You'll think you hit the big Vegas jackpot when you ride Bootleg Canyon, a chunky, exposed, hardscape of improbable singletrack carved from the harsh volcanic rock and crumbling granite that sits near the Black Mountain. This trail is about rocks. Big slabs that dump into crumbled, crunchy, sketchy sections that flow across the desert floor, and dicey ledges scratched into the granite/volcanic rock with plenty of exposure.

The Cottonwood Valley trail system is anchored by the tiny town of Blue Diamond. Directly from "downtown" Blue Diamond, you can pedal into this fantastic network of flowy singletrack trails running through the high desert hills. Right out of downtown, the classic Landmine Loop will throw some rocky challenges at you. There are a few chunky rock gardens and some small ledges on the climbs and descents, but they're pretty par for the course for desert singletrack.

The "Cowboy Trails" is one of the best trail systems in all of Las Vegas! These fantastic technical trails will challenge the most advanced mountain bikers while offering up fantastic views of the surrounding area. The loop linked here that climbs up Kibbles 'n' Bits to Boneshaker is one of the top loops through the network, although there are plenty of other options to choose from.

Flow Job ranks as one of the all-time favorite trails among Las Vegas locals. This incredible flowy descent traces its way down the spine of a ridge before ripping along an undulating singletrack bench that will have you whooping and hollering the entire way! There's very little in the way of technical challenge on this trail, and yet the ecstasy of flow will delight every mountain biker that ventures here!

The McCullough Hills trails provide a fantastic outlet for beginner and intermediate mountain bikers looking to enjoy endless trails looping through the desert without the brutality of negotiating the endless seas of sharp rocks that you'll find on many of the other trails near Las Vegas. McCullough Hills is also conveniently easy to access, with a well-developed trailhead, complete with bathrooms, located in a neighborhood on the outskirts of Henderson.

Southwest Ridge rises directly above the southwest suburbs of the Las Vegas metro area. From the top of the ridge, you can see the entire metropolis spread out below you, and distinctly pick out specific casinos from the skyline of the Strip. But in addition to the impressive views of Las Vegas, Southwest Ridge offers some rad technical mountain biking! Menny Thanks is the primary tech loop that anchors the southern end of this trail system.

Arguably the prime route down the Mount Charleston zone begins on the Chutes and Ladders Trail and finishes on Tin Can Alley. Chutes and Ladders begins steep and loose, dropping dramatically down an eroded fall line trail. Turning through some bermed, eroded corners and plopping over drops and rock ledges, after a couple minutes, the Chutes quickly lead to the Ladders.

The best way up the mountain in the Mount Charleston zone follows Lower Showgirl -> Tin Can Alley -> Upper Showgirl. Lower Showgirl is a well-graded singletrack that's benched into the sides of the small arroyos down low and into the mountain ridge higher up. With a very manageable grade and a smooth trail tread, it's an eminently climbable trail and doesn't see too much downhill traffic.

The Mount Charleston area is Las Vegas's bonafide big mountain shuttle zone. While you won't find any epic long-distance shuttles with dozens of miles of singletrack and a vertical mile of descending, you can shred down a cool 2,000 vertical feet in a few minutes on several steep shots of singletrack. For a more cross country-style descent that's achievable by even neophyte mountain bikers, try out this shuttle on Upper -> Lower Showgirl.

To head deep into the hills above Blue Diamond, check out this delightful loop on Dead Horse to 3 Mile Smile. This intermediate-friendly ride is mapped as departing from the Late Night Trailhead, but it can be ridden in conjunction with the classic Blue Diamond loop for a much longer cross country ride, if desired. As mapped, this ride is 14.3 miles by itself, making for a great ~2 hour pedal in the foothills.