Running Las Vegas: Cottonwood Valley

You're in Las Vegas. Maybe you live here (like me) or maybe you're just in town for a visit. You're sick of the blaring lights of The Strip and you're looking for respite from the asphalt. You're in luck -- you don't have to go far to get in some awesome single-track running that will make you feel like you're light-years away from the madness of Vegas.

Blue Diamond Highway. Also known as Route 160. Also known as Widow Maker Highway. Hop on that and go west. Keep going. Go past where the housing developments end. You'll come to where Route 159 breaks off to head to Red Rock Canyon. Stay on 160, go about five miles further and on your right you'll see a parking lot with bathrooms. That's your spot.

If you're there on a weekend, you'll likely see a bunch of cars in the parking lot -- most of them are mountain bikers. Don't worry, you'll occasionally have to dodge a biker, but the trail system is vast enough that you'll be mostly left alone.

There are some rudimentary trail maps at the parking lot. They're of pretty limited use. I'm sure you can find some better maps online, but, frankly, it's not really that necessary. Just hop out there on one of the trails and get going. One of the great things about running in the desert is that it's very hard to get lost (if you're smart, pay attention to your surroundings, bla, bla, bla).

What else do you need to know? Not much. The trails aren't very technical at all, the scenery is amazing, and there is a lot to explore. So what are you waiting for? Go get some.


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