Calico Basin

Vegas on Two Wheels: Calico Basin


You would think living in Las Vegas all year round would be blue skies and hot temperatures. Well my biker buddies, you are way wrong! Las Vegas gets rain, snow, thunderstorms, lightning, flooding and wind. It may not happen all the time, but when it does, we Las Vegans celebrate it!

This past weekend Heavy day clouds moved over the valley and light to moderate showers poured over town all Sunday long. I could not miss this opportunity to check out one of my favorite spots to ride out to!

This week’s Vegas on Two Wheels is Calico Basin!

Calico Basin is a little secret kept among the locals. It’s the same ride you take to get to the Red Rock National Park area. You can take the I-15 south, starting from the center of the city, and take the exit for Blue Diamond. Head West towards the Spring Mountain range. This is where it gets a little tricky. Blue Diamond is also Highway 160. At a certain point, Blue Diamond will split away from Highway 160, and Highway 160 will continue over the mountains into Pahrump. Blue Diamond will continue to the right and will then turn into Red Rock Canyon Rd.

2020116

Red Rock Canyon Rd is where it gets truly breathtaking! You are so close to the mountains and though I said in previous articles to check this place out around sunset, seeing the mountains wet and under low-level clouds was a feast for the eyes. The color in the mountains seemed to glisten become richer; more alive to me. I am taken back by these stones. Dark reds, pinks, whites, and oranges were like a glass of a fine Merlot to my eyes; something taken in slowly, left to savor, and admire for its complexities. The low-level clouds seemed to dangle from heaven, reaching for earth using the tops of the mountain range as leverage; pulling, reaching.

13020116

7020116

I continued to ride through the mountains and passed the opening to Red Rock National Park. About a mile or two more up the road, there is a small sign for Calico Basin to the left. The entire ride up to this point is ridden at a good clip. 50-65 mph is pretty common for the speed limits, but as you turn onto Calico Basin Rd, the speed limit drops to 30 mph. I wind my Harley from left right inching closer and closer to calico colored rocks that seemed to grow from the earth reaching towards to meet the clouds. Soon houses began to emerge out of the desert. Horse ranches on both sides of me as I rumbled closer and closer to the mountains. I envied these homeowners; lucky enough to afford to build these homes. How lucky they are to wake up every morning to a view that is like no other.

9020116

I pull off to the side, calm my roaring V-twin and dismount. For a moment, I lose myself in my surroundings. It’s quiet with only the soft pitter-patter of rain hitting the desert floor. I unbuckle and unlatch my helmet and slowly remove it from my head. I take a deep breath in and let it out. My warm breath can be seen mixing with the cold, wet winter air. Beautiful and inspiring are the only words that I could think of to describe where this ride has taken me.

11020116

I took another moment to myself. I found the sound of light rain hitting the desert sand, rocks and my gas tank, helped me dig deep into thought. I thought about where I came from, the choices I have made to where I am and who I am. It was something I needed; did my soul some good to reach inside and get back to me.

10020116

This is one of the major reasons why I love Vegas so much. These gems, these little city-kept secrets have the power to bring you on a journey that helps you know yourself. We, to an extent, always battle with that question don’t we? Who am I? Where do I belong? These are life questions that sometimes never get answered for people. But it’s places like Calico Basin or Red Rock or Valley of Fire that helps us get to a point that we can answer those questions. You just have to stop, put down the cell phone, stop tweeting, Facebooking, or instagraming and start taking in what’s around you. Be in the moment… I think you will be pleasantly surprised.


See these and the entire set of photos below:

 

One thought on “Vegas on Two Wheels: Calico Basin

  1. Beautiful pictures, Greg! The layer of color is breathtaking. It’s makes one wonder if the people living in those homes appreciate the amazing view they have.
    I always enjoy your posts, so very well written, descriptive and amazing pictures.
    Thank you!

Comments are closed.

Alder and Birch Previous post Sneak Peek: Alder and Birch
Cigar Bar Next post Cigar Bars for Caesars and Fashion Show Mall