Ruby Mountains

The dramatic shape of the Ruby Mountains is the work of glaciers. During the Pleistocene, ice filled the high valleys and ground them into the classic forms of alpine country: U-shaped canyons with smooth, polished walls, bowl-like cirques at the heads of the old glaciers, knife-edged ridges called arêtes, and sharp horns where several glaciers cut into a single peak from different sides.

Lamoille Canyon is the showpiece of this sculpting, a broad, steep-walled gorge that looks lifted straight from the Sierra or the Alps. The glaciers also left behind the tarns, small alpine lakes cupped in rock basins, that dot the high country, including Lamoille Lake and the cluster known as the Dollar Lakes.

The Lamoille Canyon Scenic Byway runs about a dozen miles up the canyon from near the town of Lamoille to the road's end high in the range. In that short distance it climbs through several life zones, from the sagebrush and cottonwoods of the valley into aspen groves and finally the granite and conifers of the alpine, with waterfalls spilling from hanging side valleys along the way.

The byway is seasonal, opening when the snow melts and closing when it returns, and it is the gateway to the range for most visitors. Overlooks and picnic spots line the road, and the trailheads at the top open the way to the high lakes and passes.

From the end of the canyon road, the Ruby Crest Trail and shorter routes lead to a string of alpine lakes set beneath the peaks, some reachable in a few miles, others deep in the backcountry. Wildflowers blanket the meadows in summer, and the fishing in the cold, clear lakes and streams is a quiet reward.

The Rubies hold unusual wildlife too. Mule deer and mountain goats range the high country, and the range is one of the only places in North America to host the Himalayan snowcock, a large game bird introduced decades ago that thrives in this alpine terrain. Birders travel a long way for a chance at it.

The Rubies catch some of the deepest, most reliable snow in the Great Basin, and that has made them a destination for backcountry and helicopter skiing, drawing skiers to untracked bowls far from any resort crowd. In summer the same terrain turns green and welcoming for hikers and horse packers.

What ties the seasons together is solitude. Despite their beauty, the Ruby Mountains see a fraction of the crowds of comparable ranges, in part because they sit in a remote corner of Nevada that few travelers reach. For those who do, the reward is an alpine world that feels both spectacular and their own.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is a place we chose through independent editorial review, never a paid placement.

The Ruby Mountains, near Elko in northeastern Nevada, are a spectacular alpine mountain range often called Nevada's Alps for their dramatic peaks, glacier-carved canyons, alpine lakes, and lush high-country scenery, a striking contrast to the surrounding desert. Rising sharply above the valley floor, the Rubies offer some of the most beautiful mountain landscapes in the state, with the stunning Lamoille Canyon, high alpine lakes, wildflower meadows, and abundant wildlife, drawing hikers, backpackers, anglers, and, in winter, world-class backcountry and helicopter skiing. A hidden alpine gem in the Great Basin, they reward those who seek them out. With their alpine peaks and canyons, the Ruby Mountains offer a spectacular destination in Nevada.

You can drive the scenic Lamoille Canyon road into the heart of the range, hike and backpack the trails to alpine lakes, wildflower meadows, and high passes, fish the mountain lakes and streams, watch for wildlife, and, in winter, enjoy backcountry and helicopter skiing. The dramatic alpine scenery, Lamoille Canyon, the high-country trails and lakes, and the seasonal skiing are the highlights, offering rich mountain recreation in an unexpected desert setting. The Rubies are famed for their beauty. With their canyons, trails, and lakes, the Ruby Mountains offer a rewarding experience in Nevada.

The high elevation means intense sun, thinner air affecting exertion, cold nights even in summer, and rapidly changing mountain weather, so bringing layers, water, and sun protection and starting hikes early to avoid afternoon storms are wise. The high country is snow-covered much of the year, with the peak hiking season short, and the Lamoille Canyon road can close seasonally, so checking current conditions before you go is important. This is remote country, so preparation matters. Coming prepared for the altitude and weather ensures a rewarding visit to the Ruby Mountains in Nevada.

The short alpine summer, roughly midsummer through early fall, offers the best access for hiking, backpacking, and fishing, once the high-country snow has melted, with wildflowers peaking in summer and crisp weather in early fall, while winter draws backcountry and helicopter skiers. The Lamoille Canyon road is generally open in the warm months and closed by snow otherwise. For hiking and alpine scenery, aim for midsummer through early fall in the Ruby Mountains, Nevada.

The Ruby Mountains are near Elko in northeastern Nevada, containing Lamoille Canyon and its scenic overlook at road's end, within reach of Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Elko with the Northeastern Nevada Museum and the California Trail Interpretive Center, and the northeastern Nevada high country. That makes the Ruby Mountains a spectacular destination to combine with Lamoille Canyon, Elko, and the other attractions of northeastern Nevada on a visit to the state.