Overview

The Anniversary Mine Road is a little-used backcountry road that runs north from Northshore Road into the wild backcountry of Lake Mead National Recreation Area (which is actually BLM land) and provides access to the Ore Car Mine, the Anniversary Narrows Route, and hikes in the Muddy Mountains Wilderness Area. This road, about 1.6 miles long, leads through spectacular country to the edge of Lovell Wash. Getting past Lovell Wash is more excitement than most drivers need. There are nice campsites along the road.

Link to map.

Watch Out

Other than the standard warnings about hiking in the desert, ...this is a fairly easy drive, but it is not a piece of cake. Under normal conditions, the road requires only a high clearance vehicle, although the Park Service recommends 4WD.

While out, please respect the land and the other people out there, and try to Leave No Trace of your passage. Also, even though this road is short, be sure to bring what you need of the 10 Essentials.

Getting to the Roadhead

This road is located along Northshore Road in Lake Mead National Recreation Area, about 45 minutes northeast of Las Vegas. From town, drive out to Lake Mead, and then to the Anniversary Narrows Trailhead.

The Road

From the pavement (Table 1, Site 0782), the Callville Wash North Road (Road 94) passes a broad, flat turn-off area (Site 1061) where hikers with 2WD vehicles often park to begin their hikes. The road goes down a short but relatively steep ramp into sandy Callville Wash. At about 0.2 miles from the pavement (only a few moments in the wash), the Callville Wash North Road forks (Site 0784). Callville Wash North Road (Road 94) continues up the broad, sandy wash, while the Anniversary Mine Road (Road 94a) turns left and out of the wash.

Turning onto Anniversary Mine Road, the road runs northwest, crosses firm soils, and then crosses the rest of Callville Wash, which often looks more sandy than it is. Continuing up a side wash, the road winds up a narrow side canyon and eventually climbs out of the wash and runs on firmer ground.

At about 0.4 miles up the Anniversary Mine Road, the road passes out of Lake Mead National Recreation Area and onto BLM land. Sometimes the boundary is marked with a red carsonite sign, but don't expect to see a formal sign.

The road continues northwest with some rough and some not-so-rough spots, and eventually runs out to the top of a cliff overlooking Lovell Wash (Site 0785). There are wide spots along the road that can be used for parking, and there is a nice campsite. For those not ready for a serious 4WD adventure, this is a good place to stop.

The road continues and drops steeply into Lovell Wash. At the edge of the wash, the road washed out, but people have been building it up. When I was there last, it looked like I could drive down into the wash, but getting back out might have been a problem.

Across the wash, the road winds back out of the canyon and up to the top of a huge pile of pink mine tailings, which can also be reached via rough roads off of West End Wash.