Overview

For most of Hollywood Blvd, it is just a normal urban thoroughfare that runs north-south along the east edge of the Las Vegas Valley below Frenchman Mountain. Towards the south end, S. Hollywood Blvd separates urban neighborhoods from the Mojave Desert, but then the road narrows, bends, turns to dirt, and runs out into the desert along the Las Vegas Wash.

South Hollywood Blvd provides access to the wildland interface, the Las Vegas Wash (Clark County Wetlands Park), and the south side of the Rainbow Gardens Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC). Contained within the ACEC, the Sunrise Mountain Special Recreation Management Area is essentially the Rainbow Gardens ACEC south of Lake Mead Blvd. Within the ACEC, motor vehicles and bicycles are restricted to approved roads, of which there are several. Unfortunately, law enforcement is so infrequent that many people ignore the rules by riding and driving everywhere and dumping truck-loads of trash.

Link to map.

Watch Out

Other than the standard warnings about being in the desert, ...this is a safe drive, but watch for debris and washouts along the dirt portion of the road. There is no gas.

While out, please respect the land and the other people out there, and try to Leave No Trace of your passage. This road runs through fairly developed country, but always bring what you need of the 10 Essentials. Shooting and camping are not permitted in this area.

Getting to the Roadhead

S. Hollywood Blvd is located along the eastern edge of the Las Vegas Valley, about 20 minutes east of downtown Las Vegas. From town, drive south on Interstate 11 (Highway 93/95/515) for 5 miles to Boulder Highway (Exit 70). Exit onto Boulder Highway southbound and drive 0.6 miles to Desert Inn Road. Turn left onto Desert Inn/Lamb, and quickly make an odd right turn to stay on Desert Inn. Drive east 3.0 miles to where Desert Inn dead-ends into S. Hollywood Blvd.

The Road

From Desert Inn Road (Table 1, Site 2015), S. Hollywood Blvd runs south with neighborhoods on the right and open Mojave Desert on the left. At about 0.5 miles out, Hollywood passes the last of the houses. The pavement narrows, and the riparian vegetation of Las Vegas Wash can be seen on the right. At about 0.8 miles out, Hollywood bends left about 45-degrees.

At about 1.4 miles out, Hollywood passes the entrance to one of our sewage treatment plants (notice water tower), which is the only industrial development along S. Hollywood.

At about 2.0 miles out, Hollywood passes parking for the Sunrise Trailhead (Site 2016). This trailhead has covered picnic tables, toilets, and an equestrian area. The site gets a lot of vandalism, so don't expect to find the toilets open. This trailhead provides access to paved bike trails and hiker access to the Clark County Wetlands Park across Las Vegas Wash.

Just past the trailhead parking, the pavement ends (Site 2017) with quite a step-down and lots of rocky cobbles to shake the dust off returning vehicles. Hollywood Blvd continues heading southeast into the desert passing lots of trash illegally dumped by not-very-nice people. Watch for occasional debris, rocks, and washouts on the road.

After about 1.4 miles on the dirt, Hollywood passes Rainbow Gardens Road (Site 2018), on the left. Rainbow Gardens Road is a rough 4WD road that provides access to the east edge of Frenchman Mountain.

After about 1.6 miles on the dirt, Hollywood passes Kodachrome Road (Site 2019), on the left. Kodachrome Road is a rough 4WD road that provides access deep into the heart of the Rainbow Gardens ACEC.

After about 2.0 miles on the dirt, Hollywood passes Lava Butte Road (Site 2020), on the left. Lava Butte Road is a rough 4WD road that provides access to the east edge of the ACEC, Lava Butte, and the Red Needle Trail.

Hollywood Blvd continues east, but gets little use beyond this point.