Trail Overview
Cathedral South travels over fine, loose dirt that can become more difficult when wet. The beginning of the trail has frequent washboards and 4–6-inch ruts, creating a consistently bumpy ride.
Despite the rough surface, the route is extremely scenic, offering expansive 360° views of the mountain ranges surrounding this section of BLM land.
Difficulty
This trail is rated Level 2 because of its loose surface, frequent washboards, and 4–6-inch ruts. The terrain is bumpy but does not present any significant technical obstacles.
History
The BLM lands south of Pahrump lie along historic travel corridors used by Indigenous peoples for generations and later by Spanish explorers, miners, ranchers, and settlers crossing the Mojave Desert. Portions of the nearby Old Spanish Trail became an important 19th-century trade route connecting settlements in New Mexico with Southern California, leaving the region with a long history of desert travel and exploration.
