Las Vegas and Area Trails

slikjr · **Posted:** Wed Jul 18, 2007 12:08 am

Ok, crew... summer holidays are fast approaching here. I am from Saskatchewan Canada, yes, I did just spell that that way, it's correct ahahah.

Anyway, we're headed to Las Vegas for the last week of August. Can anyone who has info on good trails right around the Vegas area PM me or post on this! That would be greatly appreciated. Any trails that a KJ can handle. I won't have any wingmen, so nothing too extreme, unless you are close and wil volunteer to pull me out if I get in trouble!

So, any Vegas trails, please get back to me with directions from Vegas, how far from Vegas and all that crap. Thanks so much! I am definately looking forward to some Nevada wheelin'!

Thanks a lot!!

QuestMan · **Posted:** Wed Jul 18, 2007 8:58 am

If you go down to Laughlin, about 90 miles away, there is a road called, 'Christmas Tree Pass'. Starting from the Laughlin end, if you go in about 2 miles, there is a sign, I believe, mentioning Pictographs. Take a look at them, they're kind of interesting. However, when you're by the creek that runs through that area, MAKE SURE to WATCH for SNAKES! I've never seen any there, but I HAVE met a rattler about 5 miles from there: He was VERY polite. I almost stepped on him, he DIDN'T bite, and he warned me he was there. (The NOT biting, and the 'polite' rattling were greatly appreciated).

In any case, I have 2 more warnings: Bring plenty of water, just in case. Also, be VERY careful when you're driving out there. Quite often, there are a lot of washouts in the road. Sometimes the road is in very good condition, sometimes you can lose an axle out there in the blink of an eye. Down in that region, it will be over 110 degrees before 9 a.m., so if you lose a tire, or damage something, walking out wouldn't be fun. As a matter of fact, after I was in Vegas the last time, my cousin's husband looked at me and said, "You went out to Christmas Tree Pass?! Without another vehicle for backup?!!!"

There are a LOT of trails out in the region. Check out Red Rock Canyon, about 30 miles west of Vegas, or right outside of Hoover Dam is Kingman Wash. It's on the Arizona side of the dam. There are a LOT of places you can wheel, I'm just forgetting where the heck they are, at the moment. Basically, head away from the neon lights in any direction, and you'll find something.

Have fun!

spoonplugger1 · **Posted:** Wed Jul 18, 2007 10:20 am

There are also a lot of utility service trails and side trails going off them to old mines, etc. from Vegas going towards Barstow, CA. You're never really very far from the freeway in case you get in trouble. It's the trails and roads they run the famous Barstow to Vegas races on during the winter months. The one I used to run went off on Thanksgiving, the Phantom Duck of the Desert Run.

QuestMan · **Posted:** Wed Jul 18, 2007 2:52 pm

Not to hijack the thread, but I've got to ask: with a name like 'Sploonplugger', were you from Wisconsin, or the Carolinas, by any chance? The reason I ask, is that outside of those areas, I don't hear the term 'sploonplugger' very much, although I'm VERY familiar with Buck Perry's lures and techniques.

(For those of you reading this and going "What?!" Buck Perry invented a series of lures called 'Spoonplugs', as well as way of trolling called-approriately, Spoonplugging, and was the father of what we know today as 'structure fishing'. His methods were so effective that, to this day, there many areas of Wisconsin that ban trolling as a fishing technique, due to the effectiveness of spoonplugging).

slikjr · **Posted:** Wed Jul 18, 2007 7:19 pm

Excellent! Thanks for the advice people. Keep it coming please. We are planning to camp a night or two outside of Vegas so we will bee looking to spend some time playing off road. I would liek to do the Hoover Dam thing, so if anyone can chime in on specifics with directions and trails around there, that would be great!!

Also, anyone had problems with the authorities around there? Are these trails like "legal" or at least "no one cares" if you're there kind of thing? Don't want to get in trouble 3000 miles from home ahahah.

QuestMan · **Posted:** Wed Jul 18, 2007 8:49 pm

If you're thinking of camping, head north, about 60 miles, to Mt. Charleston, about 50-60 miles north of Vegas, off of Hwy. 95. You'll WANT the higher altitudes. It should be 40 or 50 degrees cooler than the triple digits in Vegas. As for Kingman Wash, outside of Hoover Dam, here ya go;

http://www.nps.gov/archive/lame/Map2.pdf

It's a known public road. If you're feeling REALLY adventerous, you can always climb Fortification Hill, but I REALLY wouldn't do that in summer. (That triple digit heat thing, again.......)

Do a search for Lake Meade. Also, not too far west of the dam, is the Alan Bible Visitor's Center. They can give you ideas on where to go, how to get there, and what to do. Oh, and I forgot: There is a place called the Valley of Fire. I've never been there, but I hear it's pretty cool. They ought to be able to direct you on how to get to the Valley of Fire as well. Hope ths helps.
(And did I mention to bring PLENTY of water?) :lol:

slikjr · **Posted:** Thu Jul 19, 2007 12:25 am

Ok, great. North is actually where we will be headed on the way home anyways so that works out great. And yes, I will for sure bring PLENTY of water! Thanks for the input

0311_DoC · **Posted:** Thu Jul 19, 2007 4:02 am

QuestMan wrote:

If you're thinking of camping, head north, about 60 miles, to Mt. Charleston, about 50-60 miles north of Vegas, off of Hwy. 95. You'll WANT the higher altitudes. It should be 40 or 50 degrees cooler than the triple digits in Vegas. As for Kingman Wash, outside of Hoover Dam, here ya go;

http://www.nps.gov/archive/lame/Map2.pdf

It's a known public road. If you're feeling REALLY adventerous, you can always climb Fortification Hill, but I REALLY wouldn't do that in summer. (That triple digit heat thing, again.......):lol:

I live down there, where is that road exactly? is it right after you cross over the dam onto the AZ side? looking at the map it shows the road being 2.5 miles after the dam on the AZ side, I just dont recall a road in the canyon over there.

QuestMan · **Posted:** Thu Jul 19, 2007 10:21 am

Quote:

I live down there, where is that road exactly? is it right after you cross over the dam onto the AZ side? looking at the map it shows the road being 2.5 miles after the dam on the AZ side, I just dont recall a road in the canyon over there.

When they say 2.5 miles, I think they mean from the center point of the dam. It IS on the AZ side. As you head south, it will be on your left. If you go too far, you will pass Horsethief Canyon, if that helps. If you're not looking for it, it's easy to drive right by it. I haven't been there in a couple of years, but there never used to be any signs for it. There's a boat launch at the end of it, if you are willing to take your boat 4 miles down the wash. I've seen other people do it.

I found it one time, when I was out in Vegas, and got bored. I have a tendency to drive out and find the road less traveled...........

Maybe that's why I joined L.O.S.T.

Las Vegas and Area Trails

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