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Southern Nevada has a wide variety of hiking opportunities. In this corner of the Mojave Desert you can find multihued sandstone formations, mountain forests, dramatic canyons and wetland washes. This guide focuses on Southern Nevada but also includes areas within a comfortable driving distance of Las Vegas. While not intending to be exhaustive, it provides a useful starting point for exploration.

LIBRARY CATALOG Books for Adults Hiking light handbook : carry less enjoy more by Berger, Karen New entry in the Backpacker magazine series: Practical, reasonable strategies for everyone who´d like to lighten their load on the trail.   Books for Teens Downriver by Hobbs, Will Fifteen-year-old Jessie and the other rebellious teenage members of a wilderness survival school team abandon their adult leader, hijack his boats, and try to run the dangerous white water at the bottom of the Grand Canyon.   Books for Older Children My side of the mountain by George, Jean Craighead A young boy relates his adventures during the year he spends living alone in the Catskill Mountains including his struggle for survival, his dependence on nature, his animal friends, and his ultimate realization that he needs human companionship.   Books for Younger Children Henry hikes to Fitchburg by Johnson, D. B. While his friend works hard to earn the train fare to Fitchburg, young Henry Thoreau walks the thirty miles through woods and fields, enjoying nature and the time to think great thoughts.   More books for: Adults Teens Older Children Younger Children   FOR MORE LIBRARY RESOURCES TRY: Backpacking Desert Ecology Desert Survival Geology Nevada Hiking Hiking Nevada Mojave Desert Natural History Great Basin Natural History Nevada Nevada Guidebooks Sierra Nevada (Calif. and Nev.) Wilderness Survival

RESEARCH DATABASES  America the Beautiful Find information about each state including history, geography, economy, culture, government and profiles of major figures in history. Includes images of state flags, bird and seal. Also find out about American presidents, Native American tribes. Search by timeline!  Encyclopedia of Nations Coverage of all countries; maps of each country; flags and seals on color end sheets; more than 600 photographs; and much more  Encyclopedia of the States The facts and details of every state in the U.S., including the District of Columbia and U.S. dependencies. 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DIGITAL BOOKS  Adventure Guide to Nevada Here is a guide to every corner of Nevada - what to see and do, where to stay, the best places to eat, the ghost towns, the mountains, the lakes and cities - all with an accent on enjoying the great outdoors and its natural wonders. The author takes you to the best places for hiking, mountain biking, jeeping, boating and fishing, complete with detailed information on all the outfitters and guides.  Adventure Guide to the Sierra Nevadas Between Mt. Whitney and Lake Tahoe is the true Sierra Nevada, a land of granite, glacial ice and alpine lakes. The adventure sections are packed with detailed advice on how to explore the region on foot, on horseback, on water, on wheels and on snow. WEB SITES  Along the Way From Public Radio: Within a half day's drive of Las Vegas are some of the most fascinating places on Earth. David Bert invites you to experience some of the more unusual stops Along the Way.  Birding, Hiking, and Naturalizing around Las Vegas Contains information on hiking, visiting and learning more about the desert environment.  Clark County Trails Development Program This website provides information on current and future urban and rural trail projects throughout Clark County.  Community Link: Outdoor & Environmental Groups This gateway site provides links to outdoor-related local organizations, some of which sponsor hikes. Also, in the Sunday edition of the Las Vegas Review Journal there is a hiking summary for the week in the "Out There" column located under the "Living" section.  Desert USA This is one of the best web resources for educating the reader about the great North American deserts. Hiking and trail information is provided for Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Utah and Mexico. This site also includes extensive information on desert plants, animals, geology, and cultural history.  Las Vegas High Rollers and Strollers A member of the American Volkssport Association, this is a walking club whose activities range from easy jaunts through residential neighborhoods to cross-country walks over hilly terrain. Select the "Welcome" link at the bottom of the homepage for a list of activities.  Las Vegas Mountaineers In addition to offering hiking ventures, this organization is dedicated to educating and training its members in mountaineering skills.  Red Rock Canyon Interpretive Association The RRCIA regularly schedules hikes in the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. Many of these hikes are led by naturalists and have a strong educational component.  Sierra Club: Southern Nevada Group This local chapter of the Sierra Club offers extensive hiking opportunities in southern Nevada and beyond. Fitness levels are listed for each hike.  University of Nevada, Las Vegas: Division of Educational Outreach UNLV's Educational Outreach department offers hiking trips which include field lectures by knowledgeable instructors. LOCAL RESOURCES  Clark County Wetlands Park Wetlands do exist in the Mojave Desert and this Clark County park provides five miles of trails bordering streams, ponds and riparian areas.  Desert National Wildlife Range As the largest National Wildlife Refuge in the lower 48 states, the DNWR covers six major mountain ranges which provide habitat for the desert bighorn sheep. The Corn Creek area contains an oasis with easily accessible trails.  Lake Mead National Recreation Area In addition to water related activities, this National Park Service managed area includes outstanding geological formations that reward the casual and advanced hiker. Information on ranger-led hikes is provided on the website.  Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area With its spectacular sandstone cliffs, Red Rock Canyon is the jewel in the crown of Las Vegas. The official website provides information on trails, activities, environmental education, and numerous other topics.  River Mountains Loop Trail Project Although the entire 35 mile trail will not be completed until 2007, several sections are now accessible. Eventually this trail will surround the River Mountains near Lake Mead.  Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area This recent addition to Bureau of Land Management conservation areas includes some of the best examples of rock art in the Mojave Desert.  Spring Mountains National Recreation Area Part of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, the SMNRA is known to locals for the peak that presides over the range: Mt. Charleston. A sky island in the Mojave Desert, this area offers high elevation hiking among forests and cooler temperatures  Springs Preserve Opening in 2007, the Springs Preserve will provide hiking trails, gardens, historical information, and desert living information. The Springs Preserve is 180 acres of historic land located just west of downtown Las Vegas. Historically known as "Big Springs," the area is one of the richest and most unique cultural and biological resources in Southern Nevada.  Valley of Fire State Park Dedicated in 1935, this is Nevada's oldest and largest state park. In addition to the varied rock formations and colors, there are several outstanding petroglyph sites. NATIONAL RESOURCES  Death Valley National Park The closest national park to Las Vegas, Death Valley is roughly a two-hour drive. The area encompasses not only the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere but also dramatic mountain peaks that exceed 11,000 feet in elevation.  Great Basin National Park About 300 miles northeast of Las Vegas, Great Basin is an incredible place to visit. It includes the 13,000+ foot Wheeler Peak.  Mojave National Preserve Managed by the National Park Service and less than a two hour drive from Las Vegas the Preserve offers a variety of landforms for exploration: lava fields, mountains, sand dunes, canyons and desert scrub.  Zion National Park Within a comfortable three hour drive of Las Vegas, Zion contains breathtaking mesas, rock pinnacles, and river-sculpted canyons. RELATED INFO GUIDES  Las Vegas and Nevada History  Travel