Description

The "Arizona Road" runs eastward from Whitney Pockets into Arizona, climbing some 2,000 feet in 4.5 miles to Whitney Pass. Along the way, the road passes through a number of vegetation zones where different species of desert and montane birds can be found. The road is suitable for sedans under benign weather conditions, but it is steep and narrow, and it gets a bit washboarded.

The Whitney Pockets area an informal BLM camping area nestled among scenic red and white sandstone cliffs at about 3,000 feet elevation. The area is quite dry, and the vegetation is almost entirely widely spaced creosote bush (Mojave Desert Scrub Zone). From this dry desert area, the road ascends through several vegetation communities (zones of increasing precipitation and changing vegetation) to Whitney Pass at about 5,000 feet in the Pinon-Juniper Woodland Zone. The Whitney Pass area is vegetated with a thick and diverse assemblage of shrubs, buckhorn cholla, and pinyon pine, plus there are cattle tanks that provide water for wildlife.

Make no mistake; going out here is going to wild and remote country. This is not a walk in the park; this is an adventure. Be prepared. Take food and water (lots of it during warm weather), make sure your spare tire is in good shape, and take everything that you might need to survive a night stranded with your vehicle. Cell phones get out from some places, but don't count on it.

Location

The Arizona Road is located about 2 hours east of Las Vegas, in the wild, remote, and scenic Gold Butte region south of the town of Mesquite.

Cross the bridge and immediately take a hard right turn (Site 686) towards the Meadowland Farm. The slope of the road makes the turn look like a pullout rather than an intersection. Follow the paved road southwest along the river. There are a number of places to stop and look for birds in the trees and farms along the river, but find safe places to pull off the road. After about 6 miles, the road abruptly turns southeast and leaves the river (Site 687). Stay on the rough paved road for another 14 miles, following it all the way to the end of the pavement at Whitney Pockets (Site 462).

At Whitney Pockets, the pavement ends, but the road continues straight ahead as a broad, graded dirt road. A few yards past the end of the pavement, a narrower road forks off to the east (left) and runs up along the sandstone cliffs. A road sign says that Arizona is 6 miles up that road. Turn (left) onto the road to Arizona (i.e., the "Arizona Road") and drive up the mountain towards Whitney Pass (Site 688).

Hours

Always open.

Fees

None.

Species to Watch For:

This is wild, middle-elevation desert county. Expect to see desert species such as Crissal Thrasher, Rock Wren, House Finch, Sage Sparrow, Pinyon Jay, Western Scrub-Jay, Juniper Titmouse, Mourning dove, and Spotted Towhee. At the higher elevations, also expect to see montane species such as Mountain Chickadee and Western Bluebird.

I've seen these species out there:

Birds:

Mourning Dove
Golden Eagle
House Finch
Black-tailed Gnatcatcher
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Red-tailed Hawk
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper Hawk
Pinyon Jay
Western Scrub-Jay

Mammals:

Black-tailed Jackrabbit, desert cottontail, cliff chipmunk, rock squirrel, valley pocket gopher, white-tailed antelope squirrel, mule deer, and feral horse. I've seen bighorn scat.

Reptiles:

Lyre Snake, Patchnose Snake, and Side-blotched Lizard.