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Ninetynine Mine Road
(Forest Roads FR-800C, FR-800, and FR-800E)
Backroads Around Las Vegas, Red Rock Canyon NCA
Ninetynine Mine RoadCottonwood Valley Road at Road FR-800C (view SW)

Overview

Ninetynine Mine Road is a side-road off Cottonwood Valley Road that runs 2.8 miles to Ninetynine Mine, and then a bit farther before ending. The road is rough, rocky, and may require a 4WD vehicle in a couple of sections depending on washouts.

Two of the Ninetynine Mine area roads (FR-800B and FR-800A) are so badly washed out that they have, more or less, been abandoned. It is now best to drive farther south on Cottonwood Valley Road and use Road FR-800C to access the Ninetynine Mine area. Due to neglect by land management agencies, much of these roads have become so bad as to be undrivable. As a result, drivers have created several miles of parallel roadway.

Ninetynine Mine Road provides access to hiking, biking, hunting, and camping opportunities along the east side of Mt. Potosi, and it provides access to the trailhead for the tough hike to the Carol Lombard Crash Site high in the cliffs on the side of Mt. Potosi.

Link to map.

Ninetynine Mine Road
FR-800C (view NW from Cottonwood Valley Road)

Watch Out

Other than the standard warnings about driving in the desert, ...this road is getting to be a pretty rough and requires a 4WD vehicle. Cell phones work in some areas. This is a major mountain biking area, so keep an eye out for inattentive bikers careening down the road.

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

Getting to the Roadhead

From Las Vegas, drive west on Highway 160 (Pahrump Highway) to the Cottonwood Valley Trailhead, then drive south on Cottonwood Valley Road for 5.6 miles to Ninetynine Mine Road; FR-800C (Table 1, Site 1931) on the right.

Note that Cottonwood Valley Road and Ninetynine Mine Road require a 4WD vehicle.

Ninetynine Mine Road
FR-800C road sign (view NW from Cottonwood Valley Road)

The Road

From Cottonwood Valley Road, Ninetynine Mine Road (FR-800C; Site 1931) runs northwest. FR-800C quickly runs up across a wash and merges with a road on the left. As is typical, the roads here form a large triangular intersection. When driving on Cottonwood Valley Road, the south corner of the triangle is washed and not obvious, but here it looks like the better road. Continuing on the merged FR-800C, the road crosses a buried gas pipeline, which is marked with caution signs.

Continuing on FR-800C, the road climbs the hillside and crosses broad, open flats with Mt. Potosi looming in the background. This area burned in the Goodsprings Fire in June 2005. Plants are growing back, but this area will never be the same.

At about 1.1 miles out (Site 1125), Ninetynine Mine Road (FR-800C) almost merges with the abandoned FR-800B, which comes in from the right. FR-800C continues straight as it runs across gentle terrain on new road created by drivers because the original road is so badly washed out.

Ninetynine Mine Road
FR-800C road sign (view NW)

At about 1.7 miles out, Ninetynine Mine Road (FR-800C) merges with FR-800 (Site 1126), which is barely noticeable on the left. Road FR-800 is an official, designated road, but it seems unused to the left. Ninetynine Mine Road continues straight across gentle terrain, now designated as Road FR-800.

At about 1.8 miles out, the newly created road drops back into the original track of Road FR-800, and road conditions quickly become more rocky.

At about 1.9 miles out, Road FR-800 crosses a deep wash that often is deeply washed out. Depending on conditions, it can require a short wheel base, 4WD vehicle to cross the wash.

Just across the wash, Dawn Mine Road (FR-800D) forks to the left (Site 1127) as Ninetynine Mine Road bends right. From the intersection, the mine tailings can be seen about 1/2-mile to the northwest. Dawn Mine Road is barricaded halfway to the mine, but hikers can continue on foot. Mines are never safe to enter, and this one seems to have bad air, possibly the lingering stench of a hiker never recovered from the mine.

Ninetynine Mine Road
FR-800C runs up across a wash (view NW)

From the Dawn Mine Road (FR-800D) intersection (Site 1127), Ninetynine Mine Road (FR-800) bends hard to the right and continues across gentle, but rocky terrain heading northwest staying on higher terrain. At about 2.5 miles out, the road runs up along the base of a rocky hillside, and then at about 2.6 miles out, the road drops into a broad wash where the rocky ground remains firm.

