Central Nevada suggestions?

rob_gendreau · 03-06-2013, 04:23 PM

I'd like some input on interesting roads to drive and/or places to stay in Nevada along the north/south highways. I spent time last year in the Desatoya's just off 50, and I wanna visit the area around Berlin and probably 376/305 between Tonopah and Battle Mtn. I've spend bunches of time around the east/west roads, but never very far off them. So I'd like to try yo-yoing north and south.

TIA,
Rob

twogone · 03-06-2013, 07:17 PM

**daveb** · 03-06-2013, 11:23 PM

The Ruby Mountains look cool from what Zeta showed me. I took the White Pine Rd from 93 back to highway 50 just outside Ely. There are a few primitive campgrounds along the route but the lone sites might be hard to come by. Still nobody was there on weekends last May. The drive was nice.

geoffff · 03-07-2013, 11:26 AM

I'm not sure how much of an adventure you're looking for, but if you don't mind leaving pavement ...

When you're generally taking Hwy 95 north/south through Nevada, you can detour from the Walker Lake area and instead take Hwy 361 & Hwy 50. Near where 361 & 50 meet is Fariview Peak. You can drive (maintained dirt track) to the very top of this mountain and get stunning unobstructed views from 4000 ft above the surrounding terrain. Here's my van on the very top of Fairview Peak, elevation 8300 ft:

Also nearby is a curious earthquake fault line you can see in person GPS: (39.2117, -118.1464)

-- Geoff

rob_gendreau · 03-07-2013, 11:39 AM

That's EXACTLY what I'm looking for. Good find. Looks more like late March than late May...but it snowed around Memorial Day right near there in the Desatoyas (Cold Sprs/Pony Express area) last year.

Rob

Vegasrandall · 03-07-2013, 12:54 PM

[s]the great thing about central nevada is there's nobody there. I have driven for hours without seeing anyone.

**daveb** · 03-07-2013, 02:41 PM

Rob, if you do migrate towards the central part of the state, the road I posted about does have one good pitstop and that is Cave Creek SP. Although it sucks to stay in this CG (very ugle terrain IMO), it does have showers you can sneek in to take. Kinda nice as part of a drive by.

rob_gendreau · 03-07-2013, 04:56 PM

Thanks for Cave Lake SP; I've been by there several times but never dropped in. Usually the timing is such we either stop further west by Austin or further west, just into Utah. There's also Illipah between Ely and Eureka.

Rob

dhally · 03-12-2013, 01:22 PM

We just went up through there a couple weeks ago. Luckily the weather was nice and we did a tiny bit of exploring. As mentioned above, I doubt we met 5 cars on the road in 200 miles. Wouldn't want to break down out there...

NW of Kingston there is an old ghost mining town called Ophir. It was very interesting to explore, and the road appears to continue up into the hills.

There is a hot springs south of Hwy 50 called Spencer Hot Springs. We didn't visit it but read good reports.

Mill Creek Campground is about 25 miles south of Battle Mt. It still had some snow but looked like it might be nice for a few weeks in the Spring.

There is cheap gas in Tonopah at a fuel distributer. It is east of the main road a few blocks, near the north end of town.

charlie56 · 03-12-2013, 09:47 PM

Here is a spot for you.

Iowa canyon Mine.
About 35 miles north of Austin on 305.
39.846555° -117.007004°
http://goo.gl/maps/9G9lX

I guarantee you will find Fluorite Gemstone just lying around on the ground there. Pretty Cool.
We didn't camp there but nothing to stop you from doing so. Maybe head a little further up the road into the hills.

Its just typical Nevada scenery out in the middle of nowhere.