More Mountain Biking in the Silver State
July – August 2015
From tip to toe and side to side, Nevada is filled with great trails.
BY MEGG MUELLER
From beginner fire roads to gnarly downhills, you don’t have to look to far to find some dirt that’s just right for you. And while Reno, Lake Tahoe, and Las Vegas all have well-known trails, the rest of the state has great riding as well.Fun loops, bloody shins, epic smiles; these are some of the possibilities when you mountain bike, and Nevada has more than its fair share of amazing trails.
Did we miss your favorite trail? Tell us in the comments, and we’ll add it to the story!
⇒ Read the story from our July/August issue here! The Ride Stuff!
Ely
Ice Plant Trails
John Shafer
The Ice Plant network of trails covers more than 17 miles of trails—some singletrack, some double—that winds from the streets of Ely up to Ward Mountain. You can combine trails to suit riding ability; jumps, swoops, climbs, downhill, and cross-country all exist in this area. The Fun Loop is just that: lots of bermed trail, twists galore, and a speedy descent. To get to the top you’ll do some climbing but nothing too tough. If you continue up past the Fun Loop cutoff things get a little steep, but the reward is almost 16 miles of cross-country riding with just a few steep downhills. These trails are well maintained, thanks to a group of volunteers. The trail is open May-November.
Every June, Ely hosts the Fears, Beers, and Tears enduro event. Racers compete for bragging rights as the fastest around, while spectators enjoy live music and libations in Broadbent Park as they watch the final downhill timed section.
Visit http://www.elynevada.net/thingstodo/Outdoor/biking.html for directions and more info on trails in Ely.
Winnemucca
Bloody Shins Trail
How can you call yourself a mountain biker and NOT be drawn to a place with a name like Bloody Shins? Along with Winnemucca Mountain, Bloody Shins is the region’s go-to trail. Three trails—seven, 11, and 16.5 miles—make up Bloody Shins, but there are myriad other trails so despite decent trail markers, make sure to get a map first. Once you’re set, you’ll find singletrack and fire roads with easy to moderate climbs. There’s no shade, but then again it’s Nevada so who needs it? Trail is open March-November.
Visit Bikes and More Bike Shop’s website for the lowdown on riding in the area:http://www.winnemuccabikeshop.comIf you’re into super fat tires, you have to check out the Winnemucca Sand Dunes; the largest dunes in the state, this is one place where falling wouldn’t be so bad!
The Whole State
Can’t choose an area to ride in? Want to see it all? We have that, too. The American Discovery Trail runs through Nevada, giving gung-ho riders the chance to cross the state by dirt. The national trail’s Nevada portion is cut into nine sections that cover 496 miles, largely on isolated, relatively unused dirt roads. You can cover the state, from Lake Tahoe to Baker; now that’s a ride. Visit http://www.discoverytrail.org/states/nevada/index.html to see the route.
Mountain Biking News
One of the largest trail systems in the state is in the works for Caliente. While the southern Nevada town isn’t currently thought of as an adventure destination, that could all change if current plans to create a mountain biking paradise on the 4 million acres of Bureau of Land Management lands comes to fruition. Initial planning is already in the works for more than 150 miles of trails to surround the town that was once home to a Union Pacific Depot.
In March of this year, Carson City’s Visitor Bureau Director Joel Dunn announced a major mountain biking event is set to be hosted in the Carson City area in June 2016. Stay tuned for more info as the details are revealed!