Gravel Reno
Berniece Leonhardt
After that I was in new territory climbing through juniper forest with views of the blackened Virginia Mtns scarred by the wild fires we had this season. I climbed to a hanging valley that under wetter conditions would have a pond but now contained a mini playa (salt flat).
Beyond the playa I made a rugged descent with Flanigan Playa in view. I was riding my Salsa Fargo with 70040 WTB Nano tires. This was a perfect choice for all but a few minutes of riding through the terrain. A few spots were rocky enough to make me wish I had fatter tires but the rest of the 80+ miles passed easily.
I passed a hand painted signed that reassured me I was still on Winnemucca Ranch Rd. At this point I realized I had finally ridden all 25+ miles or so of Winnemucca Ranch Rd. My next intersection was with Fish Springs Rd which proved to be a postcard perfect gravel road around Flanigan Playa.
Along Fish Springs Road I came across signs that pointed me in other directions with ideas how I might link this route to other locations. Sand Pass Rd junction was my immediate destination, that was going to take me to Sutcliffe on Pyramid Lake. Gerlach is at the base of the Black Rock Desert and was the destination of the tour Raymond Eliot and I did around Pyramid Lake and the Smoke Creek Desert. Doyle and US 395 would be destinations if I were turning south to Reno or north to Susanville. The Flanigan Road sign was interesting as High Rock Rd could be an alternate route for this loop as well as connect to the route to Gerlach. Cresting a hill, where Fish Springs Rd intersects with Surprise Valley Rd, the gravel road extension of Pyramid Lake Highway (State Route 445), there was a sign that told me I was halfway between Gerlach and Reno (both good choices). I had stopped here once before en route to the Smoke Creek Desert and Gerlach and wondered where Fish Springs Road went; mystery solved.
Surprise Valley Road took me onto the Pyramid Lake Reservation and offered great views for the rest of my return loop. I made a familiar stop at George Washington Rock before rejoining the pavement at Warrior Point. One thought I had was to make the trip by leaving a car at my starting point on Winnemucca Ranch Rd and then meeting friends to camp at Warrior point. The ride would then be about 55 mi of outstanding gravel road.
For beginners and those who want to practice their skills, Reno offers unique climbing walls and a variety of indoor rock climbing options. Whether you seek a climb with views of downtown Reno, or want to experience a state-of-the-art climbing facility, there are a number of climbing and bouldering facilities to meet your needs.
BaseCamp, in downtown Reno, is home to the tallest rock climbing wall on the planet (coming in at 164 feet). This amazing rock climbing wall allows visitors to scale the side of Whitney Peak Hotel for unparalleled views of the downtown area, including the iconic Reno Arch. Go inside and check out the more than 7,000-square-foot bouldering park (with more than 3,200 square feet of climbable space), complete with a separate area specifically designed for kids. BaseCamp rock climbing park is built to accommodate everyone in the family, from first-timers to the most experienced rock climbers with equipment rentals and climbing classes to get you off the ground. Their equipment rental includes shoes, harness and chalk, which can be rented for a day or at a monthly rate. If you are looking to take your skills to the next level, their climbing class selection includes beginner, top rope, multi-pitch, and more. Make sure to check out their weekly specials like two for Tuesday, where you can get two day passes for the price of one.
Mesa Rim Climbing Center is the newest and largest rock climbing gym in Reno, with more than 24,000 square feet of climbing terrain; their tallest climbing wall reaches 52 feet! Chosen as the home of the 2018 USA Climbing: Sport & Speed Open National Championships, this gym is the perfect place to build your skills. In addition to climbing walls, their facility offers a yoga and fitness area, locker rooms, sauna and community areas. With classes on everything from basic rock climbing techniques, like belaying and movement, to yoga and fitness classes, Mesa Rim is your one-stop shop for all things rock climbing in Reno.
You will find a great Lake Tahoe rock climbing spot called Twin Crags in Tahoe City. This area boasts unique intermediate rock climbing on basalt columns with spectacular views. Many of the routes are trad or top rope with scattered bolts.
Donner Summit offers some of the most diverse rock climbing in Lake Tahoe with a mixture of traditional and sport climbing spots scattered throughout the majestic Sierra Nevada mountains. From slabs, cracks and faces, to radical overhangs, the majority of climbs are on a set of disparate short walls around old Highway 40. Keep in mind the quality and spacing of the bolts varies with each climbing location. Here are a few recommended rock climbing areas at Donner Summit, suitable for various skill levels.
