Red Rock Canyon Scenic Loop (NV-159)

The Calico Hills pullouts (Calico I and Calico II) are the first major scenic stops on Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area's 13-mile one-way Scenic Loop Drive, located 17 miles west of the Las Vegas Strip on SR-159. Vivid bands of red, orange, and cream Aztec sandstone rise hundreds of feet above the desert floor, and the overlooks provide unobstructed views across the geological formations that give Red Rock its name. Restrooms are available at Calico II. The Scenic Loop is a timed-entry drive (reservation required in peak season) that routinely ranks among the top short rides near Las Vegas.

Nevada State Route 375 runs 98 miles across the high desert of Lincoln and Nye counties, from Warm Springs south on US-6 to Ash Springs on US-93, passing the unmarked eastern boundary of Nellis Air Force Base — home to the classified test area popularly known as Area 51. The state officially designated NV-375 the 'Extraterrestrial Highway' in 1996. The road crosses open playas and isolated mountain ranges with minimal traffic and almost no services; the only settlement, Rachel, is home to the Little A'Le'Inn diner and motel at the route's midpoint. Pavement quality is variable — summer heat buckles sections — but the solitude and cultural mythology make it a bucket-list Nevada ride.

US Route 93 runs 520 miles across Nevada from the Arizona border near Laughlin north to the Idaho border near Jackpot, passing through the heart of the Basin and Range terrain. The motorcycle-relevant corridor is the central section from Ash Springs through Caliente to Ely — roughly 200 miles — traversing isolated mountain ranges, historic mining towns, and two notable state parks: Cathedral Gorge (near Panaca), where slot canyons and cream-colored bentonite spires rise from the valley floor, and Spring Valley State Park. Pioche, a preserved Victorian silver-mining town, sits just off the highway. Road quality is good, traffic is sparse, and the alternating canyon-and-basin rhythm provides constant visual variety without demanding technical skill.