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| - Desert NWR is the largest wildlife refuge outside of Alaska. A wide variety of wildlife and plants can be found here, too many to mention in fact. Bighorn sheep can be spotted (have some binoculars with you) throughout the year especially near water. Speaking of water, none is available here. If you decide to visit Desert NWR please remember to bring plenty of water, snacks and sunscreen. If you are just planning on spending time at the Visitors Center then the road to it is paved, but beyond that the road is not and regardless of what other people have mentioned, I am going to tell you that a high-clearance 4WD vehicle is absolutely necessary if you want to fully experience Desert NWR beyond the VC the safe way. The dirt roads and trails are rough and there will be times you visit and not even pass someone along the way and cel signal is iffy in some spots, so getting help if you end up stranded might not be so easy or quick. Having a spare tire is important when traveling beyond the VC just in case you get a flat. Entry to Desert NWR is free. Please stop to see if the VC is open and log your visit so they are aware someone is out there. Also ask what the current conditions are for the day so you are aware of what might be closed off or anything else that might be worth mentioning. Cleaning up after yourself is a given, but some still don't do it. Sometimes the wildlife can mistake trash for food which can cause harm to them so please remember to pack out what you pack in.
Visitors Center at Corn Creek - Currently open Monday - Thursday from 8 am until 4:30 pm however the hours are subject to change depending on the time of year, so make sure and check before heading out. This is a fun stop for the whole family and as I mentioned there is a paved road to the VC. Here you can learn about the refuge and the wildlife on it. After you look around inside, step outside and check out one of the (some ADA accessible and dogs allowed on leash) trails, learn about the endangered Pahrump poolfish and see the railroad tie cabin.
Alamo Road - This is a rough dirt road that goes about 70 miles through to Alamo. Sometimes the road isn't open all the way through, so make sure to check the conditions for the day before you head out. There are some side roads along the way and if you plan on hiking to Hidden Forest and Hayford Peak they can be found by taking Alamo Road. Currently Alamo Road is open from Corn Creek to Pahranagat NWR as well spur roads.
Mormon Well Road - This is my favorite way to experience the Desert NWR because there are many fun side roads and the scenic experience you get while driving through the different areas is amazing. I have been on this dirt road more than once and no matter how well you think you know it please keep in mind that this path never looks the same coming back at night as it does when you first head out during the day. There are many sharp turns and the dirt road is at times covered with chunky boulders one moment and then soft sand the next. The dirt road is also not so wide at times, so keep an eye out for vehicles around you since you will need to in certain areas pull over as well as you can to let the other vehicle pass. You can get to Gass Peak Road and campsites from this road. The main campsite (no longer Mormon Pass Picnic and Campground Area) is Desert Pass Campground. Sawmill Canyon is by far the roughest part of the road with lots of chunky boulders and loose gravel and currently isn't well marked (I hope they fix that soon). Unless you are familiar with the area of Sawmill Canyon, I suggest not driving through it at night because there is actually two paths and and since it might not be marked well you could go the wrong way and run into power lines and you can get lost easy in the dark or worse. Currently Mormon Well Road is open from Corn Creek to the 93 and the campsite is accessible from both directions.
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