LAUNCHING APRIL 2025
Ely, Nevada
The Basin and Range landscape of eastern Nevada represents one of the last frontiers within the ever-evolving American West. Join us this April for several Launch Events as we bring this field guide to life.
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Introduction
The Basin and Range landscape of eastern Nevada represents one of the last frontiers within the ever-evolving American West. Imposing peaks between long stretches of valley floors have served as barriers to large scale development. A nineteenth-century Pony Express rider in White Pine County saw hard days of unforgiving miles. Their courage and determination lives on in the spirit of Nevadan generations that have followed.
Today, approximately 80 percent of the old Pony Express Trail travels through Nevada public lands. Over the years, natural-resource development and recreational access have helped open the Basin and Range of White Pine County to economic opportunity and tourism. The county’s remote location continues to offer adventurers the chance to escape the trappings of modern life and experience the benefits of living, working, and playing in a truly rural setting.
With the town of Ely leading the way, off-road adventure riding is helping the communities of White Pine County reimagine themselves. Miles of unpaved roads, along with trail development, have rekindled the gritty Old West spirit that gives eastern Nevada an edge as the region seeks to balance the booms-and-busts of years past. Gravel enthusiasts are part of this solution-based approach.
Welcome
White Pine County is excited to introduce gravel cyclists to the mountain town of Ely and its surrounding communities. Art, history, and outdoor adventure combine to make eastern Nevada an ideal gravel-bike destination for those seeking the emptier roads of the West.
Ely provides gravel adventure cyclists a basecamp from which to explore all the great riding in White Pine County. The town offers a number of lodging and restaurant options, while the downtown holds an 11-block art walk with 30 plus murals and sculptures highlighting the community’s history and cultural diversity. It’s a unique gathering place for travelers seeking mountain-town inspiration.
Primed by the presence of the historic Nevada Northern Railway, dark night sky, and a sublime landscape that offers solitude, Ely-White Pine County is poised to move forward as a world-class off-road bike destination. Come experience some of the best gravel riding in Nevada, in the attraction-packed town of Ely along Highway 50, the "Loneliest Road in America.”
Road Origins
Similar to most other parts of the West, road development here started with early pioneers using trails forged by the Native Americans. An example is modern Highway 50: It was originally the route used by the Shoshone for east-to-west travel and trade across the Great Basin region.
Due to the rugged Basin and Range terrain of eastern Nevada and its extreme weather conditions in both summer and winter, White Pine County evolved at a slower pace. The raw, remote environment here also contributed to Highway 50 earning the nickname of the "Loneliest Road in America.”
The Pony Express’ arrival in April 1860 was the result of efforts to find a more direct route to California as part of westward expansion. While short-lived, courtesy of the transcontinental telegraph being completed in October 1861, this mail service was integral to establishing roads and infrastructure in White Pine County, including stagecoach lines and eventually the railroad. Stations, manned by keepers and local workers, were built every 10 to 15 miles. Schellbourne Station and Murray Station became important stops in the county.
White Pine County road development accelerated as mining operations sought to extract gold, silver, and—later—copper. Early roads were essentially wagon trails that connected mining camps like Cherry Creek, Ward, and Ruth to the county hub of Ely.
The discovery of a large copper deposit, and need for an efficient means to extract it, brought the Nevada Northern Railway. Upon the railroad’s completion in 1906, Ely prospered by becoming a major global player in copper mining and processing. This contributed to an increase in population and economic development, including the construction of Highway 50 as car travel and tourism grew in popularity.
Given the boom-and-bust cycles of resource extraction, efforts to improve roads in the twentieth century were connected to tourism—the local roads were improved to make the region's natural attractions more accessible. Currently, combined federal agencies (Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, and National Park Service) manage over 90 percent of the land in White Pine County. Beyond tourism and recreation, the economic uses of these lands include grazing, mining, and renewable energy development. All of this has contributed to road development and maintenance. Still, paved roads are limited, with most of the regional roads being either gravel or dirt.
Collectively, Ely comprises a Renaissance Village. A place where the world met as one. Buildings ranging from miners’ cabins to ranch outbuildings, along with art murals tell the story of the Shoshone, Basques, Italians, Chinese, German, and Slavic immigrants who contribute to the White Pine County community of today. Each of these distinct cultures continue to influence the resident and visitor experience in eastern Nevada.
Tribal Lands
Tribal communities are small and remain closely tied to the cultural landscape of White Pine County. The groups maintaining a presence here are the Western Shoshone and the Goshute. Ely Shoshone Reservation, located outside Ely, is the primary tribal community. The Confederate Tribes of the Goshute Reservation is located on the Nevada-Utah border.
