Overview

Lee Canyon Road is a maintained state highway (Hwy 156) that runs southwest from U.S. Highway 95 to the top of Lee Canyon in the high mountains of the Spring Mountains National Conservation Area. The road begins low in the desert and climbs through several life zones to a cool, high-elevation forested canyon. From many areas, views extend to peaks above treeline.

The road provides access to numerous outdoor recreation sites (e.g., hiking, picnicking, and camping areas), Lee Meadow, and a ski area.

Link to map.

Watch Out

Other than the standard warnings about driving in the desert, ...this is a fairly safe drive. The road is a regular state highway with normal highway grades, signs, and safety features. Nonetheless, always watch for crazy drivers careening around blind corners and watch for feral horses on the roadway. There is no gasoline on the mountain.

While out, please respect the land and the other people out there, and try to Leave No Trace of your passage. Also, even though this is a paved road, be sure to bring what you need of the 10 Essentials.

Getting to the Roadhead

This road is located off Highway 95 (the highway to Reno) about 30 minutes northwest of Las Vegas.

From town, drive north on Highway 95. From the outskirts of town, drive north about 14 miles to Lee Canyon Road (Highway 156; Table 1, Site 0668), on the left. Turn left onto Lee Canyon Road and drive southwest on the paved road.

The Road

While this road might be just a way to get somewhere, it is better thought of as a scenic tour through the landforms and habitat types of southern Nevada.

From Highway 95, Lee Canyon Road (Highway 156; Table 1, Site 0668) runs southwest towards the mountains in the distance. The road quickly passes a Park-and-Ride area on the right, and then a sign with information on construction activities along the road.

Driving southwest, he road starts in the seemingly flat and barren desert, but is Mojave Desert Scrub dominated by creosote bush, Mojave Yucca, and few other shrubs. During summer, this area is so hot and dry that few plants and animals survive here.

As the road climbs towards the distant peaks, the enough elevation is gained to moderate the temperatures and to receive a bit more precipitation. Here, the Mojave Desert Scrub becomes "lush," and Joshua trees and a variety of shrubs (e.g., apache plume, stansbury cliffrose, desert almond) become common, and several species of cactus join the mix.

In this more lush area, keep an eye out for feral horses along the road, or even in the road. In this zone, there are some paved pullout (pieces of the original highway) where drivers can stop, get out, and look around the desert.

At about 10.5 miles out, the road passes Gravel Pit Road (Site 1907), on the right. This short road provides access to Gravel Pit Trailhead parking area (Site 1908).

As the road climbs higher, it enters the Pinyon-Juniper Woodland zone. Here, short trees (single-leaf pinyon pine and Utah juniper) begin to appear growing among dense thickets of mountain mahogany and other shrubs. In this zone, the road passes turnoffs to Blue Tree Group Campground and Sawmill Trailhead and Picnic Area (Site 1273).

About the time Lee Canyon Road reaches Mack's Canyon Road (on the right; Site 0729), tall ponderosa pine appear and Lee Canyon Road enters true woods. Mack's Canyon Road is a rough dirt road that runs north into the woods and is used for primitive camping.

At about 14 miles out, Lee Canyon Road passes Deer Creek Road (Site 1272) on the left. Deer Creek Road is a paved highway that runs south across the face of the mountains to Kyle Canyon Road.

Continuing, Lee Canyon Road passes gated roads on both sides of the highway that lead to private homes off in the woods. Quickly, Lee Canyon Road passes Foxtail Group Picnic Area on the left and Old Mill Picnic Area on the right, then arrives at Lee Meadow (Site 0557). Lee Meadows is a nice place to stop and relax in a scenic mountain setting or to play in the winter snow.

Beyond Lee Meadows the road curves about and passes Lower Bristlecone Trailhead access road (Site 1276), one of the most popular trails in the area. Lee Canyon Road then winds past McWilliams and Dolomite Campgrounds, both on the right, and climbs somewhat steeply to pass the Las Vegas Ski and Snowboard Resort, on the left, and shortly arrives at the end of the road, which also is the Upper Bristlecone Trailhead (Site 0556).