Nevada’s Red Desert Jewel—Northshore Road
Not all beautiful motorcycling environments in America bristle with abundant plant life and teem with animals. The barren, rugged majesty of the desert makes for a charming ride as well.
Northshore Road in southern Nevada is a unique one, even among the many great U.S. desert rides. Despite its traversing a decidedly dry environment, the road runs close to the northern shore of Lake Mead—America’s largest reservoir.
Hence the name, you know.
Yet, Northshore Rd was once also known as Nevada SR 167. You can still find this old designation on some maps (even Google Maps), but officially it has been declassified as a state route since around 2000.
Losing the official designation doesn’t mean that Northshore Rd has gone anywhere. It’s still there, covering the roughly 50 miles between Lakeshore Rd/SR 564 outside of Las Vegas in the west and the town of Overton in the east.
Northshore Rd is a real time capsule, taking you on a trip to the geological past of the Nevada-Arizona border. From the urban environments of Las Vegas suburbs or Overton, you’ll proceed into an ancient landscape covered in striking red rock formations and flanked by mountains.
You can catch a couple of glimpses of Lake Mead in select spots, but it stays mostly hidden behind the hills south of the road. That’s fine, though, because the rugged beauty of the desert is the main attraction here.
Although you’re in the desert, that doesn’t mean the environment is completely dead. In the red sand on both sides of the road grow hardy shrubs and cacti. But once the spring rains arrive, the region explodes in color as thousands of wildflowers take their chance to bloom.
Lucky motorcyclists may also spot some rather exotic animals during the ride. The area around Lake Mead is home to a population of wild horses and some 400 wild burros. If you see them, though, it’s best to admire them from a distance, as the animals can be temperamental—especially if you don’t have the (illegal) treats they’ve come to expect from tourists.
As to the road itself, Nortshore Rd is a smooth two-laner that’s far from straight. Its gradual curves and smooth elevation changes keep you entertained ride-wise without being so technical that you can’t appreciate the colorful cliffs, mountains, and valleys.