Where is Christmas Tree Pass?
Usa, north-america
26.23 km
1,210 m
moderate
Year-round
Christmas Tree Pass is a super cool mountain pass chilling at almost 4,000 feet in Nevada's Clark County. You'll find it in the southern part of the state, not far from Arizona and California.
So, why "Christmas Tree Pass?" Well, legend has it there's a tree along the way decked out with Christmas ornaments!
The road, Christmas Tree Pass Road (NPS Road 20), is all unpaved gravel, stretching for about 16 miles. It'll take you from just outside Laughlin, right off NV Highway 163, to the little town of Searchlight on US Highway 93.
The road cuts through the Newberry Mountains, and while mostly in good shape, there are some steep and rough spots, especially on the eastern side right below the pass. A high-clearance vehicle can be helpful for those occasional deep ruts, but careful driving can usually get a passenger car through. Just watch out for soft, sandy spots and keep an eye out for rattlesnakes!
The views are incredible! You'll be cruising through the Nevada desert with amazing mountain scenery. You'll start on the desert floor and then gently climb into the mountains. This is a drive for the journey, with lots of hiking and rock-scrambling spots.
Make sure you stop at Grapevine Canyon! You can clamber on granite boulders and check out a crazy amount of ancient rock art.
Give yourself about an hour to drive the whole thing without stopping. This scenic drive goes through the Lake Mead National Recreation Area and takes you to a huge petroglyph site in Grapevine Canyon. The road winds through a desert landscape that's important to many Native American tribes. Get ready for awesome desert and mountain views as you drive between wilderness areas.
Road Details
- Country
- Usa
- Continent
- north-america
- Length
- 26.23 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,210 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
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