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Christmas Tree Pass Road, Northwest bound
Backroads Around Las Vegas, Lake Mead National Recreation Area
Christmas Tree Pass Road
Christmas Tree Pass Road
Highway 163 approaching Christmas Tree Pass Road (view E)

Overview

Christmas Tree Pass Road (NPS Road 20) is a backcountry road that connects Highway 163 west of Laughlin with Highway 95 south of Searchlight, but this should not be considered a short-cut. From Highway 163, the road runs north climbing into the Newberry Mountains. At about 2 miles out, a spur road left runs up to Grapevine Canyon Trailhead. Christmas Tree Pass (CTP) Road continues north, then west, providing close-up views of the white granite of Spirit Mountain, an area of particular importance to local native tribes. The now narrow and winding road eventually climbs over Christmas Tree Pass and runs west out of the Newberry Mountains and down to Highway 95.

CTP Road starts in Lake Mead NRA and runs in a narrow corridor between the Bridge Canyon Wilderness Area on the left and the Spirit Mountain Wilderness Area on the right, most of which is also within Lake Mead National Recreation Area. Near Christmas Tree Pass, the road leaves Lake Mead NRA and runs out across Avi Kwa Ame National Monument until reaching Highway 95.

Christmas Tree Pass Road
Highway 163 at Christmas Tree Pass Road (view E)

The area around Christmas Tree Pass is a traditional area for "decorating" California Juniper and Singleleaf Pinyon Pine trees with Christmas ornaments. Unfortunately, this material becomes trash over the months, and volunteers and agency personnel waste considerable time cleaning it up every year. Ornaments often fall of and break, leaving glass fragments for wildlife to step on, and tinsel becomes glittery trash that attracts hungry birds and desert tortoises, harming their digestive systems. This tradition should end.

CTP Road provides access to Spirit Mountain, Sacatone Wash, and Grapevine Canyon, and hikes in the Spirit Mountain and Bridge Canyon wilderness areas.

Link to map.

Christmas Tree Pass Road
Highway 163 approaching Christmas Tree Pass Road (view W)

Watch Out

Other than the standard warnings about being in the desert, ...this is a graded, easy drive, but storms have a way of causing havoc with steep, tight turns the mountains. The road normally should be passable in 2WD vehicles, but drivers should inquire with NPS rangers about road conditions before driving. Tight turns and short visual distances on the one-lane sections make some curves dangerous, so always consider that someone, driving too fast, could be coming from the other direction.

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. Maps of approved backcountry roads are available online and at the Alan Bible Visitor Center.

Christmas Tree Pass Road
Highway 163 at Christmas Tree Pass Road (view W)

Getting to the Roadhead

CTP Road starts within Lake Mead National Recreation Area, about 1:10 hours south of Las Vegas.

From Las Vegas, drive south on Highway 95 to Searchlight. From the intersection of Highway 95 and Nipton Road (Highway 164) in downtown Searchlight, continue south 14.0 miles to Christmas Tree Pass Road, on the left. Watch for a road intersection sign and a left-turn lane. This is for the southbound direction.

For the northbound direction, continue south 5.4 more miles on Highway 95 to Highway 163. Turn left towards Laughlin and drive east 13.0 miles to CTP Road, on the left (1.5 hours from Las Vegas). Watch for a road intersection sign, but be careful because there is no left-turn lane (the center lane is very narrow). If traffic is heavy, consider pulling off onto the right-hand shoulder and letting traffic pass before turning left (rather than stopping in the middle of a 70-mph highway).

Christmas Tree Pass Road
Highway 163 at turning onto Christmas Tree Pass Road (view NE)

The Road

From Highway 163 (Table 1, Site 0823), CTP Road runs north past a battery of information and caution signs, including signs for entering Lake Mead NRA, distances to various places, and a caution that 4WD is recommended for the rough road. Under some conditions, 4WD might be necessary, but normally the road is graded and suitable for carefully driven sedans (at least to Grapevine Canyon), although a medium-clearance vehicle probably would be better for the rest of the road over the mountains.

Also from the highway, CTP Road enters a corridor between the Bridge Canyon Wilderness Area on the left (west) and Spirit Mountain Wilderness Area on the right (east). Savor this ride because this is about as close as it gets to driving inside a wilderness area.

Christmas Tree Pass Road
Christmas Tree Pass Road (view N from Highway 163)

CTP Road winds up into the mountains as a fairly wide, sand-covered road where the washboards can get pretty rough. At about 1.8 miles out, the road reaches Grapevine Canyon Road (Site 0824), on the left. This road leads 300 yards to trailhead parking (Site 0825) for the popular hike to the amazing Grapevine Canyon petroglyph site.

Continuing north past Grapevine Canyon Road, CTP Road winds higher into the mountains, but eventually drops to cross Sacatone Wash (3.0 miles out). Just across the wash, CTP Road arrives at a spur road (Site 1307) to the left, which provides access to Sacatone Wash trailhead parking (Site 1308). This trailhead provides access to hikes up and down Sacatone Wash, both of which lead into wilderness areas.

