Death Valley Cycling

Death Valley Cycling Itinerary:

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• Day 1 Arrive in Henderson, NV. Meet the guides for an orientation to a weekend of spectacular riding to the lowest point in the lower 48!

  Meet our guides and fellow trip members at 5:45 p.m. in the lobby of the Green Valley Ranch Resort for a transfer to the REI Henderson store. At 6:00 p.m. our guides will provide a trip orientation and dinner at the store. This is a good opportunity to shop for any last minute items. We enjoy dinner and drinks while we get to know each other in eager anticipation of our Death Valley adventure. Return transfer to Green Valley Ranch Resort upon completion of the evening. Dinner included. Lodging on your own.

• Day 2 Explore the quirky Scotty’s Castle and catch spectacular views of salt flats and sand dunes of the valley biking to Stovepipe Wells.

  Departing the Green Valley Ranch Resort at 7:00 a.m., we drive to the far northern corner of Death Valley National Park where we explore the famously quirky Scotty's Castle. This unfinished 25 room villa is a creation of the imaginations of two classic characters from the 1920's. Take note of the wild stories of the swindler known as "Death Valley Scotty" and his wealthy friend, Mr. Johnson who constructed Death Valley Ranch for his wife. Fuel up on a light picnic lunch before our bike ride down to Stovepipe Wells. Riding towards our lodging for the next couple of days, we will catch spectacular views of the salt flats and sand dunes of the valley as we drop nearly 3,000' in elevation. Tonight, we dine and sleep at Stovepipe Wells, an oasis in this otherwise parched environment. Lunch and dinner included.

  Driving: 3 hours; Cycling: 44 miles; Hours in the saddle: 4; Terrain: rolling hills, mostly downhill with 3,000'+ elev. loss.

• Day 3 Pedal to Badwater Basin below sea level and return via the multi-hued landscape of Artist Palette. Enjoy sunset on the sand dunes!

  This morning we pedal and coast to the lowest elevation point in North America, Badwater Basin, resting at 282 feet below sea level. Our ride today is truly spectacular as it passes over a landscape flanked by multi-hued features in dusty pinks, sea greens, ashy purples and moody browns. Savor a tasty guide prepared lunch in the basin and take advantage of a chance to venture out onto the salt flats. Next prepare for a challenging loop around the aptly named Artist's Palette. We will pedal our way through narrow dips and hairpin corners on this smooth, one-way-only road. In the late afternoon we drop our bikes and venture onto the sand dunes. Truly a highlight of the trip, the dunes are an otherworldly sunset experience you won't soon forget. All meals included.

  Cycling: Out of Badwater Basin via Artist's Drive, 32 miles with a 950' climb. Hours in saddle: 3-4.

• Day 4 Our final ride takes us to the top of Dante’s Peak to savor the park’s outlandish beauty!

  This morning we shuttle 13 miles up to Dante's View, or pedal if you are up for the challenge. From here, we can ponder the profound contrast of the eighth lowest place on earth immediately adjacent to 11,000+ foot Telescope Peak, the highest point in Death Valley. Unforgettable views help capture the essence of the outlandish landscape that is Death Valley. After indulging in this heavenly vista, we'll descend from Dante's on a breathtaking ride losing thousands of feet along the way! The shuttle will meet us for the return trip to Henderson (Las Vegas). We will arrive by 5:00 p.m., so plan flights to no earlier than 7:00 p.m. Breakfast and lunch included.

  Cycling options: 13 miles with 2,500'+ elev. loss; 18 miles with 1,700' elev. gain / 2,500' loss; 26 miles with a 2,500' elev. gain / 2,500' loss. Hours in the saddle: 3 - 4.

Although we do our very best to adhere to the schedule above, the itinerary is subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control, including weather and terrain conditions. This trip is operated rain or shine.

Contact REI Adventures prior to purchasing your airline tickets to confirm the trip has the minimum number of participants required to operate.

We provide the Trek FX 7.2 Hybrid bike, which is the perfect blend of a fast ride with a familiar, upright riding geometry outfitted for comfort. The Trek sports a hill-flattening 24-speed drivetrain and gel grips for added comfort. Or, you can choose to ride the Giant Defy 2 (Compact Double) Road bike, which features premium lightweight aluminum tubes brilliantly engineered with a tapered fork and head tube, perfectly balancing weight and front end rigidity. Smooth, lively and stable, the Defy delivers all-day comfort.

