If you’re planning to travel to the southwest to enjoy the trails, you don’t need to restrict yourself to Southern Utah.
Sure Utah has some of the finest off-roading trails in the country, but if you are looking for new rock crawling opportunities, why not head to Nevada?
Nevada harbors a treasure trove of trails that we’ve been lucky enough to explore during some of our trail rides. The terrain is guaranteed to keep any Jeeper happy and occupied for hours and ranges from rocky ledges and outcrops to desert land and sand dunes, dirt roads and gravel.
What’s more, Nevada is close to the famous Sand Hollow State Park so you can easily travel there in search of new playing grounds. It’s also close enough to the Dixie 4 Wheel Drive auto shop in St. George so you can pass by for a quick service and maintenance stop or to stock up on supplies before hitting the trails.
Top 10 Off-Roading Trails in Nevada
Here, in no particular order, are 10 trails in Nevada and close to Southern Utah that we’d recommend. These range from easy to moderately difficult though none is at par with trails like Hell’s Revenge. Most of these trails are found near Las Vegas, the Mesquite Area or in the Logandale Trail System.
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Mormon Mesa Road
This is an easy trail that runs parallel to the Virgin River starting at Overton, on to the top of Mormon Mesa then following the east rim to the power line road. The trail surface is mostly graded dirt road although there are some steep ascents and descents, few washes and some ruts and rocks to navigate. Along the way, you’ll catch sight of the “Double Negative” Earthwork as well as glimpses of the Virgin River.
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Bitter Springs Trail
This is 26.3-mile trail is a BLM Backcountry Byway and it’ll take you roughly 3 hours to run. It starts north of Las Vegas from Fire Road and crosses Muddy Mountains. The trail goes over rough terrain with a few steep climbs and ruts but if you’re looking for more action, head to the rocky wash on the west side or the sandy wash east of the trail. Also take time to see the Bitter Springs and to splash around in the waters of Buffington Pockets.
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Cabin Canyon Trail
The Cabin Canyon Trail cuts through the Virgin Mountains, south of Mesquite, beginning at the Kiln Canyon Road and heading south almost to the Arizona border. The section through the mountains used to have large rocks and boulders and a nasty section with sharp rocks. However, this part was graded and as you head to Miner’s Loop, the trail now has a rocky section that shouldn’t prove difficult for a stock 4WD.
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Gold Butte Backcountry Byway
Built from cattle trails and mining roads, Gold Butte offers a peek into history along with awesome views of the Muddy Mountains and Lake Mead. Along the way, catch a glimpse of the historic sites of the Paiute and Anasazi Indians plus early American Miners. This trail winds through South Nevada so you’ll be spoiled by incredible views of ancient petroglyphs, sinkholes, desert life, and pink and white sandstone formations as you make the easy trip.
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13 Mile Loop
If you’re looking for a great introduction to the Logandale Trail System, 13 Mile Loop won’t disappoint. This mildly challenging trail can be run in either direction and is just rugged enough to be exciting. There are some obstacles along the way (most are bypassable), the most notable being a rock obstacle at the end south end of the loop along with natural arches, interesting rock formations, and petroglyphs.
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Rocky Gap
This is the most difficult trail on this list and also a favorite of the local off-roaders. Rocky Gap is situated in the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation area so you might pay a fee to access it depending on which route you take. It offers several obstacles, most of them with bypasses until you come to the rock garden which makes the trail especially challenging. Along the way you’ll be wowed by great scenery and landscape.
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Boathouse Cove Road
For those looking for the perfect way to cool down on a hot summer day, Boathouse Cove Road offers a solution. This trail lies to the east of Las Vegas running from North Shore Drive to the shores of Lake Mead where you can take a refreshing dip in the water. It’s an easy, fun, remote trail over gravel and flat road except for some washed-out ruts.
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Railroad Canyon
At only 4.2-miles long, Railroad Canyon is a short and moderately challenging canyon. It offers several minor obstacles that are ideal for rock crawling. Your rig needs to have at least 33” tires and a skid plate to easily get over the rocks without snagging your undercarriage. If you’re new at rock crawling, you’ll need a spotter to help you place wheels correctly to avoid getting stuck.
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Bowl & Matterhorn Trails
If you have a free half-day, combine both of these trails in what is sure to be a fun-filled trail run. Start with the Bowl Trail which has a few washes and a notable S Turn obstacle that’s narrow and tight enough to cause body damage. You can take a bypass and continue to the large bowl that gives this trail its name. From there, make your way to the Matterhorn Trail for some fun over rocky stretches and some mild obstacles.
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Wheeler Pass
This incredible trail is found to the northwest of Las Vegas, starting from Cold Creek, over the Spring Mountains to Pahrump. If you’re lucky enough, you’ll see some wild horses along with lovely views of the Indian Springs Valley with the mountains in the distance. It’s an easy drive so you can stop to see the ancient charcoal kilns or Wheeler Well before proceeding with your trip.
These are just some of the trails in Nevada and you can discover many others when you visit.
