Alpine Adventures in the Wild Ruby Mountains, Nevada

The Trip

Hike and explore with us this surprise find in eastern Nevada, the Ruby Mountains. Situated on the edge of the Great Basin this alpine oasis includes soaring jagged peaks, lush green meadows filled with wildflowers and sparkling sapphire blue lakes.

Often referred to as Nevada's Alps, the Rubies represent the classic mountain wilderness. This astonishing landscape is a testament to the heavily glaciated sculpting that carved out the peaks and valleys. There is an abundance of water -- such a rare treat in this arid state -- which feeds glacial tarns, alpine lakes, and snow-fed streams. This astonishing landscape provides a haven to a multitude of wildlife and flora.

Nevada's largest herds of mule deer call this place home, as do mountain goats, big-horn sheep, pronghorn antelope, marmots, and pikas. There are numerous species of raptors, such as the northern goshawk, great horned owl and golden eagle; both the ruffed grouse and the introduced Himalayan snowcock also call this place home. 

Conifer forests, mountain brush, aspen groves, and riparian areas provide habitat for the abundance of wildlife. Wildflowers, both common and rare, are plentiful. Some of the more rare wildflowers are found nowhere else in the world. The alpine meadows are magnificent flower gardens that attract a wide range of insects and birds. Lamoille Creek flows nearby where you will find a variety of trout species, including the native Lahontan cutthroat trout and wild rainbow trout.

The spectacular Lamoille Canyon Road, a National Forest Scenic Byway, leads to the trailhead of the Ruby Crest National Recreation Trail, the 90,000-acre Ruby Mountains Wilderness, and our campsite. Lamoille Canyon is a large, glaciated U-shaped valley similar to California's Yosemite Valley, but without the crowds.

From our exclusive, terraced campground, we will enjoy the mountain vistas and the music of a cascading alpine stream. The remoteness from any city will reveal to us a starry sky, including the Milky Way in brilliant detail. 

Each evening we will have a local speaker or group activity to add to our shared time in nature together. Each morning, after a hearty breakfast, we will pack lunches and carpool to the day’s trailhead.

Come experience the Ruby Mountains thus having the perception of Nevada being a desert changed forever.

Day 1: After setting up tents, we will prepare dinner as a group. Formal introductions and a discussion the week’s itinerary will be our evening program. 

Day 2: Our first day will have two possible destinations: a morning hike to Thomas Canyon with outstanding views of Mt Fitzgerald, then an afternoon hike to gorgeous Island Lake, perfect for swimming and relaxing. These options will help us acclimate to hiking in the mountains and warm up our muscles.

Day 3: We head to the east side of the Rubies out to Soldier Basin. This hike offers a different, but no less scenic view, of this unique mountain wilderness. This is an excellent area for wildflowers and bird watching. We will start out following Soldier Creek up Soldier Canyon into an open meadow. We will hike through the basin out to Hidden Lakes, Soldier Lake, and Robinson Lake and another waterside lunch.

Day 4: Today we head to the entrance of the canyon to hike the Lamoille-Tabot Trail. This very scenic trail starts at the mouth of Lamoille Canyon and climbs through a series of switchbacks before leveling off. At the top, we gain some great views of the Great Basin lowlands that host the Rubies.

Day 5: The Ruby Crest National Recreation Trail is today’s exploration. We will hike from the trailhead close to our camp out to Liberty Lake, and possibly a little further to Favre Lake, depending on the group’s endurance. We will pass several glacial lakes before arriving at Liberty Pass. Here we cross into the wilderness area and continue on to Liberty and Favre Lakes. The trail is breathtakingly beautiful. All around are jagged peaks, hidden valleys, waterfalls and an abundance of wildflowers.

Day 6: After breakfast, we will gather for our last group activity. Campers will need to have gear packed up and depart the campground by 11 a.m.

Please note that all the hikes are subject to change depending on the weather, snowpack, water levels in streams, and the ability of the group.

Getting There

The Ruby Mountains are in northeastern Nevada along Interstate 80. The closest town is Elko. Major airports are Salt Lake City, Utah (254 miles), Boise, Idaho (264 miles), Reno, Nevada (320 miles), and Las Vegas (431 miles). There is a regional airport in Elko. Alternately, Amtrak’s California Zephyr and the Greyhound bus both service Elko. There is no public transportation to the Ruby Mountains. A trip roster will be sent to all participants so that you can discuss carpooling options. Please do not make non-refundable travel arrangements until notified to do so by the trip leader.

