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Nearby Essentials

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    Common Questions

    Distance:
    1.77 miles
    Class:
    Class 1
    Dogs:
    Ok
    Route Style:
    connector
    Trail Condition:
    Maintained
    Tags:
    exposed, mountain biking, vast views
    Difficulty:
    Easy
    Parking:
    At the Buckskin Cliff Shadows parking lot.
    Restrooms:
    Yes
    Reception:
    Unreliable
    Access:
    Pick this trail up from Toque, No Dab, or Middle Earth.
    Good to Know:
    There's two trail markers—that's it and easy to veer off path.
    Why:
    Excellent for mountain biking!
    Wildlife Probability:
    No
    Trailhead coordinates:
    36.21908, -115.34146 — Map

    The Black Friday trail is a connector trail in Buckskin Cliff Shadows—a popular region for recreation in Las Vegas. The area is rich in hiking trails, mountain bike trails, and has distant views of The Strip. All this from an anomalous location of Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. Yes, Buckskin Cliff Shadows is part of Red Rock Canyon NCA. Though the Black Friday trail is managed by the BLM, signage is minimal.

    Buckskin Cliff Shadows

    This region is split up into distinct areas. The main loop consists of easier trails near the parking lot. Of which were purportedly professionally graded by the city to be accessible for casual hikers and dog walkers. Heading deeper towards the ridges, older mountain bike trails present themselves. They're presumably maintained by volunteers and groups like the Southern Nevada Mountain Bike Association. Some trails even have history of connecting to the foothills of the La Madre Mountain Wilderness.

    The name emanates from the park sitting at the base of large ridges to the west. Deep cliff shadows become evident significantly earlier than the rest of the city. For many years, locals knew this was the best place to hike in the summer because of these cooler shadows, while extreme temperatures persisted in most of the city.

    In short, the city of Las Vegas provided the space while much of the trail system was created decades earlier from local mountain bikers. Black Friday is but one of those trails used for biking, hiking, dog walking, etc. Connectors include but are not limited to Middle Earth, No-Dab, and Toque. Or combine thereof into one loop.

    Recommended gear

    Recommended Products for This Trail

    Gear picks are matched to this route using distance, difficulty, terrain, and desert conditions.

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    Water carry

    3L Hydration Pack

    Useful for exposed desert routes where one small bottle is not enough.

    View hydration packs

    Shade

    Wide-Brim Hiking Hat

    Simple shade matters on open desert terrain, sandstone slabs, and long approaches.

    View hiking hats

    Sun protection

    UPF Sun Hoodie

    A lightweight sun layer is one of the most useful pieces of gear for Red Rock exposure.

    View sun hoodies

    Skin protection

    Sunscreen + SPF Lip Balm

    Small, easy to carry, and useful on nearly every Southern Nevada trail.

    View SPF essentials

    Footing

    Rocky-Terrain Trail Shoes

    Better traction helps on loose gravel, sandstone, rocky washes, and steeper trails.

    View trail shoes

    Heat support

    Electrolyte Packets

    Helpful on hot days, longer hikes, and steep routes where plain water may not be enough.

    View electrolytes
    Photography by Mohave Edge
    High-resolution desert & wilderness imagery captured on foot across Southern Nevada.
    Last updated: May 27, 2026

    Comments

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    H
    hikervictorious
    Jun 8, 2026 · 3:29 PM

    Glad you enjoyed. Thank you!