About the River Mountains Loop Trail

The River Mountains Loop Trail is Nevada’s first endeavor of its kind. Constructed through a combined effort of many of Nevada’s resource management agencies, private land owners and citizens, this non-motorized trail will provide Nevada residents and out of state visitors with an outdoor recreation area offering scenic views, plentiful wildlife and the vast beauty only the Mojave Desert can offer.

Description

The River Mountains Loop Trail is approximately 34 miles in length and surrounds the River Mountains connecting Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Hoover Dam, Henderson, Boulder City and the rest of the Las Vegas Valley, expanding recreational and alternative transportation opportunities for the region’s growing population.

Type of Trail and Users

To better accommodate outdoor enthusiasts, you’ll find paved and concrete segments 12 feet in width, for hikers and road cyclists, and in certain segments a second trail for equestrian use.

Timeline

Completion of the River Mountains Loop Trail occurred in the Fall 0f 2012, while earlier segments were dedicated in 2000 and 2001.

We invite both the local community and visitors to use the River Mountains Loop Trail at your leisure and hope you’ll have a safe and memorable experience as you enjoy this new addition to our unique desert environment.

History of the Trail

The history of the River Mountains Loop Trail is interesting since it represents a dream come true for many of those involved. Quite a few citizens and agencies were involved in planning, designing and constructing this multi-use, non-motorized 34-mile loop trail. It provides links and connections to other trails throughout the Las Vegas Valley.

In the Beginning

We started in 1996. There was 18-months of focus groups and stakeholder meetings to determine trail design, location, uses, themes, etc. These meetings were conducted by theNational Park Service – Rivers, Trails, Conservation Assistance (RTCA) program headed up by Barbara Rice. In Fall of 1997 the stakeholders held an election of officers and theAdvisory Council was formed. The River Mountains Trail Partnership started out with 30 partner members. The Advisory Council was made up of one primary representative and one alternate. This group met regularly every month for over 16-years. Their primary purpose, besides being advisory to the land managers, was to keep the group motivated and moving forward with planning, grant applications and construction schedules. The Advisory Council acted as a clearinghouse for new ideas and provided a public forum for issues.

Partners

The original 30 partners were a broad cross section of trail stakeholders. There were federal, state, county and city entities as well as private landowners. Over the years the mix and numbers changed. Some of the original partners were:

Federal Partners

  • National Park Service-Lake Mead
  • Bureau of Reclamation (BOR)
  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
  • Natural Resources Conservation Service

Local Government

  • City of Boulder City
  • City of Henderson
  • City of Las Vegas
  • Clark County

Business and Corporations

  • Lake Las Vegas Resort
  • NV Energy
  • The Landwell Company
  • Railroad Pass Hotel & Casino

Regional Agencies

  • Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA)
  • Regional Transportation Commission of Clark County (RTC)
  • Conservation District of Southern Nevada

The project, as many of the ongoing efforts to enhance the enjoyment of our incredible outdoor areas in and around Clark County, remains a work in progress!