Aravada Springs Campground: The Gateway to Southern Nevada’s Premier ATV Destinations

Nestled in the heart of Southern Nevada, Aravada Springs Campground serves as the perfect base camp for ATV trail riders looking to explore some of the region’s most interesting, rare, and picturesque locations. From the rugged landscapes of Gold Butte National Monument to Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument, this campground offers unparalleled access to a variety of trail-riding adventures. Here are a few favorite locations easily accessible from Aravada Springs that appeal to ATVers.

Strategic Location

Aravada Springs Campground is ideally situated to provide easy access to several key ATV destinations in Southern Nevada. Riders can easily reach the following spots, each offering unique landscapes and riding experiences:

• Ice Cave: Provides a cool escape from the desert heat. This is not a true cave. It is a slot canyon that G. Luke Whitney and Family visited for their 4th of July picnic because it was much cooler there than in the surrounding area. If you look at the top of the slot, you will often see an owl that lives there.

Ice Cave

• Garden of Eden: Smell the scent of cedar trees amidst the desert flora on this red sandy trail. Not to be confused with the Garden of Eden Slot Canyon, this place is simply called The Garden of Eden by the locals. It’s a dirt road about a mile and a half ride off the beaten path. Enjoy a scenic jaunt through cedar trees and red rock wonders on a very sandy road. Recommended and well worth exploring!

Garden of Eden Trail Ride

• Whitney Pockets: Known for its colorful rock formations and historical water collection methods. Whitney Pockets is named after G. Luke Whitney and G. Fenton Whitney. They purchased the Whitney/Nay Ranch in about 1910. They built two little catch dams in the rocks to hold water and it was used to provide water to their livestock and horses as they traveled to and from St. Thomas, NV.
  

  Whitney Pockets

• Falling Man: This site features a notable petroglyph of a “falling man” above a valley, along with numerous other panels of petroglyphs and occasional pictographs. Accessible from Aravada Springs, the trailhead is about 1.9 miles from Black Butte Road and is suitable for most vehicles. A loop trail offers different routes, including a tunnel to the Falling Man petroglyph, with accompanying panels depicting a rainbow and other intriguing scenes.

Falling Man

• Little Finland: Intricate rock formations resembling images of fish. Bright flaming orange sandstone fins and outlandish-shaped hoodoos leap from the desert floor. This place is amazing! Not to be confused with the country of Finland, Little Finland is the unofficial name because of the rock formations that look like the fins of fish and aquatic life. The official name is Hobgoblin’s Playground. These stunning complex and intricate forms cover an area of 2,000 feet by 400 feet. You can find it about 18 miles west of Aravada Springs.

Little Finland

• Seven Keyholes: A series of scenic canyons perfect for technical riders. Although many people would like to name it a slot canyon, Seven Keyholes isn’t one. In geologic terms, this straight and narrow canyon is a joint, or a fracture, which divides two large rock masses. Joints are created when forces cause them to crack and separate. The rock is Aztec sandstone, as it is called locally in Nevada, or Navajo sandstone, as it is referred to in Utah, and throughout the Colorado Plateau.

Seven Keyholes

• Devil’s Throat: This roadside attraction originated from a sinkhole formed during the Gold Butte mining boom in the early 1900s. Growing over the years to 110-120 feet across and roughly 234 feet deep, it once lacked a fence, allowing risky ventures close to the edge. Now, caution signs surround the unstable area.   

Devil’s Throat

• Pakoon Springs: A serene oasis with wildlife viewing opportunities. Pakoon Springs was owned by the Whitney family for some time in the early 1900s. In the late 1970’s, Pakoon Springs experienced many seasons. Several different owners, including Native Americans, homesteaders, and ranchers, laid their claims to the area, but none made their claim quite like a self-proclaimed “weekend cowboy” by the name of Charles “Chuck” Simmons.

Pakoon Springs

• Tassi Spring: This is a rural historic district in northwestern Arizona, that boasts a unique and intact ranch core dating back to the early 20th century, situated amidst rough desert terrain near Grand Wash, showcasing adaptations to the arid environment and local traditions in its stone constructions and vernacular architecture

Tassi Spring

• Gold Butte Monument:  If you are going to see a lot of these places in an ATV there is a high chance that you see the Gold Butte town site because almost all of these places are in the Gold Butte National Monument. Famous for red sandstone formations and ancient petroglyphs. There’s not much left at the Gold Butte town site, besides some old mining equipment, a few caged mines, and the graves of Arthur Coleman and William (Bill) Garrett. Coleman and Garrett were the last two residents of the old mining town of Gold Butte. Bill was the nephew of Pat Garrett, the man who shot and killed Billy the Kid (supposedly).

Gold Butte town site

On-Site Amenities

Guests can conveniently restock on supplies from Ella’s Country Store. Shower off the dust here at your home away from home. Stretch out on a real mattress at the end of a fun-filled day. Recharge your electrical devices using our solar electrical system. We also include free WIFI to receive text messages and offer a paid service to get higher-speed internet. Nothing calms like relaxing among green shade trees around the pond after an ATV riding adventure. Float on a tube and pick delicious blackberries. What tranquil memory-building awaits as you gather with friends and family in this peaceful setting?

A Hub for Adventure

Aravada Springs Campground not only provides easy access to Southern Nevada’s best ATV trails but also offers a retreat where riders can enjoy the camaraderie of fellow enthusiasts in a setting that respects and enhances the outdoor experience.

In essence, Aravada Springs Campground is more than just a place to stay; it’s a hub for exploration and adventure in one of the most dynamic ATV riding regions in the U.S. Its strategic location, coupled with top-notch facilities and a strong community vibe, make it the go-to destination for ATV enthusiasts venturing into Southern Nevada’s diverse and beautiful landscapes. Call us at 801-431-4950 now, or reserve here to book a vacation with us today!