Route Planning Western NV--advice?

[shermantank55]

I hope you guys can help: I am starting to plan a 7-10 day off road trip starting from South Lake, along the following approx route: South Lake to Carson City, Virginia City, Fallon, North toward Gerlach and Black Rock Desert, across and then South toward Austin, South toward Tonopah, Mina and finally Hawthorne to Bodie to Bridgeport and back to South Lake. We would like to remain off road as much as possible and the towns listed are only for reference to areas we are interested in. The trip will begin mid-June.
Probably will need gas/supplies every 3d day. I have an 80 set up for off road, but not rock crawling-others will be similar. So using common rating scales-looking for routes that are rated 2-4. Camping in the middle of nowhere is preferred.

Any favorite trails/trips/advice would be gratefully accepted.

Also, how is Kings Canyon Road between 50 and Carson City?

Thanks,
Greg

 

[rusty_tlc]

First question: what is your time frame, conditions will change radically at different times of the year. For instance the Black Rock Plya is impassible once we get any appreciable precipitation.

 

[shermantank55]

First question: what is your time frame, conditions will change radically at different times of the year. For instance the Black Rock Plya is impassible once we get any appreciable precipitation.

We are looking to start around June 15. Thanks

 

[rusty_tlc]

Kings canyon road is supposed to be an easy trail, I've never done it. You might hit a few snow drifts high up in June depending on the snow pack this year.

One way to do what you outline;

Carson City to Virginia City; Goni Road to Mt Davidson peak then drop into Virginia City (Edit; Lunch at the VC jerkey co. you will not regret it.)

Virginia City to Fallon, Six Mile canyon to HWY50, E on 50 to Ft Churchill, Ft Churchill Rd to ALT 95, S on 95 about .5 miles to pick up the Old Pony Express trail. The PET to 95, N on 95 into Fallon. N on 50/alt50/SR447/SR446/SR445 to Smoke Creek Desert. Smoke Creek Desert road to Gerlach.

June will be iffy for the plya. The area is still great and should be pretty at that time. You could skirt the plya heading up to Soldier Meadows with a side trip into High Rock Canyon then continue on through the Summit Lake Indian Reservation to the Knot Creek / Onion Valley Reservoir area. Then head over to Denio and south from there.

For the rest of the trip get a NV DOT road map and look for the gray line roads. It would take me a few days to write down all the different ways we have taken to get from I-80 to Tonopah. Some POI's (in no particular order) you might want to put on your route; Berlin Ichthyosaur State Park, Canderlaria, Gold point, Pilot Peak/Cinnabar canyon, Manhatten/Belmont, Silver Peak (Goat Island, Alcatraz Island in general an odd area).



Not a definitive list but it might get you started.

HTH Dan

 

[WILLD420]

Try to plan gas/food re supply in bigger towns. There are a lot of places in NV, especially with the recession, that aren't carrying anything extra over their normal needs. If 5 rigs roll in and all need 40 gallons of gas, you might run out before everyone is full. Same with food.

Someone here can chime in, but the Gerlach area can be a little iffy on fuel at different times of the day and or year.

You might be in real luck this year. So far our snowfall is almost zero. If it holds through the rest of the winter, next summer might be pretty dry in the high country by June.

As for trails being too tough, there aren't a whole lot of trails you can't get a fullsize truck down, if you avoid the harder ones. Most can be done with a stock rig with decent tires.

 

[bkgee]

just to throw in another two cents on top of rusty's, you can also skirt the playa to the east side, hit trego hot springs, then up through sulfer, climb king lear peak if you're ambitious and then head east again to winnemucca for some fine basque dining (recommend martin house). this would be a shorter route and you would miss high rock etc.

or if the playa is OK, take rusty's route then drive back down through black rock point, the hot spring pool there is one of the finest in the world. just dont be a douche and camp right on top of it! drive back out onto the playa for sleepin then continue east to winn

 

[psreno]

"just dont be a douche and camp right on top of it! drive back out onto the playa for sleepin"

I must take exception to your statement.

Not only are both BR and Double Hot established campgrounds for about the last 150 years. You just don't get to expect privacy. Naked guys like me may just stroll through camp there on the way to the springs. The douche is the guy that goes out on the playa and becomes a hazard in the night, or worse builds a fire out there thinking it will keep him safe. Or anyone shooting glass in either spot, but especially the springs.

Mid June would likely be dry depending on where you wanted to go. The road conditions at that time are generally clearing up (sorry to state the obvious). I'd say 2/3 chance you could make the double hot crossing, but heck we've had no winter yet so it may be year-round this time. There are many ways around and stuff on each route to see. Also, check with BLM to see if High Rock is open all the way through if you choose to go that way. It seems like that's been closed more often than not.

I didn't think Kingsbury Canyon had an access in the Tahoe basin. Halfway down Spooner Summit you can jump in, I know. Can you drive back under Glenbrook to get to Kingsbury?

 

[shermantank55]

Thanks for the inputs from everyone. I have been plotting areas of interest and some routes on Google Earth. When finished I will post the file on here if someone cares to review.

Thinking of this (with approx offroad mileage):
Day 1 South Lake-Minden. Off road southeast toward Wellington; Southeast toward Walker River, camping on river at Raccoon Beach or similar. (100 miles offroad)

Day 2 South to Bodie; east, then northeast through Hawthorne for fuel; Off road southeast hitting Bass Camp, Marietta and Candelaria; camping somewhere between Candelaria and Tonopah. (120 miles offroad)

Day 3 East to Tonopah, refuel; north to Manhattan and Belmont; camping somewhere near one of the above (120 miles offroad)

Day 4 West to Berlin Ichtyosaur SP; north to Austin. Refuel and camp northwest of Austin (120 miles offroad)

Day 5 North/Northwest toward Imlay; refuel and camp west of Imlay (120 miles offroad)

Day 6 West to Trego; explore Black Rock Desert for playa crossings; camp (75 miles offroad plus side trips)

Day 7 South toward Silver Springs (refuel); camp on Carson River south of Silver Springs (120 miles offroad)

Day 8 West toward Virginia City; Southwest toward Carson City; Southwest to South Lake. Refuel and return to SF area.


"I didn't think Kingsbury Canyon had an access in the Tahoe basin. Halfway down Spooner Summit you can jump in, I know. Can you drive back under Glenbrook to get to Kingsbury? "

Kingsbury to Spooner to Carson City: I found a trail documented that runs from 207 approx 3 miles East of US 50 junction. Its called Genoa Peak Trail. Then from Spooner Summit there is a documented trail running through Kings Canyon to Carson City. That was my plan. I am unsure of condition of Kings Canyon trail though.

 

[Flight2k5]

Holy crap do you live in the Carson area and do you own a Sherman? Kings canyon is pretty easy. Couple weekends ago a buddy and I went up there and there was ice sheets across the road in a few spots. There is a rock slide across the road about half way up. It is no passable with a stock truck.

 

[bkgee]

psreno, i should have clarified, by "right on top of it" i am referring to folks who set up their whole kit at the physical entrance to the spring so that you must literally walk straight through their camp to get access. i wouldnt have used that kind of harsh language for reasonable naked folks who share the space.

regarding playa camping... i use a couple of blinking orange construction beacons, and set up off the main routes, the beacons are visible from miles away, no incidents in 20 years...