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Northern Nevada Roadtrip....

Nordie

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Last weekend I told the wife lets get out of town. She's never really explored Northern Nevada ever, so I'll be sharing our adventures with you fine folks. First stop of my pictures, (I'll post what my wife sends me later) was Pioche, NV
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Pretty cool old mining town, some nice shops and a nice Saloon we stopped and had a drink at.
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We kind of bummed around and checked out some of the sites. If you can't tell there's SxS all parked by the saloons.

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Nordie

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Some of the wife's pictures, from Caliente, NV. It's an old railroad town, and actually is a town a little before Pioche, NV
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After leaving Pioche, we pretty much took the back highway to Ely, where we have a room for 2 nights. Taking the back way to Ely we stopped at the Ward Charcoal Ovens, it's about 7 miles off of the highway.

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stephenkatsea

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Often in that part of the country, when you see a cloud of dust in the distance it’s not off road vehicles. If you’re able to approach you’ll see wild horses. Our youngest daughter and family livevup there. Spring Creek NV just south of Elko. A beautiful area with some really good people. Our twin grandkids with their friends and their pooch standing watch enjoying a summer day.
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HBCraig

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Some of the wife's pictures, from Caliente, NV. It's an old railroad town, and actually is a town a little before Pioche, NV View attachment 1046005 View attachment 1046006

After leaving Pioche, we pretty much took the back highway to Ely, where we have a room for 2 nights. Taking the back way to Ely we stopped at the Ward Charcoal Ovens, it's about 7 miles off of the highway.

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Pioche is a cool place.

My in laws had a 2000 Sq ft place in Cold Creek. I begged them not to sell it. I loved that place
 

Nordie

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A little bit from last night, we kind of cruised around downtown Ely, nothing too terribly exciting. We ate at our hotel restaurant, called Margaritas. Surprisingly it was not bad at all especially for being Ely. The neighboring table was complaining about anything and everything, and me and my wife looked at each other saying WTF, the older waitress was so kind and was busting her ass. She got a nice tip from us and she comped my beers because we had to listen to the shitty people. Some random photos from last night.

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No idea why this is so funny, but they include a rubber duck 🤷‍♂️

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So that was our evening, we'll probably go back to the train museum today and walk around more. I guess once a day you can take a ride on the steam train.
 

Nordie

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So today was I was on a mission day. It was my return to Cave Lake. I have a ton of memories coming up here with my dad, grandpa, and great uncle camping at the lake. A little back story, but in the 50s my great grandfather had a cattle ranch up near the lake, where my grandfather, and great uncles worked the ranch, I have no idea where it ever was, because he ended up selling it off and got a homestead that is now a very large area of Vegas.

Cave Lake is absolutely beautiful, my wife took the pictures, and I'm uploading one from google as well. I was sad to see the lake down so low, but I didn't get skunked!

Not my photo
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And here's me not getting skunked...
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Some random photo's my wife took. I was busy fishing and driving so I didn't take any.
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beaverretriever

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Some of my favorite places around and the most beautiful open country in the world in my opinion, although I would call the places you have visited so far more central Nevada.

We had four acres in Pioche for years that we were going to build a cabin on but our family sold it last year.

Make sure you make it over to Austin and Kingston the most central middle spot of the state. Some amazing country and there is so much cool stuff to see around there. Don't miss Jarbidge if you make it up that north and Lamoille Canyon near Elko.

There is VERY little my family has not seen in Nevada. Such a great state with unbelievable geography. Have fun!
 
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Nordie

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Some of my favorite places around and the most beautiful open country in the world in my opinion, although I would call the places you have visited so far more central Nevada.

We had four acres in Pioche for years that we were going to build a cabin on but our family sold it last year.

Make sure you make it over to Austin and Kingston the most central middle spot of the state. Some amazing country and there is so much cool stuff to see around there. Don't miss Jarbidge if you make it up that north and Lamoille Canyon near Elko.

There is VERY little my family has not seen in Nevada. Such a great state with unbelievable geography. Have fun!

