Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Nelson, Nevada

This is a very scenic route through the hills near Nelson, Nevada. The dirt trail has several steep climbs and descends over several ridges as you pass through the El Dorado Mountains. From the tops of the ridges, you can see the desert floor to the west and the Colorado River to the east. There are...
Learn more about Nelson Rollercoaster

This 20.8-mile out-and-back trail starts near the small town of Nelson, El Dorado Canyon, and passes through Eagle Wash and Aztec Wash before ending at a small cove on Lake Mohave. Plenty of beautiful vistas of the high desert and mountains. Most of this trail is rutted, with rocky, loose, and slipp...
Learn more about Aztec Wash Road

This is a ridgeline single track in the Nelson Hills OHV Area that is 2.7 miles long with lots of hill climbs and descents. The south end starts in a wide sandy wash, then it climbs up the small desert hills for a great view of the area. It continues north as a wide ridgeline trail, slightly going d...
Learn more about Eldorado View Single Track

This single track is a mix of desert sand washes and a ridgeline through the Nelson OHV Area. It starts in a gravely, sandy, dark grey wash next to tons of cactus at the base of the hills. There are tall yuccas you need to watch your arms on, and it's sometimes like a maze in the wash with lots of d...
Learn more about Wash to Ridge Single Track

This 9.7 out-and-back trail is a side trip off the Aztec Wash Road. This trail is mostly loose sand and gravel, which is passable by stock 4WD vehicles. At the S-Turn going to Placer Cove, you can continue straight to the end of Eldorado Canyon. This trail ends at Placer Cove on Lake Mohave, where y...
Learn more about Eagle Wash Road to Placer Cove

This 7.6-mile out-and-back trail runs down Mountain Wash and ends at Morning Star Cove on Lake Mohave. This trail is mostly loose sand and gravel. Enjoy the cool water in the morning star cove on a hot summer day. This trail is an excellent side trip when traveling on the Aztec Wash Road.
Learn more about Mountain Wash Road to Morning Star Cove

This short trail goes through a dark grey sandy wash in a slot canyon between tall walls of rock and dirt. It has quick turns in the wash that are sometimes wide and sometimes more narrow, and a couple of rocky spots to go over with embedded slabs of rock and small ledges. It's overall a really easy...
Learn more about Rock Canyon Wash

This 10.2-mile out-and-back trail starts off in a wash but then climbs up on a spur and continues down to Lake Mohave. This trail has great views of Lake Mohave. The last mile of the trail is a single vehicle with limited turn-outs, steel posts and cables running both sides of the trail to prevent t...
Learn more about Fire Mountain Road

This trail is easily accessible by stock 4x4 vehicles. 4WD is highly recommended as the surface is composed of loose gravel. It winds through the Boulder City Conservation Easement, an area designated to protect desert tortoises. There are several dips and blind turns. Use caution as some of the tur...
Learn more about Boulder City Conservation Easement

Wash and Roll is a sandy, bumpy stretch of trail that lives up to its name. This route is packed with relentless washboard sections that will put your suspension to the test. While generally easy to navigate, the constant vibrations can make for a rough ride, so airing down is recommended for a smoo...
Learn more about Wash and Roll

This is a 3-mile-long ATV trail in the Nelson OHV Area that starts right at the staging area and goes southeast through the desert. It's full of whoops, going up and over small desert hills, and through flat sections of desert full of bushes and some embedded rock sections. It has ravine crossings, ...
Learn more about Nelson ATV Trail

This is an easy dirt road into the mountains of the Eldorado Valley. The access is very easy, and the canyon is a popular camping location. The road leads you to a slot canyon that is an easy 100-yard hike from the parking area. The canyon is famous for the ancient petroglyphs that adorn the walls, ...
Learn more about Keyhole Canyon

This super-smooth powerline connector is a fast and well-maintained route, perfect for covering ground quickly. With a solid roadbed, it's an ideal stretch for those looking to pick up speed. However, keep an eye out for water bars scattered along the way--they can sneak up on you, especially at hig...
Learn more about Lil Short One

This 20.4 mile out and back trail takes you down a wash to Oil Pan Cove on Lake Mohave. As you travel down the wash you will pass a couple of old mines. The wash is mostly open with a few narrow sections to pass through. Dispersed camping is allowed in Oil Pan Cove. The vegetation within the cove ma...
Learn more about Eldorado Jeep Trail

Chilly Willy is an easygoing, sandy route with mild washboard sections that make for a bumpy but manageable ride. However, be aware of a developing erosion area where the trail is beginning to wash out. While still passable, this section may require careful navigation, especially after storms. Airin...
Learn more about Chilly Willy

This old, seldom-used two-track trail is best suited for dirt bikes and SXSs due to its narrow and winding nature. The route weaves through tight foliage, sandy bottoms, and remnants of long-forgotten washboard sections, offering a mix of technical and flowing terrain. Finding the trailhead can be t...
Learn more about Old Two Track Way

This short 2.6-mile out-and-back trail is a side trip/spur trail off the Aztec Wash Road. This is an easy trail that can be done by a high clearance 2WD or any 4WD vehicle. It runs along the high-tension power lines and ends at a small cove on Lake Mohave. Perfect side trip if the cove on Aztec Wash...
Learn more about Powerline Wash Road

This powerline road serves as a great starting point for accessing the area, offering a well-maintained gravel surface with easy access to ample camping spots. At first, it feels like the perfect go-fast gravel road, but as you get comfortable, be mindful--hidden water bars can suddenly appear, espe...
Learn more about Power Run Road

Nelson Cutoff Road is a well-maintained, two-lane gravel haul road that serves as a primary access route through the desert. With zero technical difficulty, this road is ideal for quickly traversing the area and connecting to other trails. However, be aware that large semis frequently use this route...
Learn more about Nelson Cutoff Road

Petro Ranch Road is a narrow, one-lane gravel route that follows a gas pipeline, leading to an abandoned ranch outpost and a long-dried-up spring. While the trail is fairly straightforward, it presents a few challenges along the way. Multiple washouts- approximately two feet across and two feet deep...
Learn more about Petro Ranch Road

This 20.8-mile out-and-back trail starts near the small town of Nelson, El Dorado Canyon, and passes through Eagle Wash and Aztec Wash before ending at a small cove on Lake Mohave. Plenty of beautiful vistas of the high desert and mountains. Most of this trail is rutted, with rocky, loose, and slipp...
Learn more about Aztec Wash Road

This 9.7 out-and-back trail is a side trip off the Aztec Wash Road. This trail is mostly loose sand and gravel, which is passable by stock 4WD vehicles. At the S-Turn going to Placer Cove, you can continue straight to the end of Eldorado Canyon. This trail ends at Placer Cove on Lake Mohave, where y...
Learn more about Eagle Wash Road to Placer Cove

This 7.6-mile out-and-back trail runs down Mountain Wash and ends at Morning Star Cove on Lake Mohave. This trail is mostly loose sand and gravel. Enjoy the cool water in the morning star cove on a hot summer day. This trail is an excellent side trip when traveling on the Aztec Wash Road.
Learn more about Mountain Wash Road to Morning Star Cove

This 10.2-mile out-and-back trail starts off in a wash but then climbs up on a spur and continues down to Lake Mohave. This trail has great views of Lake Mohave. The last mile of the trail is a single vehicle with limited turn-outs, steel posts and cables running both sides of the trail to prevent t...
Learn more about Fire Mountain Road

This is a very scenic route through the hills near Nelson, Nevada. The dirt trail has several steep climbs and descends over several ridges as you pass through the El Dorado Mountains. From the tops of the ridges, you can see the desert floor to the west and the Colorado River to the east. There are...
Learn more about Nelson Rollercoaster

This 20.8-mile out-and-back trail starts near the small town of Nelson, El Dorado Canyon, and passes through Eagle Wash and Aztec Wash before ending at a small cove on Lake Mohave. Plenty of beautiful vistas of the high desert and mountains. Most of this trail is rutted, with rocky, loose, and slipp...
Learn more about Aztec Wash Road

This 9.7 out-and-back trail is a side trip off the Aztec Wash Road. This trail is mostly loose sand and gravel, which is passable by stock 4WD vehicles. At the S-Turn going to Placer Cove, you can continue straight to the end of Eldorado Canyon. This trail ends at Placer Cove on Lake Mohave, where y...
Learn more about Eagle Wash Road to Placer Cove

This 7.6-mile out-and-back trail runs down Mountain Wash and ends at Morning Star Cove on Lake Mohave. This trail is mostly loose sand and gravel. Enjoy the cool water in the morning star cove on a hot summer day. This trail is an excellent side trip when traveling on the Aztec Wash Road.
Learn more about Mountain Wash Road to Morning Star Cove