A scenic road through Lamoille Canyon
Lamoille Canyon Road is a scenic mountain road located in Elko County, in the northeastern corner of Nevada, United States. It was built between 1930 and 1940.
Is the Lamoille Canyon Road paved?
Located in the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, the winding mountain road is also known as Lamoille Canyon Scenic Byway and National Forest Development Road 660 (NF 660). The road is totally paved, old but maintained with a few patches of repair work. It is undivided and two-lanes wide (one each way) with a speed limit of 35 mph (56 km/h). Traffic on the road is light to moderate, depending on when you visit.
How long is the Lamoille Canyon Road?
The road starts from Lamoille Highway, just west of the small town of Lamoille. It’s 19.63km (12.2 miles) long running along the Lamoille creek. At the end of the paved road there’s a parking lot. Throughout the short-drive, the traveler is rewarded with superb views. Along the way you'll pass a few large avalanche chutes, lots of wildlife and several waterfalls.
Is the Lamoille Canyon Road open?
Located in the heart of the Ruby Mountains, Nevada’s wettest mountain range, the road is not plowed in the winter and tops out at 2.686m (8,812ft) above the sea level. Always check the weather forecast before you start your journey: adverse conditions are common. Be prepared for snow, and be aware of avalanche danger after storms, and mud slides after heavy rain. The motor vehicle access to the upper end of the road is generally limited to the months of June through October.
Is the Lamoille Canyon Road steep?
The winding road features many steep sections, hitting a 15% grade through some of the ramps. Starting from Lamoille Highway, at 1.807m (5,928ft) above the sea level, the elevation gain is 879 meters. The average gradient is 4.47%. Be prepared to do a lot of climbing in one direction, and a lot of white-knuckle descending in the other direction.