Basin and Range National Monument in Nevada, USA - map and visitor information

Research checked: 2026-10-26. Check linked official notices before travel.

Basin and Range National Monument protects approximately 704,000 acres of mountains, desert valleys, and archaeological landscapes in southeastern Nevada. Managed by the Bureau of Land Management, it offers a remote trip based on dirt roads and careful preparation. Choose a particular access area before setting out; this is a large landscape rather than a single attraction with one entrance.

Highlights across the monument

• Rock art landscapes: White River Narrows, Mount Irish, and Shooting Gallery provide distinct places to focus a visit.
• Garden and Coal valleys: broad basins sit between mountain ranges and help explain the monument’s name.
• Worthington Mountains Wilderness: this southwestern area has stricter travel rules than the monument’s existing road network.

Know before you go

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Prepare for remote travel

BLM recommends a high-clearance, four-wheel-drive vehicle, a full fuel tank, and a usable spare tire. Share your route and expected return time with someone. Cell coverage is unreliable or absent, so carry a suitable map and do not depend on a phone or GPS alone.

Carry at least one gallon of water per person per day, as BLM advises. Avoid canyons and washes during rain and never drive through flowing floodwater. Watch for venomous animals. If you find ammunition, stay away and report its location to BLM or local law enforcement.

Protect rock art and wilderness

Do not touch petroglyphs or collect historic or prehistoric objects. Respect private property and livestock. Motor vehicles must stay on existing roads; mechanized travel, including mountain bikes, is prohibited within Worthington Mountains Wilderness.

Maps, location, and access

Alamo, Caliente, and Ely are the main nearby service towns on US 93. State Route 318 follows the monument’s eastern side and provides access toward White River Narrows and Mount Irish. Shooting Gallery is reached west of US 93 near Alamo. The western approach follows State Route 375 toward Rachel. Use the official monument page and its linked maps to match your destination to the correct route.

Nearby protected areas

• Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge: its US 93 access near Alamo provides a separate wetland stop on the southern approach.
• Kershaw-Ryan State Park: this state park near Caliente is an alternative stop on the eastern side of the wider region.

Choose an area to explore

Plan photography and walking around one archaeological area rather than trying to cover the whole monument in one outing. For Mount Irish, consult BLM’s trail and campground brochure. Keep cultural features undisturbed.

Hiking, bicycling, and off-highway travel are available within their applicable areas and travel restrictions. Hunting and trapping on BLM-administered land follow Nevada law; a monument designation does not remove state licensing or season requirements.

Services and trip preparation

Prepare for limited services and unpaved backcountry travel. Obtain fuel and supplies before leaving the surrounding towns, and carry your water. A public-land camping allowance should not be mistaken for a reservation at a serviced campground.

A protected Great Basin landscape

Designation and cultural history

The monument was established by presidential proclamation on July 10, 2015. Its cultural record includes Indigenous occupation, rock art, and later mining and ranching. The designation proclamation explains the protected resources and BLM’s management responsibility.

Habitats and wildlife

The landscape spans the transition from Mojave Desert vegetation to Great Basin sagebrush steppe. Pinyon-juniper woodland and higher-elevation forests add habitat variety. The proclamation identifies desert bighorn sheep, pronghorn, mule deer, and birds such as golden eagles among the area’s wildlife; sightings are not assured.

Contact

BLM Caliente Field Office: 775-726-8100; [email protected]. Office address: 1400 South Front Street, Caliente, NV 89008. Ask about the specific route and archaeological area you intend to visit.