Nevada Trails

The Bitter Springs Backcountry Byway is a great overland-style trail east of Las Vegas and west of the Valley of Fire State Park. The 26-mile byway connects Interstate 15 to North Shore Road by following old mining roads and washes through the Muddy Mountains. History buffs and geology lovers will enjoy the area, which has multicolored sandstone formations known as the Buffington Pockets, natural springs, small water holes, petroglyphs, and pictographs. Tracks from the Old Spanish Trail, a path created by Spanish explorers in 1776 and later by settlers and miners heading west, can be seen crossing the landscape. Over the decades, as settlers put down roots in the area, mining ventures followed with old borax mines dotting the area where sandstone was quarried. There are plenty of extraordinary views and landscapes to be seen along the Bitter Springs Backcountry Byway, along with great dispersed campsites for extending your adventure. Wildlife in the area includes wild horses, bighorn sheep, birds of prey, and numerous reptiles. Bring your camera, sunscreen, and LOTS of water. Nearby is the Valley of Fire State Park, which has its own scenic views, campgrounds, and facilities.

In 1775, the Spaniards discovered gold in the hills southeast of modern-day Las Vegas and titled the area Eldorado. By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, this area turned into a bustling hub of mining activity and became known as The Eldorado Mining District. In the heart of this district, surrounded by dormant remains of once-prosperous mines, the Oro Plata Mine trail travels through the harsh Mohave landscape, revealing several of these long-lost camps. Along the way, you will relive the tough conditions once traveled by old miners as you travel up a narrow wash and encounter rock ledges, small boulders, and plenty of mining relics. Linking this trail with others in the area can make for an entire day of exploration of Nevada's mining past.

Titus Canyon Road is a spectacular off-road trail within Death Valley National Park guaranteed to please. It is no wonder this one-way trail attracts thousands of globetrotting visitors each year. The 27-mile long road plunges visitors into fossil-rich canyons, over mile-high passes on rocky shelf roads, through a ghost town, along petroglyph-filled walls, and culminates in the grand finale. Titus Canyon Road shrinks to one vehicle-wide and takes the driver and passengers through a 1.5-mile twisty bobsled-like run through its Narrows before dumping everyone out into a wide vista of northern Death Valley. This gem of a trail is truly one of the most satisfying roads in southern California and is on par with many of the iconic trails in the United States.

Burro Wash, located just south of Boulder City, is a popular 4x4 trail that splits two wilderness areas, travels through a narrow canyon with beautiful rock walls, and ends at a cove along the Colorado River. This rugged trail offers stunning views of the Mojave Desert and the surrounding mountains, including Black Canyon. Along the drive, you'll see unique geological formations, desert flora, and possible wildlife, such as big horn sheep. Burro Wash is great any time of the year, but particularly during the summer when it can be used as a getaway from the heat for relaxation and water activities. Gather your food, drinks, shade tents, trunks, and inflatables, and take this spectacular drive down to the river for a full day of fun.

Similar to the red rocks of Moab and Sand Hollow, Logandale Trails is a four-wheeler paradise on a smaller scale. Logandale is located in the Moapa Valley of Nevada, about an hour northeast of Las Vegas. The 21,000-acre trail system is a multi-use park with numerous diverse trails and exceptional interpretive sites, all maintained by local volunteers. While easily traveling through towering red rock canyons, you'll have endless options for a truly epic campsite. The southern boundary is The Valley of Fire State Park, so the natural red Aztec sandstone rock formations are found throughout the OHV park, beginning right at the trailhead. The main loop presented here is an effective way to experience this unique region, view numerous petroglyphs, or connect with just about every trail within the park.

A nice relaxing off-road trail ride through the Lucky Strike Canyon located in the Red Rock Conservation area for the first few miles, followed by a more challenging climb on a rocky trail to Angel Peak. Spectacular views of the surrounding valleys. This trail is for those who enjoy views from higher elevations. The trail is a great way to escape the Las Vegas heat during the summer.

Traveling through the scenic Spring Mountains and into the lowland of the Mojave Desert, Potosi Pass Road is a popular recreation area and a relaxing mountain drive through some of the oldest mining history in Nevada. Located less than an hour from Las Vegas, Potosi is a former lead mining district started by Mormon Missionaries in the mid-1850s. The mines were abandoned by the Mormons in 1857, and in 1861, the mines were once again reopened by California Mining interests. During World War 1, the area was an important source of zinc. Today, the trail rewards you with spectacular mountain views, rich desert vegetation, sheer cliff walls, and panoramic sights.

Named after the old Kodak color film used in still photography, aptly named Kodachrome Road has some of the most colorful landscapes in Nevada. The unique geology in the region has a wide variety of different colored rocks and dirt that create a sand art bottle appearance. Located only minutes outside of the city, this popular trail is a quick escape from the hustle and bustle of Las Vegas without an all-day commitment. Connecting it with other trails within the Sunrise Mountain Special Recreation Area will make for a very colorful offroad day trip in the desert.

Anniversary Mine Road is located east of Las Vegas in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area (LMNRA). The LMNRA, operated by the National Park Service, is located in Nevada and Arizona. Lake Mead was formed in 1935, less than a year before the construction of the Hoover Dam was finished. 1964 Congress approved the expanded area as the first National Recreation Area. The Anniversary Mine was started in 1921 to produce Borax, refined from the colemanite deposits of the Lovell Wash and White Basin areas. The mine was closed in 1928 due to operating costs and growing competition in California. During its operation, the Anniversary Mine produced approximately 200,000 tons of Borate. Aside from the mine site and tailing pile, the trail provides access to the Anniversary Narrows slot canyon hike and Ore Car Mine hobbyist rockhounding area. The Muddy Mountains Wilderness Area is located just to the north for non-motorized backcountry adventure.

Lime Kiln Canyon is a very scenic gateway into the Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument region. This route accesses a very remote region within the northern Grand Canyon region of the Arizona Strip. The trail offers multiple opportunities to camp, hike, and rock climb. You'll need a 4x4 to climb through the canyon and up to spectacular panoramic views of a vast desert region. There are towering cliffs, red rock formations, and mild offroad challenges. The trail leads down to CR101 Grand Parashant, where you can continue south to the Gold Butte region's rock formations or travel north to St. George, Utah. Either way, go prepared for a remote and genuinely memorable overland experience.

More than 150 years ago, the Old Spanish Trail was the main commerce route between Sante Fe, New Mexico, and Los Angeles. It passed through the Las Vegas Valley to take advantage of the natural springs, but today, there is very little left of the original route. In August 2001, three segments of the trail that ran through southern Nevada were placed on the National Register of Historic Places, marking the trail's historical significance. The northern section covered here, which is not recognized yet, is an excellent way to have an overlanding experience on a truly historic route. The trail travels from north Las Vegas all the way to the Valley of Fire Highway, accessing some remote and primitive camping along the way.

The Old Spanish Trail in southern Nevada was the main trade route in the region from 1826 to 1848. The settlers and traders of the time had to travel through these harsh desert conditions to reach settlements to the north. This northern section follows a portion of the historic trail that borders the Valley of Fire State Park. The route is easy enough for stock 4x4s and an excellent way to connect Las Vegas with many other regional trails. The early section of the trail is a vast open desert, but it eventually works its way into a very scenic canyon with spectacular views of the surrounding mountains. The entire area is also great for those interested in geology and rockhounding.