Las Vegas Runners Discover 3 Epic Routes: Strip, Red Rock, Lake Mead

Las Vegas offers a genuine split between its iconic resort corridor and the dramatic desert terrain just outside the city, all of which reward an early start to beat the heat. Here are the best running routes in Las Vegas for 2026.

The Las Vegas Strip

The Las Vegas Strip offers about 4.2 miles one way along the main resort corridor on paved sidewalk, flat and iconic, passing the "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" sign, the Bellagio Fountains and the neon frontages, best run at dawn to beat the crowds and heat. It is the same corridor closed to traffic each February for the Rock 'n' Roll Running Series.

Red Rock Canyon

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, 17 miles west of the Strip, offers desert singletrack plus a 13-mile paved Scenic Drive loop, from the easy 2-mile Oak Creek loop and the moderate 4.4-mile White Rock Loop to the challenging 11-mile Grand Circle Loop with about 1,100 feet of gain, on sandstone scenery with minimal shade, so carry water.

The Historic Railroad Trail, Lake Mead

The Historic Railroad Trail runs 3.5 miles one way on a flat, wide gravel grade through five roughly 300-foot-long tunnels blasted in 1931 to haul materials for Hoover Dam construction, with big Lake Mead views. It is not recommended from May to October, with no shade for the first 1.5 miles and temperatures reaching 100 to 120 degrees.

The River Mountains Loop and Sunset Park

The River Mountains Loop Trail is a 34-mile paved multi-use loop encircling the River Mountains, linking Lake Mead, Hoover Dam, Henderson and Boulder City, hilly and exposed, best timed early. Sunset Park offers a flat, easy paved 1.5-mile perimeter loop plus a roughly 1.9-mile lake loop, shaded in stretches with a lake and restrooms, a reliable everyday option.

Running the Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Route

The Rock 'n' Roll Running Series Las Vegas, held each February, shuts down Las Vegas Boulevard for an evening half marathon, 10K and 5K "Strip at Night", with themed entertainment stages, starting at New York-New York and finishing at the Bellagio.

Practical Guide to Running in Las Vegas

Sunset Park and the Strip at dawn are the most reliable choices for a flat run; Red Rock Canyon and the Historic Railroad Trail are worth the trip for desert scenery, but only in the cooler months and with plenty of water.