Running up the wash, Ninetynine Mine Road (FR-800) quickly (0.1 miles) arrives at another fork in the road (Site 1128). Here, Road FR-800A runs northeast and connects with Cottonwood Valley Road atop Cottonwood Pass. The road is very washed out and more-or-less has been abandoned. Also, Road FR-800A is visible from back down Ninetynine Mine Road, but because of the bushes in the wash and the road conditions, it is easy to miss at the intersection.

Road FR-800A is a fine road up onto the ridge (skyline), but degrades considerably going down the other side and should not be used as a "short cut" to Cottonwood Pass except by drivers on ATVs.

From the intersection, Ninetynine Mine Road climbs a steep bank to get out of the wash where drivers in 2WD-HC vehicles spin their tires and tear divots into the road.

Ninetynine Mine Road
Merging of the triangle-intersection (view NW)

Ninetynine Mine Road continues past Road FR-800A curving gently to the west. At about 2.8 miles out, the road arrives at the Ninetynine Mine (Site 1129). There are three access roads, but the first two are closed. It is a short, 1-minute walk to the tailings pile from the first spur road, or drivers can continue to the third spur road and loop back to drive closer to the tailings pile. There is some old trash in the area, but nothing of value remains. The mine openings are interesting, but not safe to enter.

Ninetynine Mine Road continues past the mine. At about 3.1 miles out, the road dips steeply into and crosses a wash. This is another spot that washes out and can provide difficulties for drivers in long-wheel-base vehicles.

Across the wash, the road climbs the steep bank and bends sharply to the left, arriving at an intersection (Site 1932) where Road FR-800E branches to the right. For drivers heading to the A-frame cabin, stay left on Road FR-800. For hikers heading towards the Carol Lombard Crash Site, the roads to the two trailheads diverge here.

Ninetynine Mine Road
Caution signs for buried gas pipeline (view NW)

Staying left, Road FR-800 runs southwest about 80 yards and bends to the right. On the outside of the curve, there is a small parking area on the left that really should be used by everyone unwilling to damage their vehicle. Otherwise, it is another 80 yards of rock-crawling to the A-frame cabin (Site 0869; 3.2 miles from Cottonwood Valley Road). The parking area on the left marks the trailhead for the Carol Lombard Direct Route.

For the alternative Carol Lombard Wash Route trailhead, drivers turn right onto Road FR-800E (Site 1932). Road FR-800E runs down the hillside to the northeast to a rectangular cement water trough. Drivers in long-wheel-base vehicles should consider parking here. Otherwise, the road bends left and heads up a side canyon. Staying on higher ground, the narrow road runs out about 0.3 miles and dips steeply to cross a wash. The road runs along the northern hillside until dipping gently back into the narrow wash bottom.

Immediately upon entering the wash (about 0.5 miles out), there is a wide spot on the left (Site 1933). Drivers can continue another 40 yards to a low pour-over, but most drivers will need to backup to this wide spot to turn around. This is the trailhead for the Carol Lombard Wash Route.

