Nevada Off-Road Trails

Sandy Valley Road, also referenced as Pahrump Road on various maps, is a straight-through, 16-mile-long graded gravel road that connects the Pahrump Valley Highway to Sandy Valley along the Nevada and California border. The road is extremely wide, crosses numerous dry desert washes, and becomes impassable during heavy rain as the water fills the washes. During dry conditions, the road is suitable for any vehicle. The first few miles along the northern end, you can find several spur roads that lead to open areas that have been used as possible campsites in the past. These open areas are in poor condition and do not make ideal campsites. However, they offer scenic views of Potosi Mountain, Charleston Peak, and the surrounding Joshua Tree forest.

Wild horses and pronghorn antelope are often seen on this trail. Running across BLM land, there are dispersed campsites available along the route. There are also springs, old mines, and wildlife guzzlers.

Wild Horse Trail takes you from the outskirts of Dayton, Nevada, to Clifton Flat. The trailhead starts at the unlocked wild horse protection gate at the east end of Dayton Valley Road.  Properly close and latch the gate after you enter. 

Wild Horse Trail begins as a graded dirt road. As you ascend, the road narrows to a double-track trail. The trail's surface is mostly smooth compacted dirt with patches of rocky rubble. There are a couple of short steep hill climbs/descents with loose 6-inch rocks. Low-clearance vehicles may catch and drag the loose rocks. High clearance or lifted vehicles are better suited for this trail. The many juniper trees adjacent to Wild Horse Trail can leave minor pinstripes on Jeep-sized vehicles. Several seasonal streambeds cross the trail.  Caution is advised during storms and spring snow melts.

Cell phone service, gasoline, food, and lodging are available in Dayton, Nevada, 2 miles from the trailhead.

Hot Creek Spring Road is a one-mile gravel road that leads to a pleasant surprise: a natural warm pool for soaking and swimming. 

Located in the Wayne E. Kirch Wildlife Management Area near Lund, Nevada, the warm pool is typically around 85 degrees Fahrenheit and is fed by Hot Creek Spring. It offers a large gravel parking lot and a short hiking trail with interpretive signage. 

Free camping is available at the nearby Hot Creek Campground.

Ute Road was once paved, but after severe flash flooding and washouts, it has become a patchwork of pavement, dirt, embedded rock, and ledges serving as a gatekeeper to accessing the Weiser Valley trail system. The only option to avoid Ute Road is to use Old Spanish Trail North.

Ute Road's excitement is located within the rock canyon that cuts through California Ridge. In the canyon, you will find plenty of opportunities to test the articulation of your suspension and your line-choice ability. You will even be greeted by the remains of what is perhaps an early 2000s mid-sized SUV. Dispersed campsites can be found on the west end of the canyon, making them accessible from I-15 without entering the canyon. Additional camping is available at the trailhead area of Weiser Valley.

At its eastern end, Ute Road dead ends at a management gate, making it purely a road for the excitement of the obstacles and to access Weiser Valley.

Kingston Road is a straight-through, nearly 13-mile-long dirt connection between Sandy Valley and Goodsprings, which traverses over Wilson Pass at 5,047 feet. The western end of the road out of Sandy Valley follows a wide, rocky, dry desert wash with 6''-10'' ruts and loose rocks. The trail is well traveled by many vehicles, including passenger cars and SUVs, as they access a commercial gun range. This portion of the trail appears to be washed out often as it is a main drainage from the mountains. Users should be prepared for impassable conditions after heavy rain. After passing the gun range, the road narrows a bit and begins working its way up the mountains. The trail stays rough as it traverses a more washboard, hardpacked surface and follows the powerlines. The eastern side of the pass, as you approach Goodsprings, is a well-maintained, graded dirt road. The trail comes to an end on North Beacon Street as it transitions to pavement and then becomes Pacific Avenue. Don't forget to make a stop at the historic Pioneer Saloon, one of Nevada's oldest saloons.

This trail does not offer any camping, and although it can be run in 2WD, a high clearance vehicle will be needed, and airing down is highly recommended to help ease your comfort during the drive.

