OUT THERE

HIKES

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, Monday at the Rock: A moderate to strenuous five-mile hike starting at the Red Springs parking area, through Ash Meadows, over and through the Calico Hills (515-5367).

Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Hike or Bike: After a short ribbon -cutting ceremony Friday at 11 a.m., a ranger-led "hike or bike" tour will take place along the newest segment of the River Mountains Loop Trail. Begin at the trailhead at Pacifica Way (off U.S. 93) in Boulder City and end at the Hoover Dam Parking Garage. Refreshment for hikers and cyclists will be provided. Call 293-8947 for more information.

Red Rock Canyon, Grapevine Springs: Friday, an easy to moderate four-mile hike (515-5367).

Sierra Club: Join the Southern Nevada Group Saturday for a moderate two-mile, park service tour in the Mojave National Preserve and Mitchell Caverns. After lunch, drive to the Teutonia Peak Trail for a four-mile round-trip hike. Cavern fee is $4 and trip is limited to six, so call early. Contact: Mike Sheffer at 353-0980.

Around the Bend Friends: This group of people, 50 years and over, interested in hiking and related social activities will meet at 8:30 a.m. Saturday in the parking lot in front of Best Buy, at Charleston Boulevard and I-215 in Summerlin, for a moderate three-hour hike at Red Rock. Contact Judy at 642-2285.

Lake Mead NRA, Cranes Nest Rapids: Wear sturdy boots for this moderate four-mile hike Saturday, to celebrate National Trails Day, down a dry wash to the Colorado River in Arizona. A four-wheel drive is required. Call the Alan Bible Visitor Center at 293-8990 between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Sierra Club: Join the Southern Nevada Group for a moderate to strenuous six-mile, round-trip hike with a 1,000-foot gain along the North Peak via Rocky Gap Road Saturday. Contact: George McDonald at 808-3855.

Red Rock Canyon, Road Trip: Carpool to Ryan Kershaw State Park, two miles south of Caliente, then visit Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge on Saturday. (515-5367).

Sierra Club: Join the Southern Nevada Group Saturday and Sunday for a weekend of Cedar City, Utah, plays and a fall colors hike. Saturday, see the "Tempest" at 2 p.m. then "Art" at 7:30 p.m. Must make your own arrangements for plays and accommodations. Sunday, take the easy to moderate Vermilion Castle Trail, near Parawon to learn what chemical makes the reds in fall colors. Contact: Jack Sawyer at 228-3857.

Red Rock Canyon, Railroad Tunnel (Lake Mead): A moderate five-mile hike Oct. 21, along the old railroad bed near Hoover Dam. (515-5367).

Red Rock Canyon, Corn Creek Spring: An easy one-half-mile morning walk Oct. 21 to view prime habitat for aquatic and land plants and animals (515-5367).

Red Rock Canyon, Red Cap: Oct. 21, scramble up the tanks overlooking Calico Tank and Basin on this strenuous three-mile hike (515-5367).

BIKES

Bagel Ride: Leave from Aspen Creek Cycling, 1550 W. Horizon Ridge Parkway, Wednesday at 7 a.m., for a 22-mile ride. For more information, visit www.greenvalleycyclists.org or e-mail: topgolf@aol.com.

Las Vegas Valley Bicycle Club: Tuesday at 6:15 a.m. meet at Einstein's Bagels, 9031 W. Sahara Ave., for an easy-paced ride to Red Rock (E-mail: dgcasey@cox.net or call 379-3737). A 6:15 a.m. moderate to fast 15-20 mile road ride on Wednesday. Meet at the NuVision Cyclery on West Lake Mead Blvd., between Rampart Boulevard and Scholar Lane (Danny or Mike at 228-1333). There will be a 30-plus mile, moderate and hilly ride Wednesday and Thursday at 7 a.m., and a 30- to 50-plus mile long grade ride on Saturday at 7 a.m. Meet behind Starbucks on West Charleston Boulevard and Town Center Drive. Friday, at 6:15 a.m. meet at Einstein's Bagels, 9031 W. Sahara Ave., for an easy-paced ride to Red Rock (E-mail: dgcasey@cox.net or call 379-3737). Oct. 21, meet at Einstein Brothers Bagels, 8400 Cheyenne Ave., at 7 a.m. for an easy ride of 25 to 35 miles of flat land (Eric at 873-6256). Bring plenty of water for all rides.

