birdandhike.com logo
Home | Wilderness | Hiking | Mojave National Preserve
Caruthers Canyon
Hiking Around Las Vegas, Mojave National Preserve
Caruthers Canyon Trail
New York Mountains
New York Mountain (view NW through a Joshua Tree Forest)

Text by Mark Petterson, Henderson.

Overview

Caruthers Canyon is a botanical and geologic gem hidden at about 6,000 feet in the New York Mountains of Mojave National Preserve. A beautiful canyon of towering castellated mountains is filled with fascinating rock formations, and the diversity of plant life is unusual for the desert. For those readers who have been to these places, it's as if Mother Nature had taken the granite rock formations of Joshua Tree National Park and set them down in the middle of the Newberry Mountains (Christmas Tree Pass area), then sprinkled in some coastal California flora. Caruthers Canyon is definitely a worthwhile trip; it is relatively easy to get to, it has primitive campsites, and most of the hike is not difficult.

For hikers, continue up the canyon towards the Giant Ledge Mine.

Photo 1211
Start of Caruthers Canyon Trail (view N)

Watch Out

Other than the standard warnings about hiking in the desert, ... this is a fairly easy drive and hike. Although 2WD vehicles with a decent ground clearance should be able to handle most of the drive during good weather, a 4WD vehicle would be safer, especially near the canyon. Also, this is wild and remote country, so make sure you have plenty of fuel and water, and notify someone of your travel plans. Your cell phone probably won't work.

Photo 1214
Balancing Rock on Spire

The last two legs of the drive, New York Mountains Road and Caruthers Canyon Road, are mostly loose, sandy soil where it is possible to get stuck. Also, about 1/2-miles before the primitive campsites, Caruthers Canyon Road crosses a wash that can be impassable in a 2WD vehicle.

If you do any rock scrambling on the spectacular rock formations, be careful. For Las Vegans accustomed to climbing on sandstone, these granite rocks offer few good handholds and footholds, unlike the plentiful sandstone ledges closer to home. The rock surface is also rough and coarse, and bare legs will get scraped up easily. Lastly, there is an old gold mine at the end of the trail. Be safe and do not enter the dark, dangerous mine shafts.

Photo 1225
Climbing Challenge

While out, please respect the land and the other people out there, and try to Leave No Trace of your passage. There are primitive campsites near the trailhead, so please respect the privacy of campers. Due to the remote location of this canyon, be sure to bring the 10 Essentials.

Although Mojave National Preserve has good signs for most roads, bring a good backcountry map and a GPS. Remember that driving off roads, in washes, or cross country damages the fragile desert soil and is prohibited by National Park Service regulations. Please check with the local rangers (760-252-6100) on the road conditions before driving into the backcountry. Maps of the Mojave backroads are available online and at the various Visitor Centers at Kelso, Hole In The Wall, and Baker.

Photo 1237
Elf's Cap

Getting to Caruthers Canyon

Caruthers Canyon is located in the Mojave National Preserve, about 2 hours south of Las Vegas.

From town, take I-15 south and exit at Nipton Road (Table 1, Site 1008). Turn left and drive east about 4 miles to Ivanpah Road (Site 1264). Turn right and drive south on Ivanpah Road for about 24 miles. The road crosses the Union Pacific Railroad tracks at the old town of Ivanpah, turns to a graded dirt road (Site 1266), passes over the foothills of the New York Mountains, and runs through a lovely Joshua tree forest where many large old specimens can be found (Photo 1). At the old OX Cattle Ranch (buildings and windmill) (Site 1259), turn right on the signed New York Mountain Road. Drive west on the sandy road for about 5-1/2 miles to an unsigned four-way intersection (Site 1260). Turn right onto Caruthers Canyon Road and drive north, passing an old windmill (Site 1261), for most of two miles to a wash crossing (Site 1262). Visitors with 2WD vehicles should be careful here. Otherwise, continue for about 3/4-miles to several primitive campsites (Site 1263).

Photo 1243
New York Mountain

Botany and Geology of Caruthers Canyon

Areas where the flora is quite different from the surrounding landscape, such as Caruthers Canyon, are sometimes referred to as "disjuncts," "unusual plant assemblages," or "islands on the land." Regardless of the name, the botanically unique area around Caruthers Canyon is an unexpected pleasure. Nearly 300 plant species occur in the area, including pinyon pine, white fir, juniper, oak, and a diversity of coastal chaparral plants including yerba santa, manzanita, coffee berry, and ceanothus. It is quite a surprise to find a coastal ecosystem in the middle of the desert; these are remnants of a widespread coastal scrub community from cooler, wetter times. When the climate turned warmer and drier, these "islands" of old Rocky Mountain and coastal California flora were isolated in higher areas where the climate was more moist and cool.

Photo 1230
Giant's Foot
The incredible rock outcroppings in the canyon are remnants of molten magma that oozed upward and cooled deep underground over 100 million years ago. These intrusions, called plutons, formed a granitic rock type called monzogranite. Monzogranite tends to develop joints (cracks) in a rectilinear pattern, which is evident in the rock formations. Over millions of years, the overlying rock eroded away and exposed the plutonic rocks. Further erosion transformed the monzogranite into the spires and the otherworldly rounded shapes seen today. The rounded shapes formed when groundwater percolated into the joints and dissolved some of the hard monzogranite into soft clay. The water dissolved the sharp edges and corners in a manner similar to holding a square ice cube under warm water: the corners melt off first and the "cube" develops rounded corners.
Photo 1244
Seasonal Stream

When driving out, consider turning right on New York Mountains Road and driving west to make a loop through Mojave Preserve, after consulting park personnel about road conditions. Then consult a good backcountry map and follow your GPS to Cedar Canyon Road. This will lead you to the heart of Mojave National Preserve where you can access the plethora of spectacular sights and historic places in this desert wonderland, including the main highway and a return to Las Vegas.

Photo 1252
Boulder Cave
Photo 1254
Granite Outcrop

Table 1. Highway Coordinates (NAD27; UTM Zone 11S). Download Highway GPS Waypoints (*.gpx) file.

Site Location UTM Easting UTM Northing Latitude (N) Longitude (W) Elevation (ft) Verified
1008 I-15 at Nipton Rd 640822 3926437 35.47327 115.44788 3,432 Yes
1259 Ivanpah Rd at NY Mts Rd 663698 3896831 35.20293 115.20177 4,280 GPS
1260 NY Rd at Caruthers Rd 655000 3898274 35.21732 115.29701 5,397 GPS
1261 Caruthers Rd at Windmill 654742 3899151 35.22527 115.29968 5,510 GPS
1262 Caruthers Rd at 2WD parking 654729 3900872 35.24078 115.29950 5,623 GPS
1263 Caruthers Cyn Mine Site 654718 3902453 35.25503 115.29932 6,069 GPS
1264 Nipton Rd at Ivanpah Rd 646208 3924862 35.45829 115.38882 2,747 GPS
1265 Ivanpah Rd at Morning Star Mine Rd 647358 3919902 35.41342 115.37706 2,837 GPS
1266 Ivanpah Rd at End of Pavement 656680 3910784 35.32981 115.27617 3,927 GPS

Happy Hiking! All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate.
copyright; Last updated 241003

Hiking Around Mojave Preserve Hiking Around Las Vegas Glossary Copyright, Conditions, Disclaimer Home
Google Ads