Mt. Nutt Wilderness - Cave Spring Trailhead
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for 1 in every 10 acres of land in the U.S.
Explore the wild and colorful terrain of the Mount Nutt Wilderness Area in Mohave County, Arizona. On these public lands, your hiking buddies might be wild burros or bighorn sheep. These native animals tread paths through the rugged wilderness that you can follow — other trails, like the Cave Spring Trail, are the work and responsibility of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The BLM is a federal agency that helps protect and conserve one in every 10 acres of land in the US.
The Cave Spring Trailhead is about 15 miles west of Kingman, home to the Historic Route 66 Museum. Joshua Tree National Park is about 200 miles southwest of this BLM site, and Grand Canyon National Park is about 186 miles northwest.
What to See and Do
Hiking and Biking
Cave Spring Trail
This one-way trail climbs up a Black Mountain slope, leading to a small cave with a natural spring. Wild burros are among the wildlife that visits this cave for a refreshing drink of water. The trail is steep but rewards you with views of the Sacramento Valley. September through May are the best months to visit since the weather is most comfortable then.
Length: 0.8 miles
Intensity: Moderate
Fishing and Boating
For some fun on the water, head west to the Arizona/Nevada border to Lake Mohave. This narrow lake, surrounded by steep canyons, has a long shoreline with loads of scenic views. You can fish the lake's blue waters for largemouth bass, rainbow trout, crappie, and others. Sandy beaches invite you to soak up some rays, and swimming and boating are welcome. You can stay overnight in a houseboat at Mohave Lake's Cotton Cove.
Climbing
Mount Nutt is a moderate-to-difficult, 15-mile climb that attracts many climbers to its peak. Another option is to scale some of the 22 bolted routes at the Beale Street Wall in Kingman. The Black Mountains and the Hualapi Mountains both have a range of climbing routes with varying rock quality.
Wildlife Viewing
The Mt. Nutt Wilderness is home to wild burros, a small type of donkey, and bighorn sheep. Desert tortoises and rattlesnakes also live there, and you could cross paths with mule deer, elk, and a variety of desert lizards and birds.
Picnicking
For some designated picnicking spots, head to one of the many parks in Kingman. Cecil Davis Park has a picnic shelter, grills, restrooms, ball fields, and a splash pad. Hubbs Neighborhood Park has a picnic area with grills and a horseshoe pit, and it's also where you can see the historic Hubbs Home.
OHVing
Mount Nutt's Secret Pass OHV Trail is a moderately challenging OHV route about 12 miles long. It takes three to four hours to ride this point-to-point trail through rugged desert terrain.
Bureau of Land Management Camping
RV Camping 
Adobe RV Park is a highly rated RV park in scenic Golden Valley that's close to conveniences like a drug store and a medical clinic. It has a daily rate of $28.50.
An amenity-rich RV park is Fort Beale RV Park in Kingman. It costs $50 per night for two people. While it's not the cheapest option for RV camping in the area, it has lots of RV-park perks, like free Wi-Fi, an on-site dump station, a swimming pool, a dog run, full hookups, and pull-through sites.
While those are privately owned RV parks, you'll find lots of Bureau of Land Management campgrounds in ths part of Arizona. Just do a search for BLM camping near me to see your options.
Free Camping 
If you're looking for Bureau of Land Management free camping, a terrific option is the Cerbat Foothills Recreation Area, 1 mile north of Kingman. Its RV parking area fits rigs of all sizes. It doesn't have electrical or water hookups, but RV camping is free.
Highway 193 is a popular location for free dispersed RV camping. Just pull up along the highway and set up camp in one of the many quiet and tucked-away places. This area is about 40 miles west of the Cave Springs Trailhead.
RV Rentals Near Mt. Nutt Wilderness - Cave Spring Trailhead Plan your next adventure
Planning your Mt. Nutt Wilderness - Cave Spring Trailhead BLM trip
Water is scarce in the Mt. Nutt Wilderness, so pack lots of drinking water, and make sure to treat any fresh drinking water you find, like the water at the Cave Spring.
The Kingman area is often windy, so you may want to bring a few extra pairs of sunglasses or other eye protection to keep desert sand out of your eyes.
Since Arizona is such a hot, dry state, a year-round fire restriction bans the use of explosive and flammable items, like fireworks, sky lanterns, and exploding targets, on all public lands.
Before you head out on your trip, check out our blog for all you need to know about BLM camping.
Leave No Trace 
The BLM promotes using public land for recreational activities like hiking, biking, fishing, and camping — millions of people use BLM trails each year. While all are welcome to enjoy these public lands, everyone must do their part to keep even the most well-traveled trail and its surrounding land healthy for future generations. You can help keep BLM lands in good shape by staying on existing trails as much as possible. Make sure to find a dump station for RV waste — don't use a vault wayside. Set up camp on durable surfaces, don't take anything you find, and be sure to contain and extinguish all campfires. Remember to pack up any trash and dispose of it appropriately off-site.
Mt. Nutt Wilderness - Cave Spring Trailhead Location
To reach the Cave Spring Trailhead from Kingman, take Highway 93 north until you reach Highway 68. Turn west and go 9 miles to Estrella Road, which you'll follow south for 4.7 miles, then take a right onto Shinarump Drive. Keep going for 2 miles to Guthrie Road, then turn right to pull into a small parking area near the trailhead.
Ready to visit Mt. Nutt Wilderness - Cave Spring Trailhead? An RV rental is a great way to experience your destination. Not only will you be close to all the action, but at the end of a long day exploring, you'll have your RV to return to for the night where you'll enjoy a full kitchen, bathroom, and nice soft bed. Not sure about renting an RV? Here’s a step-by-step guide to renting an RV with RVshare.
Nearby BLM Locations
- Sleeping Princess OHV Trail - Bureau of Land Management
- Mt. Nutt Wilderness - Twin Springs Trailhead - Bureau of Land Management
- Mohave Milltown East Non-motorized Trailhead - Bureau of Land Management
- Mohave Milltown East Motorized Trailhead - Bureau of Land Management
- Foothills Rim Trail - Bureau of Land Management