The North Fork of the Humboldt River has its origins on the north slopes of McAfee Peak in the Independence Mountains

Independence Mountains

The Independence Mountains are a range of peaks and hills in northern Elko County, in northeastern Nevada in the western United States. The range extends northward approximately from a point near Carlin to the banks of the Owyhee River. To the east is the North Fork of the Humboldt River, and to...

 of northeastern 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...

. It quickly exits the mountains and turns southward for approximately 25 miles (40.2 km), joining its waters with numerous other streams. Making a sharp bend to the east, it flows through a small gorge called Devil's Gap, and then combines with Beaver Creek before resuming its southward course. After an estimated total of 70 miles (112.7 km), it flows into the main branch of the Humboldt River

Humboldt River

The Humboldt River runs through northern Nevada in the western United States. At approximately long it is the second longest river in the Great Basin, after the Bear River. It has no outlet to the ocean, but instead empties into the Humboldt Sink...

 at approximately 40°55.4'W and 115°33.1'N and at an elevation of 5200 feet (1585 meters), about 15 miles (24.1 km) northeast of the city of Elko

Elko, Nevada

Elko is a city in Elko County, Nevada, United States. The population was 18,297 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Elko County. The city straddles the Humboldt River....

.