Lamoille Canyon Road
Lamoille Canyon Road, also known as Lamoille Canyon Scenic Byway, is a 12-mile-long (19 km)[2] 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.[3]
Lamoille Canyon Road | |
|---|---|
| Forest Route 660 Lamoille Canyon Scenic Byway | |
Lamoille Canyon Road highlighted in red | |
| Route information | |
| Maintained by USFS | |
| Length | 12.1 mi[1] (19.5 km) |
| Major junctions | |
| South end | Ruby Crest National Recreation Trail in Lamoille Canyon |
| North end |  SR 227 in Lamoille |
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| Highway system | |
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 8,800 feet (2,700 m) at the parking area to around 6,000 feet (1,800 m) 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 35 mph (56 km/h). 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 7,000 feet (2,100 m) 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.[2]
Major intersections
The entire route is in Elko County.
| Location | mi | km | Destinations | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Humboldt–Toiyabe National Forest | 0.00 | 0.00 | Lamoille Canyon Trailhead | Southern terminus | |
| Lamoille | 12.1 | 19.5 |  SR 227 west (Lamoille Highway) | Northern terminus | |
| 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi | |||||
References
- Google (November 10, 2014). "NF-660" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved November 10, 2014.
- "Scenic Drives Nevada: Lamoille Canyon Road". The Weather Channel. Retrieved October 8, 2013.
- "Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest: Lamoille Canyon Scenic Byway". U.S. Forest Service. Retrieved October 8, 2013.
External links
Media related to Lamoille Canyon Road at Wikimedia Commons