Crum Canyon

Situated within minutes of thousands of acres of public land, there’s no better place to drop off the grid for an off-roading adventure of a lifetime than Battle Mountain, NV. Located south of Nevada’s Cowboy Corridor road trip, load up the quads, ATVs, dirtbikes, and side-by-sides for the ruggedly remote Crum Canyon scenic drive, which brings off-roaders south of Battle Mountain, up and over the Shoshone Mountains to Havingdon Peak, and down to State Route 306. 

Named after Lander County rancher George Washington Crum—the largest taxpayer in the region during 1890—this remote backcountry excursion is made for off-roading rigs built for rugged, backcountry driving, and should not be attempted by 2WD vehicles and anyone without backroads navigation experience. Crum Canyon follows Rock Creek, providing uncharacteristically lush landscapes as the road switchbacks up and over Havingdon Peak at 8,192 feet elevation, before dropping back down to State Route 306. While you’re in the canyon, keep an eye out for all kinds of wildlife, including mule deer, pronghorn antelope, golden eagles and other raptors, and much more. 

Crum Canyon lies within the same mountain range as two other Battle Mountain recreation areas: Lewis Canyon, and Mill Creek Recreation Area. To find Crum Canyon, follow State Route 304 from downtown Battle Mountain (the Main Street through town) south for 12 miles. Once State Route 304 crosses Interstate 80, the road becomes Hill Top Road, which routes through Battle Mountain homes and ranches all the way to the Shoshone Mountain foothills where the road turns to dirt.

Know Before You Go

A backcountry scenic drive made for ATVs, dirt bikes, quads, and every other OHV-er in between, Crum Canyon is an off-roader’s paradise. Before heading into this remote, moderately maintained cell phone signal-free canyon drive, read up on Nevada’s Dirt Road Code and travel prepared to survive. Be sure to carry a spare tire (and know how to change it), a paper map, more food and water than you think you’ll need, and let someone know where you’re headed and when you plan to return. For more information on Crum Canyon, including maps, seasonal conditions, accessibility, and more, get in touch with the Nevada BLM Battle Mountain Field Office directly at (775) 635-4000.