By Danica Fife — Popular mountain biking influencer Danica Fife recently took a trip to Caliente to test out new trails in the area. Check out her review below!
Less than 2.5 hours from Las Vegas is a stunning biking destination. In the small town of Caliente, Nev., there are multiple trails to satisfy any type of rider. From the progression jumps at the skills park to chunky rock gardens at Barnes Canyon, this area will bring a smile to any tech or flow rider.
Caliente Skills Park
Jumps, skinnies, a pump track, you name it! This mountain bike skills zone is an optimal place to hone in some essential bike handling skills.
My favorite area was the progression jumps. They were poppy and smooth. Also, the jumps were built in a way that made them extremely case-friendly. Trust me, I had my fair share of cases that day!
Barnes Canyon
These trails keep you on your toes. One trail can be full of flow, then the next consists of slow rock moves. After a riding-filled day, I can’t think of a better way to end the adventure than pitching up camp at the bottom of the majestic Tepee Rocks. The scenery here is definitely one of those special places where you have to stop mid-ride just to take it in.
Kershaw-Ryan State Park
This area has a mellow 5.3 mile loop with views for miles. It has a bonus short black diamond option as well, if you are feeling spicy.
This trail called Skidsteer was the favorite of the trip. Even though it only took a few minutes to ride down! It consisted of steep sandy corners and rock gardens that made you realize the trail’s name was extremely accurate.
Cathedral Gorge
You caught me, this isn’t biking. However, we have to strech our legs out every once in a while right? While Cathedral Gorge does have a biking option, I opted for exploring the slot canyons. This state park is 15 minutes out of Caliente and 10/10 would recommend this area. Just the views alone from the road were worth it.
