Susan Zerga

Known as the “Grand Canyon of Nevada,” The +11,000’ Rubies dominate our landscape and are often snowcapped in July!

Larry Burton

Susan Zerga

Harrison Pass at 7,247’ feet overlooking three mountain ranges on the way to the Refuge – 5 miles south of Elko
and Liberty Lake, a 21 acre glacial tarn at over 10,000’ – just a few miles farther

Elko is the fourth largest county in the United States, consisting of 17,181 square miles. Few people know that Nevada is the most mountainous state in the United States – so when we say “great” outdoors, we mean it! The expansiveness of our region is categorized by some as protecting our uniqueness from the encroachment of urban influences, while others merely describe our location as taking a few hours’ drive time to get to big cities such as Reno or Salt Lake City. It’s just a lot more open here. We like it that way.

The Ruby Mountains dominate our landscape and are known to locals as “The Rubies.” They begin in the north at Secret Pass and the East Humboldt range and from there the Rubies run south-southwest for about 80 miles. To the east lies Ruby Valley and to the west lie Huntington and Lamoille Valleys. The highest peak is Ruby Dome at 11,387’. Named after the garnets found by early explorers there, the Rubies are easily accessible via scenic byways and passes that traverse them at altitudes that exceed 7,000’.

• Also known as "Nevada's Yosemite" because of the hanging valleys, towering peaks and year-round snowfields, the Rubies feature 10 peaks above 11,000 feet including 11,387-foot Ruby Dome, and more than two dozen alpine lakes.
• Unlike many other wilderness areas in America, for hunters, hikers, bikers, and campers 85% of the land here is public, which offers truly limitless exploring, tracking of game, and recreational fun!

Federal Ranger Howard Bjork points to Ruby Range (in green) which dwarfs Yellowstone and Grand Canyon National parks and is a small part of the goliath Humboldt-Toiyabe – the largest national forest in the lower 48 states

• The higher altitude sections of the Ruby range were designated as the 90,000 acres of the Ruby Mountain Wilderness Area and are included in the massive 6.3 million acre Ruby Mountain Wilderness Area which dwarfs both 2.2 million acre Yellowstone and 1.2 million acre Grand Canyon National Park.
• The Ruby Mountain Wilderness Area is part of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest – a goliath 48 million acres, which spreads across primarily our state and a number of other wilderness areas – it is by far the largest National Forest in the continental US.
• The forest was named from the Humboldt River named by explorer John Fremont for the Prussian explorer-naturalist Baron Alexander von Humboldt – at 300 miles long is the longest river in The Great Basin. Its historical significance is it was followed by pioneers headed west on the California Trail as the important water source along the route.

In this section we’re thrilled to feature how we have fun in our Great Outdoors including photographs from esteemed photographers in our area, and by featuring friends who agreed to take part in this presentation for you and your family.

Outdoors Experts:

“Elko is one of the few places where all this can become part of your lifestyle not just part of a vacation.” – Bill

“Being able to go home for lunch with my wife or meet my son for lunch on a regular basis has turned out to be a great benefit I didn’t think about at first. It was easier to teach him responsibility and the importance of getting involved in things to help others – it created an important bond. My wife and I supported 4-H, belonged to the local Volunteer Fire Department and participated in many activities that keep a rural community functioning. Of course, Elko has grown a great deal, but it still has a small town charm about it. In a large city it is easy to pass all of these things by and let someone else do them.” – Larry

Jeff MacKay Wildlife Biologist US Fish and Wildlife Service National Wildlife Refuge Video Tour with Jeff	Jim Wilkinson Park Supervisor Nevada State Parks South Fork State Park Outstanding Water!	Bill Gibson Outdoor Guide Elko Guide Service Ruby Crest Ranch Loving our Land & Life	Larry Burton Photographer Guide Wildlife Enthusiast Outdoor Adventures Photos & TV Fishing Videos

John Collett
Cowboy John Tours
Son of NNRH Founding Physician
On the Great Basin’s Beauty

The Refuge/Ruby Lake:

The spectacular Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge in November

In the 20th century the United States lost 50% of its wetlands. Established in 1938 by the federal government to preserve the habitat for the Canvas Back duck species, at an elevation of over 6,000’ this is the highest federally- protected wetlands in the continental US and a compelling convergence of two migratory flyways – that means there are tons of bird and waterfowl that traverse this magical place. Ruby Lake Wildlife Refuge Photo Gallery

Be a Real Cowboy

Visit to 71 Ranch! Want to experience the life of a real cowboy (with a few modern conveniences)? The 150 year-old 71 Ranch pulls no punches and saddles you up for as long as you’d like to experience this 38,000 acre, 4,000 head cattle ranch operation (and cattle drives during the seasons). Ranch hand Dwayne gives us a tour of the ranch facilities on a day their selected bull calves become steers (not a good day for them). Is it tough? Yep. Is it a beloved way of life? You’ll see. Visit the 71 Ranch

Photos from Bill Gibson

Hunter’s Paradise: “Elko is the center of it all” when it comes to game hunting and fishing – South Fork Reservoir is a mile from Bill Gibson’s Ruby Crest Ranch. Comparatively “liberal” regarding obtaining game hunting licenses (lotteries are here, but there are far fewer applications than in other states in our region) and with vast open public lands on which to fulfill your game hunting desires, we draws outdoorsmen from around the world. In fact, Nevada has the highest percentage of public-accessible lands on which to hunt in America (while many other western states have expansive land, those lands are private). See a video of extremely challenging chukar hunting from “Dash in the Uplands” of the Versus network with host Dez Young, on Bill Gibson’s Ruby Crest Ranch.

Ruby Crest Ranch Hunting and TV Show “Dash in the Uplands”

Neighbor and chukar hunter Bob Zerga, and The Ruby Mountains are one of the few remaining homes
of the Himalayan Snowcock – are both members of the pheasant family

Unlike other regions in the west, 85% of the land around Elko is public (designated as federal or state parks), which is extremely important for hunters. “Upland game” is characterized as birds, turkey, dove, quail and members of the pheasant family. Big game is also here: mule deer, elk, antelope, and mountain lion. Hunters interested in obtaining a hunting tag must submit an application through a lottery-draw process and it can be a bit tricky – we recommend dealing with a guide like Bill on this issue.

• Special Note: For fishing videos, see Larry Burton, above.

The reservoir resulted from damming the Humboldt River, which “forks” here – thus its name

Located just 16 miles south of Elko, South Fork State Park and Reservoir provides us with water recreation in summer – complete with a beach, campgrounds, and modern bathroom facilities, and is a Nevada State Park created exclusively for our area. The Reservoir covers 1,650 acres and is surrounded by 2,200 more acres of wildlife-filled meadow lands and rolling hills. The lake is 3 miles long and a mile and a half wide at its widest point. The park is best known for its trophy-class trout: rainbows, browns, and cutthroats (there are also small and large mouth bass, catfish, and 10 pound wipers – which are hybrid bass.

• 67 miles north of Elko is Wildhorse Reservoir – along with Ruby Lake at the Wildlife Refuge which is 40 miles to Elko’s east, water enthusiasts, fishermen, and bird watchers have tons of water recreation and wildlife to explore and enjoy.

Called the South Fork area because it is the southern fork of where the Humboldt River comes through our region, in 1995 the state of Nevada purchased 3,000 acres from the Tamara family, who had owned the land since the 1930s (mining). The reservoir was dedicated in 1989 and filled completely in 1995. The State Park system manages the recreation area with 3 full-time employees, and according to Park Manager Jim Wilkinson (featured above) the park hosts almost 150,000 visitors each year – mostly Elko County residents, for whom the recreation area was built with funds provided by a state bond.

Boating and fishing are popular here, and in summer Jet Ski beach is crowded, especially on weekends. The park has 2 boat launches for trailer-hitched watercraft. The campground costs just $10 per night for a site and there is a modern comfort station with bathrooms and showers. In the winter the lake freezes over and resident ice fish.

