Spirit Mountain, also known as Avi Kwa Ame ( Mojave: ʔaviː kʷaʔame, "highest mountain", from ʔaviː, "mountain, rock", and ʔamay, "up, above") is a mountain within the Lake Mead National Recreation Area near Laughlin, Nevada. It is listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places as a sacred place to Native American tribes in Southern Nevada. Spirit Mountain is the highest point in the Spirit Mountain Wilderness and is the highest point in the Newberry Mountains with the summit peak at 5,639 feet.

History

Environmentalists have sought designation of a significant area to the west of the mountain as a national monument. The Avi Kwa Ame National Monument was established on March 21, 2023, by President Biden and named after the peak as the mountain is visible from almost the entire area. The mountain was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a Traditional Cultural Property on September 8, 1999.

Description

Spirit Mountain is the center of creation for all Yuman speaking tribes and is considered a sacred area. The 506,814 acres is managed by the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, and Bureau of Reclamation.