Ruby Mountains Wilderness

The Ruby Mountains were heavily glaciated during the last ice age, and you can see the results of that action throughout these mountains. The Ruby Mountains Wilderness contains 93,090 acres of towering summits (10 peaks above 11,000', including Ruby Dome at 11,387'), hanging valleys (with more than 2 dozen alpine lakes and many streams just teeming with trout) and year-round snowfields. There is a scenic drive into U-shaped Lamoille Canyon that brings you almost to the edge of the Ruby Mountains Wilderness on the west side, and allows you to get up-close and personal with "Nevada's Yosemite."

In its 40-mile journey along the crest of the Ruby Mountain Wilderness, the Ruby Crest National Recreation Trail can be reached from several shorter side trails that make their way up the hill from different trailheads below. Along your hike you'll come across mountain goats, bighorn sheep and one of the largest herds of mule deer in Nevada. Along the high ridges you may also find caves and hunting blinds that were used by pre-historic inhabitants of the area. While hiking in the Ruby Mountains you may also come across introduced Hungarian partridges and Himalayan snow cocks.