Littlefield, Scenic & Desert Springs
Arizona's far northwest corner — small communities along the Virgin River that you can only reach by leaving Arizona first.
The Corner of Arizona Most Arizonans Never See
Tucked into the state's extreme northwest corner, Littlefield, Scenic, and Desert Springs share a geographic quirk found almost nowhere else in America: they are Arizona communities with no paved connection to the rest of Arizona. Every road in arrives by way of Nevada or Utah, with Interstate 15 threading the three of them along the Virgin River.
That isolation from their own state capital — Phoenix is a five-plus-hour drive that crosses two state lines — is exactly what defines life here. Residents shop, work, and go to school across the line in Mesquite, while their mail says Arizona and their views belong to the Virgin Mountains.
Getting There and Getting Around
All three communities sit directly on or just off I-15 between Mesquite, Nevada and the mouth of the Virgin River Gorge. Littlefield is the historic anchor, settled along the river bottomlands; Scenic and Desert Springs grew later as residential neighborhoods tied to Mesquite's economy. Beaver Dam adjoins them to the west — together the cluster is often called the "Virgin Valley" side of the Strip.
Why Visit
This is the jumping-off point for the Virgin River Gorge — the spectacular canyon stretch of I-15 — and for backroads into the Virgin Mountains and Beaver Dam Wash country. It is also one of the most affordable corners of the region to stay or settle, a topic our Resources articles cover in depth for anyone considering building or buying land here.
Drive the Gorge
The Virgin River Gorge begins just up the interstate — one of the most scenic freeway miles in America.