Western Nevada
Discover Western Nevada
Western Nevada is in Nevada. It comprises Carson City, Douglas County, Lyon County, Storey County, and Washoe County. Western Nevada is home to the Comstock Lode, one of the richest silver finds in history. The discovery of silver in 1859 led to a massive mining boom in the area creating fortunes for some and poverty and despair for most. The nickname for Nevada, The Silver State, was coined for this era. The most enduring legacy of the Comstock rush is the advances to mining technology the effort to extract silver brought.
What to Experience in Western Nevada
Taste of Western Nevada...
Not available
Location & Landscape
The southwestern portion of this region is dominated by Lake Tahoe and heavily forested slopes surrounding it. The shoreline of the lake rests at 6,230 ft (1,899 m) while the mountains surrounding it reach to over 8,000 ft (2,438 m) topping out at Mt. Rose with an altitude of 10,776 ft (3,285 m). This region is known for its skiing in the winter and provides a cool escape from the heat of the lower eastern portions of the region during the summer. The remainder of this region slopes down to the east into the Great Basin ranging from 5,000 ft to 3,500 ft (1,524–1,066 m) in elevation. As with much of Nevada, the terrain is composed of north-south trending mountain ranges with valleys in between. The northern half of this region is particularly mountainous and sparsely populated with Gerlach being the northernmost town of any size, located 90 miles (145 km) from Nevada northern border.
Climate
The climate in this region ranges from the forested mountains around Lake Tahoe to the semi-arid high desert of the eastern areas in the rain shadow of the Sierra Nevada and Cascade mountain ranges. With this wide variation in altitude and climate, temperatures and precipitation vary throughout the region. For the areas east of the mountains, the annual low is about 19°F and the high is 92°F (-7°C–33°C) with annual precipitation of about 7.5 in (19 cm). For Lake Tahoe area, the large body of water had a moderating effect on the temperature with a low of 23°F and a high of 78°F (-5°C–25°C). Annual precipitation is about 18 in (45 cm). The southwestern portion of this region is dominated by Lake Tahoe and heavily forested slopes surrounding it. The shoreline of the lake rests at 6,230 ft (1,899 m) while the mountains surrounding it reach to over 8,000 ft (2,438 m) topping out at Mt. Rose with an altitude of 10,776 ft (3,285 m).
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsGeneral aviation pilots may use any of the following airports: From the east and west, Interstate 80 offers the best way to get to the region. From the south, U.S. Highway 395 enters the Carson Valley at Dresslerville. Access from the north is via State Route 447, Surprise Valley Road, a 2-lane highway which snakes its way down to Gerlach. The far northern portions of this region are predominantly roadless wilderness; however, the far north can be accessed via County Road 8 from the east and west and County Road 34 from the east and north. Travel between the northern and southern parts of this region requires a detour west into California or east into Northern Nevada to bypass the brutally rugged terrain the dominates the north part of Western Nevada....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
Travel between the northern and southern parts of this region requires a detour west into California or east into Northern Nevada to bypass the brutally rugged terrain the dominates the north part of Western Nevada.
Safety Information
Glimpses of Western Nevada
I took this shot of a formation of granite pillars in the Alabama Hills outside Lone Pine. This location is known as the backdrop for many old Western movies. We were there early on a beautiful day, but the Silent Witnesses of the past did not give up any of their long-held secrets.
man in brown jacket and blue denim jeans sitting on black wheel chair
The Vast Wilderness of Nevada
road between field towards mountain
The Vast Wilderness of Nevada
I've always found these abandoned houses just south of Lee Vining to be very striking. On a labor day road trip to run in Bishop I finally stopped to photograph them. I recall it was a hot day so I think the slight lens flare is fitting.
A large rock formation in the middle of a desert
a small white house with a metal roof
gray concrete road between brown mountains under blue sky during daytime
West coast, desert sunset
I took this shot of a formation of granite pillars in the Alabama Hills outside Lone Pine. This location is known as the backdrop for many old Western movies. We were there early on a beautiful day, but the Silent Witnesses of the past did not give up any of their long-held secrets.
man in brown jacket and blue denim jeans sitting on black wheel chair
The Vast Wilderness of Nevada