Overview

The Lovell Canyon Road is a little-used, paved backcountry road that runs north from Highway 160 (the road to Pahrump) into the wild backcountry of Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area (BLM land) and the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area (USFS land). The road provides access to hikes on the backside of the Red Rocks Escarpment, Rocky Gap Road (aka Potato Road), Lovell Summit Road (Lovell Canyon Trailhead), and the Torino Ranch for critically ill and at-risk children.

Lovell Canyon Road is 11 miles long, and runs along the west edge of the Rainbow Mountain Wilderness Area and the La Madre Mountain Wilderness Area. There are nice campsites along the road, and this is a favorite area for illegal target shooting.

Link to map.

Watch Out

Other than the standard warnings about driving in the desert, ...this is a fairly easy drive. Under normal conditions, the road is suitable for any sedan, but sometimes the road is washed out and requires a high-clearance vehicle. If you hear people shooting guns, even 50-caliber machine guns, stay on the pavement until you are sure where they are aiming.

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 off Highway 160 west of the town of Mountain Springs, about 45 minutes southwest of Las Vegas. From downtown, drive south on Interstate-15 to Highway 160. Exit onto Highway 160 west, towards Pahrump, and drive west out of town and over the mountains. About 3 miles west of Mountain Spring Summit, watch for highway signs and a right turn onto Lovell Canyon Road.

The Road

From Highway 160 at Lovell Canyon Road (Table 1, Site 1013), drive north on Lovell Canyon Road. The road is paved and in fairly good condition, although it deteriorates farther out.

Vegetation along the road includes Singleleaf Pinyon, Utah Juniper (Pinyon-Juniper Woodland habitat type), blackbrush, rabbitbrush, sagebrush, and many other species typical of middle-elevation desert mountains.

At about 1.0 miles out, the dirt Rainbow Spring Road (Site 1014) turns off to the east. There are several campsites up Rainbow Spring Road within 1/2 miles of the pavement. This road runs east to Rainbow and Bootleg springs, and a trailhead for Little Zion and the top of the Red Rock Escarpment.

Along the southern part of the road, the landscape is wide with grand views to the north of Mt. Charleston and to the west of colorful ridges. To the east, rounded hills covered in trees hide the fact of the Red Rock Escarpment just out of view over the ridge.

At about 4.5 miles out, the road turns hard to the right and cuts down a long hill that provides nice a overview of the landscape. Don't drive too fast around the curve or you might get a really good overview.

At about 7.5 miles out, the dirt Rocky Gap Road (Site 1077) turns off to the east. This is an extreme 4WD road that crosses the mountains and runs down into Willow Springs Picnic Area along the Red Rock Canyon Scenic Loop Road.

Beyond the turn to Rocky Gap Road, the canyon narrows and the road is more likely to be washed out after storms, but the road is maintained.

At 11.0 miles out, the Lovell Summit Road (Site 1078) turns off to the left. This road runs west, passing Lovell Canyon Trailhead, Cave Spring, Lovell Summit, and Coal Spring before intersecting Trout Canyon Road (Site 1079). Turning left onto Trout Canyon Road, the road runs west and descends from the mountains back to Highway 160 (Site 1080). Trout Canyon Road provides access to the Lovell Canyon Trail and the Schaefer Spring Trail.

Continuing north on Lovell Canyon Road a few yards past the Lovell Summit Road turnoff, the public road ends at the Torino Ranch gate and a stop sign.