birdandhike.com logo
Home | Wilderness | Hiking | Mojave National Preserve | Backroads
Ivanpah Road - Southbound
Hiking Around Las Vegas, Mojave National Preserve
Ivanpah Road
Ivanpah Road
Nipton Road approaching Ivanpah Road (view SE)

Overview

Ivanpah Road runs south from Nipton Road over the New York Mountains into the Lanfair Valley. Ivanpah Road technically "ends" when it reaches Cedar Canyon Road, where the road changes name to Lanfair Road. It's the same road, however, and it continues south to Goffs without interruption.

Ivanpah Road is mostly paved for 12 miles, and then it is graded dirt for the remaining 17.7 miles to Cedar Canyon Road. The road normally is fine for sedans during the dry season, but it can become washed out during storms.

This road provides access to eastern portions of the Mojave National Preserve and connects to roads leading to Caruthers Canyon.

Link to map.

Ivanpah Road
Ivanpah Road (view S from Nipton Road)

Watch Out

Other than the standard warnings about the desert, ... the road is safe in a sedan depending on storms and washouts. Inquire locally about current conditions. While out in the desert, please respect the land and the other people out there, and try to Leave No Trace of your passage. Also, the area is remote, so be sure to bring the 10 Essentials. The road runs through prime Desert Tortoise habitat, so always keep an eye out for tortoises on the road - focus on looking for little ones!

Getting to the Road

This road is located in California, about 1 hour south of Las Vegas. From town, drive south on I-15. From Primm, Nevada, drive south 9.5 miles. Exit the interstate onto Nipton Road (Exit 286) and drive east 3.6 miles to Ivanpah Road, on the right.

Ivanpah Road
Approaching Mojave National Preserve boundary sign (view S)

The Road

From Nipton Road (Table 1, Site 1264), Ivanpah Road runs south, passing old industrial facilities near the intersection, and out into the wildness of the Mojave Desert. At about 0.5 miles out, the road enters Mojave National Preserve, and at 3.2 miles, it passes Morningstar Mine Road (Site 1265), which runs southwest towards the central part of the Preserve.

Ivanpah Road continues southeast towards a low spot in the bottom of the valley, but heading towards the New York Mountains, which are visible on the skyline. Most of this road segment is paved with rough spots, but parts were washed out and are now gravel. Some of the asphalt is so rough that it is covered with gravel too.

At about 9.6 miles out, Ivanpah Road crosses railroad tracks, then bends left to parallel the tracks. In this area, the results of the 2023 York Fire are visible on the right. Before long, the road curves away from the tracks and starts into the mountains, and at 12.0 miles out, the pavement ends (Site 1266).

Ivanpah Road
Approaching Mojave National Preserve boundary sign (view S)

Ivanpah Road continues generally south as it winds into the mountains as a well-maintained dirt road normally suitable for sedans. During stormy weather, the road can wash out.

After 4.8 miles on the dirt, Ivanpah Road reaches Hart Mine Road and the historic townsite of Barnwell, on the left, which appears to still be inhabited.

After winding down out of the mountains into Lanfair Valley, the road runs south-southeast to reach New York Mountain Road (Site 1259; 12.3 miles on the dirt) on the right and the historic XO Ranch on the left. Preserve managers have tentative plans to convert the ranch house into the "east-side" visitor center to focus on the history of cattle ranching in the area. New York Mountain Road connects with Caruthers Canyon Road.

Ivanpah Road
Mojave National Preserve boundary sign (view S)

Continuing, Ivanpah Road reaches the Nevada Southern Railway monument (Site 1475; 16.8 miles on the dirt), which also marks the point where the historic Mojave Road crosses Ivanpah Road.

Continuing south-southeast, Ivanpah Road eventually reaches Cedar Canyon Road (Site 1470; 17.7 miles on the dirt), on the right. Cedar Canyon Road runs west into central portions of the Preserve.

Although the same dirt road continues south, the road name changes to Lanfair Road. Lanfair Road continues south to the pavement and then Goffs, California.

Ivanpah Road
Directional sign (view SE)
Ivanpah Road
Distances to recreational points of interest (view SE)
Ivanpah Road
Ivanpah Road approaching Morningstar Mine Road (view SE)
Ivanpah Road
Caution sign: Morningstar Mine Road T-intersection (view SE)
Ivanpah Road
Distances to points of interest (view SE)
Ivanpah Road
Sign: distances to points of interest
Ivanpah Road
Ivanpah Road approaching Morningstar Mine Road (view SE)
Ivanpah Road
Street signs: Ivanpah Road at Morningstar Mine Road (view SE)
Ivanpah Road
Ivanpah Road continues south; some pavement is rough (view SE)
Ivanpah Road
Ivanpah Road approaching railroad tracks (view SE)
Ivanpah Road
Ivanpah Road at railroad tracks (view SE)

