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Anniversary Mine Road
Backroads Around Las Vegas, Lake Mead National Recreation Area
Anniversary Mine Road
Anniversary Mine Road
Mile Post 16 Trailhead along Northshore Road

Note: Details of this road are in flux as the mine operator keeps changing things, and the road is totally washed out where it crosses Lovell Wash. The fence and signs washed away too, but the area remains private property, although the land owner does not seem to be defending his property lines.

Overview

Anniversary Mine Road is now a well-used road that runs north from Northshore Road into the wild backcountry of Lake Mead National Recreation Area (which is actually BLM land) and provides access to an active mining operation, primitive campsites, the Ore Car Mine, the Anniversary Narrows Route, and hikes in the Muddy Mountains Wilderness Area. This road leads through spectacular country for about 1.6 miles to the edge of the wilderness area and the mouth of the narrows.

Getting into and driving up Lovell Wash requires a carefully driven high-clearance vehicle, although 4WD would be safer, and for now, the road is open all the way to the mouth of the main narrows.

Link to map.

Anniversary Mine Road
Dropping into Callville Wash

Watch Out

Other than the standard warnings about hiking in the desert, ...this is a fairly easy drive, but it is not a piece of cake. Trucks from the mine can churn up deep sand where the road crosses Callville Wash and deep dust farther out. When the road is recently maintained, it is suitable for a carefully driven sedan out to the edge of Lovell Wash, but under normal conditions, the road requires a high clearance vehicle, although the Park Service recommends 4WD. In my jeep, I stayed in 2WD for the deep sand in Callville Wash, but it was reassuring to have 4WD just in case. Watch for mine trucks traveling too fast around blind corners.

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. Stay out of the mines.

Anniversary Mine Road
Crossing Callville Wash (possible deep sand)

Getting to the Roadhead

This road is located along Northshore Road in Lake Mead National Recreation Area, about 45 minutes northeast of Las Vegas. From town, drive out to Lake Mead, and then to the Anniversary Narrows Trailhead at Mile Post 16 on Northshore Road.

Anniversary Mine Road
Turning onto Anniversary Mine Road (Road 94a)

The Road

From the pavement (Table 1, Site 0782), the Callville Wash North Road (Road 94) passes a broad, flat turn-off area (Site 1061) where hikers with 2WD vehicles often park to begin their hikes. The road goes down a short but relatively steep ramp into sandy Callville Wash. At about 0.2 miles from the pavement (only a few moments in the wash), the Callville Wash North Road forks (Site 0784). Callville Wash North Road (Road 94) continues up the broad, sandy wash, while the Anniversary Mine Road (Road 94a) turns left and out of the wash.

Anniversary Mine Road
Anniversary Mine Road (Road 94a) sign

Turning onto Anniversary Mine Road, the road runs northwest, crosses firm soils, and then crosses the rest of Callville Wash, which often looks more sandy than it is. Continuing up a side wash, the road winds up a narrow canyon and eventually climbs out of the wash and runs on firmer ground.

At about 0.4 miles up the Anniversary Mine Road, the road passes out of Lake Mead National Recreation Area and onto BLM land. Sometimes the boundary is marked with a red carsonite sign, but don't expect to see a formal sign. There is a large, traditional campsite at this point.

Anniversary Mine Road
Crossing the last of Callville Wash (firm sand)

At about 1.0 miles out, Anniversary Mine Road passes the parking for the Ore Car Mine, a mining claim owned by the Las Vegas Gem Club (Southern Nevada Gem and Mineral Society). The sign implies that "all gem material collectors" can work the claim, but I've been led to believe that the sign means members of any gem club. For all the times I've been out the road, I've never explored the claim, but the sign indicates that they get agates here.

Immediately past Ore Car Mine parking, a road to the right (Site 1346) forks off to active mine works. Anniversary Mine Road continues straight heading northwest. At 1.5 miles out, Anniversary Mine Road arrives at another spur road to the right (Site 1347) that leads to the same active mine works. Again, Anniversary Mine Road stays left continuing northwest.

