Best Nevada road trip

[Jena]

I am heading from Southern California (Victorville) to Wyoming. I think I want to go through Nevada. It's on my list of places to move too and my inner desert rat would probably appreciate it.

I am an experienced desert traveler and off roader, but my truck is 2WD. County roads, state highways, good gravel roads are my preferred mode of travel. I want to go to Great Basin National Park and anywhere else that sounds good.

Any ideas? Also if anyone knows any good rock hounding spots in Northern Nevada and wants to share.....

Thanks
Jena

[insocal]

Originally Posted by Jena

I am heading from Southern California (Victorville) to Wyoming. I think I want to go through Nevada. It's on my list of places to move too and my inner desert rat would probably appreciate it.

I am an experienced desert traveler and off roader, but my truck is 2WD. County roads, state highways, good gravel roads are my preferred mode of travel. I want to go to Great Basin National Park and anywhere else that sounds good.

Any ideas? Also if anyone knows any good rock hounding spots in Northern Nevada and wants to share.....

Thanks
Jena

You indeed MUST see Snake Valley and Great Basin Nat'l Park! Wave HI for me. My great-grandfather homesteaded there in the 1800s, and my grandfather and father were raised right there. We vacationed there often when I was growing up, and it remains one of my most favorite places in the world.

Gives the word "remote" a whole new meaning.

[uhcrandy]

I would not recomend going off-road. Nevada is so remote. You could go through Rhyololte or mono lake, both should be on your bucket list anyway. If you hit Mono lake, drop by Body, the ghost town. Then into tonopah. Great Basin, as is Lyman caves near the utah state line is well worth your time. There are many great small towns in central nevada. Goldfield is cool, if you drive US-50 (the lonelyest road in the US) Eureka and Austin is worth seeing.

[Nevada]

Originally Posted by uhcrandy

I would not recomend going off-road. Nevada is so remote. You could go through Rhyololte or mono lake, both should be on your bucket list anyway. If you hit Mono lake, drop by Body, the ghost town. Then into tonopah. Great Basin, as is Lyman caves near the utah state line is well worth your time. There are many great small towns in central nevada. Goldfield is cool, if you drive US-50 (the lonelyest road in the US) Eureka and Austin is worth seeing.

Austin is going to be too far out of her way, but Eureka is a neat little town.

When you are around the Great Basin National Park area, consider staying at Hotel Nevada in Ely. It's a really historic old place, built in the late 1920s. Very cool place, and affordable (from $39 weekdays). Ely is an old copper mine town from way back. The mine (open pit) is still operating today. It's located in Ruth, about 6 miles west of Ely.

You will find Eureka to be about an hour drive west of Ely. Eureka is a county seat, yet a tiny little town, and complete throwback to the 1800s. It's a lead mine town, and the mine still operates today. Well worth the drive. They have a great little museum in the old firehouse located a block off the main drag (park behind the courthouse, you can't miss it).

To get you back on course after Eureka, go north out of Eureka on 278 to I-80 and head east. You can stay in Elko (I recommend Stockmens Hotel & Casino downtown, $45/night weekdays, ask for an older room over the casino because they're twice as big as the newer rooms. Best place to eat in town is JR's in the Gold Country Casino), or you can stay in West Wendover (I always stayed at the Red Garter, it's undergoing renovation right now but still open. Peppermill, Rainbow, & Montego Bay all have buffets, but they aren't cheap).

I know northern Nevada really well.

[phrogpharmer]

I like the trip from Las Vegas to Hiko to Caliente to Panaca to Pioche to Baker to Callao to Gold Hill to Wendover to Montello to Park Valley to Snowville to Hollister to Malad to Weston to Logan to Garden City to Montpelier then into Wyoming. Good roads, lots of places to camp, tremendous scenery, and varied landscape, along with lots of side trip opportunities.

[fantasymaker]

Another vote for the hotel Nevada!
You could go north out of there and hit a great abandoned Highway maintance station with a spring out back and abondoned rail bed runing thru, a bit farther on is wendover NV and just past that is Bonneville salt flats.
Is that to far north to back track to the pony expres trail and follow it east into UTAH as you skirt around the dugway grounds on dirt roads you will hit lots of pony express stops. stop in at fish springs a delightful spot in the desert, I think there is trout fishing there. a bit further down the trail stop in at the geode beds and pick up a few. Last time I was there I loaded a pickup truck.
Then a side trip south will take you to the Florite mines area where there is a LOT of rock hounding be done

[Nevada]

Originally Posted by phrogpharmer

I like the trip from Las Vegas to Hiko to Caliente to Panaca to Pioche

Actually, you go through Caliente and Pioche by staying on 93, but 93 doesn't go through Hiko. On the surface, 93 seems to be the logical route to Ely from Las Vegas, since 93 runs through both Las Vegas and Ely. However, if you take take a left on 318 about 12 miles north of Alamo you will save yourself about 50 miles. Since 93 is no more interesting than 318, I suggest you take 318. That will take you through Hiko & Lund on the way to Ely.

There is only one exception to taking 318 instead of 93, and that when they are running the Classic races in May and September. They close 318 for those events, so you have to take the long route on 93 when that's going on.

[L.A.]

Just put a quarter in a slot machine and "high tail it" to Wyoming!!

Waste no time, save every second for the "Best"

When will you be coming through?