Directions: From Reno to Truckee (I-80 West), take old highway 40 westbound to Donner Summit. The climbs are along the highway, before the summit, before the Alpine Skills Institute building.
On the west side of Emerald Bay lies a selection of small granite crags along the shores of Lake Tahoe in an area called Eagle Creek Canyon, a perfect place for Lake Tahoe rock climbing. To find this area, take Highway 89 and park at the Eagle Lake parking area, near Emerald Bay.
The Phantom Spires are quite remarkable in the way they appear out of nowhere, with spires of granite reaching up to 200 feet. The Spires offer various trad and sport climbs on varying rock, and is recommended for more experienced rock climbers.
Directions: From Reno, drive through South Lake Tahoe on Highway 50 towards Kyburz. From Kyburz, continue 4.9 miles to Wrights Lake Road. After 2.3 miles on this road, take an unmarked gravel logging road for 2 more miles.
Sugarloaf is well-known as the most Yosemite-like of all Lake Tahoe rock climbing spots. With its smooth crevices and chimney system, this 350-foot granite dome is a challenge but offers something for any level of rock climber, both sport and trad. In this area, you will also find smaller rock clusters that cater to beginner and intermediate climbers.
Directions: From Reno, drive through South Lake Tahoe on Highway 50 towards Placerville. Right off of Highway 50 past Kyburz, you will find the Sugarloaf Trailhead. Follow this trail to the Sugarloaf rock climbing spot.
World-renowned for its 40,000 acres of bright red Aztec sandstone outcrops nestled in gray and tan limestone, Valley of Fire State Park contains ancient, petrified trees and petroglyphs dating back more than 2,000 years. A Visitor Center provides exhibits on the geology, ecology, prehistory and history of the park and nearby region.
Camping: There are two campgrounds with a combined total of 72 units. Campsites are equipped with shaded tables, grills, water and restrooms. A dump station and showers are available. All campsites are available by reservation. A camping limit of 14 days in a 30-day period is enforced.
Picnicking/Day Use: Shaded areas with restrooms are located at Atlatl Rock, Seven Sisters, the Cabins, near Mouse's Tank Trailhead and White Domes. Reservations are not required to visit the park for day use.
Visitor Information: The Visitor Center provides exhibits on the geology, ecology, prehistory and history of the park and the nearby region. It is strongly recommended that each visitor make this an early stop after entering the park. Postcards, books and souvenirs are on sale for your convenience. The visitor center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The rest of the park closes at sunset.
Annual Trail Closures: For the safety of guests, staff, and local rescue services, many of the park's trails are closed annually during the warmer months (May-September). This year, the trails are closed May 15 - September 30, 2024. The Trails include: White Domes Loop, Fire Wave/Seven Wonders Loop/Pastel Canyon/Pink Canyon, Pinnacles Loop, Propect Trail, Arrowhead Trail, Natural Arch Trail (excluding Arch Rock), and Charlie's Spring. These trails have a history of frequent medical calls, search and rescue missions, and fatalities during this time of year. Unfortunately, the demand is more than we are able to safely manage.
**Hiking in high heat is dangerous even on shorter trails. Staying hydrated and replacing electrolytes is extremely important. Prepare for the heat and for unexpected mishaps. Please note that due to the terrain and weather, trails at Valley of Fire often feel much longer than listed.
The area plant community is dominated by widely spaced creosote bush, burro bush and brittlebush. Several cactus species, including beaver tail and cholla, are also common. The springtime bloom of such plants as the desert marigold, indigo bush, and desert mallow are often spectacular along park roads. (READ MORE)
Valley of Fire consists of bright red Aztec sandstone outcrops nestled in gray and tan limestone mountains. The sandstone is from the Jurassic period and is the remnant of the sand left behind by the wind after inland seas subsided and the land rose. Early man moved into southern Nevada as far back as 11,000 years ago. The most obvious evidence of occupation is the petroglyphs carved into the rocks by the Basketmaker culture about 2,500 years ago, followed later by the Early Pueblo culture. Paiutes were living in this area in 1865 when Mormons settled at nearby St. Thomas at the south end of the Moapa Valley. Farming, ranching and mining occurred in the region along a narrow stretch of water. (READ MORE)
More than 150 years ago, a spring-fed creek flowed through the Las Vegas Valley, creating an oasis in the desert where Mormon missionaries built an adobe fort. Today the park includes a remnant of the original fort that is used to display historic artifacts.
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