Ruby Mountains Wilderness
Explore the Ruby Mountains, a rugged Nevada range of alpine peaks, glacial basins, and remote backcountry. Known for high saddle crossings and year-round snow, it’s a destination for strenuous hikes, technical routes, and winter recreation.
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Geography
| Continent | North America |
|---|---|
| Region | Western United States |
| Subregion | Great Basin |
| Country | United States |
| State | Nevada |
| County | Elko County |
| District | Ruby Mountains |
| Timezone | AmericaLos Angeles |
| Latitude | 40.971 |
| Longitude | -115.319 |
| Maps |
6:12 PM LOCAL TIMEThe Ruby Mountains are a dramatic, high-elevation range in northeast Nevada, carved by ancient glaciers and marked by crystalline lakes, steep ridges, and year-round snow. The core of the range lies in Nevada’s Elko County, just south of the LoAF (Lamoille Canyon) corridor, and west of Emerald Lake, with the highest point being Gannett Peak at 4,023 meters where alpine tundra yields to permanent ice. Trails are generally limited to major passes and trailheads—such as the Osceola and Spirit Lake routes—while most of the range remains inaccessible and best suited to cross-country travel and mountaineering. Visitors come for high-elevation hiking, climbing, and winter snowsports across exposed ridges and glacial cirques. Expect isolated camps, variable weather, and challenging navigation; the range rewards preparation and respect of alpine risks.
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