Ninetynine Mine Road
Signs: entering Spring Mountains National Recreation Area (view NW)
Ninetynine Mine Road
Signs: entering Spring Mountains National Recreation Area (view W)
Ninetynine Mine Road
Signs: entering Spring Mountains National Recreation Area (view N)
Ninetynine Mine Road
Road FR-800C climbs a gentle hill (view NW)
Ninetynine Mine Road
Road FR-800C cresting the gentle hill (view NW)
Ninetynine Mine Road
Mostly easy road, but watch for erratic rocks (view NW)
Ninetynine Mine Road
Mostly easy road, but watch for erratic rocks (view NW)
Ninetynine Mine Road
Mostly easy road, but watch for erratic rocks (view NW)
Ninetynine Mine Road
The road seems to fork ahead (view NW) ...
Ninetynine Mine Road
... but this is just a new parallel road (view NW)
Ninetynine Mine Road
Running parallel to the abandoned road (view NW)
Ninetynine Mine Road
Running parallel to the abandoned road (view NW)
Ninetynine Mine Road
The roads appear to merge, but not yet (view NW)
Ninetynine Mine Road
Still running parallel to the abandoned road (view NW)
Ninetynine Mine Road
A nice clump of Mojave yucca that survived the fire (view NW)
Ninetynine Mine Road
The road splits again; right rejoins old road (view NW)
Ninetynine Mine Road
Road FR-800C merges with Road FR-800B (view NW)
Ninetynine Mine Road
The original road is more rocky (view NW)
Ninetynine Mine Road
Road FR-800C winds among Joshua Trees that survived the 2005 fire
Ninetynine Mine Road
Most vegetation in this area burned in 2005 (view NW)
Ninetynine Mine Road
Road FR-800C approaching Road FR-800B (view NW)
Ninetynine Mine Road
Sign at intersection of Road FR-800C and Road FR-800B (view E)
Ninetynine Mine Road
New Road FR-800C continues to parallel old Road FR-800C (view NW)
Ninetynine Mine Road
The 2020 fire burned up to Road FR-800C (view NW)
Ninetynine Mine Road
Road FR-800C merges into Road FR-800, on the left (view NW)
Ninetynine Mine Road
Sign: Road FR-800 merges from the left (view NW)
Ninetynine Mine Road
Road FR-800 splits to form a parallel road (view NW)
Ninetynine Mine Road
New Road FR-800 rejoining old Road FR-800 (view NW)
Ninetynine Mine Road
Road FR-800 drops gently towards a wash (view NW)
Ninetynine Mine Road
Road FR-800 approaching a fork in the road (view NW)
Ninetynine Mine Road
Road FR-800 approaching a wash crossing (view NW)
Ninetynine Mine Road
Easy now, but this can easily washout (view NW)
Ninetynine Mine Road
Road FR-800 at Road FR-800D (view W)
Ninetynine Mine Road
Road FR-800D (view W from Road FR-800)
Ninetynine Mine Road
Across the wash Road FR-800D forks left (view NW)
Ninetynine Mine Road
Road sign at intersection (view NW)
Ninetynine Mine Road
Road sign at intersection (arrows are backwards; view NW)
Ninetynine Mine Road
Road FR-800 continues on the old track (view NW)
Ninetynine Mine Road
Road FR-800 continues through the burn zone (view NW)
Ninetynine Mine Road
Road FR-800 continues through the burn zone (view NW)
Ninetynine Mine Road
Road FR-800 continues through the burn zone (view NW)
Ninetynine Mine Road
Near base of hills, Road FR-800A becomes visible (view NW)
Ninetynine Mine Road
The road drops into the wash (view NW)
Ninetynine Mine Road
Crossing the wash (view NW)
Ninetynine Mine Road
Approaching Road FR-800A (view NW)
Ninetynine Mine Road
Intersection with Road FR-800A (view NW)
Ninetynine Mine Road
Steep, hill-climb with divots exiting the broad wash (view NW)
Ninetynine Mine Road
Out of the wash, the first of the 99 Mine tailings are visible (view W)
Ninetynine Mine Road
Road FR-800 dropping into broad wash (view NW)
Ninetynine Mine Road
Road FR-800 runs rocky (view NW)
Ninetynine Mine Road
Ninetynine Mine and Carol Lombard crash site (view W)
Ninetynine Mine Road
Road FR-800 runs rocky (view NW)
Ninetynine Mine Road
Approaching the first closed road to 99 Mine (view NW)
Ninetynine Mine Road
First closed road (view SW from Road FR-800)
Ninetynine Mine Road
Approaching second closed road to 99 Mine (view NW)
Ninetynine Mine Road
Second closed road to 99 Mine (view NW)
Ninetynine Mine Road
Second closed road to 99 Mine (view W from Road FR-800)
Ninetynine Mine Road
Road FR-800 approaching third closed road to 99 Mine (view NW)
Ninetynine Mine Road
Road FR-800 at third road to 99 Mine (view NW)
Ninetynine Mine Road
third road to 99 Mine (view S from Road FR-800)
Ninetynine Mine Road
Road FR-800 continues being quite rocky (view NW)
Ninetynine Mine Road
Road FR-800 becomes smoother past the mine (view NW)
Ninetynine Mine Road
Road FR-800 becomes smoother past the mine (view NW)
Ninetynine Mine Road
Peak of A-frame cabin comes into view (view W)
Ninetynine Mine Road
Road FR-800 approaching another wash crossing (view W)
Ninetynine Mine Road
Another wash crossing; shadow shows washed-out dip (view W)
Ninetynine Mine Road
Wash crossing; dip is not too bad this year (view W)
Ninetynine Mine Road
Road FR-800 at Road FR-800E (view NW)

Staying Left on Road FR-800 to the A-frame Cabin and Trailhead for the Carol Lombard Direct Route.

