Thursday, July 2, 2020

Lamoille Canyon Scenic Byway

  What a beautiful drive! The byway winds through a glacier-carved canyon for twelve miles before dead-ending in a parking lot with a trail that climbs farther into the mountains to numerous alpine lakes. With snowy mountain tops and bright green aspen trees, this is not ordinary Nevada scenery.

   The byway rises gradually from 6,000’ at Lamoille to 8,000’ at road’s end. It’s in very good condition and suitable for any RV. A fire in the fall of 2018 burned the trees and shrubs along the road and mountainsides for the first eight miles but nature is healing the scars. The fire spared Thompson Canyon Campground and most of the last section of the byway.
   Dispersed campsites are strung out along Lamoille Creek near the Elko Lion’s Club Camp Lamoille, a private camping spot that suffered damage in the fire. The dispersed campsites are popular and may fill on weekends.
  We camped at Thompson Canyon Campground and were lucky to get the last available site that happened to be right on the creek with a gorgeous view. We shared the site with our friend for an additional fee but all of us are eligible for the greezer rates so it was pretty cheap.
  Only one site is signed as accessible but many of them are usable with extended top tables centered on concrete pads. A short loop trail at the end of the byway is paved. Wheelchair users will need assistance as it has very steep and broken sections.  Byway  40.72394, -115.48986
https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1gxKwv9ahfkSb9e6MLeSt0hMDxaY&msa=0&ll=40.72615596912059%2C-115.4981474556885&z=12

8 comments:

  1. Looking at the photos I don't think Nevada. Nice!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I agree. You'd better check the batteries in your GPS.
    I don't see a single casino.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. :-D Don't worry you can find one less than 30 miles away!

      Delete
  3. Nice find there. I have seen that mountain range south of I-80, never made it over to them before.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We've circling around and over the Ruby Mountains for a couple of weeks now - it's all been beautiful and all different. As usual I'm behind on posting. :-D
      You should stop the next time that you pass this way.

      Delete
  4. Beautiful area. Maybe we'll head there after Labor Day. Guess ol' Tergel could get in there, ok?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, Tergel will fit fine. Go straight on the campground road to the last loop and you may be able to snag one of the sites on the creek.

      Delete