Death Valley National Park

DAY 1: We’ll meet in Las Vegas for our rental bike fitting at 3:00pm and then have our orientation and dinner at 5:00pm. If you arrive early, take a dip in the hotel’s pool. After our dinner together, you can take a trip to the Strip for a show or a stroll in this city that never sleeps. 0 miles.

DAY 2: After breakfast, we’ll shuttle two hours to Rhyolite. Now a ghost town, it was once the third largest city in Nevada during the gold boom. It is where we’ll begin our bicycle ride down into Death Valley.

We’ll cycle through relatively flat desert terrain toward the Funeral Mountains. Then it’s a moderate climb to Gateway Pass before enjoying a long downhill with views of the Panamint Mountains to the west and the valley below. After the quick ride and an optional stop for a short hike to explore the sand dunes, we’ll arrive at our park lodging at Stovepipe Wells and have dinner together. 31 miles. +1068’/-4725’

DAY 3: Today, we shuttle to the Ubehebe Crater in the northern part of the park. It was created by steam from a volcano hundreds of years ago. You’ll have a chance to walk around its edge or deep into its massive bowl. Then it’s an easy ride back to Stovepipe Wells. We should be able to see the Great Salt Flats shimmering in the distance at the southern end of the valley. 46 miles. +877’/-3481’

DAY 4: After breakfast, we’ll cycle south through the breathtaking landscape of the badlands. Along the way, you’ll want to stop at the visitor center and the Borax Museum to learn more about the area’s natural history.

If you’re up for a hike after our picnic lunch, we’ll take you to Golden Canyon at the trailhead for renowned Zabriskie Point. We’ll hike through a stunning canyon of tall sandstone walls and a maze of multicolored slopes and valleys. You’ll be hungry for dinner tonight! 25 miles. +520’/-680’

DAY 5: Today offers a nice gentle ride to Badwater, the lowest point in North America. It acquired its name when an early surveyor wrote “bad water” on the map when his mule refused to drink the water. You’ll see snow-covered Telescope Peak reflected in the salty water. On the return trip, you can choose to cycle the optional challenging climb along Artist’s Drive. Once back at our oasis, you can enjoy the spring-fed pool and golf course. 35 or 41 miles. +1461’/-1461’ or +2789’/-2787’

DAY 6: We end the bike tour with a gentle but long climb out of the Valley. We’ll gain 3,000’ in 19 miles, but then we’re rewarded with 11 miles of gentle descent. For many women, this is their favorite ride of the week. We’ll say our good-byes to the national park and shuttle back to Las Vegas, arriving at the airport by 5:00 pm or our starting hotel by 5:30 pm. 30 miles. +3228’/-1024’