Accommodations and Food

This is a basecamp setting; participants will provide their own tent, sleeping bag, and ground pad. We will have exclusive use of the group campsite in Lamoille Canyon, with its stunning views of the surrounding peaks and canyon, near the edge of the Ruby Mountains Wilderness area. Having been recently renovated the campground provides vault toilets, potable water, picnic tables, grills, and garbage service. There is paved parking and the footpaths within the site are also paved. Please note this is a tent-only facility; thus RVs are not permitted. Showers and laundry services are available in the town of Lamoille, 10 miles down the canyon.

Meals will be provided from dinner on the first day to breakfast on the last day. All group cooking equipment is provided. Participants need only bring their plate, bowl and utensils, as well as containers to pack their lunch and snacks. Plastic wrap and bags will not be provided. We will follow the Sierra Club tradition that everyone helps cook and clean on a rotating basis. Dietary restrictions will be accommodated to the extent possible. Please discuss any allergies and preferences with the trip leader as soon as possible.

Trip Difficulty

Our campground is at 8,000 feet elevation, and our hikes will take us to more than 11,000 feet. The air will be thinner and it may take time to acclimate to the altitude. You can expect a feeling of tiredness and fatigue initially. Hikers should be in good physical condition and enjoy challenging day hikes. Recommendations for altitude acclimation and hiking preparation will be detailed in a future bulletin.

Our hikes range from 4 to 10 miles with elevation gains of no more than 2,750 feet. You should arrive ready to spend each of our days hiking the full day and be prepared to sleep in a tent for six nights.

Note: Please come with a flexible attitude. The leader will make every effort to follow the itinerary. However, the weather can be unpredictable and may necessitate a change in the day’s plans. 

Equipment and Clothing

Trip members are expected to furnish their own gear, including tent, sleeping bag, day pack, water bottles, and personal first aid kit. Boots should be well broken in and comfortable. Trekking poles are helpful on rocky trails and steep downhills. Your daypack should be large enough to hold your food and water along with appropriate clothing to be prepared for sudden changes in the weather. Summer weather in the mountains of western North America is unpredictable. You will need to be prepared for hot days, cool nights and possible thunderstorms. You will receive a basic equipment list and recommended clothing once you are accepted on the trip.

References

Books:

• Hyslop, Larry, Ruby Mountains Visitor Guide. 2004.
• Anderson, Lisa, Ruby Mountain Flora: A Guide To Common Plants Of The Ruby Mountains And East Humboldt Range. 1998.
• White, Michael C., Nevada Wilderness Areas and Great Basin National Park. 1997.
• Smith, Scott T., Nevada, Magnificent Wilderness. 1996.
• Hart, John, Hiking the Great Basin Sierra Club Books. 1991.
• Twain, Mark, Roughing It. 1872.

Websites:

• https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/htnf/home/?cid=stelprdb5239022
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruby_Mountains
• https://travelnevada.com/road-trip/rubies-route
• https://www.audubon.org/important-bird-areas/ruby-mountains
• https://www.tu.org/blog/nevadas-ruby-mountains-important-for-deer-and-trout
• http://onlinenevada.org

Conservation

A prime topic by our visiting speakers will be the attempt by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to offer leases in the Rubies for oil and gas development. This proposal was rejected in March 2019 by the U.S. Forest Service. The State Chapter of the Sierra Club made this statement:

“This decision marks a monumental win for our environment, Indigenous Nations and communities who reap the countless benefits of the Ruby Mountains. The Rubies are one of the most iconic and beloved landscapes in Nevada-- popular for recreation, criti-cal for wildlife, and vital to nearby communities for their economic and environmental value. We celebrate a significant step forward in stopping the encroachment of dirty fuels on this landscape for now and forever. This win is a direct result of the advocacy by the Te-Moak Tribe of the Western Shoshone, particularly the South Fork and Elko Bands, who worked tirelessly to defend their ancestral homelands.”

This was a huge win for conservation but permanent protection is still needed.

Also, as the Ruby Mountains attract more and more visitors the impact on natural habitats leads to problems for native flora and fauna. On our trip, we will talk about wilderness preservation and measures visitors can take to reduce their impact.

The Sierra Club is an environmental organization and has historically advocated for the preservation of wild areas. Our mission is to take people out on excursions to increase awareness of the need to protect the environment. Here in the United States, we have four agencies responsible for managing and protecting our lands. We will be discussing these organizations and learning how everyone can play a part in wilderness protection. We will also examine the impacts of human involvement as we spend our days roaming through the area. One of our goals will be to follow minimum impact practices utilizing Leave No Trace principles.

Sierra Club National Outings is an equal-opportunity provider and when applicable will operate under permits obtained from U.S. federal land agencies.