State: Nevada
Location: Desert National Wildlife Range
Length, One-Way: 3.4 miles
Trail Type: Out and Back
Minimum Elevation: 4800 feet
Maximum Elevation: 6861 feet
Best Season: March to May
Difficulty: Moderate
Usage: Moderate
Directions
Walk north up Joe May Canyon to Wildhorse Pass, which provides an excellent panoramic view into scenic Picture Canyon. About 1.5 miles from the No Vehicles sign is the Joe May Guzzler in a small side canyon. This is an example of one method used to develop water for bighorn sheep and other wildlife. Desert bighorn sheep prefer rugged mountains and negotiate steep terrain with impressive agility for their somewhat bulky appearance. The size of a small deer, their gray brown color blends nicely with the desert tones, making them difficult to spot. Males are distinguished by their massive curling horns, while the females have much smaller horns. It is thought that the bighorns once ranged much more widely, but pressure from man has limited them to more rugged terrain. Although they cannot survive without liquid water, the sheep do obtain enough moisture from green vegetation to enable them to go without water three to five days in hot weather and ten to fourteen days in cold weather. The east side of Joe May Canyon is an excellent lambing area and one may be able to observe large groups of ewes and lambs in this area. Good binoculars will be useful.
Directions
From Las Vegas drive northwest twenty miles on U. S. Highway 95 then turn right (east) on the Corn Creek Springs Road (this road is signed Desert National Range). After four miles turn left (north) onto Alamo Road at the Corn Creek Field Station. Drive north three miles then turn right (east) onto the Joe May Canyon Road and continue 3.7 miles to the proposed wilderness boundary, identified by a No Vehicles sign. The Joe May Canyon Road is unimproved and a high-clearance vehicle is recommended. Four wheel drive is not needed.
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