Beginner Off-Road Trails Near Nelson, Nevada

Nelson Rollercoaster

This is a very scenic route through the hills near Nelson, Nevada. The dirt trail has several steep climbs and descents over several ridges as you make your way through the El Dorado Mountains. From…
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Total Miles
11.6
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Fa / Wi

Aztec Wash Road

This 20.8-mile out-and-back trail starts near the small town of Nelson, El Dorado Canyon, and passes through Eagle Wash and Aztec Wash before ending at a small cove on Lake Mohave. Plenty of beautiful vistas…
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Total Miles
9.9
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Eagle Wash Road to Placer Cove

This 9.7 out-and-back trail is a side trip off the Aztec Wash Road. This trail is mostly loose sand and gravel, which is passable by stock 4WD vehicles. At the S-Turn going to Placer Cove,…
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Total Miles
4.5
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Mountain Wash Road to Morning Star Cove

This 7.6-mile out-and-back trail runs down Mountain Wash and ends at Morning Star Cove on Lake Mohave. This trail is mostly loose sand and gravel. Enjoy the cool water in the morning star cove on…
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Total Miles
3.5
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Fire Mountain Road

This 10.2-mile out-and-back trail starts off in a wash but then climbs up on a spur and continues down to Lake Mohave. This trail has great views of Lake Mohave. The last mile of the…
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Total Miles
4.8
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Keyhole Canyon

This is an easy dirt road into the mountains of the Eldorado Valley. The access is very easy, and the canyon is a popular camping location. The road leads you to a slot canyon that…
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Total Miles
7
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Mead Davis Power Road

Mead Davis Power Road is a rocky, dusty, sandy, rutted, washed-out road. Some sections require a short wheelbase high clearance vehicle, otherwise, its an easy road 4x4 is highly recommended. There is a chance for…
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Total Miles
36.8
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Powerline Wash Road

This short 2.6-mile out-and-back trail is a side trip/spur trail off the Aztec Wash Road. This is an easy trail that can be done by a high clearance 2WD or any 4WD vehicle. It runs…
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Total Miles
1.3
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Wi / Fa

Rockefeller Mine Road

Rockefeller Mine road is mixed surface gravel, sand, and loose rock road that runs through both Lake Mead National Recreation Area and Bureau of Land Management Government Lands. This road offers stunning views of the…
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Total Miles
9.9
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Opal Mountain Road

Opal Mountain Road drives through the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. This area is a limited-use area, and camping is only allowed in approved areas. Offroad use is not allowed unless on a designated route.…
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Total Miles
5.4
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Wi / Fa

Six Mile Cove Road

Six Mile Cove Road is an easy road but can be loose sand in sections, 4x4 is recommended, in the rainy season this area is prone to flash floods. It runs through Lake Mead National…
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Total Miles
6.3
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Wi / Fa

Mid Basin Cove

Mid-Basin Cove road is an easy road but can be loose sand in sections, 4x4 is recommended, in the rainy season this area is prone to flash floods. It runs through Lake Mead National Recreation…
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Total Miles
3.4
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Kingman Wash

Kingman Wash Road is a maintained backcountry road off Highway 93, south of Hoover Dam in Arizona. The road runs for about 3.6 miles over hills and down washes through the wild backcountry of Lake…
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Total Miles
3.3
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

East Cottonwood Cove Road

This trail is a graded road from US 93 out to East Cottonwood Cove on Lake Mohave. This road is wide and fairly smooth with a few washes that are susceptible to flooding during heavy…
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Total Miles
18.5
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Wi / Su / Sp

Pot Cove Road

This short side trail off the East Cottonwood Cove Road leads to the more popular beach area which has toilet facilities. A good side trip while in the area to view Lake Mohave and relax.…
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Total Miles
0.5
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Tamarisk Road

Tamarisk Road runs through Lake Mead National Recreation Area. This area is a limited-use area, and camping is only allowed in approved areas, offroad use is not allowed unless on a designated route. It is…
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Total Miles
2.4
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Nine Mile Cove Road

Nine Mile Cove Road runs through Lake Mead National Recreation Area. This area is a limited-use area, and camping is only allowed in approved areas, offroad use is not allowed unless on a designated route.…
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Total Miles
2.2
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Nellis Cove Road

Nellis Cove Road runs through Lake Mead National Recreation Area. This area is a limited-use area, and camping is only allowed in approved areas, offroad use is not allowed unless on a designated route. It…
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Total Miles
2.4
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Mead Davis Powerline Road

The first half of the trail is hard pack dirt with rutted areas and uneven grades, single-car wide. The second half of the trail is washes with two-car wide areas most of the way and…
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Total Miles
13.1
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Fa / Wi

Lake Mead View Trail

This trail provides great views of Lake Mead and many areas suitable for camping. The road is mostly moderate gravel but there are several short loose and steep sections. There are a lot of large…
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Total Miles
7.3
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Lava Butte Loop

Rainbow Gardens and Lava Butte form this loop trail. It is an easy trail suitable for any 4x4 truck or SUV, as well as off road vehicles and mountain bikes. Red, tan and white hills…
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Total Miles
15.2
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Kodachrome Road

Kodachrome Road is an easy trail and is suitable for any type of vehicle. Along the way, you will see many colorful geological formations. The colorful landscape inspired the trail's name. Along the way, you…
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Total Miles
8.9
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Portland Mine Traverse

This 21.7 point-to-point trail begins off the Lake Mead View Trail (which actually overlooks Lake Mohave) and ends near Katherine's Landing. The trail takes you through the Black Mountain range and passes by the Portland…
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Total Miles
21.1
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa / Wi / Sp

Christmas Tree Pass

Christmas Tree Pass is a fun, dirt road adventure in the hills above the Colorado River on the Arizona/Nevada border. It is named for a tree on the trail that is decorated with christmas ornaments.…
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Total Miles
15.5
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Fa / Wi

Bird Spring Pass

This is an easy and very scenic trail through the Nevada desert. Although the trail lacks any large trees, you do get to experience the natural offerings of the desert as well as great views…
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Total Miles
16.4
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Nevada Telephone Cove Road

The Nevada Telephone Cove Road is inside the Lake Mead National Recreation Area boundary and starts just off State Route 163 a few miles outside of Laughlin, NV. This is a well trafficked and reasonably…
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Total Miles
4.5
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Stonehouse Trail

The Stonehouse Trail is a single wide dirt road that winds through desert hills in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area and passes by an old stone house ruin which gives the trail its name.…
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Total Miles
3.5
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Ivanpah Valley High Voltage Line

This section of the high voltage line was a paved road at some point, but most of it has long since been reclaimed by the desert. It would be easy for one to travel it…
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Total Miles
12
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Wi / Fa / Sp

Potosi Tower Road

The Potosi Tower Road is a 14.6 out and back trail that goes to a great overlook of the Las Vegas Strip and Potosi Mountain. Built as a service road for the multiple communication towers…
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Total Miles
7.3
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Cottonwood Pass

Cottonwood Pass runs north and south through the Spring Mountain and Red Rock conservation areas just west of Las Vegas, NV. From Blue Diamond road you can take Cottonwood Pass all the way to Goodsprings,…
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Total Miles
10.6
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi