Quick Overview

The Southern Nevada Birding and Wildlife Trail covers Nevada’s U.S. Highways 93, 6, 95, and Interstate I-15.

On the driving CORRIDOR pages regional HUBS have been identified along the Trail to serve as a launching point for your adventure and to identify communities that provide travel services (accommodations, gas, and food) along that route.

Listed below each hub are SITE recommendations of where to explore and experience a wide variety of bird and wildlife viewing opportunities.

We’re here…

Choose a corridor and start exploring!

Corridor 1: U.S. Hwy. 93 and U.S. Hwy. 95
(Ely to Laughlin, Laughlin to Ely)

Corridor 2: U.S. Hwy. 95
(Laughlin to U.S. Hwy. 6 / U.S. Hwy. 95 split west of Tonopah)

Corridor 3: U.S. Hwy. 6
(Utah border on the east to California border on the west)

Corridor 1: U.S. Hwy. 93 and U.S. Hwy. 95

Listed below are the HUBS and wildlife viewing SITES that you’ll encounter along this travel CORRIDOR. When planning your route, use this information to factor in where you’ll find visitor serves and places to explore. [Click on the HUB name to read an overview of the area.]

Corridor 1: U.S. Hwy. 93 and U.S. Hwy. 95 (Ely to Laughlin, Laughlin to Ely)

Alamo serves as the regional hub for the following wildlife viewing sites:

• Ash Springs
• Crystal Springs
• Dry Lake Valley Joshua Tree Woodland
• Key Pittman Wildlife Management Area
• Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge*

Baker serves as satellite hub for the following wildlife viewing sites:

• David E. Moore Bird and Wildlife Sanctuary
• Great Basin National Park*

Boulder City / Henderson serves as a regional hub for the following wildlife viewing sites:

• Desert National Wildlife Refuge and Corn Creek
• Floyd Lamb/Tule Springs Park
• Hemenway Park
• Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve*
• Lake Las Vegas
• Lake Mead National Recreation Area*
• Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
• Spring Mountains National Recreation Area Loop*
• Spring Mountain State Park
• Sunset Park
• Wee Thump Joshua Tree Forest
• Wetlands Park
• Wheeler Camp Spring

Caliente serves as a regional hub for the following wildlife viewing sites:

• Beaver Dam State Park
• Cathedral Gorge State Park*
• Dry Lake Valley Joshua Tree Woodland
• Echo Canyon State Park / Eagle Valley / Spring Valley State Park*
• Kershaw-Ryan State Park / Rainbow Canyon*
• Meadow Valley Recreation Area
• Panaca Bird Walk
• Pony Springs Rest Area
• Rainbow Canyon
• Spring Valley State Park
• Ursine Bird Walk

Ely serves as a regional hub for the following wildlife viewing sites:

• Cave Lake State Park
• Cleve Creek
• David E. Moore Bird and Wildlife Sanctuary
• Ely Elk Viewing Area
• Great Basin National Park*
• Kirch Wildlife Management Area / Adams McGill Reservoir
• Lund & Preston / White River Valley
• Railroad Valley Wildlife Management Area at Lockes-Blackrock Station
• Ruby Lakes National Wildlife Refuge*
• Steptoe Valley north of McGill
• Steptoe Valley Wildlife Management Area
• Success Summit Loop

Laughlin / Lower Colorado River serves as a regional hub for the following wildlife viewing sites:

• Big Bend of the Colorado State Recreation Area
• Bullhead City, AZ
• Christmas Tree Pass Road
• Fort Mojave Indian Reservation
• Havasu National Wildlife Refuge*
• Lake Mead National Recreation Area*
• Lower Colorado River*
• Wee Thump Joshua Tree Forest

Moapa Valley serves as a regional hub for the following wildlife viewing sites:

• Bowman Reservoir
• Lake Mead National Recreation Area*
• Overton Park (Clark County)
• Overton Wildlife Management Area
• Valley of Fire State Park*

Flagship Sites are locations that are known to Southern Nevada visitors and residents as having outstanding birding and wildlife opportunities or other scenic features (e.g. Great Basin National Park). * indicates Flagship Site

Regional Hubs are communities that have a range of year-round visitor support services, and serve as bases for radiating out to wildlife viewing sites.

Satellite Hubs are small, rural communities that have sufficient, year-round, visitor support services (accommodations, food, gas, water) and can serve as bases for radiating out to regional hubs and/or wildlife viewing sites.

