Bitter Springs Back Country Byway

Bitter Springs Back Country Byway is located just 40 miles from the center of Las Vegas. This unpaved road is a popular tourist attraction, and it provides a completely different experience from the booming city. It offers a beautiful view of rocky landscape, native shrubs and thorny wildflowers. Visitors also see some unique pieces of history, and most discover that their drive down the Byway is the most exciting part of their trip to Nevada.

Sightseeing and rock climbing

There is so much to do on a trip down the Byway. Visitors can stop and learn about the history of the ranches in the area, and they can also see some abandoned mines. Part of the Old Spanish Trail is open for exploration as well. There are also several opportunities for rock climbing in this region. Keyhole Canyon offers a unique opportunity to climb a granite canyon. There are a few bolted routes established, and the Keyhole Classic Bouldering Competition is hosted here each year. Arrow Canyon is a limestone canyon for advanced climbers. It offers some vertical climbing, as well as cave climbing, and it is home to a lot of rock art. Sandstone climbing is available in the Red Rock Canyon Conservation Area, located a short distance from the Byway.

Target shooting

There are also many opportunities for target shooting in this region. Public lands are open to this activity as long as visitors follow basic safety rules and clean up after themselves.

Where to stay

Many visitors choose to stay in the city of Las Vegas to experience both city life and the back country in one trip. The state also grants permits for those who wish to stay in RVs.

A trip to Nevada provides visitors with a new host of sites and sounds. After experiencing the Bitter Springs Back Country Byway, visitors often want to come back every year.