Burro Wash, located just south of Boulder City is a 4x4 trail that ends in a cove on the Colorado River. This trail is perfect during the Summer, as a get away from the heat for some relaxation and water activities. This scenic route follows a dirt and rock trail that initially runs along the power lines before passing through Black Canyon and traveling down a wash. This trail will have some minor washed out areas, slightly off camber spots, and minor fun rocky obstacles. Bring your food, drinks, shade tents, trunks and inflatables.
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From Las Vegas head southeast on Interstate 515/Hwy 93 towards Boulder City. After entering Boulder City, turn right/south on Buchanan Blvd. Drive south on Buchanan for approximately 3 miles. The road will turn left just before Mead Substation. The paved part of the road will end and will become dirt. This will become Burro Wash Road.
Just did a pre run of this for when I have some guests coming next month. It's a rough road (ie, not fast) but I'd call it a 2 until maybe the very last drop into the wash... that I could call a 3.. if that. Took about an hour from start to river. Pretty unexceptional run except for the end. Having a nice cool river to cool down is certainly a pay off.
This was a fun trail that gets better the closer you get to the river. Starts off in the desert running power line trails then descends some switchbacks and runs through a wash. The last descent leads through a canyon and ends at the Colorado River. Only a few others at the river when I got there. Great place to stop and relax before heading back.
Definitely not a difficult trail anymore. A two would be pushing the rating. Great ending at the cove. Worth the visit to go BBQing and to spend 3+ hours at water.
An update: as of 4/06/21. Someone apparently used a tracked vehicle and graded the entire trail. The link is to a video by a local wheeler. Lot's of local folks upset as the more challenging areas of the trail have been wiped out.
Our little off road group hit this trail today. One Gladiator sport 37" tires and 3.5 lift. A JKU 35" tires and 3 lift, a stock 2 door Jl sport and a Tacoma trd 4x4. You can divide the trail in 3 parts, a easy part more or less the first half of the trail, a rocky part that you will need some clearance and a "difficult " part at the end that for sure you need LOW 4WD and a spotter if you are stock. But nothing impossible, is a fun trail to do specially if you have , or your friends, stock 4WD cars.
An advice, look for the pointy rocks all over the trail.
My nephew and I took a trip today to visit Burro Wash. He is just getting into offroading and I wanted to give him some time behind the wheel. The weather was great, the sky was sunny with very little clouds. The temperature was in the low to mid 90's. There were very few people on the trail that day, we saw two vehicles on the trail and a couple in a side by side at the wash playing with the ducks. Overall a relaxing drive with some small challenges as you do the final descent down to the wash or ascent when leaving due to the trail being a little more washed out over time. The remainder of the trail is fairly straightforward. My nephew enjoyed driving a portion of the trip including part of the ascent from the wash. Don't forget to bring your trunks and snacks if you go druing the summer.
I would say trail is currently more difficult than the description leads it to be. First 6 or so miles were rocky/annoying as others had mentioned. The switchbacks once you start descending we’re pretty rough and somewhat washed out. Waypoint 10 is passable. The final descent before reaching the last wash was also pretty washed out and rough. I’d say the final 1.5 miles were the most technical. Also the beach no longer looks like the picture as it is much more overgrown. Probably room for 3-4 cars parked pretty close together. Overall a fun trail, but it seems to get busy on weekends. Big Jeep group was on their way down when we were leaving with multiple rzrs and other people already down there.
First half of the trail is EXTREMELY rocky!
About 6 miles in there is a nice over look before you start descending, that’s when it starts getting fun. From there I would say 4x4 is mandatory and full sized vehicles questionable . There were some spots that tire placement was a factor but not terrible. Waypoint 10 is a little washed out but still passable. For got to grab a picture sorry. Super fun if you can just get passed the first half!
Holy cow, this trail was slow moving. I planned to go camp down by the river but after an hour and a half of bouncing through rocks, I gave up and camped only 5 or 6 miles into the trail. There weren't any real obstacles it was just so rocky that, even aired down to 15 psi, I rarely got out of second gear in low range. I'm sure that with larger tires than my 31-inch mud terrains, you would be able to roll through most of the trail much quicker.
On a more positive note, the scenery was pretty neat with lots of volcanic rock.