[ Read complete list of definitions ]

Corridor 2: U.S. Hwy. 95

Corridor 2: U.S. Hwy. 95 (Laughlin to U.S. Hwy. 6 and U.S. Hwy. 95 split west of Tonopah)

Listed below are the HUBS and wildlife viewing SITES that you’ll encounter along this travel CORRIDOR. When planning your route, use this information to factor in where you’ll find visitor serves and places to explore. [Click on the HUB name to read an overview of the area.]

Amargosa Valley serves as a satellite hub for the following wildlife viewing sites:

• Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge*
• Death Valley National Park*
• Wheeler Pass Road / Spring Mountains National Recreation Area – West*
• Cactus Springs (also see Indian Springs Hub)
• Indian Springs Ponds (also see Indian Springs Hub)

Beatty serves as the regional hub for the following wildlife viewing sites:

• Amargosa Valley
• Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge*
• Bare Mountain / Species Spring
• Beatty / Oasis Valley
• Dyer, Oasis, Lida Loop
• Grapevine Mountains / Strozzi Ranch

Belmont serves as a satellite hub for the following wildlife viewing sites:

• Barley Creek
• Monitor Range (Barley Creek / Table Mountain Wilderness) by Horseback*
• Monitor Valley
• Sportsman Park
• Table Mountain Wilderness

Boulder City/Henderson serves as a regional hub for the following wildlife viewing sites:

• Desert National Wildlife Refuge and Corn Creek*
• Floyd Lamb/Tule Springs Park
• Hemenway Park
• Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve*
• Lake Las Vegas
• Lake Mead National Recreation Area*
• Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area*
• Spring Mountains National Recreation Area Loop*
• Spring Mountain Ranch State Park*
• Sunset Park
• Wee Thump Joshua Tree Forest
• Wetlands Park
• Wheeler Camp Spring

Indian Springs serves as a satellite hub for the following wildlife viewing sites:

• Bonanza Trailhead
• Cactus Springs
• Cold Creek Picnic Area
• Desert National Wildlife Refuge and Corn Creek*
• Floyd Lamb/Tule Springs Park
• Spring Mountains National Recreation Area Loop*
• Spring Mountain Ranch State Park

Laughlin / Lower Colorado River area serves as a regional hub for the following wildlife viewing sites:

• Big Bend of the Colorado State Recreation Area
• Bullhead City, AZ
• Christmas Tree Pass Road
• Fort Mojave Indian Reservation
• Havasu National Wildlife Refuge*
• Lake Mead National Recreation Area*
• Lower Colorado River*
• Wee Thump Joshua Tree Forest

Pahrump serves as a regional hub for the following wildlife viewing sites:

• Amargosa Valley
• Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge*
• Calvada Park
• Wheeler Pass Road / Spring Mountains National Recreation Area

Tonopah serves as a regional hub for the following wildlife viewing sites:

• Belmont
• Railroad Valley Wildlife Management Area at Lockes-Blackrock Station
• Sportsman Park
• Toiyabe Range
• Tonopah Migration Bonanza Loop (Dyer / Oasis / Lida Loop, Miller’s Rest Area, Tonopah parks)*

Flagship Sites are locations that are known to Southern Nevada visitors and residents as having outstanding birding and wildlife opportunities or other scenic features (e.g. Great Basin National Park). * indicates Flagship Site

Regional Hubs are communities that have a range of year-round visitor support services, and serve as bases for radiating out to wildlife viewing sites.

Satellite Hubs are small, rural communities that have sufficient, year-round, visitor support services (accommodations, food, gas, water) and can serve as bases for radiating out to regional hubs and/or wildlife viewing sites.

[ Read complete list of definitions ]

Corridor 3: U.S. Hwy. 6

Corridor 3: U.S. Hwy. 6 (Utah border on the east, to California border on the west)

Listed below are the HUBS and wildlife viewing SITES that you’ll encounter along this travel CORRIDOR. When planning your route, use this information to factor in where you’ll find visitor serves and places to explore. [Click on the HUB name to read an overview of the area.]

Baker serves as a regional hub for the following wildlife viewing sites:

• David E. Moore Bird and Wildlife Sanctuary
• Great Basin National Park*

Belmont serves as a regional hub for the following wildlife viewing sites:

• Barley Creek
• Belmont/Monitor Valley Pond
• Monitor Range (Barley Creek / Table Mountain Wilderness) by Horseback*
• Monitor Valley
• Sportsman Park
• Table Mountain Wilderness

Ely serves as a regional hub for the following wildlife viewing sites:

• Cave Lake State Park
• Cleve Creek
• David E. Moore Bird and Wildlife Sanctuary
• Ely Elk Viewing Area
• Great Basin National Park*
• Kirch Wildlife Management Area / Adams McGill Reservoir
• Lund & Preston / White River Valley
• Railroad Valley Wildlife Management Area at Lockes-Blackrock Station
• Ruby Lakes National Wildlife Refuge*
• Steptoe Valley north of McGill
• Steptoe Valley Wildlife Management Area
• Success Summit Loop

