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Hole-in-the-Wall Visitor Center
Hiking Around Las Vegas, Mojave National Preserve
Hole-in-the-Wall Visitor Center
Hole-in-the-Wall Visitor Center
Hole-in-the-Wall Visitor Center

Overview

The Hole-in-the-Wall Visitor Center is the main contact station in the higher-elevation, central part of the Preserve, the most heavily used by people spending time in the Preserve. More people visit the main Kelso Depot Visitor Center, but most of them are simply traversing the Preserve.

At the visitor center, visitors will find helpful staff and written information, a bookstore with local books and relevant gifts, restrooms with flush toilets, water, and a pay telephone. A campground and a picnic area are located nearby. Visitors might consider calling (760-252-6104 or 760-928-2572) before arriving to get information on road conditions, the status of the spring wildflowers, and other current details.

Link to map.

Hole-in-the-Wall Visitor Center
Staff are friendly and knowledgeable

Hours of Operation

The visitor center is scheduled open Wednesday-Sunday, 9-4, during winter (October-April). During summer (May-September), the visitor center is only open Saturday, 10-4. Staffing is limited, so the visitor center may be closed when park personnel are out on a rescue or something else important. In an emergency when the visitor center is closed, drive back out Hole-in-the-Wall Road, cross the pavement, and continue east to the fire station where somebody should be around.

Ranger-led Programs

Rangers lead interpretive talks, guided nature walks, and evening programs during the winter season (October-May). Rangers usually talk about what interests them, but expect to hear about local geology, archaeology, botany, and the night sky.

Hole-in-the-Wall Visitor Center
When closed, check the door for written info

Things to Do on Your Own

Several trails begin at or near the visitor center. The Banshee Canyon overlook is a fenced walkway overlooking Banshee Canyon, a wonder of time and erosion. The Rings Loop Trail and the Banshee Peak trails start in the visitor center parking lot, and the Nature Trail, where plants are identified, starts across the road from the visitor center.

Longer trails start a few minutes up the road at the Rings Trailhead. These include the Rings Trail, Barber Peak Loop Trail, Cactus Garden Loop, Hole-in-the-Wall to Mid Hills Trail, and Tall Yuccas Trail.

The birding isn't bad around the visitor center. Look for Say's Phoebe, Crissal Thrasher, Phainopepla, House Finch, and Cactus Wrens. In Banshee Canyon, listen for Canyon Wrens.

Hole-in-the-Wall Visitor Center
When closed, check the board for written info

Getting to the Hole-in-the-Wall Visitor Center

Hole-in-the-Wall is located in Mojave National Preserve, about 2 hours south of Las Vegas. From town, drive south on I-15 into California to Nipton Road (Table 1, Site 1008). Turn left onto Nipton Road and drive east 3.6 miles. Turn right onto Ivanpah Road (Site 1264) and drive south 3.2 miles. Turn right onto Morningstar Mine Road (Site 1265) and drive southwest 15 miles to Cima (Site 0832), where the road crosses railroad tracks and continues as the Kelso-Cima Road. Continue 4.6 miles on Kelso-Cima Road. Turn left onto Cedar Canyon Road (Site 0832) and drive east 6.0 miles (becomes a dirt road 2.3 miles out). Turn right onto Black Canyon Road (Site 0833) and drive south 9.5 miles. Past the campground, turn right onto Hole-in-the-Wall Road (Site 0836) and drive west about 0.2 miles to the Visitor Center, on the left.

From the south, exit I-40 onto Essex Road (Site 1474). Drive north 9.9 miles. Turn right onto Black Canyon Road (Site 0845) and drive north 9.7 miles to Hole-in-the-Wall Road (Site 0836), on the left.

Hole-in-the-Wall Visitor Center
Approaching the Visitor Center (view W from the road)
Hole-in-the-Wall Visitor Center
Visitor Center parking lot on a cloudy day
Hole-in-the-Wall Visitor Center
Parking
Hole-in-the-Wall Visitor Center
Handicapped parking by white truck
Hole-in-the-Wall Visitor Center
Trail from parking
Hole-in-the-Wall Visitor Center
Water is always available
Hole-in-the-Wall Visitor Center
Information posted in boxes and on the door
Hole-in-the-Wall Visitor Center
Pay phone (no cell service out here!)
Hole-in-the-Wall Visitor Center
Camping info only available inside the visitor center
Hole-in-the-Wall Visitor Center
Say's Phoebe nesting under the porch
Hole-in-the-Wall Visitor Center
Really lucky visitors might stumble upon a star party
Hole-in-the-Wall Visitor Center
Trail information only available inside the visitor center
Hole-in-the-Wall Visitor Center
Hole-in-the-Wall Visitor Center
Hole-in-the-Wall Visitor Center
Visitor Center and trailhead parking (view N from above)

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
0502 Hole-in-the-Wall Visitor Center 646403 3878704 35.04221 115.39490 4,260 Yes
0830 Hwy I-15 at Cima Rd 620343 3922886 35.44395 115.67407 3,727 Yes
0831 Kelso-Cima Rd at Cima 636500 3900110 35.23656 115.49990 4,176 Yes
0832 Cima-Kelso Rd at Cedar Cyn Rd 635848 3893416 35.17631 115.50817 3,727 Yes
0833 Cedar Cyn Rd at Black Cyn Rd 644718 3893322 35.17422 115.41081 5,007 Yes
1008 I-15 at Nipton Rd 640822 3926437 35.47327 115.44788 3,432 Yes
1264 Nipton Rd at Ivanpah Rd 646208 3924862 35.45829 115.38882 2,747 Yes
1265 Ivanpah Rd at Morning Star Rd 647358 3919902 35.41342 115.37706 2,837 Yes

Happy Hiking! All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate.
copyright; Last updated 210803

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