O.K guys,

I've never visited Nevada beyond LAS area and airline layovers in RNO.. My wife and I are taking a camper out west for 2 weeks in late Sept. and early Oct. We love to camp and hike. However we hate crowds and cannot tolerate crowded campgrounds. We have many happy experiences camping on BLM land and Natl. Forest land in Utah. There are unlimited primative, isolated sites in that state.

How about Nevada? We are mostly interested in the central and northern half of the state....but would consider any area. Any suggestions? We will be pulling small, 2,200 lb. pop up that is about 16 ft by 7 feet when folded down. it is fully functional "off grid' with a solar collector. Our vehicle is a Jeep Liberty which is pretty capable. Now we don't want to tear anything up....but won't hesitate to drive moderately rough, gravel, dirt roads. The more isolated the better. Not withstanding we must avoid the "doper crazies" hang outs. Even if we love Nevada....we promise not to move there and spoil your tranquility!!

Appreciate your suggestions.

Thanks,

Bob

I'm not a resident, but......

The Ruby Mountains would be awesome to spend some time around. The North Eastern part of the state is awesome although not well known.

If your going to be all the way up North, Google City of the Rocks. It is actually in Southern Idaho but it is worth a look. There is also a nice little pond and they used to fill the Trains from at the Lucin RR Stop. You could camp there one night and then head North. Promontory Point is out there too. Roads are dirt/gravel but they are graded pretty well. Take water and gas because it is pretty desolate out there. Take off I-80 and head North towards Modena. You can drive to Idaho that way on real good dirt roads. That will give you a pretty good taste of Northern Nevada. Lots of Big WIde valleys and some mountains.

Jerry

If you like isolation, Nevada is pretty flipping awesome! I travel through NV a lot between Boise and SoCal and have taken many different routes, detours, excursions through the many different valleys.

First off, order a Nevada map from Bench Mark Maps: (http://www.benchmarkmaps.com)

I'm assuming you may be coming across I-70 from MO.? If so, take US50 into NV and through Ely, Eureka (neat little town to visit) and before you get to Austin, take a left on road 425 (I believe it's at or near the "Bean Flat Rest Area"). Follow that road south and it will take you into the Monitor Valley. There is a hot spring (and tub) at Potts Ranch. Dianas Punch Bowl is cool to see (careful, don't fall in!!). Not much else to see south of that point. So, I'd head back north. But take a left at Monitor Ranch (Road 001) and follow that road over the mountain and you can visit another hot spring (Spencer Hot Springs) if you wish.

After all that area, a Visit to Austin to refuel, ice and restock on some food items (no grocery store except convenience market). A visit with Coyote Ugly should be a must.

The only area I can think of for the northern part of Nevada would be north of Elko. Take 225 north to Wild Horse Reservoir. Pretty nice up there with lot's of Jeep trails and good chance you'll see plenty of wild horses.

I know I only touched on a couple of area's but hopefully Coyote Ugly, Gump and a few others will chime in with some more suggestions.

Austin has a lot to offer as there are lots of hiking and camping areas, ghost towns, and hot springs. 58Skylane mentioned Monitor Valley, there are aboriginal paintings, Spensers Hot Springs, Hickison Summit Petrogliphs, Dianas Punch Bowl, Northumberland Caves to be seen, the ghost towns, Belmont, Manhattan, Ophir, and of course Austin its self. In the Toyabes the trip over Big Creek to Kingston is worth the drive. Going on south some thirty miles there is Cottonwood, San Juan, and Washington canyons. A little further the old town of Ione and the Ithickisoure remains at Berlin. All good dirt roads and very remote. Be sure to check in With Coyote Ugly as he has lived there all his life and maybe buy you a beer! Have fun!!

y4 wrote: aboriginal paintings, Hickison Summit Petrogliphs, Northumberland Caves

Do you know exactly where the above is located? I think I tried to find Hickison Summit Petrogliphs one time, but I couldn't find it. I think I was in the right area though. All I had was a GPS cord. from the net.

I also tried to find the Geographic Center of NV (marker), but couldn't find it either. Again, I was in the right area, just couldn't find the marker.

Like mentioned before, if you want remoteness, Nevada is one of the best the places to go. Lot's of big open valleys and big azz mountains!

Also, when I travel through NV (offroading), I always carry extra items like fuel, GPS, my SPOT, portable Nav/Com, water, shovel, axe, warm clothes (gets cold at night, even during summer months), pretty much the same stuff you'd have in your plane for survival. You never know. I almost got stuck in the absolute middle of no where once. Good thing I had a shovel with me!!

North western Nevada is pretty darn cool as well.

I put a link of pics from yesterdays fly around over Black Rock, Soldier Meadow 1 and 2, other various dry lake beds, high Plato's etc. Soldier Meadow 2 is a great spot for an over night. They have a cool little lodge there: http://www.soldiermeadows.com/index.html

I put about 40 some pics from yesterday....Just cannot for the life of me figure out to post photos to a thread.
Here is the link to the BCP Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/backcountrypilot?ref=ts

You make it this far, the Sierra's are really fun that most just dont know about.

Also :Fly Ranch Gyser : http://atlasobscura.com/place/fly-ranch-geyser...you need to land about 1/4 mile away but the walk is worth it....Very straight forward LZ when you fly over it.

Also: http://www.nbmg.unr.edu/geothermal/site ... ly%20Ranch

You can always PM me as well.