Tonopah serves as a regional hub for the following wildlife viewing sites:

• Belmont
• Railroad Valley Wildlife Management Area at Lockes-Blackrock Station
• Saulsbury Wash Rest Area
• Sportsman Park
• Toiyabe Range
• Tonopah Migration Bonanza Loop (Dyer / Oasis / Lida Loop, Miller’s Rest Area, Tonopah parks)*

Flagship Sites are locations that are known to Southern Nevada visitors and residents as having outstanding birding and wildlife opportunities or other scenic features (e.g. Great Basin National Park). * indicates Flagship Site

Regional Hubs are communities that have a range of year-round visitor support services, and serve as bases for radiating out to wildlife viewing sites.

Satellite Hubs are small, rural communities that have sufficient, year-round, visitor support services (accommodations, food, gas, water) and can serve as bases for radiating out to regional hubs and/or wildlife viewing sites.

[ Read complete list of definitions ]

Definitions

Here are definitions for the terms we use. Take a quick read through to familiarize yourself

Southern Nevada Region is defined as that area logically accessed from the US 6, 93 and 95 highway corridors from Ely and Tonopah in the north, to Laughlin in the south.

U.S. Highway Corridors are US 6, 93 and 95 and all the Adventurer’s Adventure, regional hubs, satellite hubs, and wildlife viewing sites that are logically accessed from those highway corridors.

Adventurer’s Adventures are those sites that are either remote and/or require high clearance or 4-wheel-drive vehicle use (e.g. Grapevine Mountains served by the Beatty Regional Hub).

Regional Hubs are communities that have a range of year-round visitor support services, and serve as bases for radiating out to wildlife viewing sites.

Satellite Hubs are small, rural communities that have sufficient, year-round visitor support services (accommodations, food, gas, water) and can serve as bases for radiating out to regional hubs and/or wildlife viewing sites.

Profiles give a basic overview on each visitor support service’s hub community, wildlife and wildlife viewing, including specific sites.

Wildlife Viewing Sites are those associated with regional or satellite visitor support services hubs (e.g. Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve is associated with Boulder City/Henderson/Las Vegas Regional Hub).

Flagship Sites are locations that are known to Southern Nevada visitors and residents as having outstanding birding and wildlife opportunities or other scenic features (e.g. Great Basin National Park).

Thumbnail Itineraries provide suggested Grand Southern Nevada, U.S. highway Corridor, Adventurer’s Adventure, Spot Check, 1-2 hour, all morning, all afternoon, all day, Big Day, transition day and multi-day itineraries. Adventurer’s Adventure itineraries include remote sites or those best/only accessed by high clearance or 4-wheel-drive vehicles. Transition day itineraries are intended for use on days going from one regional visitor support service’s hub to another.

Travel Chart Cross-reference

Listed below is a cross-reference table of corridors, their associated hubs, and suggested wildlife viewing sites. Click on Corridor, Hub, or Viewing_Sites to SORT the columns alphabetically. When planning your route, use this information to factor in where you’ll find visitor services and exciting places to explore.

