Afternoon, my friends. I hope this finds you all well. I am going to be at a rather large conference the first week in December in Las Vegas, NV, and one of my colleagues and I are going to fly in a day early and rent a couple Harleys and spend the day riding in the area. I've been there several times for this conference, but to tell you the truth I've been around the area very little. Did see the dam and the lake, then drove across to Los Angeles one time, but my conference duties, i.e., presentations and meetings, are such that usually I hit the hotel to check in and don't see the sun or moon until I check out to go home.

Was wondering if any of you have any "special" rides in the area, places you like to ride to, "can't miss" things to ride to and see? We'll pick the bikes up around 9AM and return them around 6PM on a Monday. We've got some time, though not more than that one day. Any ideas or suggestions will be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!!

 

When I lived out there my favorite Mid Summer ride was up Interstate 15 to Rt 9 though Zion National park and then 89 to Page, Az and Lake Powell and back on 89A through the North Rim of the Grand Canyon the north Rim. Was a cooler ride in the Summer as well.

 

Ride through the Valley of Fire. Folks at the HD shop can point the way. Awesome views and rides. Hot as hell though this time of year.

 

ZION, it's an awesome place. About a 300 mile round trip from Vegas.
Highly recommended!

 

A couple of nice relatively short rides are up to Mt. Charleston (fire is over now and they are letting people back up there)-about an hour or so roundtrip from downtown, and through Red Rock Canyon - beautiful scenery - again, about an hour or so roundtrip. If you like long stretches of dessert, you can take a trip to Kingman and ride along the famous Route 66, but be prepared for some major cross winds. That trip will be an all day ride. If you do Kingman and take in Route 66, you can figure ~7 hours roundtrip.

Enjoy!

 

Since you will be there in December, bring your warm gear. I was in Vegas last December, and thought it was pretty chilly. Enjoy.

 

Thanks, everybody! I appreciate the input! If it all works out I'll post a few pics upon my return!

 

+1.. we just got back from Vegas and we went through Valley of Fire, not on a bike, but wishing i was. with temps at 114, i wasn't disliking the AC in the car.

The Valley of Fire is beautiful.. don't waste your time at Red rock canyon.. very little red rock , just a boring loop.

If you go up to the West Grand Canyon for the Skywalk, be careful. they are fixing the road and there was at the time, 9 miles of lumpy, bumpy, rutted, washboard rumbled gravel road.. i was definitely glad i wasn't on the bike then.. i beat the crap out of that rental.. rear power sliding a fwd car was fun..

 

Pretty Chilly? And this guy is from Massachusetts? Seriously, most people apparently haven't noticed that the OP will be here in December. That affects the 'good rides' for two reasons, temperature and the time the sun goes down.

I have lived here 50 years and know it will not be hot, probably not even warm. That immediately eliminates Mt. Charleston, a good ride in the 'hot' weather. And cuts down the distance, at least if you don't want to ride in the cold and dark, in a strange area.

I would suggest heading south, over the dam via the twisty road. This means leaving 93/95 just past the Hacienda and taking the 'old road' over the top of the dam. Just before reaching Kingman, AR., almost another 70 miles, there is a turn off that will allow you to visit Laughlin.

Or if you want to skip the dam, since you have seen it, you can head directly to Laughlin/Oatman from Vegas. My personal favorite ride is just riding across the desert late at night. But that is during the summer, when it actually is hot.

This is my suggestion because people can 'ride' anywhere. When I go somewhere, away from home, I like to see some parts of the country I don't normally get to see. And may never get a chance to see again.

Ron

 

Easy to find the Valley Of Fire - go north on 15 and follow the signs. Then return on the Lake Mead road. Best road in the Vegas area. It's only 50 mph but in December their will be little traffic or LEO's. It'll bring you back around Lake Las Vegas/Henderson too before bringing you back into town.
Also you can ride up to Death Valley taking Highway 160 through Parumph. It's an all day ride for sure.
If you run up to Death Valley on Hwy 160 stop at the summit of Mountain Springs Pass. There's a biker bar with some character on the north side of the highway worth taking in. They used to have live music on the week ends - don't know if they still do.