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This page last updated on 04/16/2018
Destination: Christmas Tree Pass. Distance from Point of Origin: This depends upon which end of the access road you enter from. Though you pass Christmas Tree Road on the Western side, it is suggested that you continue on to the Southern entrance, closer to Grapevine canyon. The latter would be 92 miles. Estimated (One Way) Travel Time: 1 hour and 35 minutes. Directions: From the Stratosphere Casino head northeast on Las Vegas Blvd about 4 miles and turn right onto US-515/93/95 south towards Boulder City. Follow US-93/95 for 17 miles and then merge onto US-95 South (Veterans Memorial Hwy) toward Searchlight/ Laughlin/ Needles. Follow for 55.5 miles and then turn left onto NV-163 East. Follow this for approximately 13 miles and turn left onto Christmas Tree Pass Road. Pay close attention, as it is not very well marked. Driving in about 2 miles on this very flat dirt road, you will find a turn left toward Grapevine Canyon. Continuing pass this turn will take you on the 13 mile drive through Christmas Tree Pass and back onto Rt. 95 for the return trip home. General Description: Christmas Tree Pass is a pass that leads over the Newberry Mountains in southern Nevada. They are located due east of Cal-Nev-Ari. This scenic drive is roughly fifteen miles in length and is a very enjoyable ride offering some fine sweeping views into Arizona and the Colorado River valley down below. Once you reach the western side of the pass you are presented with sprawling views of the Mojave Desert. The pass gets its name from the scatter of pinyon and juniper trees along the route, some of which people have decorated with cans, bottles and shiny pieces of metal. Special Attraction or Points of Interest: Other than some very unique geologic rock formations, the only special attraction here are the hundreds of petroglyphs found at Grapevine Canyon. Primary Activity: Hiking and Photographing. WARNING: This area is home to several kinds of rattlesnakes who leave their dens in the spring to hunt after a period of long winter hibernation. Be careful where you place hands and feet and listen for their warning buzz or rattle-like sounds. Secondary Activities: Rock-hounding Elevation: At the Southern end of Christmas Tree Pass Road the elevation is around 1,978 feet. The entrance to Grapevine Canyon is roughly 2,450 feet. As you pass through Christmas Tree Pass you will reach an elevation of almost 4,000 feet. The peak of Spirit Mountain, off to the North as you climb the pass is 5,639 feet. See the map below. Best Time To Visit: Open year-round, the cooler months of Spring and Fall are the best times to visit. Spring visits offer more opportunity to see wild flowers and blossoming Joshua trees and yuccas. Take note that when visiting in winter, hese mountains do get snow. Difficulty: Hiking or climbing any of the surrounding mountains and peaks would have to be in the moderate to difficult category. Facilities: None. Estimated Round-trip Time: 4 to 4-1/2 hours. Coupled with a hike up Grapevine Canyon this could be an all day trip. Although much of this road is like driving on a washboard, with occasional deep ruts and protruding rocks, careful and slow driving will allow a passenger car to traverse the full length of the road, however, a high clearance vehicle is recommended. With occasional stops for picture taking, it took me two hours to drive this 15 mile stretch. |
More Info On Christmas Tree Pass: http://www.birdandhike.com/Wilderness/SpiritMt/_Spirit.htm |