AK

Thanks guys,

So far some good suggestions. We will definately research the areas suggested. We may come the way of I-70 from Mo. or may go to Nevada after a few days in S/E Utah. So we may enter Nev. at the southeast/ central part of the state. We plan a big loop from Denver to s/w Colorado, through S/E Utah, Nevada, NW Colorado....back thru Denver. Matters not which direction we make the loop.

Also want to bring the Maule out for backcounty flying/camping one day. But that will have to wait. This is a camping/hiking trip with the wife.

So many places....so little time.

Bob

US Highway 50 is pretty darn cool! Loneliest road in America. You get to hit the MOAB / Canyon Lands area then to the Sierra's. Head home on 70 or 80 with lots options back to Denver. Great loop.

Endless camping, fishing, hiking, etc.
Of course...you then have to come up to Tahoe...more endless options...

Kevin

US50 through Colorado is amazing! And 550 from Montrose to Durango is flippin cool!! I took my big rig down 550 last summer. Crazy whindy narrow road (for a long semi). Lot's of Jeeps, 4x4's, and motorcycles on that road. I'll post some pictures when I get better internet connection. Sounds like your planning a really cool trip!

Pulled a 53' flatbed trailer over Red Mountain Pass (550) a couple of times..beautiful scenery but you are a little busy on that windy road with a semi!
Side trips to Animas City, Ouray and other roads around Silverton and over on the west side at Orphir and Teluride.
HC

85Skylane--Do you know exactly where the Petrogliphs site is?

Leaving Austin on US 50 traveling East, you will be ascending Austin Summit. When you reach the summit the peak on your left is Mount Pamethis (not sure of the spelling) it is usually considered the geographic center of the state. I’m not aware of a marker, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t one. (check with the old coyote)

Continuing on, the Big Smokey Valley comes into view (12 miles). There you will encounter the junction to Tonopah. Intersecting the junction there is a dirt road going straight across the valley.

About 7 miles out on the dirt road you would take a left to Spenser’s Hot Spring (1 ½ miles) You can camp any where there.

Continuing on straight, to Pete’s Summit (about 10 miles) there is a nice campground on top. Less than a mile down the other side you would find the Aboriginal Paintings on your left. Traveling on down the summit you will come to the Monitor Ranch turning south you could go to the Potts Hot Springs, Dina’s Punch Bowl, ghost towns of Belmont, Manhattan, and there is a nice campground at (I think) Fish Creek.

Going back to the junction of US 50 and 376 (to Tonopah) you would stay on US 50 east to Hickison Summit. (about 11 miles from junction) When you top out on Hickison you would go down the other side for about a mile, big sign “Petrogliphs” turn left, little over a mile to site, and nice campground.

Austin its self had the Pony Express, Overland Telegraph, and is located on one of the Overland Trail Routes to California. Lot’s of western history.

Some of Nevada is very remote, if you get lost you may want to have a sandwich and extra gas along. If you were to get turned around, stay on the best dirt road, as the roads degrade in condition, so does your choice of destination, the good roads all lead somewhere you can get directions or help.

My brother and his family just went to the Great Basin State Park over July 4. They did Lehman Caves and hiked to the top of Wheeler Peak, which he said was one of the coolest things he's ever done.

They camped in the Park campgrounds but he said the "higher" campground is used by more intrepid travelers and was unusually quiet and peacefull on a 4th of july weekend.

He also liked Baker, Nevada with all the usual characters in the town coffee shop. They've solved the entire world's problems in that coffee shop!

Check it out, you'll prolly have the place to yourself.

If you need any CO/UT advise, let me know.

The San Rafael Swell area (UT) is pretty amazing and very "off the grid".

SixTwoLeemer wrote:My brother and his family just went to the Great Basin State Park over July 4. They did Lehman Caves and hiked to the top of Wheeler Peak, which he said was one of the coolest things he's ever done.

They camped in the Park campgrounds but he said the "higher" campground is used by more intrepid travelers and was unusually quiet and peacefull on a 4th of july weekend.

He also liked Baker, Nevada with all the usual characters in the town coffee shop. They've solved the entire world's problems in that coffee shop!

Check it out, you'll prolly have the place to yourself.

Great Basin in on the list,

Will camp and hike there. Coffee shop is a must! Plan to go out to Ely and ride the steam train before the summer schedule ends. Maybe get as far west as Austin. We will see. Thanks to all the great suggestions.

Bob

Bob

I travelled to SoCal from Boise this last Thursday and Friday. I'll try to link my Facebook pictures here (my first time trying this). Weather was perfect!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=93628&id=1324371585&l=b1a3e741b4

Just found this Video

http://watch.knpb.org/video/1442995272/

I really enjoyed the trip PIXs, Pat. Good show. My kinda exploring.......

lc

The last weekend and early last week (8-13 thru 8-17) I traveled to Wyoming from my home in Idaho and then traveled to SoCal through Utah. I still get amazed at the beauty of our wonderful country! Most pics were taken in Wyoming (northwest part) and then down around the middle of Utah.

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2341540300988.140530.1324371585&l=35611efbc5&type=1

Nice pics, Pat! I thought it was funny that I always make a great effort to keep the road out of my landscape pictures, but often your subject *is* the road and I find a couple of them quite appealing.

For a minute I was wondering how you got the B&W picture of yourself inside the glass case with the 1875 Single Action Army Colt revolver!

[Edit, for those too lazy to go look, which one is Pat?]