Note: Feb 2020. Joe writes: After leaving Southern Nevada Liteweight Rd. Hidden Valley Road has become pretty rough with pockets of deep sand. It was no problem with 4WD, might be a challenge with 2WD-HC, and is definitely a no-go for sedans.

Overview

Hidden Valley Road is located near Jean, NV, in the northern end of Hidden Valley. This dirt road provides access to the south side of Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area (NCA) and the wild western edge of the McCullough Mountains.

This road is occasionally maintained by the BLM, and usually it is well suited for 2WD-HC vehicles. When in good condition, a carefully driven 2WD sedan probably can make it to the trailhead.

Link to road map.

Getting to the Road

From town, drive south on Interstate-15 to the Sloan exit. Exit the highway, turn east (left), and cross under the interstate to a T-intersection, which is Las Vegas Blvd. Turn right and drive south for 6.3 miles to a paved road to the left (Southern Nevada Liteweight Road; Site 1195). A sign reads: Southern Nevada Liteweight; 8 miles to pit. There is also a BLM sign: "Jean/Roach Lakes; Special Recreation Management Area."

Turn left onto Southern Nevada Liteweight Road and drive east for 3.1 miles to the end of the pavement at a cattle guard (Site 1196). Continue on the graded dirt road for 1.3 miles to Hidden Valley Road (Site 1197), a narrow dirt road to the left bordered on the east side by a wire fence. This is actually a triangle-intersection, but the fence posts make the far side of the triangle more identifiable.

The Road

Turn left onto Hidden Valley Road and drive north. At 0.44 miles out Hidden Valley Road, a road merges in from the right, and another cuts to the left. At 0.69 miles out, the road forks (Site 1198) at a broad, churned up area; stay right. This actually is a 3-way fork, and Hidden Valley Road takes the middle way, but the far-right is obviously a minor road. Here, and farther along, watch for carsonite signs along the road pointing the way to "Sloan Canyon."

At 0.90, and again at 1.20, minor roads turn to the right. At 2.12 miles, the road forks (Site 1199); stay right. At 2.24 miles, the road forks (Site 1200); stay left. At 3.06 miles, the road forks (Site 1201); stay left. At 3.26 miles, the road forks (Site 1202); stay right.

At 4.96 miles, the road hits a T-intersection (Site 1203). A faint road runs left, but the right turns towards the Hidden Valley Trailhead (Site 1206) and the end of the road.

From the trailhead, the Hidden Valley Trail (BLM 300) leads into Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area, into the North McCullough Wilderness Area, and eventually to Petroglyph Canyon on the north side of the National Conservation Area.