Amargosa Desert Valley Road

This forgotten BLM route cuts through Nevada’s most desolate country, where the Funeral Mountains meet the Amargosa Valley’s alkali flats. You’ll pass the ruins of Bullfrog, skirt the edge of Death Valley, and climb through Joshua tree forests before dropping into the historic mining camp of Gold Point. The route follows original mining roads from the early 1900s boom, with sections of the old Tonopah & Tidewater Railroad grade still visible.

Moderate difficulty with some rocky technical sections through washes and over mountain passes. Any high-clearance 4WD handles it fine, though aggressive tires help in the loose volcanic soil. Spring and fall offer the best conditions – summer temps exceed 115°F regularly. No services for 100+ miles, so pack extra water and fuel. You’ll earn solitude that’s harder to find every year, plus some of the clearest night skies in the lower 48.