Day 1 Kershaw Ryan State Park (326 miles)
Day 2 Ella Mountain / Barnes Canyon region
Day 3 Cathedral Gorge State Park and Ward Charcoal Ovens State Park (117 miles)
Day 4 Ward Mountain (20 miles)
Day 5 Cave Lake State Park
Day 6 Great Basin National Park (106 miles)
Day 7 The Nevada Northern Railway (212 miles)
Day 1:
Kershaw Ryan State Park (326 miles)
Breakfast: Excluded|Lunch: Included|Dinner: Excluded
Meet your guides at 8am for a short welcome meeting before heading to the bike shop to get fitted for bikes. Once outfitted, this tour heads through Nevada's beautiful desert scenery to Caliente, NV to Kershaw Ryan State Park. Upon arrival, enjoy a picnic lunch before embarking on a Kershaw Ryan state park half day ride (7-10 miles). Kershaw Canyon is a beautiful canyon surrounded by 14 miles of hiking/mountain biking trails. This system has a nice flowy single track and open trails for days. Kershaw Redemption, the 7-mile loop constructed by Sierra Trail Works,is the crowning jewel of this area. It's friendly to advanced beginners, but the real fun starts when you hit the gas and get into the groove. You will find nice shaded nooks in multiple parts of the ride for a break and water refill!
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Kershaw Ryan State Park, NV
Situated in a colorful canyon, with towering walls up to 700 feet high and a long, verdant valley in between, Kershaw-Ryan State Park is an oasis in the desert, a sharp contrast to the rugged landscape that surrounds it. The park is a great choice for hiking, camping and nature study.
Day 2:
Ella Mountain / Barnes Canyon region
Breakfast: Included|Lunch: Included (sandwiches and snacks on trail)|Dinner: Excluded
Enjoy a full day mountain biking today starting in the Ella Mountain / Barnes Canyon region to town biking 15-20 miles approx.
This system has everything from intermediate-friendly flow trail to serious technical downhill. Only 4.5 miles from town, the Barnes Canyon trails travel from the valley floor to the rocky mesa top and back down. It offers incredible views of some stunning mountain ranges and geologic formations, including the Teepee Rocks and a literal rainbow of soil colors along the opposite side of the canyon.
Our expert guides will choose an appropriate trail that suits everyone. Maybe this will mean shuttling to the top of the mountain and riding down, or a moderate loop in Barnes Canyon. It will be a heart pumping day filled with adventure.
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Caliente, NV
Barnes Canyon Trail
About 15 miles of trail live in Barnes Canyon. These trails are unique because berms are rare, tread is narrow and tight in many places, and you won't find perfect dirt sculptures that are in bike parks (which Caliente has). Explore big views on rugged terrain on a secret-feeling trail network in rural Nevada.
Ella Mountain Biking Trails
A 24-mile descent from the 7,400ft Ella Mountain fire lookout will link in with the connector trail between Barnes Canyon and Kershaw Ryan State Park. As of 10/2021 the upper 8 miles are complete. Features technical rock moves, exposed slickrock play areas, and incredible scenery. Suitable for all-mountain/enduro/cross-country bikes, this trail is mostly downhill but does include a fair amount of uphill travel. Rideable in both directions.
Day 3:
Cathedral Gorge State Park and Ward Charcoal Ovens State Park (117 miles)
Breakfast: Included|Lunch: Included|Dinner: Excluded
This morning we head through more of Nevada's stunning scenery towards Ely. En route - enjoy a visit to beautiful Cathedral Gorge State Park for a short hike and to explore some slot canyons! Cathedral Gorge is a hidden Gem in the desert. After a picnic lunch en route, arrive in mid day and enjoy an introduction and town tour of Ely before heading out to Ward Charcoal Ovens State Park. Your guide will lead you on a short 2-3 mile hike seeing the Charcoal Ovens - these Charcoal Ovens are still fully intact having processed much of the silver ore from the late 19th century.
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Cathedral Gorge State Park, NV
Cathedral Gorge State Park is located in a long, narrow valley in southeastern Nevada, where erosion has carved dramatic and unique patterns in the soft bentonite clay. Great walking trails abound for exploring the cave-like formations and cathedral-like spires that are the result of geologic processes from tens of millions of years ago. A photographerâs dream, the park offers stunning views of the scenic canyon and visitors can enjoy hiking, picnicking, camping and nature study.
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Ely, NV
A small city along U.S. Route 50 in Nevada, Ely was founded to be a station along the Pony Express. Now known as the Ghost Train of Ely, the railroad to the city is preserved as a historic landmark.
Ward Charcoal Ovens State Park
The stars of this state park are 30-foot-tall, beehive-shaped stone kilns, built in the late 1870s to produce charcoal for the regionâs mining smelters. It's a perfect spot to gaze at eastern Nevadaâs famously star-studded skies.
