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Kingman Wash Road
Backroads Around Las Vegas, Lake Mead National Recreation Area
Kingman Wash Road
Kingman Wash Road
Kingman Wash Road sign

Overview

Kingman Wash Road (NPS Road 70) 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 Mead National Recreation Area to the colorful Paint Pots area at the shore of Lake Mead. The road usually is suitable for carefully driven sedans, but a 2WD-HC vehicle would be safer, and one part of the road is a bit steep.

This road provides vehicle access to the shore of Lake Mead and three other backcountry roads, including Fortification Hill Road and the hike to the summit of Fortification Hill.

Link to map.

Kingman Wash Road
Highway sign entering Arizona (view E)

Watch Out

Other than the standard warnings about hiking in the desert, ...this road is pretty safe, but it can be bumpy and always be careful on blind corners. One part is rather steep, but it is passable in 2WD vehicles. Check with NPS rangers on road conditions before driving into the backcountry. Maps of approved backcountry roads are available online and at the Alan Bible Visitor Center.

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.

Kingman Wash Road

Getting to the Roadhead

This road is located in Lake Mead National Recreation Area, about 40 minutes southeast of Las Vegas. From town, drive out towards Hoover Dam, then continue south on Hwy 93 into Arizona for about 2 miles to Exit 2, Kingman Wash Road.

Exit the highway, turn left and drive under the highway. Kingman Wash Road starts on the east side of the interchange.

Kingman Wash Road

The Road

From the pavement (Table 1, Site 0793), the road passes road and information signs and goes onto the dirt. At about 0.25 miles out, the road passes the official "designated road" sign, then continues to wind up into the hills.

The road generally climbs for about 0.9 miles to an intersection (Site 1421) with Kingman Wash South Mine Road (NPS Rd 70A), then runs over low hills to an intersection (Site 1422) with Kingman Wash North Mine Road (NPS Rd 70B).

Kingman Wash Road

The road then descends (sometimes steeply) to an intersection (Site 1423) with Fortification Hill Road (NPS Rd 70C). Two vault toilets mark the intersection, and Fortification Hill towers above the toilets.

When the lake level is high, this is about the edge of Lake Mead, but the water is so low that drivers must continue another 0.3 miles to the lakeshore and the end of the road.

Kingman Wash Road Kingman Wash Road
Edge of the pavement at Kingman Wash Road
Kingman Wash Road
Sign at the edge of the pavement
Kingman Wash Road
Posted Regulations at the edge of the pavement
Kingman Wash Road
Official Kingman Wash Road sign
Kingman Wash Road
Climbing towards Fortification Hill
Kingman Wash Road
Side Road: Kingman Wash South Mine Road sign
Kingman Wash Road
Side Road: Kingman Wash South Mine Road
Kingman Wash Road
Running over low hills
Kingman Wash Road
Side Road: Kingman Wash North Mine Road sign
Kingman Wash Road
Side Road: Kingman Wash North Mine Road
Kingman Wash Road
Descending towards the colorful Paint Pots area
Kingman Wash Road
Fortification Hill
Kingman Wash Road
Descending towards the colorful Paint Pots area
Kingman Wash Road
Close to the end of the road
Kingman Wash Road
Approaching restrooms and turn to Fortification Hill Road
Kingman Wash Road
Restrooms at roads junction
Kingman Wash Road
Lake Mead at the Paint Pots
Kingman Wash Road
Rising water flooded this campfire ring
Kingman Wash Road
Scenery above the Paint Pots
Kingman Wash Road
Scenery above the Paint Pots
Kingman Wash Road
Driving out, stay right at the restrooms to exit the area

Table 1. Highway Coordinates Based on GPS Data (NAD27; UTM Zone 11S). Download Highway GPS Waypoints (*.gpx) file.

Site Location UTM Easting UTM Northing Latitude (N) Longitude (W) Elevation (ft) Verified
1423 Kingman Wash Rd at Fortification Hill Rd 706784 3989853 36.03307 114.70494 1,197 GPS
1422 Kingman Rd @ Kingman North Mine Rd 706663 3988023 36.01661 114.70676 1,630 GPS
1421 Kingman Wash Rd at Kingman South Mine Rd 706471 3987080 36.00816 114.70914 1,624 GPS
0794 Paint Pots Cove (Lake Mead shoreline) 706568 3990199 36.03623 114.70724 1,214 Yes
0793 Hwy 93 at Kingman Wash Rd 705370 3986367 36.00197 114.72153 1,465 Yes

Happy Hiking! All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate.
copyright; Last updated 130203

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