River Mountains Loop Trail

Facebook icon

  • Home
  • About
  • Trailheads and Maps
    • Trailheads in Boulder City
    • Trailheads in Henderson
    • Trailheads in Lake Mead NRA
  • History
    • Geology of the River Mountains
    • A -Desert Tortoise – Do’s & Dont’s
    • Keep It Clean
  • Blog
    • Recently on Facebook
  • Contact
    • Contact List
You are here: Home / Biking / A Destination Trail

12/28/2010 by Editor

A Destination Trail

Wildflowers and Lake Mead

Spring wildflowers line the River Mountain Loop Trail with Lake Mead in the background.

After posing the question on Facebook about whether the users thought the River Mountains Loop Trail was a “Destination Trail,” I have to concur that it is. My brief research doesn’t really define what a destination trail is so I’m setting out to determine what makes this a destination trail. So I went to Wikipedia and started with:

A Destination Hotel is a hotel whose location and amenities make the hotel itself a destination for tourists, rather than merely a convenient place to stay while traveling through or visiting the area for other reasons.”

So if I do a little word-smithing we get:

A Destination Trail is a trail whose location and amenities make the trail itself a destination for tourists.”

So in other words the trail itself is the primary reason for the visit or trip, and the amenities (the hotel, the restaurants, etc.) add to the reason to visit the trail. I have also heard the phase “World Class Trail.” Let’s explore some of the reasons why this trail would be considered a Destination Trail.

  • It’s a 34-mile paved loop trail, non-motorized, and 12-foot wide.  Suitable for street bikes, mountain bikes, jogging, running, hiking, walking, roller-blades, 5-k’s, 10-k’s, marathons and triathlon and even horse-back riding.
  • It’s both a rural and urban trail connecting the communities of Henderson, NV. and  Boulder City, NV. to Lake Mead National Recreation Area and Hoover Dam via connecting Historic Railroad Trail.
  • It circles/loops around the River Mountains which is full of wildlife year round and wildflowers in the spring, offers unobstructed views of Lake Mead, numerous mountain ranges, and of course the one and only Las Vegas.
  • Speaking of wildlife the River Mountains is home to one of the largest and most productive Desert Big Horn Sheep populations in the Western USA.
  • The trail is also a trip into and through history of Southern Nevada. Kiosks and waysides along the trail system tell the story.
  • Speaking of amenities one will find five (5) different hotels and resorts connecting to the trail system, something for everyone’s taste.
  • The trail also connects you to other destinations along the way such as Historic Downtown Boulder City; Lake Las Vegas Resorts; Hoover Dam; Wetlands Park Trail system; and multiple trail connections into the Henderson Community and  Las Vegas.

Wow. I just sold myself on a trip to visit the River Mountains Loop Trail and I only touched on some of the big reasons. I like the scenery, the views, the peace and quiet, the huge wide open spaces and the solitude one experiences along the trail. There is something for everyone’s trail needs.

Where else in the world can you jump on a bike and ride on a trail system and see two of the world’s engineering marvels at the same time? I’m referring to Hoover Dam and the Tillman – O’Callaghan Bridge.

Hoover Dam & Tillman – O’Callaghan Bridge construction 2009

Filed Under: Biking, Blog, hiking, History Tagged With: Desert Big Horn Sheep, Destination Trail, Historic Railroad Trail, Hoover Dam, Hoover Dam Bridge

« Bobcats – Roam the River Mountains
River Mountain Trail…circa 1935-1937 »

Comments

  1. trailsnet says

    01/15/2011 at 8:10 AM

    From what I’ve seen on your blog & various websites, I would agree that the RMLT is a destination trail. This post motivated me to include some criteria for a destination trail on the trails network blog

    • rmltman says

      01/18/2011 at 10:07 AM

      Once again thanks for the review and comments on your BLOG. Starting this year we’ll be putting finishing o touches on the trail with more signs, waysides, and safety related improvements.

  2. Kirk Dubois says

    01/30/2011 at 4:28 PM

    Yes, River Mountain Loop trail is a destination trail. I am coming from Nashua, NH specifically to ride that trail. I made the trip last year to hike that trail from Pacifica way to the dam. Great trail. I have ridden many trails in my area and enjoy the scenery.

  3. dianaluna says

    02/22/2011 at 6:07 AM

    I like the pictures and took some of them for my PPT. Thanks a lot.

Recent Blog Posts

Dogs on the Trail

Las Vegas Hiking Trail Featured in Article

Las Vegas Hiking Trail Featured in Article

Pacifica trail head Boulder City on the new trail website.

New Trail Website

Be Sure to Visit

Latest Posts on Facebook

Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction icons
River Mountains Loop Trail
4 days ago
River Mountains Loop Trail

Fyi......Trail news.
... See MoreSee Less

Link thumbnail

Construction For Red Rock Canyon Multi-Use Paved Trail Will Start In 2025 At The Earliest - LVSportsBiz

lvsportsbiz.com

ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT By Alan Snel, LVSportsBiz.com Publisher/Writer Shovels will start moving dirt in 2025 for Phase 1 of the much-needed
View on Facebook
· Share
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
View Comments
  • Likes: 6
  • Shares: 0
  • Comments: 0

Comment on Facebook

River Mountains Loop Trail
3 weeks ago
River Mountains Loop Trail
Video image

We consider the HRT the mother of the River Mountains Loop Trail. Full development of the HRT to Boulder City was a precursor to RMLT planning and development. This included opening of tunnel #5 which had been closed for years. ... See MoreSee Less

View on Facebook
· Share
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
View Comments
  • Likes: 34
  • Shares: 7
  • Comments: 1

Comment on Facebook

i ride my bike that would be so much fun.

River Mountains Loop Trail
4 months ago
River Mountains Loop Trail

Anyone know what all the helicopter activity is off McCullough Hill Trail on back side of Black Mountain??? ... See MoreSee Less

View on Facebook
· Share
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
View Comments
  • Likes: 0
  • Shares: 0
  • Comments: 3

Comment on Facebook

They're doing water main construction. I live near there and was notified about the project.

Probably dropping construction materials to one of those mega mansions in the hill

Looks like a recovery or a rescue. Its been happening for a couple of hours.

Load more

View Full-Sized

A Project of Get Outdoors Nevada.

Copyright © 2023 · River Mountains Loop Trail · All rights reserved.

Return to top of page