Photo contributed by visitor in Mar 10: "View of the scenic route. Behind us is about the 11th mile mark of the loop."
Motorcycle
Road Scenery:
Located
about 20 miles outside of Vegas, this route shows you some
killer scenery and fairly good motorcycle roads. If you
live anywhere near Vegas or are passing through you need
to checkout one of the coolest routes around. The
name says it all Red Rock Canyon.It has some freaky looking rocks that have been formed
over millions of years and get their unique shape due to
their geological makeup.
Motorcycle
Road Quality:
Short
and sweet; this route’s only real limitation is that it’s
too short. Keep in mind it is a one-way road the entire
way and watch out for the car-dorks who don’t know how to
stay out of the way.
Motorcycle
Roadside Amenities:
It
is all nature stuff so if your looking for restaurants and
stuff you’ve come to the wrong place … but if your here
for checking out some cool scenery and hiking trails you’ve
come to the right place. Here are some of the cool things
to do when you get to the route. Start out at the Red
Rock Visitor’s Center (702-363-1921) located at the
start of the route. Here you’ll learn about the incredible
canyon was formed and the unique plants and animals that
live here. Take a short mile hike from the Sandstone Quarry
out to the Calico Tanks and see some pockets in the rock
that gather water and attract local animals. Further up
the road you’ll see where two huge earth plates of rock
collided millions of years ago. They are made up of two
different types of rock. One is red and the other is gray
and the collision makes a really neat looking fault line.
If you take a side road for about a mile to the Willow Springs
picnic area you will enter part of the Red Rock Canyon.
Here you can see some ancient Indian art painted on some
of the rock walls. Checkout the Icebox canyon and feel the
strange cooling effects of being inside a rock canyon. From
Pine Creek Canyon Overlook you see a cool looking Petrified
Forest area.
To
find this route, simply head west out of Las
Vegas on route 159 to the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation
Area. Look for the signs directing you to the visitor center.
Enter the route on the one-way road that starts at the visitor
center.
Additional
Information:
-
View the weather forecast for this area from Yahoo
weather.
Do you have any pictures of this area? Contribute a photo and show other riders what they’ll see along the way.
Have you ever filmed video along this ride or in the area? Contribute the video and show riders what the area looks like.
Comments page 1 of 0
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REYES - 2009 Kawasaki
This user rated the route: 4 out of 10
Posted 430 days ago
If you do go on this road, it's not just "car-dorks". It's also cyclists, joggers, rangers, debris from the desert as well as hikers. Be very very weary of your surroundings and head of you. I took a turn last year and went down because of gravel half way into the road after passing the apex. Tourists love to park randomly on the side of the road and as they leave that parking spot, they kick up and out all kinds of shit onto the road. Aside from all this stuff, it is a great road, some technical turns as well as some great sweepers.
Clarification for those unfamiliar with the Las Vegas area, what's identified on the map above as "road 159" is actually Charleston Blvd. To get to the Red Rock Canyon loop, just head west on Charleston out of town past the Redrock Hotel and Casino, past the 215 and keep ridin'. It's a nice ride and as you're exiting the scenic loop, turn right on 159 (Charleston Blvd.) to Bonnie Springs/Old Nevada for more sightseeing or just a great meal. Enjoy!
This user rated the route: 10 out of 10
Posted 319 days ago
Agreed with Reyes. Although this is a beautiful road to take on the motorcycle it is by far not one to attempt to tackle at high speeds. I believe the posted speed limit is 25 or 35 for the length of the loop. It is normally packed with tourists, cyclists, runners, and hikers. I cycle there and it really bothers me when a motorcyclist comes flying by. Please use proper caution on the loop; I know a handful of cyclists that have wound up in the hospital due to driver carelessness.
Other than that is is a beautiful ride. Take is slow and absorb the scenery. Stop and watch the rock climbers or do some hiking yourself.
This user rated the route: 4 out of 10
Posted 430 days ago
If you do go on this road, it's not just "car-dorks". It's also cyclists, joggers, rangers, debris from the desert as well as hikers. Be very very weary of your surroundings and head of you. I took a turn last year and went down because of gravel half way into the road after passing the apex. Tourists love to park randomly on the side of the road and as they leave that parking spot, they kick up and out all kinds of shit onto the road. Aside from all this stuff, it is a great road, some technical turns as well as some great sweepers.
I have ridden this and it is very cool looking, but the real gem of a ride is just N.W. of red rock canyon. Take Hwy. 95 N.W. out of Vegas a short distance to Hwy 157, this is the Mt. Charleston loop and can be a great escape from the blazing summer heat. It comes around and dumps you out on Hwy. 95 again at Hwy. 156, if you so choose you can do this from Vegas in 3 hours or make it an all day thing.
Take Hwy. 95 N.W. out of Vegas a short distance to Hwy 157, this is the Mt. Charleston loop and can be a great escape from the blazing summer heat.
It comes around and dumps you out on Hwy. 95 again at Hwy. 156, if you so choose you can do this from Vegas in 3 hours or make it an all day thing.