Overview

The Spirit of Wilderness Trailhead is located in Avi Kwa Ame National Monument, just outside the Wee Thump Joshua Tree Wilderness Area, about 1 hour south of Las Vegas, just west of Searchlight.

This trailhead serves west end of the El Dorado Wagon Road Trail, and it serves as a jumping off point for those who just want to wander in wilderness unencumbered by the shackles of designated trails (Spirit of Wilderness Trail).

Link to map.

From town, drive south on Highway 95 to Searchlight. In downtown Searchlight, turn right onto Highway 164 (Joshua Tree Highway) and drive west for 11.1 miles to to Spirit of Wilderness Road (Table 1, Site 1351). Turn right and follow the road about 100 yards to the turn-around loop at the end (Site 1007).

Alternatively, drive south on I-15 through Primm to Nipton Road. Drive east through Nipton to the CA-NV state line. Continue east another 7.5 miles to the trailhead, on the left.

Park here; this is the Spirit of Wilderness Trailhead. If the turn-around loop is crowded, return to Highway 164 and park in the large gravel parking area.