I-80 and NEVADA

Let's start with Reno.
Las Vegas has the glitter - perhaps more than any place else in the world. (Click here to read more about Las Vegas.) Reno is more laid back - known for its 'friendliness'. While there is plenty of gaming around town (hey, this is Nevada), there are a lot of attractions keyed to the interests of children - including teen-agers. Click here to read more about Reno.

Carson City. If you took the express elevator down the mountain from Lake Tahoe (i.e., US-50), you would pass through Carson City. More than just the capital of Nevada, Carson City is a historical treasure trove of the U.S. West. Walk the Kit Carson Trail and view one of the largest and best preserved residential districts in the West. Courthouses, the train depot, - all here and convenient.

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Lehman Cave. This write-up is supposed to be about I-80. So, please, forgive a little digression. IF... you were to take US-50 eastbound from Carson City, all the way across the state of Nevada to Baker (61 miles east of Ely), you could tour (what we hold) to be one of the most beautiful caverns in the U.S.A. - Lehman Caves in Great Basin National Park. Once you have crossed over New Pass Summit (one of eight 6,000 foot plus passes crossed by US-50), the terrain becomes very beautiful and not at all like many expect Nevada to appear. After touring the Cave, continue on US-50 from Baker into Utah. You'll notice that US-6 joined US-50 - follow both to Delta, Utah. Just past Delta, US-6 splits off to the north (your left). Follow US-6 to Lynndyl where you take a right onto UT-132. 33 miles later you will be on the northbound on-ramp of I-15 which takes you to Salt Lake City and back to I-80.

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Alkali Country. Okay, back to I-80. So you decided not to view Lehman Caves :-(. Heading east out of Reno you'll be passing through alkali country. There are some springs (in this land with no water) that are so alkali that drinking the water would kill a horse (and it did, frequently). When it rains the area sprouts a lot of lakes - yup, mostly alkali. In May, when it rains, millions of blooms burst out of the desert and it is absolutely beautiful.

Humboldt River. Exit 129 is access to Nevada's Rye Patch State Recreation Area along side the impoundment of the Humboldt River created by Rye Patch Dam. As you continue east on I-80 you will be following the Humboldt River (to your left). Up river (about 30+ miles from the Rec Area, you'll pass through Winnemucca - a literal oasis in the desert. Here the Little Humboldt joins the Humboldt. Water is precious out here but in Winnemucca there appears to be plenty of it - for now.

Battle Mountain. Another 36 miles brings you to another oasis on the desert: Battle Mountain. Here Rock Creek joins the Humboldt. (think there is a pattern, here?) But now the 'rest of the story'...
 Shortly before Christmas 2001 the great Washington Post published an article citing Battle Mountain as the "armpit of America". Within two weeks, the local drug store in Battle Mountain was selling Armpit 'T' shirts - and they went like pancakes in a famine. That pretty well describes this town and its people. To live out here you have to have a 'can-do' attitude, virtually immune to setbacks and love just being alive. And it is contagious. Most people zip by on I-80; don't, - stop in and say hello.

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Old Gold? Another 31 miles brings you to NV-306 at exit 261 - just past Dunphy. 'They say' there are a lot of old gold mines up the valley. Mostly, the diggers found nothing but heartache. The old mines (most have been sealed) are very dangerous.

The Roller Coaster. Heading east out of Dunphy you climb over Twin Summit (5,672 feet). Then a little dip just to climb, again to Emigrant Pass (6,144 feet). Now, if you were going the other way, couldn't you coast down from Emigrant Pass and up Twin Summit without using the engine? Nope. But it seems to be an eternal challenge.

And the tunnel. About 2.8 miles east of exit 282 you will cross the Humboldt River, go through a tunnel and cross the Humboldt River again. Look to your left when you cross the river the first time, then in your rear-view mirror after you exit the tunnel and you'll see why they bored the tunnel rather than follow the river through that canyon. But it is beautiful country, isn't it.

Elko and Roses. Of course there is a lot more to Elko than the Rose Garden but that is what we really enjoyed. This is probably a unique rose garden; the goal is to find and maintain roses able to withstand 20 below (F) winter chills without being winterized. Then to survive in the intense summer heat. And you thought growing roses at home is a challenge? Well, they've done it and it is a beautiful garden. Visit their website (RoseGarden) and then visit the garden when you drive through.

The Canyon. You've been driving across Nevada all this time and you've seen a few canyons but you really haven't been down deep inside one. Now's your opportunity. NV-227 goes to the Ruby Mountain Scenic area and the Thomas Canyon.
 To get there from I-80, take exit 301 and head south on NV-225 (passing by the airport) to the end of 225 at Hwy-535. Turn left and drive to 5th Street. Turn right (this is NV-227) and follow it, through Spring Creek. On the far side of Spring Creek you'll pass Rabbit Ears Road and Broken Arrow Lane (both on your right) and then meet the junction of Forest Road 660 (1 mile beyond Broken Arrow Lane). Turn right and follow the forest road (it is an excellent road), passing the Thomas Canyon Forest Camp and, a little further on, the Guard Station to the end of the road. There is a wide loop so, even if you are pulling a trailer, you can turn around. These canyon walls average about 2,000 feet above the canyon floor. The end of the road is about 32 miles from I-80. If you're in for a small hike, there is a nice trail leading from the loop at the end of the road to Lamoille Lake - it is an uphill climb (about 1,000 feet above the loop) but we enjoyed it. You'll pass a couple small lakes on a small shelf overlooking the canyon (about 1 mile) and Lamoille Lake is another half mile.

Wells (the town). At exit 351 is Humboldt Avenue which, if you go one block south, intersects NV-231. Turn right on 231 and follow it, about 25 miles, to the Angel Lake reservoir and recreation area. It may be blistering hot in Wells but it will be much cooler at the lake. And there are trees! Lots of Aspen which are gorgeous; bright green in the Summer and gold in the Autumn. There are a couple dozen individual camping units here plus about a dozen picnic tables (not associated with the campground). The lake is about 8,500 feet elevation which is what keeps it so nice and cool. If you live around sea level, though, even a little bit of exertion can bring shortness of breath.
 Continuing east on I-80, you'll cross US-93 at Wells (exit 352) which is the main highway to Twin Falls, Idaho and I-84.

Wendover and Utah. 60 miles more and you are at the Utah state line. There are two Wendovers here. The Nevada Wendover is officially (at least, now) referred to as West Wendover and has lots of gaming facilities. Utah doesn't allow gaming.
 You think you've seen some barren desert? Just wait until you see the Utah salt flats!

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