Less ice, more true wilderness. While big swathes of North America deals with snow and icy roads, we consider our great fortune: to enjoy exemplary outdoor wintertime adventure in the heart of the Mojave Desert, from Death Valley National Park to Red Rock Canyon.
Roam America’s largest national park outside Alaska: 3,373,063-acre Death Valley National Park. Despite its rather foreboding name, Death Valley represents a stellar trekking destination. Hikers and bikers, climbers to rock hounds come to marvel at Spring’s astounding wildflower blooms, not to mention the mild temperatures of fall and winter. Outdoorspeople will relish no less than 3,000-square miles of headspace, while cyclists find enviable elbowroom afforded by 350-miles of road and trails. (A full 91% of Death Valley is designated wilderness.)
We cycle across the big valley floor, stopping to visit historic sites, most of them accessed by 1930s-era Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) roads. Almost immediately we come to appreciate a very subtle legacy of the CCC: the bygone wisdom seen in roads built to respect, rather than conquer the landscape.
From slick Kevlar tires to thick Vibram soles, we navigate around and visually inhale sunbaked foothills, knolls, and stacks of boulders etched in yellow clay, rose and tan. These fantastic landscape features would serve as the backdrop for the first Star Wars film, Death Valley standing in for the planet Tatooine.
Each day in this storied place—contemplating 20-mule team wagons, Death Valley Scotty, the lost 49ers—you wake up in unfettered horizon. The evenings are given over to serious unwinding—“Prickly Pear margaritas, anyone?”—wrapped in great theatre: watching the two-mile high, 60-mile long Panamint Mountains, the valley’s defining range to the West, transition from shades of cool blue to a deep, purple bruise as the evening light drops away. In the other direction, the Amargosa range to the east is nothing less than radiant, bathed in bronze tones.
We are the authentic conscience of adventure outfitters: our desert West trips represent the standard by which others judge. Or aspire to. Reflexively, when you experience these lands by mountain bike, led by people who have a deep connection to Red Rock and Death Valley, you’ll quickly learn this is not a place to be endured, but rather a world-class outdoor recreation destination.
Day 1-2: Meet-up in Las Vegas; then shuttle to Death Valley National Park. Ride to Badwater; An immense, shimmering saltpan 282-ft below sea level. In the distance, the Panamint Mountains, Death Valley’s western wall rises 11,331-ft (or 3,455M at Telescope Peak). Meet the elder statesmen of Death Valley, 1.8-billion year old metamorphic rock at the base of the Black Mountains. Hike from Zabriskie Point, one of the great panoramas in The West, down into Eagle Canyon, the first borax mine works site in the valley (1882). Ride through Death Valley’s deep midsection, yielding a sense of the overwhelming scale and sheer divinity of the 3,000-sq mile wilderness to Stovepipe Wells; a Western-themed way station. Then hike the gypsum-colored sand dunes, one of four dune fields within Death Valley. Day 3-4: On Artist Drive we dissolve into the Black Mountains on Death Valley’s east. The nine-mile route ascends into a deep canyon; at the top of an alluvial fan we drink in a flabbergasting array of pinks, greens, purples and yellows. Connect Stovepipe Wells to Beatty, Nevada, via Daylight Pass. Reaching Nevada on the park’s northeast edge, our ride gradually descends into the ghost town-turned phantasm-like art colony. Rhyolite speaks to age-old silence, much less the transience of dreams and riches. Day 5: Shuttle south to the Red Rock Canyon wilderness park, on Las Vegas’s stunningly upswept northern edge. On the celebrated Scenic Loop, we’ll spend the morning hours inhaling rarefied air, plus all the mesmerizing vistas this bike friendly, varicolored wilderness delivers. Our one-way park road loops and winds around vibrant Bighorn sheep and Desert tortoise habitat, slowly wending into the high hilly crescent of Red Rock Canyon.
Nights 1 - 3: Stovepipe Wells Hotel | Death Valley National Park, CA
51880 Highway 190
Death Valley National Park, CA 92328
Stovepipe Wells Village hotels, located right in Death Valley National Park is the ultimate destination for adventure travelers. Authentically western, rustic yet comfortable, Stovepipe Wells Village, with its unique hotel, Death Valley restaurant and Western saloon, has been at the end of the trail for vacationers since 1926. After hiking around the badlands, sand dunes and canyons, Stovepipe Wells hotels in Death Valley is more than a welcome sight with our friendly, knowledgeable staff, great food and cold drinks. It’s a place where history is made and legends born. Isn’t it time you made some of your own?
“The room was clean but modest. Newer buildings. The restaurant was really nice with a mining theme. The chili was the best we have ever had. Exceptional! A little spicy, but perfect. The views of the desert and mountains is unimpeded. It goes on as far as you can see. Very friendly staff, and accommodating.”
