Note: Nawghaw Poa Road is closed during construction of the new visitor center. Walk in from Democracy Drive to do the hikes. See Closure Notice (PDF).

Overview

The Sloan Canyon Visitor Center is located on the north edge of Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area (NCA), on a low desert hill overlooking the Henderson neighborhood of Inspirada. When open, the Visitor Center normally is staffed by Friends of Sloan Canyon volunteers. These people are knowledgeable about the area and can provide answers to most questions. Volunteers can also provide brochures about the area and area maps.

Inside the Sloan Canyon Visitor Center, visitors will encounter several displays with information about the area and a small local art exhibit.

Outside the Sloan Canyon Visitor Center, visitors get great views overlooking the Las Vegas Valley to the north, as well as views of the surrounding mountains. Two trailheads are located in the visitor center parking area; one leads into Petroglyph Canyon (the primary hiking destination in this area), and the other leads into nearby neighborhoods.

Link to map.

Getting to Sloan Canyon Visitor Center

From town, drive south on Interstate-15 about 15 miles to St. Rose Parkway (Exit 27). Exit onto St. Rose Parkway eastbound and drive east to Las Vegas Blvd (the first traffic light). Turn right onto Las Vegas Blvd and drive south to Volunteer Blvd (again, the first traffic light). Drive east 2 miles on Volunteer Blvd to Via Inspirada.

Turn right onto Via Inspirada and drive south 1.4 miles to a round-about left where the road becomes Bicentennial Parkway. Continue east on Bicentennial Parkway 0.6 miles to a stop sign at Via Firenze.

Turn right onto Via Firenze and drive south 0.6 miles past Adventura Park to a T-intersection with Savella Ave. Turn left onto Savella Ave and drive east 0.1 miles to Via Firenze (yes, Via Firenze; it splits and runs one-way around the park). Turn right onto Via Firenze and drive south 0.6 miles to Democracy Drive.

Turn right onto Democracy Drive and drive west 0.2 miles to Nawghaw Poa Road (Table 1, Site 1192). Turn left onto Nawghaw Poa Road and follow it south 0.7 miles to the end of the road (Site 1194). Park here, this is the trailhead.

Sloan Visitor Center

The visitor center building houses displays, an information desk staffed by volunteers, and the working offices of the BLM staff who manage and protect the area.

Display signs on the walls, on tables, and in cabinets provide a variety of information about the area. Topics include local geology, Native American history and petroglyphs in the area, plants and animals, wilderness, and local artwork (which is a completely different kind of information).

Additional questions can be addressed to the volunteer at the information desk.