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St. Thomas Cove Road
Backroads Around Las Vegas, Lake Mead National Recreation Area
St. Thomas Cove Road
St. Thomas Cove Road

Overview

St. Thomas Cove Road is a graded dirt road that runs 3.5 miles from the paved Northshore Road to the top of bluffs overlooking what once was the Overton Arm of Lake Mead. The bluffs now overlook the historic townsite of St. Thomas, and a 2.5-mile loop trail provides access to the remains of foundations that survived underwater for years. The town was founded in 1865 by Mormon settlers, but in 1938 residents were forced to relocate as rising waters behind Hoover Dam flooded the area. Learn more about historical St. Thomas.

Link to map.

St. Thomas Cove Road
Edge of pavement at St. Thomas Cove Rd (view NE)

Watch Out

Other than the standard warnings about the desert ... St. Thomas Cove Road generally is a fine road, but it runs out into wild and remote country. When wet, the road surface becomes slick and muddy, but otherwise it is in fair condition. Assuming good weather and a dry road surface, the road is suitable for carefully driven 2WD sedans.

Other than restrooms, there are no services or developments of any kind.

While out and about, please respect the land and the other people out there, and try to Leave No Trace of your passage. Be sure to bring what you need of the 10 Essentials. All motor vehicles, including ATVs, must be street legal.

St. Thomas Cove Road
Sign near start of the road (view E)

Getting to the Roadhead

This road is located in Lake Mead National Recreation Area, about 1-1/2 hours northeast of Las Vegas near the town of Overton.

From town, drive out to Lake Mead. From the intersection of Lakeshore Road and Northshore Road (Site 0654), drive north on Northshore Road for 45.5 miles. Just before reaching the Fee Station at the north edge of the park, and while inside the 15-mph zone, St. Thomas Cove Road (Site 1407) turns off to the right.

The road can also be reached by driving north on I-15 and then east on Valley of Fire Road, but a fee is required to traverse the State Park. From Valley of Fire Road at Northshore Road (Site 0792), turn right 100 yards, pay the Lake Mead entrance fee, and immediately behind the fee station, turn left towards St. Thomas Cove Road (Site 1407).

St. Thomas Cove Road
Sign: Day Use Only; no camping (view E)

The Road

St. Thomas Cove Road is a graded gravel, and then graded dirt, road that runs generally northeast from the pavement towards what once was the edge of Lake Mead. The road generally is wide enough for two cars to pass, but some parts wind about through hills and are narrower. Be sure to drive carefully on blind curves and hilltops.

Near the edge of the lake, the road forks. The St. Thomas trailhead is to the right, and restrooms are to the left. At the trailhead, visitors can read a sign with limited information about the townsite, gaze out over the area, or hike down and see the townsite close-up.

The road dead-ends, so when ready, turn around and drive back out, remembering, of course, that it seems like an entirely new road on the way back out.

St. Thomas Cove Road
Gravel at start of the road (view NE)
St. Thomas Cove Road
Before long, road surface is graded dirt (view NE)
St. Thomas Cove Road St. Thomas Cove Road
St. Thomas Cove Road St. Thomas Cove Road
St. Thomas Cove Road St. Thomas Cove Road
St. Thomas Cove Road St. Thomas Cove Road
St. Thomas Cove Road
Approaching the end of the road (view NE)
St. Thomas Cove Road
Road forks near the end (view NE)
St. Thomas Cove Road
Restrooms on the left fork (view NE)
St. Thomas Cove Road
Trailhead on the right fork (view ENE)
St. Thomas Cove Road
Info and trailhead signs
St. Thomas Cove Road
Info sign: mostly personal memory quotes
St. Thomas Cove Road
Trailhead sign
St. Thomas Cove Road
Trailhead sign
St. Thomas Cove Road
Townsite in the distance: about 0.6 air-miles out (view E)
St. Thomas Cove Road
Townsite (view E from trailhead parking)
St. Thomas Cove Road
If arriving from Valley of Fire, past fee booth, turn left ...
St. Thomas Cove Road
... and cross the main road to St. Thomas Cove Road
St. Thomas Cove Road
East side of St. Thomas Townsite (view SE from trailhead)
St. Thomas Cove Road
West side of St. Thomas Townsite (view SE from trailhead)


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

Site Location UTM Easting UTM Northing Latitude (N) Longitude (W) Elevation (ft) Verified
0654 Lakeshore Rd at Northshore Rd 689139 3997939 36.10951 114.89872 1,545 Yes
0792 Northshore Rd at Valley of Fire Rd 730657 4035710 36.44073 114.42670 1,539 Yes
1407 Northshore Rd at St Thomas Cove Rd 730811 4035619 36.43987 114.42500 1,513 GPS
1408 St Thomas Cove Trailhead Parking 734487 4038963 36.46910 114.38302 1,227 GPS

Happy Hiking! All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate.
copyright; Last updated 240326

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