Last time I went to Las Vegas was September 2022 as I was organizing an event there for work. Included in our guests’ program was a half-day immersion in the Valley of Fire, Nevada, which I in fact did with them as I led the group. Besides hiking, we did get the chance to drive ATV vehicles rented out from Adrenaline ATV Tours company. They do have an ”office” within Las Vegas and a separate location near the Valley in Moapa Valley, Nevada.
After a 45 to 50-minute drive from Las Vegas Strip (included in the package offered by the company), you will arrive at the main ATV desk station where are handed out helmets, protections and where you’ll get to watch a prep video explaining the main tricks to get the vehicles working and on how to avoid dangerous situations (not that useful if you ask me since the best way to understand anything is to get the actual vehicle and handle in your hands but I guess that’s the mandatory step). One thing they will also ask for at this point is to provide your passport or ID and to sign a waiver.
How did I pick my vehicle?
After getting all the equipment needed, the shuttle transfer took us up in their desert dedicated location where all their machines are parked for vehicle choice, installment and departure. Usually the company has all sorts of vehicles from ATVs to Aces and Side-by-Sides which you would be able to drive if you can drive a car or a go-cart for some of them. Although this was my first time riding this kind of vehicle, now that I’ve done the activity myself, I would most probably recommend to rent one of the machines that come with a sunshade which is much more comfortable considering the terrain, the dirt and… well we’re in the desert so there’s that as well!
In terms of the number of seats, I find the 2-seater is the best option as to switch driver at times, be able to take pictures and enjoy the ride with a companion if you’d like to have one? The 1-seater still remains a very good option if your only objective is the drive itself and I think the 4-seater is a good option when you’re coming with a group where all of you won’t necessarily want to be driving (sensations might be less intense though at times and especially at the back so this is something worth considering). Again this is my advice, maybe some of you already have preferences so I’ll leave that here just in case you might need it! 🙂
What about the ride itself?
So in terms of the ride itself, I have to say, as a first-timer, that I really enjoyed it. The 2-hour itinerary chosen for this tour took us along many different kinds of terrains, from sandy to almost rock climbing with many ups and downs which is was fun to me! I was with a groupe of both experienced and first timers, so I’d say this is an activity that will indulge all. The main trick I learned was ‘never stop when the trail is going up’. It might take you a bit of time to climb up some of the higher hills but one should never stop unless they want to get stuck halfway through and have the rest of the group stuck behind them. Also important to keep in mind, your clothes will eventually be covered with dirt so you might want to choose a not-so-fancy comfortable outfit and closed shoes.
Also the scenery is just amazing along the way, right in the middle of White Domes National Park in the Valley of Fire. White domes, for the record, are sandstone formations with brilliant contrasting colors, most of the time with shades of orange. The Valley is also home to a one-mile moderate hiking trail, which is worth doing as well if you want to be considering an alternative to the ATVs.
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