Central is actually more like it, but when you live in Vegas it's North lol. Yeah I've been as far north as Elko, and fished Angel Lake, if you've never been up there I highly recommend it. Probably one of the most beautiful places I've ever laid eyes on. Unfortunately Ely is as far north as we're going to go on this trip. We're taking the 318 home, and possibly stopping off in Lund for a quick visit with a friend.
 

RichL

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So today was I was on a mission day. It was my return to Cave Lake. I have a ton of memories coming up here with my dad, grandpa, and great uncle camping at the lake. A little back story, but in the 50s my great grandfather had a cattle ranch up near the lake, where my grandfather, and great uncles worked the ranch, I have no idea where it ever was, because he ended up selling it off and got a homestead that is now a very large area of Vegas.

Cave Lake is absolutely beautiful, my wife took the pictures, and I'm uploading one from google as well. I was sad to see the lake down so low, but I didn't get skunked!

Not my photo
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And here's me not getting skunked...
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Some random photo's my wife took. I was busy fishing and driving so I didn't take any.
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Looks like a beautiful area.
 

stephenkatsea

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This is our daughter’s family room in Spring Creek NV, south of Elko. That’s not a painting on the wall. That’s their view of the Ruby Mountains and Lamoille Canyon. Beautiful area and good people.
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BoatCop

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Ely is our overnight on our trips to see our kids in Eastern Oregon. We always stay at the Copper Queen. Nice, clean, pet friendly, and family run. For some reason I always seem to win there. Not a whole lot, but usually drive away with about $400 from the Video Poker.

Another way in Nevada to go for old west, ghost town stuff, is up 95 through Tonopah, Beatty, Gold Field and others. I've get a kick over going through old cemeteries. Got into that when I was stationed around Yorktown, VA and all the Revolutionary and Civil war battlefields. I always wondered about what the stories were of people buried there.
 

BoatCop

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This is one of my favorite spots, driving up 93 from Ely. The first time we went through there, I told Kathy that I expected a bunch of Indians to swoop down from the cliffs and murder us. She (Cherokee Citizen) looked at me and said "What do you mean US, Paleface"?


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If you've got some extra time, detour up NV 375 at Crystal Springs, instead of going up 318, or 93 to Ely. It's the closest road to Area 51, and Rachel is a must stop along the way.

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SOCALCRICKETT

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This is our daughter’s family room in Spring Creek NV, south of Elko. That’s not a painting on the wall. That’s their view of the Ruby Mountains and Lamoille Canyon. Beautiful area and good people. View attachment 1046390
My good buddy and ex partner just moved to spring creek with his wife, ill be headed up there the end of October. Any suggestions on places to see in the immediate area?

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Taboma

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Ely is our overnight on our trips to see our kids in Eastern Oregon. We always stay at the Copper Queen. Nice, clean, pet friendly, and family run. For some reason I always seem to win there. Not a whole lot, but usually drive away with about $400 from the Video Poker.

Another way in Nevada to go for old west, ghost town stuff, is up 95 through Tonopah, Beatty, Gold Field and others. I've get a kick over going through old cemeteries. Got into that when I was stationed around Yorktown, VA and all the Revolutionary and Civil war battlefields. I always wondered about what the stories were of people buried there.

in 71' this CA boy was on LCM's at Ft Eustis, lived in a trailer-trash park in Grafton. Being broke, spent all my free time checking out the old cemeteries, and battlefields. Could hike trails in the swamp behind the park and find small signs on trees of which general's troops had bivouacked there. That Yorktown battlefield was beautiful.
Funny how that period was the financial low of my life, yet I seem to hold those memories as being some of the fondest.
 

FROGMAN524

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I love going up through Nevada; beautiful country.

I once bought a truck in March of 2015 from Dennis Dillon in Boise, ID. We drove from the 15/93 to jackpot, NV entirely in a white out blizzard the whole way, at night. That was scary.


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ChiliPepperGarage

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Shhhh! Don't let the secret of northern NV out to everyone! Most people think of Vegas when they think of NV. So many people ask if I go to Vegas much when I tell them I live in NV. They have no clue that I'm over 400 miles north of Vegas. So many beautiful areas up here that most don't know about. I think we should keep it that way!
 