Highway 163 at Christmas Tree Pass Road (view W)
Christmas Tree Pass Road (view N from Highway 163)

Continuing north past Sacatone Wash, CTP Road climbs higher into the mountains with towering peaks and granite all around. Parking areas provide hiker access to Bridge Canyon Wilderness Area on the left. Eventually Christmas Tree Pass Road passes a narrow spur road on the right. Here, Pipe Spring Road continues north about 0.4 miles to Pipe Spring Trailhead. This road might require 4WD.

Just past Pipe Spring Road, CTP Road bends to the left and generally runs west for the duration of the ride.

At about 6.3 miles out, CTP Road passes a parking area (Site 1311) on the left that serves as the trailhead for upper Sacatone Wash. With two vehicles, hikers can start here and hike down to the Sacatone Wash trailhead parking (Site 1308). Another parking area about 0.1 miles west serves the same purpose.

Christmas Tree Pass RoadFirst of the signs (view N)

A bit farther out (6.6 miles), another parking area (Site 1312) on the left serves as a trailhead for a short walk (30 yards) to Bridge Canyon Overlook. This overlook is atop the knoll and provides great views to the south down across granite crags, but don't overlook the tall peaks towering behind the overlook.

CTP Road winds westward onto a highpoint about 7.3 miles out. Here, the Sacatone Canyon Viewpoint parking area (Site 1313), on the left, provides great views down Sacatone Canyon to the east, and all around for that matter.

From the Sacatone Canyon viewpoint, CTP Road drops to cross upper Grapevine Canyon (Site 1314). Here, trailhead parking provides access to a route that can be taken all the way to the Grapevine Canyon petroglyph trailhead (Site 0825).

Christmas Tree Pass Road
Information sign (view N)

Now running northwest, CTP Road hugs the base of the mountains, passes Spirit Mountain trailhead parking (Site 1315), enters Avi Kwa Ame National Monument, and finally arrives atop Christmas Tree Pass (Site 1316), about 8.9 miles out. The pass is scenic and there are several traditional campsites in the area, but the views are not as grand as were the vies on the east side of the mountains.

Descending the west side of the Newberry Mountains, CTP Road runs down a canyon for another mile (10.0 miles out), which then opens to the right with big views northwest. CTP Road follows the base of a ridge for another mile (about 11.0 miles out), then rolls out onto the broad bajada on the west side of the mountains with big views down across Paiute Valley and into California.

For the duration of the ride, CTP Road descends across the bajada. At about 14 miles out, the road passes under high-tension powerlines, and finally, at about 16.3 miles out, reaches the pavement of Highway 95 (Site 1219). Las Vegas is to the right.