Situated between Las Vegas and Lake Mead, within the Sunrise Mountain Special Recreation Management Area, Rainbow Gardens is a nearly 8-mile, point-to-point trail that cuts through a brightly colored mountain and canyon landscape formed by millions of years of erosion. Erosion still continues today, where heavy rains can quickly change this easy road into a rutty mess or even wash out the road entirely in spots. During normally dry conditions, this trail is suitable for any high clearance vehicle and is easily traversed in 2WD. Accessing the trail from the north end will be the most challenging thing you encounter, as you are required to drop the rutty hill on the north side of Kodachrome Road in order to start Rainbow Gardens. The remainder of the trail is a well-graded dirt and gravel road with minor grades and a short, 100-yard-long narrow section next to a drainage that drops off nearly 20 feet at its deepest point. The road is only 1.5 vehicles wide through this spot, but seeing oncoming traffic is easy, and the section is very short. This trail crosses several dry desert washes that can become rutty and ledgy after heavy floods. Rainbow Gardens can be run in either direction and can be run by itself or combined with one of the other nearby roads to create a full loop.

Camping is prohibited along this trail or any road within the Sunrise Mountain Special Recreation Management Area. The closest camping resides east, within Lake Mead National Recreation Area. Large trailheads on each end of the trail provide great areas for trailer parking or airing up/down.

Double Powerlinel, located near Moapa Valley, is an excellent alternative for off-road users looking to access other trails without traveling on the highway. The route easily and quickly connects two popular OHV regions. The trail crosses underneath large power lines while traveling through sections of private property. The route can be combined with other published trails to make for a long and memorable overland route. The terrain in the area varies from rolling sand hills and jagged ridgelines. Sections of the route offer a glimpse into the Muddy River basin, where the ribbon of dense vegetation stands in stark contrast.

Dave Deacon Camp Road is a 40-mile trek through a rolling high desert basin offering a unique adventure. The road surface, mostly gravel, is dotted with intermittent patches of washboard dirt and silt. While the road is generally accessible to most vehicles, it's important to be aware of the potential hazards. Large loose rocks on the roadway could pose a risk to passenger vehicles with minimal ground clearance, and heavy rain could make travel along this route challenging. 

The eastern scenery is relatively flat with typical wildland vegetation like sagebrush, rabbitbrush, and grasses. The western half of the road has a rolling landscape and offers scenic mountain views with young Juniper trees.

There aren't any campsites directly off this road, but many spur roads offer flat open spaces to set up camp. Towards the east, the nearby Hot Creek Campground is free and offers pit toilets, water, and an RV dump station.

The Western end of Dave Deacon Camp Road transitions from BLM land to National Forest and turns into Cherry Creek Summit Road, aka Forest Road 59410.

Bridging the gap between Logandale Main Loop and the town of Logandale, Virgin Wash is a fun route up a sandy wash with a few rock obstacles. Although most of the trail is relatively easy, one rock obstacle halfway through the route will cause stock and lightly modified 4WD vehicles to stop and think for a second. Longer wheelbase or lower vehicles may struggle to climb over without scraping. This trail is an excellent option if you want more adventure than just a few hill climbs. No campsites exist on this trail, but many dispersed sites exist in the Logandale Trails network.

Running 11.7 miles off Highway 95 Alternate through BLM land to an area known as Clifton Flat. The trail passes through a remote, stark, sagebrush-filled valley.  Clifton Flat is known for herds of wild horses and pronghorn antelope. The trailhead is an unlocked barbed wire wild horse protection gate south of Silver Springs.  Clifton Flat begins on a graded dirt road.  The trail descends and narrows to a double-track trail. The surface varies between smooth compacted dirt, mud, and rock rubble.  The trail is generally level with gradual changes in grade.

The railroad crossing is active, so use look both ways.  Several seasonal streambeds cross the trail. Caution is advised during storms and spring snow melts.  Stock SUVs may catch and drag on loose rocks. High clearance and lifted vehicles are advised.  This trail connects to the Wild Horse Trail.

Dispersed camping areas are available along Clifton Flat Trail.  BLM camping and fire restrictions apply.  Gas, food, and lodging are available 12 miles north in Silver Springs.

Hidden within the Eldorado Mountains southeast of Las Vegas, Nelson Cutoff, also known as "The Backway to Nelson," is a pavement-avoiding drive into a hauntingly captivating slice of history: the ghost town of Nelson. This once bustling mining town was a hub for gold and silver miners in the late 19th century. With a reputation for being one of the most violent and lawless mining towns of its time, legend has it that law enforcement completely avoided the town of Nelson. The Great Depression left the town nearly abandoned, and it wasn't until the late 1990s that it became a tourist hotspot. Whether you're a history buff, an intrepid explorer, or simply seeking a break from the hustle and bustle of modern life, Nelson offers an experience unlike any other. Come, lose yourself in the echoes of the past, and discover the magic of this enchanting ghost town.