Woodbury Desert Study Area ~ Beaver Dam Wash National Conservation Area

​Destinations in the Beaver Dam Wash National Conservation Area are slightly less intimidating than some of the other off-highway points of interest in the Arizona Strip region. This is because the dirt roads in this conservation area are well maintained and they see a steady flow of daily traffic. The main road in Beaver Dam is the Mojave Desert Joshua Tree Road Scenic Back Country Byway, which is a an alternative way to travel back and forth between Mesquite, Nevada and Saint George, Utah. This long dirt road is in good shape and just about any rugged two wheel drive vehicle can do the trip. There is vehicular traffic through this wilderness area all day long, so getting stranded will be unlikely.

For those who just want to find a place to park, have a picnic and do some exploring on foot in a wilderness area, the Woodbury Desert Study Area is a good choice! This interesting spot is located on the Mojave Desert Joshua Tree Byway only a couple of miles off of Highway 91, so it is fairly easy for an ordinary passenger car to get to this destination. There is a large parking area next to the Woodbury Desert Study Area that is good for RV campers, which also overlooks the town of Mesquite in the distance. There are wildlife observation posts and foot trails starting here that lead to hidden spots in the dry wash canyons, so this is a nice choice for a day trip.

The Woodbury Desert Study Area is fenced off, because this land is used to study plants for potential use in desert reclamation projects. Plants that can restore desert lands after flash floods or wildfires are of vital importance for slowing erosive forces and for providing feed for wildlife, like the local Bighorn Sheep. The Woodbury Desert Study Area actually is a good place to spot Bighorn heading back and forth to the Virgin River basin for water in the mornings. Bird watching is fun in this place too, because many raptors perch on the high mountain peaks that overlook this vast expanse. 

The Woodbury Desert Study Area is a great place to get some fresh air and take in some majestic views, while learning a little something about the Mojave Desert environment. There is plenty more to discover in the Beaver Dam Wash Conservation Area and there are campsites for those who want to get away from it all while the weather is cool during winter. During the spring season, the Woodbury Desert Study Area is a good place to see wildflower blooms. This is a quiet little spot in the desert that offers picturesque views, which is reason enough to get up and go!    
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