Overview

Highland Range North Road is a graded powerline road that runs more or less east-west connecting the northern portion of Wee Thump West Road with the north end of Highland Range East Road, and then across Eldorado Valley to the pavement at Highway 95.

This road provides access to the northern portion of the Highland Range with great views of towering cliffs, deep canyons, and broad desert flats. The road runs under powerlines the entire way, which detracts from the grand scenery, although, ignoring this, the scenery is grand. At each power tower, there is a pull-out area where visitors can stop to enjoy the scenery and perhaps camp or eat a picnic lunch.

Under normal conditions, this road is passable in any medium-clearance vehicle. Crossing the sandy bottom of Eldorado Valley, flash floods can create sandy conditions where the road the washes out.

Link to map.

Watch Out

Other than the standard warnings about driving in the desert, ...this road is pretty safe when the weather is cool. If the weather is hot, this place can be unbelievably hot. In the bottom of Eldorado Valley, flash floods can create soft, sandy conditions where the road crosses the washes. The road is subject to flash floods in several areas, and several ditches cross the road. There is one particularly rocky spot towards the middle of the road; however, careful drivers should have no trouble here in medium-clearance vehicles.

While out, please respect the land and the other people out there, and please try to Leave No Trace of your passage. Be sure to bring what you need of the 10 Essentials.

Getting to the Roadhead

Highland Range North Road is located north of Searchlight, Nevada, about 40 minutes south of downtown Las Vegas.

From town, drive south on Highway 95 (Interstate-11) through Henderson. After leaving the Las Vegas Valley, exit I-11 to the right staying on Highway 95 towards Searchlight. From I-11, continue south 20 miles. The highway passes the turnoff to Nelson on the left, passes the last of the solar farms on the right, passes the Avi Kwa Ame National Monument boundary sign, and arrives at high-tension powerlines crossing the highway. Exit here to the right onto Highland Range North Road (Site 1974), which is graded dirt. Watch for a stop sign at the intersection. A BLM sign by the first power tower provides limited information about the area.

Alternatively, drivers can continue south to Searchlight, turn right onto Highway 164, and drive west to Wee Thump West Road, which is dirt. On the dirt, drive north 16.2 miles to the west end of Highland North Road (Site 1972).

The Road -- East Bound (all photos show the eastbound direction)

From the northern end of Wee Thump West Road (Site 1972), Highland Range North Road runs southeast across desert flats heading towards the northeast corner of the Highland Range. At about 0.9 miles out, the road winds through a deep ravine, and then resumes traversing desert flats.

At about 1.4 miles out, the road begins to wind over a low ridge and soon descends onto desert flats on the other side. At about 2.3 miles out, the road passes a small, white sign, announcing entry into the Boulder City Conservation Area. In total, the road passes through a small sliver at the southwest corner of the conservation area.

Soon the road curves more towards the south and begins winding over a higher ridge than the first one. In this area, at about 2.7 miles out, the road crosses a small, rocky section that is the worst part of the road but can be driven carefully in any 2WD-medium clearance vehicle.

The road climbs onto a low saddle (3.0 miles out) with nice views of the area, then descends to the east towards the desert flats below. In this area, the road follows a barbed-wire fence on the right. Eventually, the road curves right and forks. The right fork goes over a cattle guard while the left fork does not, but either way, the road exits the Boulder City Conservation Area (3.5 miles out).

After winding through foothills onto the east side of the Highland Range, Highland Range North Road bends hard to the left and soon arrives at a T-intersection (Site 1974; 3.8 miles out) with Highland Range East Road. This road follows powerlines along the east edge of the Highland Range all the way to Highway 164.

Now heading due east, Highland Range North Road descends gently into the bottom of Eldorado Valley. In the lowest points, the road crosses washes that can be sandy. Beyond the sandy washes, the road climbs gently until ending at Highway 95 (Site 1975; 6.7 miles out).

The Road -- West Bound

From the pavement on Highway 95 (Table 1, Site 1974), Highland Range North Road crosses a cattle guard at the highway fence and quickly arrives at the first power tower. At the far side of the tower, a BLM sign provides limited information about the area.

Continuing west, Highland Range North Road drops into the bottom of the valley where several broad, sandy washes cross the road. After storms, these areas can be washed out and sandy. Beyond the bottom of the valley, the road climbs gently towards the Highland Range. Here the road may still cross washout ditches, but it is no longer sandy.

Approaching the base of the Highland Range, Highland Range North Road passes a T-intersection (Site 1973; 2.9 miles out) at the northern end of Highland Range East Road. This road follows powerlines along the east edge of the Highland Range all the way south to Highway 164.

Just past the T-intersection, Highland Range North Road bends hard to the right, staying on the desert flats, and begins heading northwest. Here, and in several more places, minor roads branch off from the main road.

Now heading north, Highland Range North Road passes through a fenceline where drivers can stay to the right on the main road or stay to the left and cross a cattle guard. At the cattle guard, notice a sign announcing entry into the Boulder City Conservation Area.

Inside the fence, Highland Range North Road bends to the left, and begins climbing into the foothills of the Highland Range. The road climbs over a low pass and descends over the other side, eventually running due north again. Back on desert flats underneath the powerlines and now heading northwest, the road passes a small sign announcing the exit from the Boulder City Conservation Area.

The Highland Range North Road winds around and climbs over another low ridge before again descending onto desert flats. The road winds through one deep ravine, but otherwise runs across the undulating landscape until reaching a triangular intersection (Site 1972; 6.0 miles out) with Wee Thump West Road.

From here, drivers can turn south towards Wee Thump Wilderness Area and Highway 164, or they can head north trying their luck to find a way through the new power plant fences and back to Highway 95.