These are unprecedented times in our country, state, and city.

Non-essential businesses in Las Vegas remain closed from March 18 for 30 days.

Although the Governor recommended hikes or walks at a safe distance, some trails in Red Rock Canyon and Lake Mead are closed until further notice.

For those of us who love the outdoors and want to maintain regular exercise, it can be difficult to find a place that’s not already overcrowded.

For the past two weekends, we’ve set out to find areas that provide a safe space to enjoy nature while also social distancing.

River Mountains Trail (Black Mountain), Boulder City

There’s a few ways to access this trail, but the route we took was not as populated and about 5 1/2 miles roundtrip. This hike is mainly uphill on the way there, so it’s a great workout. At the very top is a view of Lake Mead and the Las Vegas strip.

We parked at the River Mountain Trailhead lot, just off U.S. 93.

Learn more

McCullough Hills, Anthem East Trail

A trail closer to home is the McCullough Hills, specifically the Anthem East Trail. One of our favorite parts about living in Henderson is the easy access to walking paths, and this one is not too far from us. There are plenty of bike paths, both paved and dirt.

There is not a lot of parking here, but some chose to use the nearby school parking.

Valley of Fire State Park

Valley of Fire State Park is a longer trip outside of Las Vegas, but the trails are still open for day-use. Some of the scenic walks like Elephant Rock offer plenty of space to explore beautiful views while social distancing. However, hikes like White Domes Trail have a narrow slot canyon which may not offer enough room to keep six feet of distance, depending on the amount of hikers that day.

Valley of Fire State Park, White Domes Trail

Resources

Closures surrounding the COVID-19 situation could suddenly change, so please ensure you check the latest information online before heading out.