For a true escape from the city, head to Nevada’s remote Ruby Mountains. This range of U-shaped canyons, hanging valleys and granite peaks offers unbeatable views.
At Towing Service for Ruby Valley NV sites are tucked within a juniper and pinion pine forest. A two-mile hike will take you to the Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge, one of the lower 48’s most remote wetlands.
The Ruby Mountains
The Ruby Mountains are a veritable treasure of craggy peaks, alpine lakes and wildlife in northeastern Nevada. Located in Elko County and White Pine County, they’re a popular destination for visitors who want to experience the great outdoors.
This mountain range also has a significant history. During the emigrant journeys to California during westward expansion, the Ruby Mountains became a popular stopping point for travelers and were home to several way stations.
From these way stations, people made the journey across Harrison Pass to California and beyond. They traveled over the rugged ruby-colored peaks, making their way towards the Sierra Nevada.
The road from Elko through the Ruby Mountains is a state byway that winds past vistas straight out of a photographer’s dream. It offers plenty of stops to explore and a chance to take in the scenery from the comfort of your car.
Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge
The Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge is a great place to visit if you love nature and the outdoors. It consists of 39,928 acres of Ruby Valley wetlands that are home to a variety of animals and birds.
The area is a favorite spot for hiking and birding, but there’s also a lot to do for fishing enthusiasts. In fact, the marshes are fed by more than 200 springs, which helps to make them a popular spot for trout.
Aside from its natural beauty, the refuge is also a great place for waterfowl hunting during fall seasons. It’s a good spot for hunters to see nesting canvasback ducks and redheads.
The route to the refuge is quite a drive, and there’s a lot of dirt road to get through. It can be a bit rocky, but it’s worth the trip to explore this amazing place.
Thomas Canyon Campground
Thomas Canyon Campground sits at the mouth of Lamoille Canyon, a beautiful canyon in the Ruby Mountains. This desert island is a paradise for hikers, horseback riders and anglers alike. It has a variety of hiking and riding trails that lead to alpine lakes, waterfalls, vistas and jagged peaks.
The campground is surrounded by groves of aspen and cottonwood trees. The campground also has a creek running through it that is popular for fly fishing for rainbow and brook trout.
Sites here are spacious and are ideal for tent or trailer camping. They are all equipped with picnic tables, fire rings with grate and grills. Some sites have tent pads as well.
The forest is also a prime area for birding and fishing. There are several local hiking trails to choose from as well, such as the Thomas Canyon Trail that leads past waterfalls and through an alpine meadow to a glacial cirque.
Ruby Marshes
One of the highlights of my travels in the Ruby Valley is a drive that skirts an active gold mine and winds through Long Valley, before passing between the snowy peaks of the Ruby Mountains and the pristine Ruby Marshes. This scenic byway offers a lovely contrast in terrain and provides a great place to spot wildlife, especially waterfowl.
Besides the spectacular scenery, this road also boasts several historic sites. For example, Fort Ruby was built in 1862 as a military post for overland stages that brought mail and travelers across the Nevada desert.
The fort has several deteriorated buildings and interpretive panels, but it still provides a nice final glimpse of the Rubies before you head back down U.S. 50.