Lamoille Canyon Road Explained

Header Type:hist
Country:USA
Lamoille Canyon Road
Alternate Name:Forest Route 660
Lamoille Canyon Scenic Byway
Maint:USFS
Map Custom:yes
Map Notes:Lamoille Canyon Road highlighted in red
Length Mi:12.1
Length Round:1
Direction A:South
Terminus A:Ruby Crest National Recreation Trail in Lamoille Canyon
Direction B:North
Terminus B: in Lamoille
System1:
Type:NSB

Lamoille Canyon Road, also known as Lamoille Canyon Scenic Byway, is a 12adj=midNaNadj=mid[1] National Forest Scenic Byway in Elko County, Nevada in the western United States. The road traverses Lamoille Canyon in the Ruby Mountains of northeastern Nevada, and it is administered by the Ruby Mountains Ranger District of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest.[2]

Route description

Lamoille Canyon Road is officially designated National Forest Road 660 (NF 660). Its southern terminus is at a large parking area in Lamoille Canyon with multiple trailheads. From here, the road winds north and then northwest through the canyon, descending from its elevation of at the parking area to around at the entrance of the canyon. Once outside of the canyon, the road continues north toward the small town of Lamoille, reaching its northern terminus west of town at an intersection with SR 227. The eastern terminus of SR 227 is located about one mile east of this location.

Throughout its length, the road is undivided and two-lanes wide (one each way) with a speed limit of 35mph. The road is not plowed in the winter, when it is used for winter recreation such as cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. Motor vehicle access to the upper end of the road is generally limited to the months of June through October, though this is partly dependent on snowfall. In contrast, the section of the road below is usually motor-vehicle accessible for most of the year.

Points of interest

Powerhouse Picnic Area, Camp Lamoille, Thomas Canyon Campground, Changing Canyon Nature Trail, Terraces Picnic Area, and Roads End Trailhead are all located along Lamoille Canyon Road. The Roads End Trailhead is the northern terminus of the Ruby Crest National Recreation Trail.

History

Lamoille Canyon Road was constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s and 1940s.[1]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Scenic Drives Nevada: Lamoille Canyon Road . The Weather Channel . October 8, 2013.
  2. Web site: Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest: Lamoille Canyon Scenic Byway . U.S. Forest Service . October 8, 2013.