Motorcycle Rides II
One of the most fun motorcycle rides near Las Vegas is the Valley of Fire loop. It actually takes you through two national parks, both Valley of Fire and Lake Mead. With some winding roads a few hills and some gorgeous scenery, it is well worth the trip.
Valley of Fire is the oldest state park in Nevada. It covers 42,000 acres covered in red sandstone formations, which is how it gets its fiery name. It’s located about 50 miles Northeast of Las Vegas and abuts both Lake Mead and the Virgin River. The total drive is about 113 miles which will take you through both parks.
Since Valley of Fire is a state park and Lake Mead is a national park, there will be two separate fee areas that you drive through. The price isn’t too high, especially on a motorcycle, but they must be paid separately.
Driving through Valley of Fire, there are magnificent formations that are so spectacular, it can seem amazing that they were formed naturally and not on a movie set. The speed limit is rather slow through this area of the park, but with all there is to see, you shouldn’t mind a bit. There are numerous places to stop and take photos or merely take in the view, however, there won’t be gas stations inside the park, so you’re going to want to start out with a full tank.
While you are driving around, you can try to pick out areas where your favorite films were shot. Two of the most notable ones are Star Trek Generations and Transformers, however, many, many more of them were shot there due to the out-of-this-world panorama that it offers.
When you get to the Lake Mead portion of the trip, you will notice the speed limit raised, and the sandstone formations will become less and less. After many hills and turns of beautiful scenery, you will see the water that is Lake Mead. Lake Mead was formed from the Colorado River after the Hoover Dam was built. Not only is it a wonderful ride, but also a fantastic destination when you want to cool off during the hot summer.
Though bringing water along with you is a no brainer in the summertime, it is also crucial to do in the winter as though it is mild, it is also very dry. There’s a last chance store to buy supplies at the beginning of Valley of Fire, then there are no stores until you get through Lake Mead. The lack of humidity in the wind, will dehydrate you quickly, especially on a bike.
This ride was rated 3 1/2 stars on motorcycleroads.com, and it is there where you can get directions to this most spectacular ride.