Just past the tracks, the road curves left (view S)
Ivanpah Road
On the curve, edge of the York Fire from 2023 (view S)
Ivanpah Road
Sign: Unmaintained road, use at own risk (view SE)
Ivanpah Road
Pavement finally ends once and for all (view SE)
Ivanpah Road
The road continues as gravel the rest of the way (view SE)
Ivanpah Road
Ivanpah Road at a mine road (view SE)
Ivanpah Road
Mine road (view NE from Ivanpah Road)
Ivanpah Road
Ivanpah Road approaching the New York Mountains (SE)
Ivanpah Road
Ivanpah Road climbing into the New York Mountains (SE)
Ivanpah Road
Ivanpah Road is in reasonably good condition (view SE)
Ivanpah Road
Ivanpah Road traversing the New York Mountains (S)
Ivanpah Road
(view SW)
Ivanpah Road
(view SW)
Ivanpah Road
Ivanpah Road approaching Hart Mine Road (view SW)
Ivanpah Road
Ivanpah Road at Hart Mine Road (view SW)
Ivanpah Road
Hart Mine Road (view SE from Ivanpah Road)
Ivanpah Road
Former street sign: Ivanpah Road at Hart Mine Road (view SW)
Ivanpah Road
Ivanpah Road continues past Hart Mine Road (view SW)
Ivanpah Road
Ivanpah Road approaching the highpoint on the road (view SW)
Ivanpah Road
Ivanpah Road winding down through the New York Mountains (S)
Ivanpah Road
Ivanpah Road passing out of the New York Mountains (SE)
Ivanpah Road
Ivanpah Road at an historical cattle guard (view SE)
Ivanpah Road
Ivanpah Road entering Lanfair Valley (view S)
Ivanpah Road
Ivanpah Road traversing Lanfair Valley (view S)
Ivanpah Road
Ivanpah Road traversing Lanfair Valley (view S)
Ivanpah Road High peaks in the New York Range (view NW) Ivanpah Road
High peaks in the New York Range (view NW)
Ivanpah Road
Ivanpah Road approaching Wheeler Ranch Road (view S)
Ivanpah Road
Ivanpah Road at Wheeler Ranch Road sign (view SE)
Ivanpah Road
Ivanpah Road approaching XO Ranch, on the left (view S)
Ivanpah Road
Ivanpah Road at New York Mountain Road (view S)
Ivanpah Road
Street signs: Ivanpah Road at New York Mtn Road (view S)
Ivanpah Road
New York Mountain Road (view W from Ivanpah Road)
Ivanpah Road
Ivanpah Road continues (view S)
Ivanpah Road
Ivanpah Road runs straight and smooth (view S)
Ivanpah Road
Ivanpah Road (view S)
Ivanpah Road
Ivanpah Road (view S)
Ivanpah Road
Ivanpah Road (view S)
Ivanpah Road
Ivanpah Road at another cattle guard (view S)
Ivanpah Road
New Century Road (view E from Ivanpah Rd just before cattle guard)
Ivanpah Road
New Century Road sign (view N)
Ivanpah Road
Ivanpah Road (view S)
Ivanpah Road
Ivanpah Road (view S)
Ivanpah Road
Ivanpah Road (view S)
Ivanpah Road
Ivanpah Road (view S)
Ivanpah Road
Ivanpah Road (view S)
Ivanpah Road
Ivanpah Road (view S)
Ivanpah Road
Ivanpah Road approaching Railway Monument (view S)
Ivanpah Road
Just before Railway Monument, Old Mojave Road (view E)
Ivanpah Road
Ivanpah Road at Nevada Southern Railway monument ((view W)
Ivanpah Road
Ivanpah Road at Nevada Southern Railway monument (view W)
Ivanpah Road
Ivanpah Road at Nevada Southern Railway monument (view W)
Ivanpah Road
Nevada Southern Railway monument (view SW)
Ivanpah Road
Nevada Southern Railway monument (view W)
Ivanpah Road
Ivanpah Road continues south (view S)
Ivanpah Road
Ivanpah Road at road sign (view S)
Ivanpah Road
Caution sign: Cedar Canyon Road ahead (view S)
Ivanpah Road
Ivanpah Road at road sign (view S)
Ivanpah Road
Caution sign: Dip ahead and 27 miles to Cima (view S)
Ivanpah Road
Ivanpah Road approaching Cedar Canyon Road (view S)
Ivanpah Road
Historical sign: distances to recreational points of interest (view SE)
Ivanpah Road
Historical sign: distances to recreation areas (view SE)
Ivanpah Road
Street signs: Ivanpah-Lanfair Road at Cedar Canyon Road
Cedar Canyon
Cedar Canyon Road (view W from Ivanpah Road)
Ivanpah Road
Lanfair (Ivanpah) Road continues south (view S)

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
1259 Ivanpah Rd at NY Mts Rd 663698 3896831 35.20293 115.20177 4,280 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
1266 Ivanpah Rd at End of Pavement 656680 3910784 35.32981 115.27617 3,927 Yes
1470 Cedar Canyon Rd at Ivanpah Rd 665583 3888405 35.12668 115.18277 4,083 Yes

Happy Hiking! All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate.
copyright; Last updated 241003

Backroads Hiking Around Mojave Preserve Hiking Around Las Vegas Glossary Copyright, Conditions, Disclaimer Home
Google Ads