Overview

The Mt. Irish Rock Art and Archaeological District is a broad, relatively flat and open area at the top of the bajada below the Mount Irish Range, of which Mt. Irish is the highest peak. Scattered about the area are many boulder piles and low bands of cliffs formed from rhyolite (a hard, light-colored volcanic ash-flow tuff). Many rock faces are covered in desert varnish, a naturally occurring dark patina that forms on the surface of rocks in the desert. Native peoples created petroglyphs by pecking away the desert varnish to reveal the underlying light-colored rock.

Access is via a fairly good, graded dirt road, but it is subject to washout, especially where the road crosses a wash in the rock art district. High-clearance vehicles should have no problem with the road, and carefully driven sedans should make it too, at least to the second BLM sign. Sedans should stop at the second BLM sign, but high-clearance vehicles can continue up the road another minute or two to a junction where a spur road to the left runs south to an outhouse, parking area, and sign-in register.

There are many rock faces (panels) in the area with petroglyphs that are easily accessible from the dirt access road. Across the road (south) from the first BLM sign, there is a nice boulder pile with amazing petroglyphs facing the road; look for the big petroglyph of a bighorn sheep.

At the second BLM sign, there is a series of rock piles adjacent to the road on the north side. These rocks are covered with petroglyphs; be sure to check the backside of the boulder pile.

Past the second BLM sign, a road forks off to the left. Park at the end of the road by the outhouse and the sign-in register. The rock piles on both sides of the spur road have many wonderful petroglyphs.

These sites are just the tip of the iceberg. Wander around and explore the area looking for petroglyphs and other evidence of past human use of the area. Remember, however, petroglyphs are national treasures that are easily damaged. Please take care of the area and leave it as you found it for generations to come.

Location

Mt. Irish Rock Art and Archaeological District is located in the Pahranagat Valley, about 110 miles north of Las Vegas.

Links to Area Map and Site Map.

From town, drive north on Interstate 15 to US Highway 93 (Table 1, Site 674). Turn left onto US Highway 93 and drive north past the towns of Alamo (95 miles) and Ash Springs (102 miles) to the intersection of Highways 93 and 318 (107 miles) (Site 677). Gasoline is available in Alamo and Ash Springs.

Turn left onto Highway 318 and drive west for 0.7 miles to Crystal Spring, which is marked by a big stand of cottonwood trees (Site 676). The road forks here, stay to the right on Highway 318. The other fork, Highway 375 (the Extraterrestrial Highway), continues west towards the secret military bases at Area 51 and the town of Rachael.

Drive north on Highway 318 for another 2.5 miles to an unmarked dirt road (Logan Pass Road) with a barbed wire gate on the left (west) side of the road (Wpt. 21). The turn is just north of the Hiko Post Office and about 0.2 miles north of the right turn to the Nesbitt Lake Unit of the Key Pittman Wildlife Area.

Open the barbed-wire gate, drive through, and close the gate behind you.

Drive west and up the hill on Logan Pass Road for 6.8 miles to the Archaeological District, the beginning of which is marked by a large BLM sign (Wpt. 20) announcing the area. Just beyond the first sign, look for a rockpile out in the wash on the south side of the road; it has some nice petroglyphs.

Continuing on, the road crosses a gravel wash about 0.3 miles past the first BLM sign. This part of the road can become washed out.

The second BLM sign (Wpt. 15), 1.7 miles past the first BLM sign, marks the site of a nice rockpile with petroglyphs. Be sure to walk all the way around the boulders.

Continue up Logan Pass Road for 0.3 miles to a fork that branches off to the left (south). Park here in a sedan, otherwise, drive about 300 yards to the end of the road where the outhouse and sign-in register are located. There are great petroglyphs on the rockpiles on both sides of the outhouse road.

There are hundreds of petroglyphs in the area; wander about and look for them.

Hours

The area is always open, but it probably should be considered day-use only. There are no established camping areas.

Fees

None.