Sunset Park Trails {Fitness}

The Wilderness Trails at Sunset Park Dunes

Fitness FridayHappy Fitness Friday everyone!  Last week I shared with you some great spots for Nature Walks near Las Vegas .  This week the weather is perfect again to venture outside for some fitness fun and today I'm sharing one of my favorite places to play outdoors.  Besides all of the other activities that Sunset Park has to offer, last year they completed their new Wilderness Trails.  It's close to my home so I try to take advantage of it as often as I can but it's so fun it is worth the drive if you aren't close by.

Map at the Sunset Dunes Trails shows many paths to take.

 Sunset Park,  the largest park in Las Vegas, is located near McCarran Airport in the southeast part of town. This 325-acre regional park is the most popular public park in Southern Nevada.  It's bordered by Sunset Road on the north, Eastern Avenue on the west and Warm Springs Road on the south.  They are near the end of an extensive Park Improvement Phase that added and renovated many existing parts of the park, which will only add to it's popularity.  This oasis in the desert offers something for everyone.  Some of the activities you can find are  tennis, volleyball and basketball courts, softball fields, disc golf course, sand/beach volleyball courts, swimming pool, playground facilities, picnic facilities, dog park, walking and jogging trails, a lake with ducks and geese, fishing, plenty of open space and much more.  Sunset Park is also home to many events that are held here every year including the "Age of Chivalry Renaissance Festival".

Stone Walls along the Trails hold Signs telling of Sunset Dunes History

 There is a lot of history at Sunset Park and you can find many interesting facts on signs in the trails area.  The land for Sunset Park was acquired in 1967 and contains the last remaining dunes of what once covered most of Paradise Valley. More than 200 plant species in the Mojave Desert are found nowhere else on the planet and many of them are preserved at Sunset. The park is also home to abundant wildlife. It is one of the last habitats for Phainopopla, a tiny black-crested bird with red eyes that lives among the mesquite trees. Sunset Park was once home to early ranchers. Paiutes inhabited the site a thousand years ago and greeted visitors who sought to trade seeds, nuts and turquoise. Water continues to flow under the park and surfaces to provide irrigation to the entire west end of Sunset.

View looking down from the Discovery Trail

 While on my walk through the Wilderness Trails in the Sunset Park Dunes part of the park, I saw many people doing different things.  I saw people walking their dogs, which are allowed on leashes.  I saw people riding bikes on the very smooth and wide paths.  I saw people riding bikes, pushing strollers, jogging, running and walking.  The one end of the trails borders the back of an Equestrian neighborhood that has their own horse trails so keep your eyes open over there for a horse from time to time.  It also borders the train tracks down towards the South end of the Park.  While walking in the Dunes area one forgets they are in the middle of a city until you come to the street side of the Park.

It's fun to look for native animals while on your walk!

 Take a guess at which animals I saw?  You'd be surprised!

View towards Sunset Park from the Wilderness Trails on Sunset Dunes

If you're a Vegas local, have you been to walk on the Wilderness Trails at Sunset Park yet?  If not, then do you have anything like this where you live?  So did you get out and walk at all for fitness this week?  If not then why?