Nevada - Southwest

Beatty is at the north end of the Amargosa valley. The Amargosa river originates north of Beatty, runs through the valley down to just south of Tecopa, California, and then makes a u-turn into Death Valley where it ends in the salt flats near the Badwater part of Death Valley. The river is largely dry except in rainy seasons, though there is a flowing section from just north of Shoshone, California to south of Tecopa. An important thing to know about the Amargosa is that there are apparently efforts by Las Vegas to buy the water rites for the region, which could be very harmful for the wildlife that are dependent on it. Going south from Beatty, the main highway goes to Pahrump (pictures nearby), but an interesting diversion is to Amargosa -- particularly if you're headed to Death Valley. The area around Amargosa is a fairly active farming area. As you get near the farming area, there is a very large sand dune.

Just east of the community of Amargosa Valley is the Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge (pictures nearby in this set) , and the road to Death Valley Junction. The road to Death Valley Junction passes through an area that is largely desert and much of it uninhabited and/or poor. Considering the remoteness of the area, it's a shock to see in the distance a very modern, multi-story building. As you get closer you realize it's the Nevada standard -- a casino built on the state line.

Hot spring at Ash Springs section of Death Valley National Monument, which is a remote area outside the main park and across the Nevada border, south of Amargosa.

Ash Springs section of Death Valley National Monument, which is a remote area outside the main park and across the Nevada border.

Hot spring at Ash Springs section of Death Valley National Monument, which is a remote area outside the main park and across the Nevada border.

Angel's Ladies brothel, which is a few miles north of Beatty.

Angel's Ladies brothel, which is a few miles north of Beatty. The wrecked plane as marked the entrance to Angel's for years.

Relatively new Bikini brothel that's just south of Beatty.

Coming into Beatty from the north. Beatty is a pleasant little town that seems to have a rich history of mining and other related activities, but it's main claim to fame at this point in history seems to be that it's a good point to get gas and supplies when heading west into Death Valley or when traveling between Reno and the southern ends of the state along US 95. The area immediately north of Beatty is rather pretty with long stretches of marsh land providing a stark contrast to the surrounding desert mountains.

Of course, the view (see nearby picture) is a little different in the middle of a winter storm. This is taken from a point just a little north of the adjacent picture.

Angels Ladies brothel (recently reopened)

Belmont Historical District, northeast of Tonopah. I had heard "you must visit Belmont" from other people who explored rural Nevada. It's most famous for a fairly well-preserved court house.

Belmont Court House and abandoned truck

There are some other abandoned buildings, and some that have been remodeled into a B&B

From the edge of a small crater, looking over the lava flow towards the highway. The road around the edge is a rutted dirt and rock road.

Just past "Lunar Crater" off US 6 is a turnoff for some relatively large lava fields. They're part of BLM's Lunar Crater Back Country Byway.

The Black Rock Lava Flow is signed on the highway as a BLM day-use area, though the modern visitor stand at the area had been vandalized. This plaque seemed to date from quite some time back.

Former concrete operations near Beatty