

I was thinking about a slow road trip or perhaps a rapid one with the destination/turn around being Lost Wages, Sin City.

Is the riding near Vegas worth a couple of days while I spend some $$$ on a room, some buffets and a few games of chance? Maybe lay by the pool and pretend to be a jewel thief.

Will the hotels be weird about my wanting to bring my bike inside or does the security in parking mean my ride will be safe in my truck?

Any other recommends?

bootleg has limited XC , maybe a days worth(from what I remember)

blue diamond (south of redrocks) is good for 1-2 days as well?

drive north to St George/Hurricane. more options in that direction, and cheap midweek rooms in Mesquite.

^^^ what he said.

I would not leave a bike unattended anywhere in vegas. I wouldn't really leave anything unattended in vegas.

I'd head to the hurricane area first. Great free camping up at gooseberry, then tons to ride like the jem trail, guacamole, etc. We found lovely free camping 2 miles up the Kolob terrace road. Get the st george map and/ or download riding maps from utahmountainbiking.com. If weather is good you gotta ride Thunder mountain and the cassidy trails up near bryce.

Nowhere near as dicey either of those places as Vegas.

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^ gambling close by also in Mesquite, NV, just over the border.

I don't know, i really like the vegas riding. the XC scene there is pretty big blue diamond is a pretty big network of trails, I think that is where most of the locals ride.

I would ride most of the trails at bootleg on a 5" bike, and the network there is pretty large as well. certainly a couple days worth. there are some newer trail systems due west of the strip in the red rocks area that would show up on any of the GPS trail maps.

I have also left 4 bikes on a hitch rack, locked with valet and have brought bikes into smaller non-casino off strip hotel rooms.

I love riding all day in vegas then hitting the strip at night. something about that dichotomy really appeals to me.

two bike shops can help you out as well. las vegas cyclery and mcghie's (?sp).

Current plan is 2 days at Thunder Mtn, 2 days around Gooseberry/Little Creek and then?

I have ridden both of those areas pretty extensively so LV was a new option and still sounds and looks worthwhile.

The idea of riding all day, then catching a shower, a nap and a show on the strip just sounds appealing.
Might even throw the golf clubs in and get in 18 at a desert course.

Any further info is appreciated.

http://www.leelau.net/sharonandlee/red-rocks/ - You could squeeze 2 days out of it. It's fun in a zoom-zoom way but in no way anything special.

Cowboy trails
Just accross from Redrocks (on the way to Blue Diamond)
FUN


http://i474.photobucket.com/albums/r...ps10581784.jpg

Lee they didn't direct you to the pic above??

5 minutes from red rock casino to some really good riding. I think most of the shop guys just assume everyone wants zoom zoom XC. when there is wicked technical, fun, fast riding soooo close.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by lph

Lee they didn't direct you to the pic above??

5 minutes from red rock casino to some really good riding. I think most of the shop guys just assume everyone wants zoom zoom XC. when there is wicked technical, fun, fast riding soooo close.

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Nope - I think we got the tourist routes. Which was fine because it was still pretty fun. But just seemed limited. It was one of those trips where I could have probably done a better job hunting down local knowledge

Check out Lee Canyon around the ski area. Also check out the Cold Creek area. Both are about 45 mins from the strip, have a lot of options, and are not as crowded as Red Rock.

The Cowboy Trails are stupid...don't ride there...it sucks...I swear...

I think it is worth three days. One each for Cowboy, Bootleg and Cottonwood. Haven't ridden any of the other stuff mentioned but all the above three were interesting enough that I would ride them again. I liked Cowboy the best - it is the most technical of the bunch. None are quite as interesting as Gooseberry Mesa but still worth riding if you have never been.

Bear's Best is also supposed to be fun for a shorter ride closer to town (I have been told).

Quote:

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Originally Posted by goral

I think it is worth three days. One each for Cowboy, Bootleg and Cottonwood. Haven't ridden any of the other stuff mentioned but all the above three were interesting enough that I would ride them again. I liked Cowboy the best - it is the most technical of the bunch. None are quite as interesting as Gooseberry Mesa but still worth riding if you have never been.

Bear's Best is also supposed to be fun for a shorter ride closer to town (I have been told).

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the bear's best trails are fun. true XC, with small ledges and mini up and down technical moves. they flow really well in just about any direction. they are growing rapidly. they have a lot of loops and they are pushing farther and farther from road. farther than i wanted to ride. ;)

cowboy is a pretty good sized area. you would have to ride there 2-3 days to ride it all. although I have ridden bone shaker on a 5spot, i wouldn't recommend it. I think cowboy trails are beautiful and scary, cause of all the different cacti and plants, but definitely agree gooseberry etc... are pretty tough to match.