Lamoille Canyon
Encyclopedia
Ruby Mountains
The Ruby Mountains comprise one of the many mountain ranges of the Great Basin in the western United States. They are the predominant range in Elko County, in the northeastern section of the state of Nevada. To the north is Secret Pass and the East Humboldt Range, and from there the Rubies run...
, located in the central portion of Elko County
Elko County, Nevada
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 45,291 people, 15,638 households, and 11,493 families residing in the county. The population density was 3/sq mi . There were 18,456 housing units at an average density of 1/sq mi...
in the northeastern section of the state of Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
, in the western United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Approximately 12 miles (19.3 km) in length, it was extensively sculpted by glaciers in previous ice age
Ice age
An ice age or, more precisely, glacial age, is a generic geological period of long-term reduction in the temperature of the Earth's surface and atmosphere, resulting in the presence or expansion of continental ice sheets, polar ice sheets and alpine glaciers...
s.
Lamoille Canyon begins at Liberty Peak
Liberty Peak
Liberty Peak is the name given to the officially unnamed peak west of Liberty Pass in Elko County. It is located in the northeast portion of the state of Nevada in the western United States within the Ruby Mountains Wilderness Area. It rises from the head of Lamoille Canyon, and is a major part of...
at an elevation of 11032 ft (3,362.6 m). It quickly descends to a glacial basin now occupied by Lamoille Lake
Lamoille Lake, Nevada
Lamoille Lake is a glacial tarn in the Ruby Mountains, in Elko County in the northeastern part of the state of Nevada. It is located at the head of Lamoille Canyon, at approximately , and at an elevation of 9740 feet . It has an area of approximately 13.6 acres...
. A nearby granite shelf contains the picturesque Dollar Lakes
Dollar Lakes, Nevada
Dollar Lakes are a group of three glacial tarns in the Ruby Mountains, in Elko County in the northeastern part of the state of Nevada. They are located near the head of Lamoille Canyon at approximately , and at an elevation of 9610 feet . They have a combined area of approximately 3 acres , and...
. Further down the canyon is a large stand of whitebark pine
Whitebark Pine
Pinus albicaulis, known commonly as Whitebark Pine, Pitch Pine, Scrub Pine, and Creeping Pine occurs in the mountains of the Western United States and Canada, specifically the subalpine areas of the Sierra Nevada, the Cascade Range, the Pacific Coast Ranges, and the northern Rocky Mountains –...
and the Road's End Trailhead, the high point 8800 ft (2,682.2 m) of the paved Lamoille Canyon National Forest Service Byway. This is also the northern terminus of the 38 miles (61.2 km) Ruby Crest National Recreation Trail
Ruby Crest National Recreation Trail
right|Location of the Ruby Crest Trail within Nevada.right|thumb|Overland Lakeright|thumb|North Furlong Lakeright|thumb|Lamoille Lake and Dollar Lakes...
, and the start of the much shorter trail to Island Lake
Island Lake
-Lakes:*Island Lake *Island Lake , a dry lake*Island Lake , Manitoba*Island Lake , in Lincoln County, Montana*Island Lake , in Missoula County, Montana...
.
Road's End is where Lamoille Canyon begins a sweeping turn around the flanks of Thomas Peak
Thomas Peak
Thomas Peak, the second highest named peak in the Ruby Mountains and Elko County, is located in the northeast portion of the state of Nevada in the western United States. One of the most voluminous mountains in the range, its base makes up most of the east wall of Thomas Canyon, as well as the...
11325 ft (3,451.9 m). The glaciers have deeply carved the canyon, leaving a classic U-shaped cross section and, high on the side of Thomas Peak, four hanging valleys (including Island Lake). The road then passes the Terraces Picnic Area (featuring more glacial remnants) and Verdi Peaks
Verdi Peaks
The Verdi Peaks are a group of three summits in the Ruby Mountains of Elko County, Nevada, in the western United States. They rise from the head of Talbot Canyon above Verdi Lake, and are a prominent part of the north wall of Lamoille Canyon above the Terraces Picnic Area. The two southern...
. A nearby nature trail exhibits the diverse plant life in the canyon bottom.
The canyon continues to descend to its junction with Thomas Canyon, which enters from the south. At the head of Thomas Canyon is majestic Mount Fitzgerald 11215 ft (3,418.3 m), and at its outlet is the Thomas Canyon Campground. About a mile below the campground, Lamoille Canyon passes through a narrow slot and then drops quickly to its junction with Right Fork Canyon
Right Fork Canyon
Right Fork Canyon is a major branch of Lamoille Canyon, located in the Ruby Mountains of Elko County, in the northeastern section of the state of Nevada in the western United States. Approximately 5 miles in length, it was extensively sculpted by glaciers in previous ice ages.none|thumb|450px|Mt...
, which also enters from the south. Near this point are Lamoille Falls, Camp Lamoille (available for group rental), and the precipitous north face of Mount Gilbert
Mount Gilbert (Nevada)
Mount Gilbert, the sixth highest named peak of the Ruby Mountains and the eighth highest in Elko County, is located in the northeast portion of the state of Nevada in the western United States. It is a spectacular part of the view from state route 227 in Lamoille Valley, rising over above the...
11120 ft (3,389.4 m).
At Camp Lamoille the canyon has descended to 7100 ft (2,164.1 m). In the remaining 3 miles it descends another 1000 ft (304.8 m) and exits the range at the Powerhouse Picnic Area, the site of early efforts to harness the water of the Ruby Mountains to produce electricity. Nearby are the communities of Lamoille
Lamoille, Nevada
Lamoille is a rural unincorporated community in Elko County in the northeastern section of the state of Nevada in the western United States. It is located about east of Elko at the base of the Ruby Mountains at an elevation of and is part of the Elko Micropolitan Statistical Area.The early...
and Spring Creek
Spring Creek, Nevada
Spring Creek is a census-designated place in central Elko County, in northeastern Nevada in the western United States. It mainly serves as a bedroom community for the businesses and industries in and around the nearby city of Elko. It is part of the Elko Micropolitan Statistical Area...
.