South Fork State Park Photo Gallery

Larry Burton

Likely the most photographed location in our region, Lamoille Canyon (pronounced “la-moil”) is in the heart of the Rubies which includes U-shaped canyons, moraines, hanging valleys, and steeply-carved cliffs. All of these features can be seen from the 12-mile paved National Scenic Byway. Three local photographers contributed to this stunning gallery of Lamoille – this canyon attracts painters and photographers from across the United States.

Lamoille Canyon Photo Gallery

One of the most beautiful places in America during any season (that’s Squaw Valley, which hosted the 1960 Winter Olympics)

The most popular recreation lake for vacationers in the Western United States, Lake Tahoe is a five hour drive from Elko on I-80, offering ski resorts, adult gaming and entertainment, water recreation, golf, you name it. For a holiday weekend, or with family for our own vacations, a trip to Reno and Tahoe is a frequent and fun getaway for us. It’s true what they say about Tahoe – created by glaciers 10,000 years ago, it’s “more blue than the sky.”

Lake Tahoe Photo Gallery

Cynthia Delaney

Capriola and Cowboys

Fish Here:

Larry Burton

Elko County is home to 145 lakes and plentiful rivers and streams. Our vast high desert crossed by two mountain ranges include ranges rise to an alpine lakes and headwaters of the 300 mile-long Humboldt River. South Fork Reservoir: Under 15 minutes from Elko, the reservoir boasts Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Spotted Bass, and Bowcutt (Rainbow x Cutthroat). Angel Lake: Located at the north end of the Ruby Mountains, Angel Lake is a small alpine trout fishery at 8500' elevation. The Ruby Marshes/Refuge: The marshes are located about seventy miles southeast of Elko and known for bass and cutthroats. Wildhorse Reservoir is well known for its jumbo trout. Lamoille Creek and Bruneau River offer wild trout, although small, to the seasoned energetic fly fisherman. Wilson Reservoir: North of Elko on Nevada Hwy 226 for about seventy miles, here you’ll see hundreds of small bass swimming in and out of the weeds. The rainbows ran from 14 to 20 inches.

Tonight we visited a fly-making class at the Nevada Department of Wildlife Office and conference center in Elko. Joe Doucette, Information Officer, met us and agreed to be interviewed for Online Job Tour for you!

Fly making Class with Joe Doucette

The incredible expanses and amazing quiet in one of the most remote locations in America – Nevada Rt 732, a
dirt road 20 miles north of ghost town Tuscarora and on the western side of McAfee Peak; this is about
20 miles from the Duck Valley Western Shoshone and Paiute Reservation along the Idaho border

Remote Great Basin, the Snake River, and Duck Valley Reservation
(Running time 39 seconds)
Click Here to Play
Apple/iPad

Great Basin and Southern Idaho Photo Gallery

Additional Information/Facts/Resources:

Charlie Ekburg

Donna Engdahl

Experiencing nature together creates lasting friendships

1/3 of all wild mustangs in America are here in Northeast Nevada. Heli-skiing is an extreme sport available in our area and offered by Ruby Mountain Heli-skiing. Nevada has a rich mining history – prospectors continually came and went as gold and silver strikes tapped out, which has left hundreds of “ghost towns” throughout our expansive county, which are mostly abandoned villages with a few structures remaining.

Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest: http://www.fs.fed.us/r4/htnf/
We missed the opportunity to feature National Forest Elko-Office Director Tom Montoya, but thank his staff for their hospitality and providing information that contributed to our presentation for you.
Humboldt River: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humboldt_River
Liberty Lake: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberty_Lake,_Nevada
Humbolt National Forest Image
National Forest Brochure
National Forest Rules
Glacial Tarn image
Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge: www.fws.gov/rubylake
Ruby Crest Ranch (Hunting/Fishing Guide): www.elkoguideservice.com
71 Ranch: www.71-ranch.com
71 Ranch Brochure
South Fork State Park: http://parks.nv.gov/sf.htm
South Fork SP brochure
Wildlife Furbearer Rules
Bird Hunting Rules
Recreation/Forests Brochure
JM Capriola Co: www.capriolas.com
Larry Burton, Outdoor Adventures, 775-754-6338