Green Valley Cyclists: Meet at 7 a.m. Saturday and Oct. 21 in the Brooklyn Bagel parking lot, near the corner of Green Valley Parkway and Pebble Road in Henderson. For more information, visit www.greenvalleycyclists.org or call 501-9771.

BARTA: A group of basin and range trail advocates meet Saturday at 9 a.m. to develop, protect and maintain trails, educate users on trail usage, sponsor a chapter of the National Mountain Bike Patrol and have noncompetitive events. Visit www.barta-nv.com; E-mail: bikes4four@cox.net; or call 837-6522.

OTHER PROGRAMS

Red Rock Audubon Society: Program on "The Ecology and Conservation of Amargosa Valley and River System," by Brian Brown, manager of China Ranch Date Farm, will be Wednesday, 6:30 p.m. in the second-floor meeting room, Atria Sutton Retirement Center, 3185 E. Flamingo Road. Elevator available. Contact www.redrockaudubon.org or call 390-9890.

Red Rock Canyon, Up Close: Take a close look at the flora, fauna or geology of Red Rock and the surrounding desert Friday at this on-going visitor's center exhibit from 9-11:30 a.m. No sign-up required. (515-5367).

Friends of Nevada Wilderness: Volunteers needed for projects involving route restoration and mist netting for bats Friday through Oct. 21, at Tunnel Springs Wilderness. Contact Pat Bruce at (775) 324-7667 or visit: www.nevadawilderness.org.

Cathedral Gorge State Park: Saturday at 6:30 p.m., see a slide presentation titled "The First Campers" at the campground amphitheater. Visit cathedralgorge_vc@lcturbonet.com or call (775) 728-4460.

Las Vegas Astronomical Society: Program titled "Wonders of the Milky Way" at the Red Rock Visitor Center Saturday at 6 p.m., followed by a telescope viewing public star party, weather permitting. No reservations required, however, entrance gates close at 6:30 p.m. Visit: rob.lambert@lvastronomy.com or call 461-1390.

Spring Mountain Ranch State Park, Halloween Spooktacular: Saturday, free pumpkin carving from 2-6 p.m. with judging at 5:30 p.m., followed by campfire stories from 6-7 p.m. at the Ranch House Garage/Lawn and Historic area. For details call 875-4141.

Hunter Education Class: Nevada Department of Wildlife is accepting applications for the following classes, to be between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, at the Whitney Recreation Center, 1575 Galleria Drive, Henderson; Oct. 27 and Nov. 3 at the NDOW office, 4747 W. Vegas Drive; and from 5:30-9 p.m., Nov. 13-14, at the Carpenters Joint Apprentice Training Center, 4131 E. Bonanza Road. (486-5127, Ext. 3501).

Get Outdoors Nevada: Register now for the following events. Two hundred volunteers are needed Oct. 27, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Red Rock Canyon Visitor Center, Red Springs, and Scenic Loop. Ages 14 and older will do trail work involving hiking and lifting and graffiti removal, children ages 5 through 13 can paint, plant and remove trash. Adult supervision or parental agreement required for those under age 18. Contact: www,getoutdoorsnevada.org/events.htm or e-mail: desertvolunteer@fws.gov.

Red Rock Audubon Society: Register now for the 8 a.m., Nov. 14, birding field trip at Tule Springs Park. Entry fee is $6 per car. Call Rita Schlageter at 382-3327 for reservations or additional information.