About This Race
Flight of Fire brings trail running to the striking landscape of Whitney Mesa Nature Preserve in Henderson, Nevada. Now in its eighth year, this multi-distance event has found a new home on the beautiful trails of Whitney Mesa after relocating from its original location due to BLM permit constraints. The race offers four distances to accommodate runners of various experience levels, from a one-mile option to a half marathon. The Whitney Mesa setting provides a compelling backdrop with active streams, diverse geological formations, and expansive views of the Las Vegas Valley. Runners traverse trails that wind through silty sand deposits, clay soils, and cemented terrain formations that tell the story of this unique desert environment. The race is timed for optimal desert conditions in early May, when wildflowers bloom across the mesa and temperatures remain manageable for morning racing. Triple Dare Runs organizes this event with attention to the trail running community's appreciation for unique finisher medals, quality technical shirts, and a festive finish line atmosphere. The staggered start times allow for a manageable field across all distances, with a generous cutoff time that welcomes runners focused on completion rather than pure speed.
The courses at Whitney Mesa Nature Preserve wind through diverse desert terrain featuring active streams, rock formations, and geological features unique to the southern Nevada landscape. Runners experience trails that traverse silty sand deposits 10-25 feet underground, with expansive clay and highly gypsiferous soils throughout the southern portions of the mesa. The terrain includes cemented soil sections that add technical variety to the running experience.
The mesa environment provides spectacular city views alongside intimate trail sections through blooming wildflowers during the May racing season. Runners navigate both open mesa sections with expansive vistas and more contained trail segments that showcase the preserve's geological diversity.
Practical Info
Perfect May desert conditions with mild morning temperatures and clear skies typical of southern Nevada spring weather.
LAS - McCarran International Airport
Henderson and Las Vegas area offer extensive lodging options within 20 minutes of the race start location.
Best For
Notable Features
Flight of Fire stands out for its unique desert mesa setting with diverse geological formations, active water features, and spectacular city views. The race's relocation to Whitney Mesa Nature Preserve has enhanced the experience with varied terrain that includes silty sand deposits, expansive clay soils, and cemented soil sections. The May timing captures the desert at its most beautiful, with blooming wildflowers and optimal weather conditions.