White Rock Road ~ Desert National Wildlife Range

Mormon Well Road and Alamo Road are the two main touring routes through the Desert National Wildlife Refuge. Alamo Road is the lengthier of the two and there are several side roads to explore along this 100+ mile overland pathway that ends at the Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge next to Alamo, Nevada on Highway 93. For those who yearn to drive the entire length of Alamo Road, stocking up on food, fuel and water will be necessary because you will truly be on your own in a very unforgiving environment. Even though Alamo Road is fairly smooth for most of the trip, a high ground clearance 4x4 with mudder tires is recommended, especially near Alamo Dry Lake and Pahranagat where the silt pockets are deep and lengthy.

A 4x4 vehicle is also best for exploring the side roads along the way, because most of these pathways run through desert mountain dry washes that can be challenging after recent storms. Exploring the Alamo Road side roads will also require paying attention to fuel management, because some of these pathways meander a great distance into the desert mountain wilderness and it is all too easy to burn more gas than expected.

White Rock Road is one such side road along the way to Alamo and it is located a short drive north of Hidden Forest Road, which was featured in a previous article. White Rock Road actually is one of the shorter side roads and it ends at the base of the mountains next to its namesake White Rock formation. There is a hiking trail that goes to White Rock and 100% pack it in-pack it out primitive camping is allowed. The views from this high perch overlook a picturesque dry wash and the Joshua Tree covered slopes, so this is a nice spot for viewing a colorful sunset. The Nellis AFB Bombing Range can be viewed in the distance and sometimes there is a show to see when the aerial flares start dropping after dark. White Rock certainly is an interesting experience, so be sure to check it out when doing an Alamo Road tour!
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