Christmas Tree Pass Road
Distances to various places (view N)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
Second sign (view N)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
Sign: Rough road next 16 miles; 4x4 recommended (view N)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
Speed limit sign: 25 mph (view N)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
Two more signs ahead (view N)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
Sign: Vehicles permitted on approved roads (view N)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
Signs: Spirit Mtn and Bridge Canyon Wilderness areas; road number
Christmas Tree Pass Road
Signs: Spirit Mtn and Bridge Canyon Wilderness areas; road number
Christmas Tree Pass Road Christmas Tree Pass Road
Christmas Tree Pass Road
Christmas Tree Pass Road (view N)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
Sign: No shooting area (view N)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
Approaching blind curve (view N)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
Graded road with washboards (view N)
Christmas Tree Pass Road Christmas Tree Pass Road
Christmas Tree Pass Road
Christmas Tree Pass Rd approaching Grapevine Canyon Rd (view N)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
Christmas Tree Pass Rd approaching Grapevine Canyon Rd (view N)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
Sign: Grapevine Canyon Road to the left (view N)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
Grapevine Canyon Road (view W Christmas Tree Pass Road)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
CTP Road continues across Grapevine Wash (view N)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
Over the hill, CTP Road bends to the right (view N)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
Bending to the right (view N)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
The road descends into Sacatone Canyon (view N)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
Sign regarding entering a hunting zone (view N)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
CTP Road approaching Sacatone Wash trailhead parking (view N)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
CTP Road dipping across Sacatone Wash (view N)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
Sacatone Wash Road (view W from CTP Road)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
Sign at entrance to parking area (view W)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
CTP Road heading into the hills (view N)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
Trailhead parking along CTP Road (view NW)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
CTP Road Passing an interesting granite outcrop (view N)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
CTP Road approaching Pipe Spring Road (view N)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
CTP Road at Pipe Spring Road (view N)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
CTP Road bends left to head west (view W)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
CTP Road (view W)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
Trailhead parking along CTP Road (view SW)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
Trailhead parking (view S)
Christmas Tree Pass Road Christmas Tree Pass Road
Christmas Tree Pass Road Christmas Tree Pass Road
Christmas Tree Pass Road
Trailhead parking along CTP Road (view NW)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
Trailhead parking along CTP Road (view SW)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
CTP Road begins winding towards the pass (view W)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
Trailhead parking along CTP Road (view SW)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
Willow Spring (dry) Trailhead parking (view S)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
Winding into the mountains becomes more serious (view W)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
Winding through the mountains (view W)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
Trailhead parking along CTP Road (view SW)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
Communications towers become visible on the mountain peak ahead
Christmas Tree Pass Road
Bigelow's Nolina blooming above the road (view W)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
CPT Road winding through the mountains (view W)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
CPT Road winding through the mountains (view W)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
Interesting granite rock formations (view W)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
CTP Road crossing Sacatone Wash again (view W)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
Parking on the right (view SW)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
Viewpoint parking on the left (view SW)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
Trailhead parking and short trail to viewpoint (view SE)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
CTP Road descends towards Grapevine Canyon (view S)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
CTP Road at Lake Mead NRA boundary sign (view S)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
Looking back: Lake Mead NRA boundary sign (view NE)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
Looking back: Lake Mead NRA regulations sign (view NE)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
CTP Road descends towards Grapevine Canyon (view S)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
CTP Road turns to cross Grapevine Canyon (view S)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
CTP Road dipping through Grapevine Canyon Wash (view S)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
Upper Grapevine Canyon Trailhead parking along CTP Road (view S)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
Upper Grapevine Canyon Trailhead parking (view S)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
CPT Road begins final climb towards Christmas Tree Pass (view NW)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
A wide spot for parking (view NW)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
CPT Road winding through the mountains (view W)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
Christmas Tree Pass Road (view N)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
West face of Spirit Mountain comes into view (view N)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
CPT Road approaching Spirit Mountain Trailhead (view N)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
CPT Road at Spirit Mountain Trailhead (view N)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
Start of route to Spirit Mountain (don't take this hike lightly; view N)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
CPT Road passing Spirit Mountain Trailhead (view W)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
CPT Road (view W)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
Additional trailhead parking along CTP Road (view S)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
Traversing hillsides below communications towers (view SW)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
Narrow road and steep climb (watch for downhill drivers)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
Exiting the narrow gully (view NW)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
Trailhead parking along CTP Road (view SW)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
CTP Road making final climb to the pass (view SW)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
Campsites atop Christmas Tree Pass (view SW)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
Campsite atop Christmas Tree Pass (view S)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
Descending over Christmas Tree Pass (view W)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
The road winds down at more gentle grades (view NW)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
Campsites along CTP Road (view S)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
Campsites along CTP Road (view S)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
The road descends an unnamed canyon (view W)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
The road descends an unnamed canyon (view W)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
The road eventually climbs out of the unnamed canyon (view SW)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
Road above the unnamed wash (view W)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
The road descends the open desert bajada (view W)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
Popular campsite along CTP Road (view S)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
Descending the open desert bajada (view W)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
Descending the open desert bajada (view W)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
Passing the wooden-pole powerline road (view W)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
Passing the two metal-tower powerline roads (view W)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
Entering the final S-curve (view SW)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
Passing the final S-curve (view SW)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
Exiting the final S-curve (view SW)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
CTP Road runs long and straight toward bottom of the valley (view W)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
CTP Road approaching Highway 95 (view W)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
Cattle guard at Highway 95 roadside fence (view W)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
Information kiosk (view S from Christmas Tree Pass Road)
Christmas Tree Pass Road
Christmas Tree Pass Road at Highway 95 (view W)

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

Wpt. Location Latitude (N) Longitude (W) Elevation (ft) Point-to-Point Distance (mi) Cumulative Distance (mi)
0826 Hwy 95 at Hwy 163 35.19241 114.85244 2,516 . .
1317 Hwy 163 at Bridge Canyon Road 35.17247 114.71033 2,317 . .
0823 Hwy 163 at Christmas Tree Pass Rd 35.20072 114.66788 1,952 0.00 00.00
0824 Christmas Tree Pass Rd at Grapevine Cyn 35.22552 114.67796 2,325 1.86 01.86
0825 Grapevine Canyon Parking 35.22582 114.68072 2,341 . .
1307 Christmas Tree Pass Rd at Sacatone Rd 35.24169 114.67448 2,232 1.20 03.06
1308 Sacatone Wash Parking Lower 35.24140 114.67513 2,237 . .
1309 Christmas Tree Pass Rd at Pipe Spring Rd 35.26325 114.68471 2,740 1.61 04.67
1310 Pipe Spring Trailhead Parking 35.26812 114.68488 2,725 . .
1311 Sacatone Wash Parking Upper 35.25726 114.71215 3,310 1.66 06.33
1312 Bridge Overlook Trailhead Park 35.25692 114.71603 3,380 0.24 06.57
1313 Sacatone Overlook Parking 35.25594 114.72685 3,684 0.73 07.30
1314 Christmas Tree Pass Rd at Grapevine Cyn Rd 35.25189 114.72913 3,607 0.36 07.66
1315 Spirit Peak Trailhead Parking 35.25787 114.73458 3,768 0.63 08.29
1316 Christmas Tree Pass 35.26077 114.74390 3,945 0.56 08.85
1219 Christmas Tree Pass Rd at Hwy 95 35.26786 114.87016 2,535 7.48 16.33

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

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