The road continues another 0.15 miles northwest to the top of a cliff overlooking Lovell Wash (Site 0785). There are wide spots here that serve at the trailhead parking area. This is the place to stop; drive no farther.

Anniversary Mine Road
About to leave the side wash

The road continues north and drops steeply towards Lovell Wash. The edge of the wash, however, is washed out and forms a cliff several feet high. Anyone that drives down here will be backing back up the road to the trailhead parking area.

Across the wash, hikers can follow the road as it winds back out of the canyon (initially heading southwest) and up to the top of a huge pile of pink mine tailings, which can also be reached via rough roads from West End Wash Road.

The mine company had closed the road through the first narrows, but flash floods washed away the gate and fencing. Hikers can now walk up the canyon to the main narrows (Site 1348)

This issue of access is under dispute -- see details.

When walking into the narrows, hikers also walk into the Muddy Mountains Wilderness Area.

Anniversary Mine Road
Anniversary Mine Road (view N)
Anniversary Mine Road
Designated road symbol sign (view N)
Anniversary Mine Road
Park Service - BLM boundary (note red stake on left; view N)
Anniversary Mine Road
Road runs through low hills (view N)
Anniversary Mine Road
Approaching Alternative Trailhead (view N)
Anniversary Mine Road
Jeep parked at Alternative Trailhead (view N)
Anniversary Mine Road
Alternative route starts up wash to the right (view N)
Anniversary Mine Road
Ore Car Mine sign and parking area
Anniversary Mine Road
Ore Car Mine sign
Anniversary Mine Road
Road forks past Ore Car Mine, stay left (view N)
Anniversary Mine Road
Anniversary Mine Road (view N)
Anniversary Mine Road
Anniversary Mine Road forks; stay left (view N)
Anniversary Mine Road
Anniversary Mine Road (view N)
Anniversary Mine Road
Approaching the last parking spot, on the left (view NW)
Anniversary Mine Road
Past last parking, road dips to cross wash (view N) ...
Anniversary Mine Road
... but the edge of the wash is now a cliff (view NW)

In the old days, we could drive down into the wash and up the canyon

Anniversary Mine Road
This part of the road is totally washed out (view N)
Anniversary Mine Road
This part of the road is totally washed out (view N)
Anniversary Mine Road
Approaching gate old in the lower narrows (view N)
Anniversary Mine Road
Gate in the lower narrows; now washed out (view N)
Anniversary Mine Road
Sign at gate in the lower narrows; now washed away (view N)
Anniversary Mine Road
Looking around the gate; now washed away (view N)

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

Site Location UTM Easting UTM Northing Latitude (N) Longitude (W) Elevation (ft) Verified
0782 Northshore Rd at Callville Wash North 707960 4008219 36.19647 114.68622 1,673 Yes
0784 Callville Wash North Rd @ Rd 94a 708175 4008447 36.19848 114.68377 1,702 Yes
0785 Anniversary Mine Rd 4WD Park 706215 4009940 36.21235 114.70517 1,936 Yes
1061 Anniversary Narrows 2WD Park 707973 4008288 36.19708 114.68606 1,707 GPS
1062 Ore Car Mine Parking 707111 4009505 36.20823 114.69531 1,851 GPS
1063 Anniversary Mine Rd at Lovell Wash 706158 4010070 36.21353 114.70577 1,903 GPS
1346 Anniversary Mine Rd at Mine Rd 1 707101 4009526 36.20843 114.69542 1,886 GPS
1347 Anniversary Mine Rd at Mine Rd 2 706383 4009817 36.21120 114.70332 1,974 GPS
1348 Anniversary Mine Rd End 706458 4010838 36.22039 114.70223 1,987 GPS

Happy Hiking! All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate.
copyright; Last updated 240525

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