NEW: McCullough-Telephone-Rhyolite

Three submitted trails have been added to the Southern Nevada area (folder) of the "Nevada Trails" Master Map: McCullough Pass, Telephone Canyon and Rhyolite Back Door.   [Obtain a free Google Earth file of this route at: http://offroadinghome.djmed.net/nevada/nevada.htm]

They were anonymously submitted trips which DO check out on the satellite image, DO look like they visit or pass significant features verified in the USGS Features file BUT WEREN'T submitted with specific directions or ratings SO NEED the verification of other riders.

I think that I've mentioned it before, but we always try and verify all the trails which are submitted for inclusion in our master maps. You just need to actually look at one of our maps to see that they are NOT like those computer generated, forum posted, difficult to follow "Every Trail" on other sites. Most of our submitters welcome the help with making their listing look polished and be helpful for others who come behind them.

Once in awhile, for whatever reason, a track comes through without the ability to get back to the submitter, which puts me at a disadvantage. If the trail looks like it could be in a popular area, does actually follow visible markings on the satellite image or is in an area where there are few other submissions then I may decide to try and include it – hoping for further verification and descriptions.

Such is the case with these three trails. They are all in most interesting areas which should be able to be verified easily.

The McCullough Pass trailhead is just north of the Lake Mojave trailhead (NV-165) between Boulder City and Searchlight. It looks like it could be used as a "short cut" of sorts over to I-15.

And it might be the more scenic route as well because it does run through the McCullough Mountain pass with a few switch-backs. A short side trip up to McClanahan Spring is possible before you pass the dry Jean Lake and stumble, parched, into the Nevada Landing to wet your whistle.

The Telephone Canyon Road track was apparently ridden on an ATV from the looks of several small side-trails that they took. It basically runs up and across the side-hills and passes Sidehill Spring which is another name the locals give to the ride.

It also has been ridden in a Jeep under this second name and is why it is considered "Verified" despite the anonymous submission. It is a great ride to combine with other trails in the Mt. Charleston area to make a full day's outing.

The area is also known for it's rock-climbing venues near the Robbers Roost trailhead, at the north end of the track. From the looks of things in the Panoramio photos on Google Earth, it probably should be better known than it is.

The Rhyolite Back Door trail is another which is in a very popular riding area for ATVs, SUVs and other "Vs" of many types. This particular version comes from a sort of non-standard direction, which I suppose is why the submitter called it the "back door." It begins on NV-374 just southwest of present day Beatty Nevada and runs up to the ghost town over what looks like pretty dusty mining terrain.

It runs into the Montgomery Mountains where there are several open-pit mine terraces on the satellite image which look interesting to scope-out; not to mention the former rail-road grade with "antique" leftovers.

There remains in the site more than a few relics of the past including a school, trail depot, mercantile, post office – and several eerily-creepy remembrances of the towns early self.

For your convenience, below I have copied the trails description boxes from the map. Those of you who have already taken the ride, would you please leave a comment on your experience? That would help complete the descriptions.

McCullough Pass Trail

Description: Difficulty: nr/10; Scenic: nr/10; 33 mi. 0.5 Day.
Location: Start: On Veterans Memorial Highway (NV-95), 8 miles South of I-515 south of Boulder City Nevada; End: I-15 at Jean Nevada.
Things to see: Scenic McCullough Pass in the southern Nevada desert, Boyd Rucker Ranch and geocaches.
Source/Maps: 1:24,000 Boulder City SW, Sloan SE, McCullough Pass, Hidden Valley and Jean quadrangles.

Telephone Canyon Road

Description: Difficulty: nr/10; Scenic: nr/10; 4 mi. 0.25 Day

Location: Start: Telephone Canyon Road on NV-157, Kyle Canyon Road, 2 miles from NV-158; End: Telephone Canyon Road on NV-158, 2.3 miles from NV-157.

Things to see: Short, scenic route through Telephone Canyon in the Mt. Charleston area of Nevada; Sidehill Spring; geocaches and Robbers Roost trailhead.
Source/Maps: Submitted trail; Motor Vehicle Use Map, Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, 1:24,000 Angel Peak quadrangle. Created by: GPS Track; Verified by: Michael Davidson (08/2010)

Rhyolite Back Door Trail

Description: Difficulty: nr/10; Scenic: nr/10; 2.5 mi., 0.25 day. Location: Start: On NV-374 about 2 miles southwest of Beatty; End: At Rhyolite.
Things to see: Desert terrain, large open terraced Senator Stewart and Shoshone Polaris Mines, old mining town of Rhyolite and multiple other mines in the area.
Source/Maps: 1:24,000 Beatty quadrangle.

Learn A Little More

Navigating With A Watch

You can use an analog wristwatch to locate the direction of south during daylight hours, assuming that you live in the Northern Hemisphere, not too close to either the Equator or the North Pole. [In the Southern Hemisphere, the same procedure locates north.]

Hold your watch horizontally and turn it so that the hour hand points in the direction of the Sun. South is then halfway between this direction and 12 o'clock. In one day the Sun appears to travel around the Earth once, while the hour hand goes around the watch twice, which is the reason for halving.

Adjust the time backward one hour if you are using daylight saving time.