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Black Velvet Road
Backroads Around Las Vegas, Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
Black Velvet Road
Black Velvet Road
Late Night Parking (view NE)

Overview

Black Velvet Road is an occasionally maintained backcountry road that runs north from Highway 160 (the road to Pahrump) into the wild backcountry of Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area and the base of the Red Rock escarpment. The road provides access to hikes along the base of the escarpment and climbing in the Black Velvet Canyon area.

The road is rocky, and a bit rough were it crosses washes, but most of the rocks are rounded rather than sharp. People are driving sedans to within 50 yards of the trailhead (but they probaby are rentals).

Black Velvet Road is 2.6 miles long, and runs along the east edge of the Rainbow Mountain Wilderness Area. Camping is not permitted along the road.

Link to map.

Black Velvet Road
Edge of the pavement on Black Velvet Road (view NE)

Watch Out

Other than the standard warnings about driving in the desert, ...this is a slow and rocky, but fairly easy drive. The road is maintained, but the exact condition depends on the time since grading and the history of rain and flooding, but it should be suitable for a carefully driven sedans. Sometimes the road is washed out and requires 2WD-HC vehicle.

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.

Black Velvet Road
Designated Route sign

Getting to the Roadhead

From town, drive out to Red Rocks. From West Charleston at the entrance to the Scenic Loop Road (Table 1, Site 0519), continue west on Charleston Blvd (Hwy 159) all the way past Blue Diamond town to Highway 160 (Site 0848). Turn right onto Highway 160, towards Pahrump, and drive west for 4.7 miles. Watch for a sign and a paved, right turn lane with the parking area off to the right. Turn right onto the Late Night Access Road (Site 1076) and drive towards the paved parking area. Stay to the right (straight) and continue past the parking areas and the vault toilet (Site 1072) to the far end of the paved parking area. The edge of the pavement marks the start of Black Velvet Road.

Black Velvet Road

The Road

In the far east edge of the paved area (Site 1081), the graded dirt Black Velvet Road runs out into the desert generally heading northeast. Watch for carsonite "designated route" signs.

The road runs to the northeast, then bends and runs to the northwest as it passes around Mustang Hill. At 1.30 miles (Site 1082) and 1.34 miles out (Site 1083), the Black Velvet Road passes two side roads to the left. These two roads converge to become Lone Grapevine Road, which runs out to the Mud Spring #2 Trailhead and the Lone Grapevine Spring Trailhead.

Black Velvet Road

Continuing northwest past the Lone Grapevine Roads, the Black Velvet Road crosses a wash, and in my experience gets rougher. The road continues to the northwest, then at 1.8 miles out, bends hard to the left and runs more to the west, parallel to a wire fence.

The road continues to get more and more rocky, then at about 2.5 miles from the pavement, the road passes the first of several parking spots. The road continues for another 0.1 miles, but only the most hardy drivers (and those in rental vehicles) will drive to the very end of the road (Site 1074). Park in any of the parking areas; this is the trailhead.

Black Velvet Road
Black Velvet Road has several "no parking" areas (view NW)
Black Velvet Road
The road seems to run into the distance (view N)
Black Velvet Road
Black Velvet Road approaching Lone Grapevine Road, South (view N)
Black Velvet Road
Black Velvet Road at Lone Grapevine Road, South (view N)
Black Velvet Road
Lone Grapevine Road, South (view W from Black Velvet Road)
Black Velvet Road
Black Velvet Road approaching Lone Grapevine Road, North (view N)
Black Velvet Road
Black Velvet Road at Lone Grapevine Road, North (view N)
Black Velvet Road
Lone Grapevine Road, North (view W from Black Velvet Road)
Black Velvet Road
Black Velvet Road crossing a major wash (view NW)
Black Velvet Road
Black Velvet Road bends hard to the left at a fenceline (view NW)
Black Velvet Road
Heading west (view W)
Black Velvet Road
Smooth road (view W)
Black Velvet Road
Rocky road (view W)
Black Velvet Road
More rocky road leading to first parking area (view W)
Black Velvet Road
Black Velvet Canyon information sign (view W)
Black Velvet Road
Black Velvet Canyon information sign (view W)
Black Velvet Road
Very rocky patch before 3rd parking area
Black Velvet Road
Rocky road before 4th parking area
Black Velvet Road
4th parking area
Black Velvet Road
Road to 5th parking area
Black Velvet Road
Arriving at the end of the road
Black Velvet Road
5th parking area

Table 1. Backroad Coordinates (NAD27; UTM Zone 11S). Download Roadway GPS Waypoints (*.gpx) file.

Site Location Easting Northing Elevation Latitude Longitude
0519 Charleston Blvd at Scenic Loop Entrance 642120 3999525 3,681 36.13183 115.42059
0848 Hwy 160 at Blue Diamond Rd 647933 3988875 3,169 36.03498 115.35801
1072 Late Night Parking 641416 3986150 3,930 36.01139 115.43080
1074 Black Velvet Parking 639758 3988689 3,862 36.03451 115.44875
1081 Late Night Parking at Black Velvet Rd 641548 3986183 3,938 36.01167 115.42934
1082 Black Velvet Rd at Lone Grapevine Rd-1 641294 3988096 3,718 36.02895 115.43182
1083 Black Velvet Rd at Lone Grapevine Rd-2 641296 3988152 3,717 36.02945 115.43179

Happy Hiking! All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate.
copyright; Last updated 200202

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