Corridor	Hub	Viewing_Sites	Special_Notes
Two	Amargosa Valley	Amargosa Valley	Amargosa Farm Road, Mecca Road – Ponderosa Diary, Amargosa Valley Rest Area
Two	Beatty	Amargosa Valley	Amargosa Farm Road, Mecca Road – Ponderosa Diary, Amargosa Valley Rest Area
Two	Pahrump	Amargosa Valley	Amargosa Farm Road, Mecca Road – Ponderosa Diary, Amargosa Valley Rest Area
Two	Amargosa Valley	Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge*	Bradford Springs, Crystal Reservoir, Crystal Spring Boardwalk / Refuge Headquarters, Devil’s Hole, Horseshoe Marsh, Kings Pool / Pointed Rocks, Lower Crystal Marsh, Peterson Reservoir
Two	Beatty	Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge*	Bradford Springs, Crystal Reservoir, Crystal Spring Boardwalk / Refuge Headquarters, Devil’s Hole, Horseshoe Marsh, Kings Pool / Pointed Rocks, Lower Crystal Marsh, Peterson Reservoir
Two	Pahrump	Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge*	Bradford Springs, Crystal Reservoir, Crystal Spring Boardwalk / Refuge Headquarters, Devil’s Hole, Horseshoe Marsh, Kings Pool/Pointed Rocks, Lower Crystal Marsh, Peterson Reservoir
Two	Beatty	Bare Mountain / Species Spring
Two	Beatty	Beatty / Oasis Valley	Beatty riparian patches, Beatty Sewer Ponds, Bombo Pond / Vanderbilt Road, Cottonwood Park, Parker Ranch, Torrance Ranch
One	Caliente	Beaver Dam State Park
Two, Three	Belmont	Belmont	Barley Creek, Belmont Campground, Belmont/Monitor Valley Pond, Monitor Range (Barley Creek / Table Mountain Wilderness) by Horseback*", Monitor Valley, Sportsman Park, Table Mountain Wilderness
Two, Three	Tonopah	Belmont	Barley Creek, Belmont Campground, Belmont/Monitor Valley Pond, Monitor Range (Barley Creek / Table Mountain Wilderness) by Horseback*", Monitor Valley, Sportsman Park, Table Mountain Wilderness
One, Two	Laughlin / Lower Colorado River	Big Bend of the Colorado State Recreation Area
Two	Indian Springs	Bonanza Trailhead
One	Moapa Valley	Bowman Reservoir
One, Two	Laughlin / Lower Colorado River	Bullhead City, AZ	Bullhead City Community Park, Colorado River Heritage Trail, Colorado River Nature Center, Davis Camp, Rotary Park
Two	Indian Springs	Cactus Springs
Two	Amargosa Valley	Cactus Springs (also see Indian Springs Hub)
One	Caliente	Caliente	Caliente Cemetery, Caliente "Riverwalk", Canyon and railroad right-of-way just north of Caliente,
Two	Pahrump	Calvada Park
One	Caliente	Cathedral Gorge State Park*
One, Three	Ely	Cave Lake State Park
One, Two	Laughlin / Lower Colorado River	Christmas Tree Pass Road	Christmas Tree Pass, Grapevine Canyon, Sacatone Canyon
One, Three	Ely	Cleve Creek
Two	Indian Springs	Cold Creek Picnic Area
One, Three	Baker	David E. Moore Bird and Wildlife Sanctuary
One, Three	Ely	David E. Moore Bird and Wildlife Sanctuary
One, Two	Boulder City / Henderson / Las Vegas	Desert National Wildlife Refuge and Corn Creek
Two	Indian Springs	Desert National Wildlife Refuge and Corn Creek*
One	Caliente	Dry Lake Valley Joshua Tree Woodland
Two	Beatty	Dyer, Oasis, Lida Loop	Dyer, Lida, “Lida” Joshua Tree Woodland (4 miles east of Lida), Lida Pond, Lida Summit, Oasis
One	Caliente	Echo Canyon State Park	Echo Canyon State Park / Eagle Valley / Spring Valley State Park*
One, Three	Ely	Ely Elk Viewing Area
One, Two	Boulder City / Henderson / Las Vegas	Floyd Lamb/Tule Springs Park
Two	Indian Springs	Floyd Lamb/Tule Springs Park
One, Two	Laughlin / Lower Colorado River	Fort Mojave Indian Reservation	Mohave Resort Golf Club pond, Tribal agricultural land
Two	Beatty	Grapevine Mountains / Strozzi Ranch
One, Three	Baker	Great Basin National Park*	Baker Creek, Island Forest Trail (wheelchair accessible), Lakeshore Scenic Drive, Lower Lehman Creek Campground, Mather Overlook, Upper Lehman Creek Campground, Wheeler Peak Campground, Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive
One, Three	Ely	Great Basin National Park*	Baker Creek, Island Forest Trail (wheelchair accessible), Lakeshore Scenic Drive, Lower Lehman Creek Campground, Mather Overlook, Upper Lehman Creek Campground, Wheeler Peak Campground, Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive
One, Two	Laughlin / Lower Colorado River	Havasu National Wildlife Refuge*	Beal Lake, Camp Moabl, Catfish Paradise, Five Mile Landing, Golden Shores, North Dike, Pintail Slough, South Dike, Topock Gorge Marina
One, Two	Boulder City / Henderson / Las Vegas	Hemenway Park
