Valley of Faces
Basin and Range Monument
Overview
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Tue 55 | 34 |
Wed 47 | 32 |
Thu 47 | 27 |
Fri 49 | 28 |
Sat 53 | 29 |
| View Full Weather Details | ||||
|
Tue 55 | 34 |
Wed 47 | 32 |
Thu 47 | 27 |
Fri 49 | 28 |
Sat 53 | 29 |
| View Full Weather Details | ||||
Driving through the narrows.
Valley of Faces is the name locals have given to a small canyon just south of the White River Narrows. The canyon cuts through a layer of volcanic rock, likely basalt. The walls of the canyon are made of up of a mix of vertical pillars and pocketed walls that look like, well, faces!
This is an outing that can be visited in a couple of ways. The road through the canyon is a graded dirt road suitable for most 2wd drive vehicles. On our trip, it surprised me at how good the road was. It was easily passable by most vehicles, though I would recommend medium clearance since it can be sandy. Driving through the canyon is the easiest way to see the canyon, though has the drawback of moving through at a relatively fast pace.
Many park their vehicle when the canyon narrows and walk or bike down the road. This has the advantage of a slower pace and seeing more of the sights. Either way you visit, it is quite a scenic canyon.
Face and columns in the Valley of Faces - White River Narrows
Getting There
The trailhead is reached off of NV-318 that connects Crystal Wash in the south to US-6 in the north. From Crystal Wash NV, go north on 318 for about 24 miles to where a dirt road leaves on the right (east) side of NV-318. There is a BLM kiosk just off the highway.
- Leave Highway and reset your odometer. ( 11S 670931mE 4187605mN / N37° 49' 11" W115° 03' 29" )
- 600 feet - Go right heading east toward the canyon on the good, graded road. ( 11S 671137mE 4187612mN / N37° 49' 12" W115° 03' 20" )
- 0.5 miles - BLM Site 5 - Rock art site on the right (south) side of the road. ( 11S 671667mE 4187386mN / N37° 49' 04" W115° 02' 59" )
- 2.3 miles - Jct - Right ( 11S 673930mE 4186572mN / N37° 48' 36" W115° 01' 27" )
- 3.3 miles - Jct - Left up out of the wash. ( 11S 675125mE 4185980mN / N37° 48' 16" W115° 00' 39" )
- 3.4 miles - Jct - Intersect a good dirt road heading north/south. This is the turn around spot, though heading north with re-join NV-318 in about 3.4 miles at the bottom end of the White River Narrows. ( 11S 675234mE 4186047mN / N37° 48' 18" W115° 00' 34" )
Looking up Valley of Faces - White River Narrows from the bottom.
Route
As you pass through the canyon, besides the walls and faces, be on the lookout for rock art and animals. I was surprised on our visit to not see any rock art, though I have heard there is at least one panel in the canyon. We heard and saw many birds that make the pockets and holes of the canyon their home.
If driving the route, once you reach the junction at mile 3.4 that is a good dirt road going north/south you can go north to reach NV-318 in just over 3 miles at the bottom of the White River Narrows making a loop of the drive.
Photos
Maps
| Leave Highway and reset your odometer. |
11S 670931mE 4187605mN N37° 49' 11" W115° 03' 29" |
| 600 feet - Go right |
11S 671137mE 4187612mN N37° 49' 12" W115° 03' 20" |
| 0.5 miles - BLM Site 5 - Rock art site on the right |
11S 671667mE 4187387mN N37° 49' 04" W115° 02' 59" |
| 2.3 miles - Jct - Right |
11S 673930mE 4186572mN N37° 48' 36" W115° 01' 27" |
| 3.3 miles - Jct - Left |
11S 675125mE 4185980mN N37° 48' 16" W115° 00' 39" |
| 3.4 miles - Jct - End of Valley of Faces Canyon |
11S 675234mE 4186047mN N37° 48' 18" W115° 00' 34" |