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Spring Meadows Road
Birding Around Las Vegas, Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge
Spring Meadows Road
Spring Meadows Road
Nevada Highway 363 at Spring Meadows Road (view N)

Spring Meadows Road

Spring Meadows Road is the main road through Ash Meadows Wildlife Refuge, connecting NV Highway 363 (same as CA Hwy 127) on the west side with Bell Vista Road on the south. From Hwy 363, the road generally runs east-west to the center of the refuge, then bends to runs north-south until exiting the area. Spring Meadows Road provides access to signed side roads leading to the visitor center and some good birding spots.

Link to map.

From the west entrance, the paved Spring Meadows Road runs east then gently bends right circling around an old mining operation until bending back left to resuming an eastward track. The road enters the refuge (boundary and information signs) and soon the pavement ends. Continuing west, the road passes a left to Peterson Reservoir, a right to the backside of Crystal Reservoir (sometimes closed), and another left to Longstreet, Rogers, and Fairbanks springs. Opposite this road, a road right leads to Refuge Headquarters, which no longer has public facilities. By this time, the visitor center is visible ahead on the right, and soon the road passes the Visitor Center access road.

Spring Meadows Road
Spring Meadows Road approaching the refuge boundary (view E)

Continuing, the road bends hard to the right to run due south; then bends left and passes a road on the right to Crystal Reservoir.

The road eventually bends left to run due east and arrives at a T-intersection. Here, Spring Meadows Road turns right to head south while Devil's Hole Road continues straight.

Heading south on Spring Meadows Road, visitors pass Bradford Spring on the right and a road left to Point-of-Rocks. Shortly thereafter, Jackrabbit Road angles away to the left. For people heading towards Pahrump, this is an alternative route, although not a shortcut.

Still heading south on Spring Meadows Road, the road bends right, passes the south entrance signs, and exits the wildlife refuge. Shortly the road bends back left and arrives at the paved Bell Vista Road. Turning left takes visitors to Pahrump, while heading right leads to Death Valley Junction.

Spring Meadows Road
West Entrance boundary sign (view E)
Spring Meadows Road
West Entrance information sign (view SE)
Spring Meadows Road
Last of the pavement and directional sign (view E)
Spring Meadows Road
Graded road and good signs (view E)
Spring Meadows Road
The Visitor Center comes into view ahead on the right (view E)
Spring Meadows Road
Road sign and Visitor Center (view SE)
Spring Meadows Road
Visitor Center (view S)
Spring Meadows Road
Approaching Visitor Center access road (view E)
Spring Meadows Road
Spring Meadows Road at Visitor Center access road (view SE)
Spring Meadows Road
Sign opposite Visitor Center access road (view N)
Spring Meadows Road
Beyond the Visitor Center (view S)
Spring Meadows Road
Approaching T-intersection (view E)
Spring Meadows Road
Sign at top of T-intersection (view N)
Spring Meadows Road
Approaching Bradford Spring and Point-of-Rocks Road (view S)
Spring Meadows Road
Sign opposite Point-of-Rocks Road (view W)
Spring Meadows Road
Approaching the South Entrance (exiting from the refuge; view SSW)

Northbound Spring Meadows Road

Spring Meadows Road
Bell Vista Road at Spring Meadows Road (view W)
Spring Meadows Road
Bell Vista Road at Spring Meadows Road (view E)
Spring Meadows Road
Sign on Bell Vista Road opposite Spring Meadows Road (view W)
Spring Meadows Road
Spring Meadows Road entering the wildlife refuge (view NE)
Spring Meadows Road
Spring Meadows Road at South Entrance (view NE)
Spring Meadows Road
Road sign with directions and distances (view NNE)

Table 1. GPS Coordinates for Highway Locations (NAD27; UTM Zone 11S). Download Highway GPS Waypoints (*.gpx) file.

Site Location UTM Easting UTM Northing Latitude (N) Longitude (W) Elevation (ft)
0408 Spring Mdws Rd at Devils Hole Rd 562669 4029412 36.40965 116.30106 2,236
0558 Spring Mdws Rd at Bell Vista Rd 562731 4022552 36.34781 116.30091 2,238
0690 Hwy 373 at Spring Meadows Rd 551890 4032103 36.43456 116.42109 2,198
1822 Spring Meadows Road at Visitor Center Road 560408 4031085 36.42488 116.32613 2,191

Happy birding! All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate.
copyright; Last updated 170630

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