Nevada is probably not the first state you think about when it comes to scenic bike rides. The fact that the state is mostly desert certainly does not help. However, if you can get beyond the glitz and glamor of Vegas and forget everything you hate about the desert environment, the Mount Charleston loop is an excellent ride. It's only 62 miles, but it is spectacular in terms of scenery and the open road feeling.
This is a ride you're going to want to do in a single day if your idea of good accommodations is a fairly decent motel with a recognized name. Once you leave Vegas there is very little by way of accommodations, other than a few roadside cabins and some mountain campsites. Of course, you can tow your own trailer if you want to spend the night in the mountains. Whatever you do, make sure you gas up before you leave the city, there are no gas stations on this loop.
Driving the Route
The most popular way to do the Mt. Charleston loop is to start on Rt. 95 in the northwest corner of Las Vegas. Take Rt. 95 about a mile and a half outside of town to Kyle Canyon Road (local Rt. 157). If you follow Kyle Canyon road to the end you will reach the Mount Charleston Lodge, which, by any standard, is one of the places you have to stop. The views of Mount Charleston and the surrounding peaks don't get any better than they are here.
When you're done at the Lodge, there is only one way out, back down Kyle Canyon Road. But rather than going all the way back to Rt. 95, hang a left on Rt. 158 heading toward Lee Canyon. That road will end at another great stopping place where the views of Lee Canyon are excellent. Hang a right, continue to Rt. 95, and head south back to Las Vegas.
Most of the route is comprised of well-maintained roads that are easy to navigate. However, the section between the Mount Charleston Lodge and Lee Canyon can be challenging. There are plenty of sharp turns, climbs, and dips, along with a few fallen rock zones. Beginners and intermediate riders can still handle this section as long as they keep their speeds in check and pay attention around the corners.
The Scenery
Those who regularly ride this loop say the scenery is to die for. The contrast between the desert landscape and the mountains, in an area so close together, makes this section of Nevada pretty impressive. And to see Las Vegas slowly fade away as you climb up Mount Charleston gives you a whole new understanding of how insignificant Sin City is when compared to the vastness of the Nevada wilderness.
Those who have an affinity for pine trees will also be delighted with the mountain portion of the ride. As you climb, the pine smell gets stronger as the temperatures get cooler. By the time you reach the Lodge, you're likely to forget that Mount Charleston sits in the middle of a desert.
And there you have it, one of the most popular rides in Nevada. Who would have thought there was so much to see outside of the Vegas strip?