It takes a while to get to the fun stuff but this was a great trail with some very challenging spots at least for this fairly new 4-Wheeler. My Chevy Bison did an amazing job and I used the rear locker in one section due to a pretty steep angle. We were the only ones on the beach for about two hours until some kayakers joined us to camp out for the weekend. They obviously came from the river and were surprised to see us in our vehicle. I certainly appreciated having all the advance info from TrailsOffRoad to help find it and know which ways to go once on the trail.
So the trail was little rougher then anticipated but compass trail hawk and renegade trailhawk made it there and back along with stock wrangler and lifted wrangler just pick your likes and or have a spotter and your good
I attempted this trail today with not knowing if it was open or not. I put partially open due to not going all the way to the river. I would have rated this trail more a 7 out of 10 for difficulty with the mid point being the hardest with angle of accent and decent. Got to about the 11.3 mile, 1 to 1.5 miles from the Colorado River and had to stop for the road that was too washed out for myself in a Hummer H3 to make. Lots of 5 to 10 inch rocks that made it slow going part of the way. Saw mostly side X sides that didn't have as much trouble
I did this trail twice in the same weekend. After getting down near the river the first time I didn't remember which way to go, my fault for sure since I didn't pay attention to this site. So a second trip was planned with a better outcome.
I was in a stock 2018 Willy JK with 32" offload tires. The first part of the trail is east with some terrain changes. I chose to use 4L up a couple rocky hills and my tire pressure was set to 24. Going down the trail leading to the wash was fun. Washed out roads with a cliff one one side of you makes it interesting but no issues. The wash has multiple terrains as well. I did bottom out here and one other time to the rive but nothing major. The road that goes up to the left that take you back down to the rive has been washed out from the main picture here but I made it with no issues. the final decent to the river is the 2nd place I bottomed out. Not sure if I missed my line but it looked like I would no matter which way I went. The trail is awesome and being able to swim into the river makes it with the while. We saw a big horned sheep on one of the peaks at the river. This was a great ride and will be doing it again soon.
First time out to this trail, just exploring the local areas as I just moved to henderson area. Still learning what my 4runner is capable of. I was in a stock 15 4runner and with me was a lifted 2017 jeep on 35s. Jeep had no problems, my 4runner did fine as well, I just had to pick and choose lines a little differently watching out for some of the bigger rocks and ledges that the jeep just rolled right over. was nice when we finally made it to the water!
Trail has gotten a little more eroded... note 10 the road angle is over 20 degrees and had to be entered at a 90 degree angle. This requires a steep approach angle, and you will most likely drag ur rear bumper on the way back. There was 1 section a tj with 31’s and a rear locker almost didn’t make it up. I would not travel this road in a stock vehicle or alone now.
Got all the way to "Step 11" in our Ram Rebel in the directions before deciding to stop and turn around. Never aired down and never felt the need despite being told there was no way to get through without doing so. The decline at Step 11 is rather substantial and a bit narrow and that was the deciding factor since we weren't sure about the tightness combined with the grade. Headed back out on the switchbacks was a little challenging in a full-size truck but just be aware of your placement and think about your line before committing and you'll be fine.
Pretty cool trail for beginners. I was in a 2017 4WD Explorer Limited and the stock tires are not meant for this type of trail. Next time I'll get a Grand Cherokee or a Wrangler. I saw 2 Wranglers coming down and they said it was easy. Lessons learned!
Great fun trail. A stock Liberty made it all but the last 1/2 mile. Last 1/2 mile is where the trail gets really fun and technical, stock trucks require a skilled and experienced driver. Great secluded cove at the river with lots of places to camp. We did the trail in 2000K1500 Suburban with 37" 3" body lift and 37" tires.
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We are James and Mimi Nicholson, married for 19 years, living in Nevada. We are not new to Off-roading; having owned Jeeps for 18 years. We started with a 1979 CJ-5. Other 4 wheel vehicles owned include CJ-7, Cherokees, Grand Cherokee and a Liberty. We like to overland, camp, whitewater raft and kayak. We have been off-roading in Oregon, Washington, Georgia, South Carolina, California, Arizona, Utah, Louisiana, Texas and Nevada Our focus while off-roading is safety, treading lightly and simply enjoying the outdoors with friends and family.
Our current rig:
2015 Jeep Wrangler JKU Tank Rubicon. AEV 3.5" lift with 315/75/16 GY Duratracs with level 8 Tracker wheels. C gussets, control arm skids, ACE rock sliders, Engo 10,000 winch, OR-Fab tire/can carrier. M.O.R.E. skid plate, Gobi stealth roof rack. S-pod. ARB OBA. Adams front and rear drive shafts.
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