One, Two	Boulder City / Henderson / Las Vegas	Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve*
Two	Indian Springs	Indian Springs
Two	Amargosa Valley	Indian Springs Ponds (also see Indian Springs Hub)
One	Caliente	Kershaw-Ryan State Park	Kershaw-Ryan State Park / Rainbow Canyon*
One, Three	Ely	Kirch Wildlife Management Area / Adams McGill Reservoir
One, Two	Boulder City / Henderson / Las Vegas	Lake Mead National Recreation Area 1*	Alan Bible Visitor Center, Black Canyon, Boulder Beach, Las Vegas Bay, Las Vegas Bay Campground, Las Vegas Wash, Wetlands Trail
One, Two	Laughlin / Lower Colorado River	Lake Mead National Recreation Area 2*	Black Canyon, Colorado River just below Davis Dam, AZ & NV, Davis Dam / Lake Mohave, AZ & NV, Katherine Landing / Lake Mohave, AZ
One	Moapa Valley	Lake Mead National Recreation Area 3*	Blue Point Spring, Echo Bay, Echo Bay Campground, Overton Beach, Rogers Spring
One, Two	Laughlin / Lower Colorado River	Laughlin	Laughlin Lagoon, Laughlin Riverwalk / Fisherman's Access, Mountain View Park
One, Two	Laughlin / Lower Colorado River	Lower Colorado River*
One, Three	Ely	Lund and Preston / White River Valley	Lund & Preston crane viewing area, Preston Cemetery, Preston Pond
One	Caliente	Meadow Valley Recreation Area
One	Moapa Valley	Overton Park (Clark County)
One	Moapa Valley	Overton Wildlife Management Area
One	Caliente	Panaca Bird Walk
One	Caliente	Pony Springs Rest Area
One, Three	Ely	Railroad Valley Wildlife Management Area at Lockes-Blackrock Station
Two, Three	Tonopah	Railroad Valley Wildlife Management Area at Lockes-Blackrock Station
One	Caliente	Rainbow Canyon
One, Two	Boulder City / Henderson / Las Vegas	Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area	Red Spring, Willow Spring
One, Three	Ely	Ruby Lakes National Wildlife Refuge*
Three	Tonopah	Saulsbury Wash Rest Area
Two, Three	Tonopah	Sportsman Park
Two	Indian Springs	Spring Mountain Ranch State Park
One, Two	Boulder City / Henderson / Las Vegas	Spring Mountain Ranch State Park
One, Two	Boulder City / Henderson / Las Vegas	Spring Mountains National Recreation Area Loop*	Includes Corn Creek, Floyd Lamb/Tule Springs Park, Mt. Charleston / Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, and Spring Mountain State Park
Two	Indian Springs	Spring Mountains National Recreation Area Loop*	Includes Corn Creek, Floyd Lamb Park, Mt. Charleston / Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, and Spring Mountain State Park
One	Caliente	Spring Valley State Park
One, Three	Ely	Steptoe Valley north of McGill
One, Three	Ely	Steptoe Valley Wildlife Management Area	Comins Lake, Headquarters and upper areas
One, Three	Ely	Success Summit Loop
One, Two	Boulder City / Henderson / Las Vegas	Sunset Park
Two, Three	Tonopah	Toiyabe Range
Two, Three	Tonopah	Tonopah	Barsanti Park, Highland Park, Tonopah Cemetery
Two, Three	Tonopah	Tonopah Migration Bonanza Loop (Dyer / Oasis / Lida Loop, Miller’s Rest Area, Tonopah parks)*
One	Caliente	Ursine Bird Walk
One	Moapa Valley	Valley of Fire State Park*
One, Two	Boulder City / Henderson / Las Vegas	Wee Thump Joshua Tree Forest
One, Two	Laughlin / Lower Colorado River	Wee Thump Joshua Tree Forest
One, Two	Boulder City / Henderson / Las Vegas	Wetlands Park
One, Two	Boulder City / Henderson / Las Vegas	Wheeler Camp Spring
Two	Pahrump	Wheeler Pass Road / Spring Mountains National Recreation Area
Two	Amargosa Valley	Wheeler Pass Road / Spring Mountains National Recreation Area - West*

Corridor 1: U.S. Hwy. 93 and U.S. Hwy. 95
(Ely to Laughlin, Laughlin to Ely)

Corridor 2: U.S. Hwy. 95
(Laughlin to U.S. Hwy. 6 / U.S. Hwy. 95 split west of Tonopah)

Corridor 3: U.S. Hwy. 6
(Utah border on the east, to California border on the west)

NRA = National Recreation Area
NWR = National Wildlife Refuge

Flagship Sites are locations that are known to Southern Nevada visitors and residents as having outstanding birding and wildlife opportunities or other scenic features (e.g. Great Basin National Park). * indicates Flagship Site

Regional Hubs are communities that have a range of year-round visitor support services, and serve as bases for radiating out to wildlife viewing sites.

Satellite Hubs are small, rural communities that have sufficient, year-round, visitor support services (accommodations, food, gas, water) and can serve as bases for radiating out to regional hubs and/or wildlife viewing sites.

[ Read complete list of definitions ]