Day 4:
Ward Mountain (20 miles)
Breakfast: Included|Lunch: Included|Dinner: Excluded
We are shooting for a late morning departure - before we mountain bike this afternoon. Plan on a half day ride, but your guides can always organize more if requested. Today we head out to Ward Mountain - right here in the backyard of Ely! There are over 25 miles of trails that meander through the sagebrush and pinyon-juniper forests of Ward Mountain. Ice Plant Trail System offers several different loops and connectors on the foothills of Ward Mountain just outside of downtown Ely. Easily accessible, trails offer mild to moderate climbs and fast flowy descents through Pinyon and Juniper. Higher up on the mountain out of the Murray Summit Campground trailheads have multiple access points allowing descents back into downtown Ely. Adventure riding at its best. Trails can be narrow and rocky to buffed out and flowy. We are anticipating a ride day of 6-10 miles today. With elevation changes of up to 1600 feet. In addition, we can organize a shuttle drop as well for some extra downhill fun!
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Ward Mountain, NV
Ward Mountain is the high point of the Egan Range. The town of Ely is nearby, there is a Forest Service campground at the northern base of the range, and a fairly good road goes all the way to the summit.
Day 5:
Cave Lake State Park
Breakfast: Included|Lunch: Included|Dinner: Excluded
Plan on a full day ride - a more relaxed ride today. Cave Lake State Park. Full Day bike/ride day - 7-10 miles.
White Pine County's essential mountain bike experience. The trails within Cave Lake State park are some of the best mountain biking in the State of Nevada. Stacked loops from 3 to 12 miles are well designed to offer long but moderate climbs, delivering you from lake level up into the mahogany forests and limestone cliffs that are the signature of the park. Descents are equally as long and flowy bringing you through 3 ecosystems back to the Lake. Cave Lake trails offer the most diversity of terrain to ride. The High Roller Trail will provide the best views of the area, and the renowned Twisted Pines Trail will have you grinning from ear to ear the entire way down.
Today we will split the day up with a short ride in the morning - with a lunch stop in town at our favorite food truck! Expect elevation changes of 600 - 1000 feet today. After an included lunch, we continue back out for a different loop of Cave Lake!
Late afternoon arrival back to the hotel - for some free time, shower and relaxing!
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Ely, NV
A small city along U.S. Route 50 in Nevada, Ely was founded to be a station along the Pony Express. Now known as the Ghost Train of Ely, the railroad to the city is preserved as a historic landmark.
Cave Lake State Park
At a towering 7,300 feet, this 32-acre Nevada State Park offers outstanding views with almost brand new amenities and facilities. It provides excellent trout fishing, boating, swimming, hiking and camping.
Day 6:
Great Basin National Park (106 miles)
Breakfast: Included|Lunch: Included|Dinner: Excluded
This morning we head to Great Basin National Park, a one hour drive. Nevada's only National Park, cool!! This morning we enjoy the Lehman Cave tour and sites at Great Basin National Park. A ranger will take you on a tour of the caves at this iconic park. Tours last from 60-90 minutes. This afternoon, we enjoy an included lunch in the town of Baker at a special farm to table gem - showcasing some culinary specialties.
This afternoon brings us to Sacramento Pass - for a 3-5 mile ride. Your guides will discuss with you the loop you will do this afternoon, not exceeding 700 feet in elevation change. A nice way to round up the trip for a short ride on White Pine Counties BLM land - overlooking some of the state's most concentrated 12,000 foot peaks.
Arrive back into Ely early evening
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Great Basin National Park, NV
One of the vast national parks in the western United State, the Great Basin National Park in Nevada is a beautiful display of high mountain peaks and sweeping valleys.
Day 7:
The Nevada Northern Railway (212 miles)
Breakfast: Included|Lunch: Included|Dinner: Excluded
Breakfast at the hotel and pack up for check out. Relaxed morning / free time to enjoy the pool, gym or walk around town.
Enjoy an included 90 minute rail journey on Nevada's STEAM train!
"Join us for a trip back in time when the iron horse ruled the rails. The Nevada Northern Railway is a living, breathing, operating historic railroad. Historic steam engines are still in use here year round, so come, enjoy history with us"
Lunch provided in town - with additional stop at a local shop for a coffee/tea/smoothie!
Approx 6pm arrival back into Las Vegas.
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Ely, NV
A small city along U.S. Route 50 in Nevada, Ely was founded to be a station along the Pony Express. Now known as the Ghost Train of Ely, the railroad to the city is preserved as a historic landmark.
Nevada Northern Railway
The Nevada Northern Railway Complex is the best-preserved, least altered, and most complete main yard complex remaining from the steam railroad era. It's a living, breathing, operating historic railroad.