Ruby Mountains

The Ruby Mountains comprise one of the many mountain ranges of the Great Basin in the western United States . They are the predominant range in Elko County , in the northeastern section of the state of Nevada . To the north is Secret Pass and the East Humboldt Range , and from there the Rubies continue south-southwest for about 80 miles (130 km). The highest peak is Ruby Dome (11,387 ft, 3470 m), located at 40°37.3'N and 115°28.5'W in the central core of the range, about 21 miles southeast of the city of Elko, Nevada .

The 'Rubies' were named after the Garnet s found by early explorers. The central core of the range shows extensive evidence of Glaciation during recent Ice Age s, including U-shaped Canyons , Moraine s, Hanging Valley s, and steeply carved granite Mountains , Cliffs , and Cirque s. All of these features can be seen from the 12-mile paved National Scenic Byway up Lamoille Canyon (known as Nevada's Yosemite Valley), which enters the range near the town of Lamoille .

Major valleys include Lamoille Canyon and it's tributaries Thomas and Right Fork Canyons, Seitz, Echo, Box, and Kleckner Canyons. Canyons to the north drain into the Humboldt River , while a group of canyons above the Te-Moak tribal lands constitute the headwaters of the South Fork Of The Humboldt River . Major summits include Ruby Dome , Ruby Pyramid, Seitz Peak, Thomas Peak, Liberty Peak, Fitzgerald Peak, Verdi Peaks, Mt. Silliman, and Mt. Gilbert. Prominent peaks further south are Wines, King, Tipton, and Pearl Peaks. To the north are Old-Man-of-the-Mountain and Soldier Peaks.

The Glacier s often gouged out basins that are now alpine lakes. The larger of these include Echo , Liberty , Favre , Lamoille , Castle , and Griswold Lakes, while smaller Tarns include the scenic Island , Dollar , Verdi , Snow, Box , Seitz , Cold , and Hidden Lakes. Further to the south are North Furlong and Overland Lakes. Water collected by the southern section of the Rubies seeps into the adjacent Ruby Valley to form the Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge .

The higher altitude sections of the Ruby Mountains were designated as a 90,000 acre (364 km²) wilderness area in 1989. The isolated Seitz and Echo Canyons are further preserved as an ecologically special Research Natural Area. The Ruby Crest National Recreation Trail winds from Harrison Pass northward about 40 miles (64 km) to the Road's End Trailhead high in Lamoille Canyon. Principal recreational access can be found at Lamoille and Soldier Canyons on the west side of the range, and at the Overland Lake Trailhead to the east.

The moisture collected by this high range helps support a wide variety of flora and fauna. Lower elevations are covered by Aspen trees, while higher up the Whitebark and Limber pines predominate. Mountain Goats , Bighorn Sheep , mule deer, Mountain Lion s and Pika s are common residents. A population of Himalayan Snowcocks was introduced from Pakistan, and is thriving among the high cliffs.

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Ruby Mountains