Lone Mountain Trail

I rode this trail on my bike in January, 2012. I found it to be a lot of fun but not as scenic as some other trails. It’s a good effort at connecting this city with multi-​use trails for hiking and biking but there is still much to be done.
I parked my car at the Bill Briare Park but the easiest trailhead would be at Pioneer Park. The trail begins along the wash on the east side of Lowe’s along Washington Boulevard near Buffalo Drive.
From here, the trail follows the wash north and west crossing two busy streets – Lake Mead Boulevard and Cheyenne Avenue with bridges. This makes for a safer ride. There are a couple of places where you need to cross streets, but they’re smaller, 4 lane streets, with less traffic.
I rode north until the trail ended at Atwood Avenue. I’m not sure if it has been extended yet but it is supposed to connect with the Upper Lone Mountain Trail some time in the future.
I agree with Dan about the graffiti in the wash. It mars an otherwise pleasant ride. Hopefully, it will be cleaned and kept free of new graffiti.
This isn’t one of my favorite places to ride, but it was fun for a new adventure.

When I reflect on the Lone Mountain Trail, I am disheartened and disgusted. It is the worst bike trail that I have walked on in years.
I am a fan of Pueblo Park, a quarter mile west of Lone Mountain Trail off Lake Mead Boulevard. Recently a new overpass carrying a bike trail across Lake Mead Boulevard was built. I did some research and learned it is part of the Lone Mountain Trail that the City recently built. I expected an achievement like a Pueblo Park trail to Lone Mountain. I was so wrong.
The trail overpasses across Lake Mead and Cheyenne give a great first impression of Lone Mountain Trail. Walk a few feet past the overpasses, and Lone Mountain Trail displays its true colors-​in graffiti. From Lake Mead Boulevard to its northernmost point, with the exception of where it overlaps Doc Romeo Park, it is a graffiti-​infested trail that appears unsafe. Graffiti was everywhere: on lamp posts, buildings, the cement channel, signs, the bridges, and the trail surface. It is a well known fact that where there is an infestation of graffiti, crime follows. Gangs of teenagers outnumbered solitary cyclists and hikers. There was a creepy incident when a group of adolescent skateboarders in back of us talked over how they get money when they want it. We did some power walking before we could find out how. If I create a «Pepper spray hot spot list,» Lone Mountain Trail is guaranteed to be included.
Why is this named Lone Mountain Trail? It ends at a subdivision just north of Cheyenne that is nowhere near Lone Mountain. To be sure that we were not missing a northwest segment toward Lone Mountain we walked north along Buffalo Drive. Nothing!
This leads to another complaint. Poor signing. Does the trail end at Doc Romeo Park? Where in Don Romeo Park does it travel? Is the subdivision just north of Cheyenne the northernmost point? Does it share the right-​of-​way with the subdivision roadway? At any rate signing is infutile if it is going to be marred with grafitti.
Unless you are riding on a bike, carrying pepper spray, or are walking with a pit bull; I suggest avoiding Lone Mountain Trail. Besides the graffiti infestation and lack of security, the scenery is nothing special. The few reasons I gave it two stars are the attractive trail overpasses seen from the highway, its use as a bike path, and the segment it overlaps with Doc Romeo Park.