interesting off the beaten path route from LA to Vegas?

[look 171]

Lets hear about them. Going to attend a couple of builder's conferences. Since I will be driving by myself, its easier (no wife and kids so less bathroom stops) to take the long way out. 2 land county roads are perfectly fine with me. I have 4wd, so dirt trails are ok, but don't want to get stuck in the desert if the trail is nasty.

I have done hwy 2 a thousand times, so that doesn't count

[Noah930]

Check out California City for me/us and report back. Could we really set up our own rogue road course up there on already-paved streets?

[Rick Lee]

I'm riding my bike from Phoenix to Vegas, from Vegas to Irvine and then back to Phoenix next week. But I will be in a big rush to get where I'm going on each leg of the trip, as I have meetings to get to. So it's gonna be I-15 and I-10 for most of the trip.

[Nostril Cheese]

Trona Pinnacles near Ridgecrest are interesting. I think you can visit some of the nuclear test sites in NV as well.

[Nostril Cheese]

Here you go..

http://www.nv.doe.gov/library/factsheets/DOENV_1033.pdf

[Seahawk]

I used to travel China Lake quite a bit and got very creative on how to get there from both LA and Las Vegas.

Nostril was right about Trona...and you can continue up the gravel road call Panamint Valley Road to CA 190.

The only problem with this route is you will miss some spectacular scenery around Darwin. The road is unbelievable.

I'd stay on CA 190 until CA 178 into Shoshone. Bit you way into Vegas from there. All the usual precautions apply.

Enjoy!

[scottmandue]

This should be interesting... on my many trips to Vegas the road has always been dead time and hurried through ASAP.

I had friends in Crestline/lake arrowhead and apparently there is a road down the backside of the mountain.

Probably not what you are looking for but there is I40

[Craig T]

Since you are in a 4x4 and by yourself, you could head out through Pahrump and Dumont Dunes Recreational Area. Pahrump is home to all the legal chicken ranches. I'm not condoning going as a customer, but it's kind of fun going into the on-site bars for a beer and seeing all the girls. You can leave with a sex menu complete with prices. Fun souvenirs. Sheri's has the better bar. The original Chicken Ranch is kinda dated and run down.

Also in Pahrump is Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch. They rent Radicals. A few laps in Radical will change your life.

Dumont Dunes is a spectacular place to take the 4x4. I believe they are the tallest sand dunes in North America, and you can drive all over them. You can even snowboard down some of the steeper ones.

[LakeCleElum]

Rubicon Trail is probably too far north?

Rubicon Trail - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Craig T]

Dumont Dunes.

[Craig T]

Originally Posted by LakeCleElum

Rubicon Trail is probably too far north?

LOL! Like going from NYC to Philly via Bangor!

[dad911]

Originally Posted by look 171

.... Going to attend a couple of builder's conferences. ..........

Next week NAHB IBS?

[look 171]

Originally Posted by dad911

Next week NAHB IBS?

and the Kitchen and Bath Industry show, KBIS. I am also going to check out this latest technology filled official show home (6700sq) in Henderson on my way home.

Are you going?

[look 171]

Originally Posted by LakeCleElum

Rubicon Trail is probably too far north?

Rubicon Trail - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

We were just up in Tahoe 6 weeks ago. No, that's too gnarly for this pussy little boy's new(ish) truck. 20 years ago, I would have done it even if I tear my truck apart. Too far up to get stuck. Plus, this is a business thing, so no playing.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by scottmandue

This should be interesting... on my many trips to Vegas the road has always been dead time and hurried through ASAP.

I had friends in Crestline/lake arrowhead and apparently there is a road down the backside of the mountain.

Probably not what you are looking for but there is I40

I spent some time in those trails on the lower section of those hills just south of Apple Valley. The 15 is only a short drive away once you leave the trails. I broke my drives shaft on my old Land Cruiser in that area. This was in my 20s and that break finally put that poor old car into retirement. I didn't do much of the crazy back road exploring after that. Breakage cost too much for this poor old boy.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by Nostril Cheese

Here you go..

http://www.nv.doe.gov/library/factsheets/DOENV_1033.pdf

Now, that cool. Too bad time is a factor on this trip. Its a whole day deal it looks like? Can't wait until my boys get a little older. Those poor kids got a long day of rough bus ahead of them. Have you done it and what to expect?

[Cajundaddy]

If you've got some time, Kelso-Cima Rd is an interesting alt route to Las Vegas. You pick it up outside of Barstow and it takes you up through the Mojave National Preserve and back down to the dry lake bed ending at Sloan. I've done it once many years ago and it reminded me of the road to Amboy. It's a big ol open desert with few people over many miles.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

I used to travel China Lake quite a bit and got very creative on how to get there from both LA and Las Vegas.

Nostril was right about Trona...and you can continue up the gravel road call Panamint Valley Road to CA 190.

The only problem with this route is you will miss some spectacular scenery around Darwin. The road is unbelievable.

I'd stay on CA 190 until CA 178 into Shoshone. Bit you way into Vegas from there. All the usual precautions apply.

Enjoy!

That sound interesting. Panamint is gravel all the way up to the 190? It looks like its paved on the map.

On the way back on the 178, that's through Badwater Basin? How's that road? I always fear that I will get the 4 runner caught in a big rut and can't get out when I out in those places by myself. No high lift jack, I own no off road equip. any more but a dirty shovel and a tow strap now. It doesn't look like there are any one traveling on those roads. When you drove through those places, how many people do you see going the other way?

Hey thanks, looks like I found my route.

[dad911]

Originally Posted by look 171

and the Kitchen and Bath Industry show, KBIS. I am also going to check out this latest technology filled official show home (6700sq) in Henderson on my way home.

Are you going?

Yes. arriving tuesday night.

[dlockhart]

A fun route I ran back in October on my KTM 640adv. Pahrump to Cold Creek then past the prison and 95 to Vegas.

a nice vid going from the vegas side with some nice mapping.