[DanielY]

I will second Stockmans in Elko. I didn't stay there but I did eat there. good food nice hotel and casino. I will also repeat not to off road in Nevada. You don't really want to do that here unless you have back up set up to come rescue you. I have heard of more than one off roader dying before they could walk back to a highway here. The dessert is nothing to play with. and it is all dessert. There may be patches that pretend not to be, but they are just small spaces surrounded by some of the deadliest real estate in the U.S. Keep looking for rock hound sites. there are lot of them around I just don't know where they are. Crystal peak is in Northern Nevada but on the western side. I was told about an opal mine north of Winnemucca but that is also more on the Westerly side of the state. The opal mine allows you to search for opals for a daily fee. I know a rock hound here in Reno that could show you every nook and cranny in the state. So people in the know are out there.
If you are a Dessert lover than Nevada is a great place for you. We are Dessert, but beautiful Dessert.

[bluetick]

There was an article in a local (southern CA) newspaper a couple of days ago about driving in desert areas using a GPS. It said that some GPS systems direct people onto roads that haven't been used/maintained in years. Some folks have gotten hopelessly lost and been found in rough shape, or dead. The advice was to bring up-to-date paper maps and a compass, along with food, water and a cell phone, if you plan a trip through a desert.

Other than that your trip sounds like fun!

[Jena]

Originally Posted by L.A.

Just put a quarter in a slot machine and "high tail it" to Wyoming!!

Waste no time, save every second for the "Best"

When will you be coming through?

I am sitting at the Rock Springs KOA right now. Heading to Buffalo tomorrow.

Nevada may have displaced Wyoming...its almost the same only lots LESS people!

[Jena]

Oh ye of little faith! You under estimate my desert ratness! I lived in the desert for years and I do know what I am doing out there, but I understand the concern....

I didn't go to most of the recommended places because I was too floored over all the most excellent dirt roads! I drove most of two days on dirt and did go to see the Bristlecones. I am flat out in love with Northern Nevada! All those great ranges and each one is different. It was like Christmas every time I crossed a summit!

I've had Nevada on my places to check out and it was worth it. I could so live there.

[L.A.]

Originally Posted by Jena

I am sitting at the Rock Springs KOA right now. Heading to Buffalo tomorrow.

Nevada may have displaced Wyoming...its almost the same only lots LESS people!

I was gonna offer a coff of cuppie,,,but looks like your not heading through The Laramie area.

Buffalo is great!

[Nevada]

Originally Posted by Jena

I've had Nevada on my places to check out and it was worth it. I could so live there.

Quality of life was pretty good around Elko. My homestead was about 10 miles east of Elko just off I-80.

[YuccaFlatsRanch]

Carry plenty of water and some extra gasoline. A blanket to ward off the cold desert night if you get stuck is important too. Will your cell phone work in the Desert?? If not one of the GPS emergency signaling devices would be handy. Never can be too safe.

[Nevada]

Originally Posted by YuccaFlatsRanch

Carry plenty of water and some extra gasoline. A blanket to ward off the cold desert night if you get stuck is important too. Will your cell phone work in the Desert?? If not one of the GPS emergency signaling devices would be handy. Never can be too safe.

The routes I've suggested are pretty well traveled.

[Jena]

This is what I carry into the desert:

a MAP! The low tech paper kind.

A shovel, tow strap, spare and a jack. I would like to get another spare, but so far one has done just fine.

Oil, anti-freeze, jumper cables, basic tools

18 gallons of water for emergencies. Usually a case or so of small bottles and at least one ice chest worth of water too.

Tent, sleeping bag, jacket, hiking boots, and my gun

I keep my extra food supplies on my person at all times

I usually tell someone where I am going, more or less, but sometimes I don't. Depends on where it is.

I am a very good off road driver. My truck is 2WD, but she pretty much takes me wherever I want to go.

And...since someone might read this who needs to know...if I did get stuck or broke down...I would STAY WITH MY CAR because they always find the vehicle first. It's a much bigger target than my body, plus I can't carry enough water to get me where I need to go, so STAY WITH THE VEHICLE!!!

Those two tourist who recently died in Joshua Tree tried to walk out in the heat of the day. They were dead within 7 hours of leaving! 7 hours from "We're off on an adventure" to "found dead in the road". Horribly needless!

I love the desert, but yeah...it deserves respect.

[Nevada]

I carry a few 6-packs of bottled water during the hot months, then stay on the beaten path. Of course I travel with an 85 year-old woman so the beaten path is enough of an adventure for her.

[houndlover]

I just completed 10 days of driving around Nevada. Great Basin is okay - but honestly, a lot of Nevada looks just like great basin. The absolute coolest things I saw in Nevada (and I honestly saw the whole state) were Angel Lake (just west and 3000' above) Wells - really, all of the Ruby Mountains (and Clover Valley). Second was Lamoille Canyon Road, between Wells and Elko. Virginia City was touristy but cool just the same. And of course, Lake Tahoe. I would say that 80 has more attractions if you're simply going to drive across the state - every little town along the way has something. I was in a 4X4 but never put it in 4 wheel drive.

[Nevada]

Originally Posted by houndlover

I just completed 10 days of driving around Nevada. Great Basin is okay - but honestly, a lot of Nevada looks just like great basin. The absolute coolest things I saw in Nevada (and I honestly saw the whole state) were Angel Lake (just west and 3000' above) Wells - really, all of the Ruby Mountains (and Clover Valley). Second was Lamoille Canyon Road, between Wells and Elko.

I really liked the Elko/Wells area. That's why I built my homestead between Elko & Wells. A drive up Lamoille Canyon always revives me.

Originally Posted by houndlover

Virginia City was touristy but cool just the same. And of course, Lake Tahoe.

Both have become gentrified. That takes a lot of the fun out of being there. But I still can't stay away.