Ninetynine Mine Road
Road FR-800 at Road FR-800E (view NW)
Ninetynine Mine Road
Road FR-800 bends hard to the left (view SW)
Ninetynine Mine Road
Road FR-800 bends hard to the left (view SW)
Ninetynine Mine Road
Sign: Road FR-800 (view SW)
Ninetynine Mine Road
Last place to park on Road FR-800 (view SW)
Ninetynine Mine Road
A-frame cabin is visible from the parking area (view W)
Ninetynine Mine Road
Road FR-800 rock-hops up wash towards the A-frame cabin (view W)
Ninetynine Mine Road
Road FR-800 climbs rocky wash towards the A-frame cabin (view W)
Ninetynine Mine Road
A-frame cabin (view W from the road)
Ninetynine Mine Road
Road FR-800 exits wash towards the A-frame cabin (view NW)
Ninetynine Mine Road
Parking at A-frame cabin (view NW
Ninetynine Mine Road
Front of the A-frame cabin (view W)
Ninetynine Mine Road
A-frame cabin with a view (view E)
Ninetynine Mine Road
Graffiti on rusting debris (view E)

Turning Right onto Road FR-800E to the Trailhead for the Carol Lombard Wash Route

Ninetynine Mine Road
Road FR-800 at Road FR-800E (view N)
Road FR-800E
Road FR-800E (view N from Road FR-800)
Road FR-800E
Sign: Road FR-800E (view N from Road FR-800)
Road FR-800E
Starting up Road FR-800E (view N)
Road FR-800E
The only tree, and it's growing into the road (view NE)
Ninetynine Mine Road
Road FR-800E approaching concrete structure and graves (view NE)
Road FR-800E
Old watering trough (view E)
Road FR-800E
A grave site? (view E)
Road FR-800E
Road FR-800E approaching a line of fire retardant (view NW)
Road FR-800E
Approaching jurisdictional boundary (view NW)
Road FR-800E
Leaving Spring Mountains NRA; entering Red Rocks (view NW)
Ninetynine Mine Road
Narrow road runs along base of hillside (view NW)
Road FR-800ERoad FR-800E dips into the wash (view NW) Ninetynine Mine Road
Steep bit climbing the bank out of the wash (view NW)
Road FR-800E
Road FR-800E held as a fire line (view NW)
Road FR-800E
Road FR-800E held as a fire line (view NW)
Road FR-800E
Road FR-800E runs down into a wash (view NW)
Road FR-800E
Entering the wash, this is the place to turn around (view NW)
Road FR-800E
Road FR-800E ends for normal vehicles at pour-over (view NW)
more to come
More to come ...

Table 1. Highway Coordinates based on GPS Data (NAD27; UTM Zone 11S). Download Highway GPS Waypoints (*.gpx) file.

Wpt. Location Latitude (N) Longitude (W) Elevation (ft) Point-to-Point Distance (mi) Cumulative Distance (mi)
1931 Cottonwood Valley Road at Road FR-80 36.92499 115.42935 4,518 0.00 0.00
1125 FR800B at FR800C 35.93581 115.44268 4,903 1.09 1.09
1126 FR800C at FR800 35.94035 115.45176 5,122 0.62 1.71
1127 FR800 at FR800D 35.94243 115.45413 5,190 0.20 1.91
1128 FR800 at FR800A 35.95117 115.46153 5,504 0.75 2.66
1129 FR800 at 99 Mine Rd 35.95211 115.46425 5,607 0.17 2.83
1932 Road FR-800 at Road FR-800E 35.95314 115.46941 5,742 0.32 3.15
0869 Road FR-800 at A-Frame Cabin 35.95287 115.47074 5,849 0.09 3.24
. . . . . .
1932 Road FR-800 at Road FR-800E 35.95314 115.46941 5,742 3.15 3.15
1933 Road FR-800E Ends 35.95676 115.47406 5,855 0.46 3.61

Happy Hiking! All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate.
copyright; Last updated 240713

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