Exploring Nevada’s Black Rock Desert and High Rock Canyon Loop

AS SEEN IN OUR JULY/AUGUST 2026 ISSUE – Buy Now!

Exploring a Nevada Desert Loop

For 4×4 enthusiasts chasing true remoteness, this two-day loop out of Gerlach, Nevada delivers. It links the open expanse of the Black Rock Desert with the tight volcanic walls of High Rock Canyon, then returns south via Little High Rock Canyon Road (BLM 34) for a clean, scenic finish.

Day 1 starts fast across the playa (when dry), then slows through Soldier Meadows and into High Rock Canyon, where wagon ruts from the Applegate Trail migration still mark the route. Expect narrow passages, rocky sections, and standout dispersed camping under canyon walls.

Day 2 continues north before turning south on Rd. 34. The return trades canyon drama for quiet isolation—rolling basins, faint tracks, and long, uninterrupted views back toward the Black Rock region.

Wildlife is part of the experience: pronghorn, wild horses, and raptors are common, especially along the wilderness boundaries within the Black Rock Desert–High Rock Canyon Emigrant Trails National Conservation Area.

This isn’t a technical rock crawl—it’s a navigation-first desert loop. Bring a capable high-clearance 4WD, solid mapping, and respect for conditions. When it all lines up, it’s one of the West’s purest overland runs.