Tucked against the Arizona Border just above Lake Mead, Mesquite lies in the Virgin River Valley just an hour's drive from Las Vegas. Sweeping views and wide open spaces combined with a mild climate make the city an outdoor enthusiast's paradise, and you can head out on a number of ATV trails right from town.
Ride Around Town
- Get the lay of the land from Flat Top Mesa where you can see for miles in every direction. Look out at the Virgin River slicing its way through town and at the seven local golf courses. Head up to the mesa on Thomas Edison Road just off Pioneer Boulevard for a fun climb through deep sand. On lower ground, enjoy viewing waterfowl and other wildlife on a dirt track running alongside the Virgin River on the south side of Mesquite.
Gold in the Hills
- Take a scenic and leisurely ride at Whitney Pockets 20 miles southwest of Mesquite. The dirt trails wind through canyons and dirt washes with topography suitable for novice riders. Visit petroglyphs or camp below rock arches and crags thrusting their way out of the desert floor. Don't miss Devil's Throat -- an enormous limestone sinkhole to the south -- or the abandoned mining town of Gold Butte. Ample parking and staging areas are available at Whitney Pockets. There are no services once you leave Mesquite, so bring plenty of water, fuel and snacks.
Down in the Valley
- Logandale Trails form the eastern boundary of the Valley of Fire 40 miles west of Mesquite. A central easy loop accesses sand-strewn side trails twisting through rocky spires. Enjoy deep sand at multiple sand play areas but don't forget to look to the rocky buttes to catch a glimpse of an occasional desert bighorn peering down from his lofty perch. The staging area has restrooms and is accessible by 2-wheel drive vehicles. Hazards are few, making Logandale Trails a family-friendly riding area.
Run for the Border
- Just across the Arizona border to the east, Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument provides extensive networks of dirt roads throughout its boundaries. Enter the park through Lime Kiln Canyon, Whitney Pockets or Gold Butte Road or head in directly from Mesquite along a dirt back road. The park has no facilities or supplies, so bring plenty of water and fuel. Red Pockets Mountain or Black Rock Mountain lie closest to Mesquite in the northwest area of the monument.