– Relax554173
Night 4: The Element Summerlin | Las Vegas, NV
10555 Discovery Drive,
Summerlin, Las Vegas, NV 89135
Located in the heart of a vibrant community, the Element Summerlin is surrounded by first-class dining, shopping, and golf courses, and we’re located just 15 minutes from the thrills and casinos of the famed Las Vegas Strip. Maintain your balance and be at your best with a state-of-the-art fitness center, refreshing pool and healthy food options. Bright and open multi-purpose public spaces are inspiring settings for work, play, socializing and unwinding. Recently-renovated open-flow guest rooms are designed to meet all your needs with fully-equipped kitchens, the signature Heavenly® Bed, and more, all thoughtfully arranged to rejuvenate you for work or play. The Element Hotel is located directly next door to Escape Adventures Tour Center.
“It’s a nice quiet place to stay at away from the hustle and bustle of Las Vegas. Staff is helpful, the rooms are clean and well equipped almost like a mini apartment studio. It’s a hotel in which it’s easy to get into and out of saving you time as well.”
– Sokaiya
First-Class Camping
The food tastes better, the sky is certainly bigger, and your mind is clearer.
There is nothing better than rolling into camp to fresh made chips and salsa, homemade guacamole, and Dutch oven enchiladas. Then making your way to a sweet and inviting campfire, sharing your favorite anecdote or image from the day’s activities while marshmallows roast. Enjoy a small-batch, local beer before retiring to your tent. Inside: a sturdy raised cot, fluffy sleeping bag, and a plush full size pillow. Wow. You earned this. Sweet dreams.
We choose well-maintained public campgrounds with scenic vistas and comfortable arrangements. You’ll move seamlessly from one day of your trip to the next, camping outdoors and enjoying wildly healthy, delicious homemade meals.
The majority of our selected campgrounds feature indoor facilities and showers. Conversely, in more remote backcountry camping scenarios, we’ll provide portable toilets and private solar showers.
Camping gear may be rented or you may bring your own. All of our camping gear is tested and hand-chosen from top manufacturers to ensure you get a good night’s sleep. Our camp gear package includes a tent, sleeping pad, raised cot, sleeping bag, sleeping bag liner, full size pillow, and ground tarp.
While we do our best to bring you the above hotel accommodations, lodging may vary depending on your departure date. Call us at 1.800.596.2953 for more details.
All internal land expenses and services are covered in the cost of your tour. This means from the time we pick you up at our meeting point, until we drop you back off to head home, all transportation, food preparation, meals (except where noted on itineraries), snacks, non-alcoholic beverages, group supplies and community gear (portable chairs, large awnings, coolers, utensils, etc.) are included. Backcountry permits, licenses, park fees, reservations, and accommodations (lodging) are also included, along with at least two professionally trained trip leaders, a mobile first aid and mechanic station, spare bikes, and a support vehicle(s). Trip price does not include airfare, lodging prior to trip start or bicycle rental and/or camping gear (if on a camping tour) unless otherwise noted on itinerary or website.
Also Included on This Tour:
Specialized Road Bike Rental
Renting Camping Gear
We rent high-quality camping gear for all of our camping tours. These include a tent, sleeping pad, raised cot, sleeping bag, sleeping bag liner, full size pillow, and ground tarp. Your Trip Leaders will always help to ensure your equipment is set up properly each night.
Free With Every Tour
When you join an Escape Adventures tour in 2021, you will receive a FREE custom sublimated Limited Edition Jersey!
Make your trip as comfortable as possible on the body, as simple as possible for traveling, and hassle free on tour. On every road bike tour, we will fit you with the newest, highest quality gear in the industry. Escape Adventures provides only high-end bicycles from Specialized. We replace our rental fleet each season to ensure all our bikes meet our high standards. All of our bikes are equipped with carbon fiber frames and disc brakes designed for a smooth, comfortable ride. For those who are touring with a companion who may not be as fit or need a little help up the hills, we now have ebikes (electric pedal assist) available on select tours.
Garmin Explore GPS
All of our road bike trips include a Garmin GPS device to help you navigate through each day safely and smoothly. You’ll know how far, fast, and high you’ve ridden on the flats or climbs or on your way through each day. Includes navigation with turn prompts that will even show you how to get back to start. Simply turn it on and start riding. No paper maps needed!
Be Seen, Be Safe
When you are on the road in the daytime, it is important to us to make sure you are seen from all directions. We offer the best daytime lighting by our partner NiteRider. Each road bike is equipped with a LUMINA MICRO 650 AND SABRE 80 COMBO with a Lumen Output: 650 and Run Time: 1:30 – 20:00 hrs.
Specialized Roubaix Disc (Included)
Specialized has perfected the road bike. Ride confidently and comfortably for longer distances on any of our trips around the world. All of our bikes are equipped with the latest components and our 2019 models include disc brakes.
Specialized Sirrus Hybrid
Specialized hybrid bikes are the most comfortable bikes available. Our most popular bike for multi-sport and moderate road bike tours is the proven Sirrus. This bike is suited for a wide range of cyclists. This bike sits upright, is equipped with a very comfortable seat, and the gearing has a wide range of speeds.
