Valley of the Gods Road

This serpentine 17-mile dirt road cuts through some of Nevada’s most dramatic red rock country near the Arizona border. Valley of the Gods earned its name from the towering sandstone monuments that rise like ancient temples from the desert floor — the road weaves between formations like Mexican Hat Rock and the Castle, following cattle trails that date to the 1880s. The route’s most challenging section comes at mile 12, where loose sand and embedded rocks demand momentum and line choice.

Easy to moderate depending on weather — spring rains turn sections to gumbo while summer heat bakes the surface hard. Any high-clearance vehicle handles it dry, but 4WD recommended after storms. Best driven March through November, avoiding flash flood season. No permits, excellent dispersed camping among the monuments. Decent cell service on ridges. What you earn: sunset light on red rock that’ll make your Instagram followers weep with envy, and genuine solitude in monument country that rivals Utah’s famous parks.