River Mountains Loop Trail — short paved desert return
Nevada · Greenway
At the signed visitor-center-area trailhead join the paved River Mountains Loop course for up to three miles and retrace. Stay on the designated trail, not Lakeshore Road or natural desert tracks. This is not a full 34-mile loop or the Historic Railroad Trail.
Plan your ride
- Location
- Boulder City / Lake Mead · Nevada
- Ride length
- Up to 6 miles return
- Ride format
- Out and back
- Surface
- Paved designated nonmotorized River Mountains Loop Trail
- Road crossings
- Yield to walkers and slow at junctions. Stop and look at every street crossing; do not use traffic lanes to bypass a closure.
- Elevation
- Meaningful desert climbs and descents; NPS gives 750 feet of elevation change for its much longer park portion. That is not a measured gain for this selected return.
- Starting location
- River Mountains Loop public trailhead near Lake Mead Visitor Center, 10 Lakeshore Road, Boulder City, NV
Selected outward cap and the same return; turn earlier at the actual route end or a barrier. Parking walks are extra.
Public named facility/address locality reference, not an exact parking entrance or stall. Follow the separate written public start.
River Mountains Loop Trail — short paved desert return — detailed guide
Source review: 2026-10-23. A dated source review does not guarantee current-day conditions.
A selected outing on a documented improved bicycle route. Follow the stated public start and course.
Start and parking
Start: River Mountains Loop public trailhead near Lake Mead Visitor Center, 10 Lakeshore Road, Boulder City, NV.
Use signed open public visitor spaces and walk to the designated path. Reserved, event, golf, school and private spaces are not assumed available.
Ride and distance
Selected ride: Up to 6 miles return. Format: Out and back.
Ride: At the signed visitor-center-area trailhead join the paved River Mountains Loop course for up to three miles and retrace. Stay on the designated trail, not Lakeshore Road or natural desert tracks. This is not a full 34-mile loop or the Historic Railroad Trail.
Selected outward cap and the same return; turn earlier at the actual route end or a barrier. Parking walks are extra.
Surface and effort
Paved designated nonmotorized River Mountains Loop Trail. Meaningful desert climbs and descents; NPS gives 750 feet of elevation change for its much longer park portion. That is not a measured gain for this selected return.
Crossings and shared use
Yield to walkers and slow at junctions. Stop and look at every street crossing; do not use traffic lanes to bypass a closure. Yield to pedestrians, keep right, and slow at blind corners. Stop at barriers; never use a traffic-road detour to bypass a trail closure.
Hours, costs and access
Use daylight and obey posted trail, park and parking hours. Lake Mead entrance requirements apply to bicycles. Check current NPS fees/passes before travel; keep any required pass with you.
Reviewed 2026-10-23. Source-backed selected bicycle course; obey current signs. Exposed desert riding with meaningful climbs and descents. Carry all needed water and avoid heat; observe park fees and current signs. This is a dated source review, not a same-day pavement inspection or whole-network all-clear. This is a source review, not a same-day inspection. Recheck the linked manager before travel.
Map and Directions
Use the named public start and its posted parking signs. The map reference identifies the facility or selected trail area; it is not a surveyed parking stall or navigable route line. Bicycle and e-bike rules can differ; only ordinary bicycle use is established unless noted.