Bike upgrades are available for an additional cost:

Specialized Roubaix Elite (Double) - $210.00 additional charge:

For road cyclists looking for something with a bit more get-up-and-go. Named after the grueling Paris-Roubaix race it has won four times. Featuring Specialized FACT 7r 8r for 2103 carbon frame and SRAM Apex 10-speed shifting. Shallow drop alloy handlebar for easy access to levers and more comfortable hand positions. This bike is seriously smooth and fast.

Trek Madone 5.2 (Double) - $290.00 additional charge:

This bike offers Trek's OCLV carbon frameset, the ultimate in frame technology. The Madone strikes the perfect balance of weight, stiffness, and compliance. Silky smooth Shimano Ultegra 10-speed shifting, integrated front and rear brakes, and fast and durable Bontrager Race wheels. It's the ideal ride for the discerning cyclist.

Guests are welcome to bring their own bikes for the tour but note that no discount is provided if you do so.

If you specifically request single accommodations, you will be asked to pay the full single supplement. If you wish to share accommodations, we will assign you a roommate if one is available. If a roommate cannot be found, you will be asked to pay a reduced single fee, which is one-half of the full single supplement. Please be advised that there are a limited number of single accommodations available.

Two nights' accommodation at Stovepipe Wells; skilled cycling guides; Trek FX 7.2 hybrid bicycles or Giant Defy 2 road bicycles (guest's choice); meals as noted in the daily itinerary; transportation to/from Henderson (Las Vegas); Death Valley National Park fees and permits; group first aid kit; water and snacks; Scotty's Castle tour fee; support van.

Roundtrip transportation from your hometown to group meeting point; Day 1 accommodations; breakfast on Day 2; bicycle helmet; optional bicycle upgrades; alcoholic beverages and soft drinks; optional guide gratuities; items of a personal nature; insurance of any kind.

Major: Las Vegas – McCarran International Airport

This trip is rated Moderate Plus [3-4] and consists of a combination of moderate and more vigorous cycling covering 13 - 44 miles per day over rolling hills with some longer uphill climbs. All participants should have cycling experience that includes maintaining control of the bike, shifting gears, braking, ascending, descending, cornering, riding in groups, riding with traffic, and knowledge of bicycle safety, in addition to being comfortable in the saddle for 3-7 hours per day. While the majority of the cycling route is on a paved surface, the pavement may be uneven, potholed, or topped with gravel or other debris. Additionally, the inclement weather may affect any riding surface causing debris, or the surface may become slick.

Contrary to its infamous heat throughout summer, winter and spring weather is very pleasant with mild temperatures during the day (mid 60s – 80s), dropping drastically at night (mid-30s to upper 40s). Though rare in this arid landscape, there is always the possibility of rain, so adequate raingear is important.

This trip is subject to the booking information set forth in the current REI Adventures Weekend Reservation Information. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A full gear list and detailed pre-trip information is sent upon sign-up. We highly recommend the purchase of travel insurance through REI Adventures. If coverage is purchased at the time of your initial reservation, the 'Pre-existing Conditions Exclusion' is waived (certain exclusions apply).

We look forward to having you join us for the trip of a lifetime! Why wait? Space is limited, reserve your adventure today.

The key to staying comfortable while on an active trip is layering. To get maximum comfort with minimum weight, you need versatile layers that mix and match to create the right amount of insulation, ventilation and weather protection. Try to bring only what is necessary—this will help you and the field staff.

Gear Checklist

Things to Consider

• Always pack essential items such as your passport, money, eyewear, a change of clothing and medications in your carry-on baggage in case your luggage is delayed.
• We recommend bright-colored bicycle clothing for visibility and safety.
• Always test your clothing layers before a trip. Your outer layer should fit easily over the inside ones without binding.
• If you are not bringing a shoe and pedal system (optional), you will need a shoe designed for cycling or cross training to be used with the provided flat pedals. Consider these features: lightweight, closed toe, designed with stiffer soles to provide more efficient energy transfer as you pedal. Stiff soles protect your feet while riding and support the full length of your foot to reduce cramping and fatigue.
• If you bring your own saddle, please bring only the seat and not the seat post. Seat posts are not universal and may not fit the bike you’ll be riding. You are welcome to bring a gel seat cover for use on the provided saddle.
• Formal attire is not required for dinners. Comfortable, casual clothes are appropriate for sit-down meals. We suggest bringing slacks, shorts that are mid-thigh or longer, skirts, or summer dresses in fabrics that are easy to wash and wear.