Rondog4405

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What a cool trip.. Haven't been up past Vegas in years .. gonna have to do this soon
 

Nordie

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Just got back to the house, always that sad feeling when you hit one of the summits coming into Vegas knowing that you're home and have to go back to work tomorrow. I have more pictures, just have to get them from the wife.
 

BoatCop

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I love going up through Nevada; beautiful country.

I once bought a truck in March of 2015 from Dennis Dillon in Boise, ID. We drove from the 15/93 to jackpot, NV entirely in a white out blizzard the whole way, at night. That was scary.


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We made a Christmas trip to Oregon, going up 93 in early-mid December. Cold as shit, but no snow. Woke up in Ely to about 2 feet of snow. I had no issues with the snow (had chains with us) but was worried that the road from Wells to Jackpot would be closed.

Say what you will about Nevada, but they have the best roads and maintenance overall, I've ever experienced. We left Ely in the dark, at about 5 AM and the plows and cinder trucks were already out keeping the roads clear. Had no issues the rest of the way, and the Wells-Jackpot segment was clear and relatively dry.
 
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stephenkatsea

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This is one of my favorite spots, driving up 93 from Ely. The first time we went through there, I told Kathy that I expected a bunch of Indians to swoop down from the cliffs and murder us. She (Cherokee Citizen) looked at me and said "What do you mean US, Paleface"?


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If you've got some extra time, detour up NV 375 at Crystal Springs, instead of going up 318, or 93 to Ely. It's the closest road to Area 51, and Rachel is a must stop along the way.

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I always tell my wife I would expect to see painted warriors on the edge of those cliffs. We’ve stayed at the Jailhouse motel and casino. Nice enough place, a Best Western Motel, I believe. It’s also dog friendly.
 

stephenkatsea

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Our SIL in Spring Creek is a great guy. Just about every weekend as a family they’re out fishing, hunting, hiking, camping, SxS etc. They eat all the game he shoots. He’s excellent at teaching their kids to respect the land, it’s fish and animals. His Mom was Native American. He grew up in that area. The Ruby Mountains are beautiful and unique. The range sits all by itself. No bears at all. Also one of the few places where Big Horn Sheep and Mountain Goats live together.
 

BoatCop

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I always tell my wife I would expect to see painted warriors on the edge of those cliffs. We’ve stayed at the Jailhouse motel and casino. Nice enough place, a Best Western Motel, I believe. It’s also dog friendly.

Haven't stayed at the Jailhouse. Went there a few times, only because they were the only place in town to get a decent cup of coffee, for the road. Especially on Sundays when the little coffee boutique on 10th St. opens late.

When we were motorhoming it, we'd stay at the KOA, on the other side of the Res, or at the RV Park at Prospectors.
 

Nordie

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Haven't stayed at the Jailhouse. Went there a few times, only because they were the only place in town to get a decent cup of coffee, for the road. Especially on Sundays when the little coffee boutique on 10th St. opens late.

When we were motorhoming it, we'd stay at the KOA, on the other side of the Res, or at the RV Park at Prospectors.

Jailhouse steakhouse I've never had a bad meal there, but I've never stayed there. All in all the wife had a good time exploring different parts of Nevada.
 

Nordie

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Last of the pictures, just from the drive home and we stopped at the small gas station in Ash Springs. Ash Springs is always the stop for some shitty food and a restroom break, I don't think I have ever not stopped there ever.

Then on the way home we stopped at Upper Pahranagat Lake, and sat under a shade tree by the lake and had some lunch. I don't think the fishing is good there, but it's a big waterfowl hunting area.

White River Narrows, off of the 318
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Pahranagat Lake
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81Sprint

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Great thread, gives me some ideas for the next camping trip! Have not explored northern nevada much, have been to Caliente but that's about it.
 

STV_Keith

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Next time you make that trip, make sure to stop at Cathedral Gorge State Park, between Caliente and Pioche. The state park campground is nice and has electrical for RV's. Cool views too. Just up the road you can pull off at Millers Outlook, which can also be accessed by a walking trail from the park. Where the trees are in the background is just off the West side of the 93. You literally drove right past it and probably had no idea it was there.

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My wife exploring the Cathedral Caves.

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