For over 25 years, the hallmark of an Escape Adventures tour is personalized, hands-on service. Before, during, and after each trip. We are a company of honesty and integrity and we stand behind our product 100%. From the moment you learn of our trips, to the time you return home and start planning your next trip, we are here to bring you the best possible experience. From our Guaranteed Trip Departure Confirmation Policy, making sure your trip is never cancelled*, to our 100% Satisfaction Guarantee Policy, backing the unrivaled consistent quality of all our tours, our commitment to you is never compromised. * Scheduled Domestic trips only.
Our Commitment to the Environment
Our environmental commitment is second to none. We run our tours the same way we run our company, with an eye on the triple bottom line: People, Profit & Planet. At Escape Adventures, we elected to pursue a more comprehensive approach to actually reduce our carbon footprint, rather than just offset it. We overhauled our entire operation — from our vehicles, to our buildings, to our procedures — to become an outdoor industry leader in the charge to help our people and our planet.
Exceptional Service and Exceptional Guides
Leading tours naturally followed from our passion of exploring our favorite places with our friends. Our support staff includes our reservation team who is there to answer your questions about the tours, our service team who prepares your bike and gear for the tour, and our guide team – the ones who take you into the great outdoors. The highest level of responsibility, good nature, integrity, and dedication are standard traits of all those who work at Escape Adventures. We our proud of it and we think you should know it.
The Best Support Vehicles
Having custom-made vehicles allows us to take you to places few other outfitters can, or will go. Every Escape Adventures tour is accompanied by at least one support vehicle, trailer, and in some cases a second and third transfer van. As you thumb through our catalog, you will also notice our vehicles are big, tough, and different. These are not stock vehicles. After purchase, we custom engineer our trucks, vans, and trailers by our on-staff mechanic to meet the unique needs of different tours. Each of our guides is required to be trained in safe vehicle operation, 4X4 driving, and basic maintenance. Our experienced guides make it look easy, transporting you and up to 12 guests, along with their bikes, fresh food, camping gear and plenty of drinking water to a remote location.
The Best Bicycles and Gear
Make your trip as comfortable as possible on the body, as simple as possible for traveling, and hassle-free on tour. By choosing to rent a bike from us, we will fit you with the newest, highest quality gear in the industry. Escape Adventures provides only high-end bicycles from Specialized. We replace our rental fleet each season to ensure all our rentals meet our high standards. All of our bikes are equipped carbon fiber frames and disc brakes designed for a smooth, comfortable ride. For those who are touring with a companion who may not be as fit or need a little help up the hills, we now have ebikes (electric pedal assist) available on select tours.
The Best Food
Our food isn’t just good, it’s good for you.
Food represents a big part of the Escape Adventures experience. Our guides prepare all of your meals on our camping trips. Expect three delicious meals a day consisting entirely of freshly prepared foods. These include fresh organic fruits and vegetables, as well as meats. We also have energy snacks aboard our support vehicles. Don’t be surprised if your guides purchase fresh fruits and healthy snacks throughout the day while you’re enjoying a ride. They may just show up on the trail with a local treat! An increasing number of our guests are vegans or vegetarians, whom we not only accommodate but also pleasantly surprise. Should you possess special diet requirements and/or limitations, just let us know at sign-up. We’ll work with you to meet those critical needs.
The idea of taking your friends or family somewhere cool and amazing is actually pretty easy. Tell us what you’re thinking. We’ll make it happen.
Any trip in this catalog, any specific time frame, any group size, we can custom-fit if not comfortably accommodate. A Custom and Private Escape Adventures trip affords the ultimate bonding, or team-building experience for:
Clubs and co-workers
Family reunions
Corporate retreats
Friends
To shape a Custom or Private Trip, we begin a dialogue: first, to develop a group specific itinerary, tailored to respective abilities and preferred tempo. Next we schedule, bookmarking and working in your optimum or ideal getaway dates. Size-wise, we can build a multi-day trip for as few as two people, scaled up to as many as 30 plus. Contact us today to start the custom trip building process.
Rates on Private and Custom Departures:
We’ve updated our pricing for 2021 Private Tours
Groups of 5 or more receive the lowest advertised price on any private Classic Escape Adventures itinerary.
All Private Escape Adventures Trips are priced in the structured method below. Some Custom tours are priced differently if they vary from the Classic Escape Adventures itinerary and price. In this situation we will provide your group with a custom itinerary and price.
10+ GUESTS Price as advertised*
8-9 GUESTS +$400 per person to trip price*
6-7 GUESTS +$900 per person to trip price*
4-5 GUESTS +$1,900 per person to trip price*
2-3 GUESTS +$2,500 per person to trip price*
* Pricing, availability and guest minimums are all subject to change at any time. Certain dates have a minimum number of guests required, please contact us for details.