I am a retired police captain, author of poetry, and lover of the Nevada vibe, and I owe my balance and peace to getting out and walking. I have always done this to alleviate stress, thanks to my wise grandfather, who told me you could solve any problem by “walking through it.” I call it “urban hiking” because I do it in an urban environment: on city streets, such as Eastern, Fremont, or Las Vegas Boulevard, in local parks, along freeway trails.
Urban hiking is possible anywhere in the paved world, and no, you can’t get the same experience on a treadmill; this is about more than physical fitness. It’s about exchanging oxygen with trees, feeling the sun (or moon) on your face, communing with nature — and with all that humans have wrought — while clearing out the rubbish you’ve built up inside.
In the process, you are going slow enough to appreciate things you normally drive too fast to observe. And as with any good hike, the point is to explore, from the history of the city, to art and construction projects you can actually stop and see, to sidewalks and paths and enticing shortcuts that offer new views and atmospheres. It’s an opportunity to try businesses, small cafés, and restaurants. Las Vegas offers a rich landscape, but every city is filled with mysteries that urban hiking exposes. Bring your dog, too. I usually do.
Next time you feel overwhelmed or want to end a bad habit, fix a relationship, or make a difficult decision, do yourself a favor: Put those feet on the street. It’s free medicine. —Harry Fagel
Floyd Lamb Park
(Distances vary)
Loop the four ponds on pavement while enjoying the wildlife or venture out into the park’s natural desert area, both popular with runners, casual step-trackers — and everyone in between. While still in the city, the park is far enough out for some peace and quiet (minus the geese). —Kristen DeSilva
Hollywood Regional Park
(Distances vary)
Known for its skate park and adjacent community center, this 70-acre gem in the foothills of Frenchman Mountain with abundant walking paths offers perhaps the best views of Las Vegas in town. —Heidi Kyser
Lone Mountain
(Distance and elevation varies)
On the west side of the valley, Lone Mountain is a quick escape from the paved path and not as “out there” as Red Rock Canyon or Mt. Charleston. The full loop around the mountain is a groomed, 2.5-mile, gravel path at a gentle grade. For those looking to get their hike on, the trail to the peak is a steep challenge with a great view of the valley, if the smog isn’t too bad. —Ryan Vellinga
E. St. Louis Ave., between Eastern and Las Vegas Blvd.
(2 mi. one-way)
This sidewalk stroll passes through a couple historic downtown neighborhoods — including parks, churches, a school, and the Mesquite Club — before topping out at the Strat, with just enough of a hill for cardio-seekers. —HK
Henderson's Water Street District
(.8 mile one-way, plus diversions)
Hiking through Henderson’s rapidly gentrifying downtown, you’ll see headlong change in real time — the brand new adjacent to the very old — with possible side ambles through 80-year-old neighborhoods, visits to small businesses, and encounters
with nearly every sort of person. —Scott Dickensheets