First Light
From Anthem, follow the McCullough Hills Trail east up the switchbacks to the shade shelter, then let it roll back down.
Your timesno timed runs yet
Ride mode times every run on its own: the clock starts when you roll out of the start and stops at the finish, with splits at each marked spot. Leave Ride mode on between laps and it re-arms when you're back at the start. Times stay on this phone.
Right now at the trailhead
Get the GPS file
Scan with a friend's phone, or tap below. Then open it in your ride app.
- iPhone: tap Download, open it from the Downloads bar, then Share → Trailforks, Strava or Garmin.
- Android: tap Download, then open the file and pick your app.
- Garmin: or drag it into Garmin Connect → Courses → Import on a computer.
https://bsqrd-designs.com/dirt/first-light/
Getting there
Park at Anthem Hills Park (Anthem East Trailhead)
2256 N Reunion Dr, Henderson, NV 89052
- Park lot with restrooms. The trailhead parking is at the east end of the park road, past the power company buildings. City park hours are 6 a.m. to midnight.
- Start and finish are the same spot. Follow the cue sheet and the arrows on the map.
Cue sheet
| 0.0 | Anthem East Trailpavement via McCullough Hills Trail | 0.1 mi |
| 0.1 | McCullough Hills Trailsingletrack | 0.6 mi |
| 0.7 | Anthem East - Bursage Loop Trailsingletrack | 0.2 mi |
| 0.9 | McCullough Hills Trailsingletrack via Shade shelter high point | 3.8 mi |
| 4.7 | Anthem East - Bursage Loop Trailsingletrack | 0.2 mi |
| 4.9 | McCullough Hills Trailsingletrack | 0.7 mi |
| 5.6 | Back at Anthem Hills Park (Anthem East Trailhead) |
Know before you go
- The first quarter mile out of Anthem Hills Park is the paved Anthem East Trail, then dirt. Near the start the McCullough Hills Trail splits into separate hike, horse and bike treads; take the bike branch.
- Easy rolling for the first two miles, then five or six switchbacks climb to the shade shelter. Those switchbacks are the whole difficulty of this ride.
- Turn around at the shelter and it's a gentle, mostly downhill cruise back to the car.
- Zero shade except the trail shelters. This is an October-to-April ride; in summer go at dawn or skip it, and carry more water than you think.
Ride smart
- Water: plan on about 1 L for this ride. There's none on the trail.
- Signal is spotty. Tell someone your route and your time back.
- Emergency: call 911 and say "First Light ride, parked at Anthem Hills Park (Anthem East Trailhead), Henderson / McCullough Hills", plus the coordinates from Locate me.
- Wildlife: give horses, burros and anything with horns room, and never feed them.
- Stay on trail. Desert crust and mountain soil take decades to heal.
Report a problem or share a photo
Washout, closure, new fence or a missing sign? Got a great shot of a junction? Send it. It goes straight to Ryan; photos he approves show up on this page with your credit.
Trail photos
End ride?
Turn calls, the timer and your recording stop when the ride ends.