Both tribes continue to work toward addressing modern challenges, including fostering their identity and advocating for their rights and traditions. Indigenous heritage is part of the history and character of eastern Nevada.
Their traditional nomadic lifestyle of relying on natural resources—like piñon nuts, game, and plants—to survive the rigorous environmental conditions contributed to human settlement in White Pine County. Ceremonial practices and seasonal gatherings live on today.
Sustainability efforts have focused on using tribal lands for small-scale agricultural production and conservation. The tribes work closely with federal agencies to co-manage the land and protect their cultural heritage. White Pine County holds a number of sacred sites tied to cultural and spiritual practices.
Ely
Mining is what led to Ely’s founding in the 1860s, with copper at the forefront. By the early 1900s, the Nevada Consolidated Copper Company initiated large-scale operations. The town was officially incorporated by 1907. Ely quickly saw an influx of new residents and businesses; civic infrastructure was built, including schools and a courthouse.
Beginning with the Pony Express, Ely became a strategic location thanks to its abundance of water in a relatively dry area. Springs and agricultural potential attracted the first settlers, who came to work the mines. Workers from across the world arrived, adding to the town’s cultural diversity.
Fluctuations in the price of copper and changes in mining technology during the mid-twentieth century shifted Ely’s economic focus toward tourism, highlighted by its railroad heritage, arts and culture, and outdoor recreation.
Baker
The availability of water from area springs and Lehman Creek is what first attracted Fremont Culture people to the area to hunt some 14,000 years ago. In the nineteenth century, this water sustained the agricultural and ranching activities that supported the local mining camps. However, the seeds of early tourism were also planted here. In 1885, Absalom Lehman discovered a network of limestone caves, which in 1922 became Lehman Caves National Monument.
Baker’s location south of Highway 50 established it as a waypoint for travelers interested in touring its historic and archaeological sites. The town serves as a gateway community to Great Basin National Park, which was created in 1986. It is the least- visited national park due its remoteness, with only 142,115 visitors recorded in 2022.
McGill
Similar to other communities in the county, McGill owes its founding to early agriculture and ranching before its transition to mining. With copper extraction gaining momentum, the Nevada Consolidated Copper Company (later Kennecott Utah Copper) built a copper smelter in McGill. The mine was one of the largest employers; McGill was thus a company town, with housing, schools, and amenities provided by the company.
Copper produced in White Pine County contributed significantly to the national economy, especially during the world wars. However, by 1983, a decline in the global market resulted in the smelter being shut down. In town today, tourist attractions include historic buildings from McGill’s boom era like the McGill Drug Store Museum, whose inventory was left intact when it closed in 1979. The store remains fully preserved as is, thanks to the White Pine Public Museum.
Ruth
Established in 1903, Ruth was named after the daughter of the local mine owner D.C McDonald. The town hosts the most significant mining activity in eastern Nevada, and served as a base for those working in the Robinson Mining District. It also served as the headquarters for Nevada Consolidated Copper Company (Kennecott Utah Copper) until 1955.
Between 1908 and 1978, approximately 4 billion pounds of copper and 2,700,000 troy ounces of gold were extracted from the Robinson Mine. By 2018, annual production hovered around 106 million pounds of copper and 37,100 troy ounces of gold.
Ruth served as the inspiration for the Stephen King novel Desperation.
Lund
Named after the Mormon settler Anthon H. Lund, the town of Lund originally grew from the Tom Paine Ranch, which was established in 1873. The United States government later designated the land for a Church of Latter Day Saints settlement after confiscating property with the Edmunds-Tucker Act of 1887. This act of Congress limited religious practices and disincorporated the LDS church.
Mormonism dominated Lund’s social and cultural life. The businesses that opened, such as the Lund Mercantile Company, served the needs of local ranchers. Many of the early buildings remain today, with farming and ranching still a prominent way of life.
Basin and Range Landscape
A Geographic Province Designed and Built by Tectonic Extension
White Pine County is part of the larger Basin and Range physiographic region, which extends from northwest Mexico into the western United States. This landscape is characterized by pronounced changes in elevation, alternating between mountain chains and flat, arid valleys.
One local example of this geography is the Snake Range. It stretches north to south for 60 miles. Wheeler Peak is 13,065 feet at its summit, making it the tallest independent peak in Nevada (and the second highest in the state). The Snake Range also holds four of the five highest mountains in Nevada, all exceeding 12,000 feet in elevation. Spring Valley, and to the east, Snake Valley, extend 10 to 15 miles in width.
Basins are valleys in which water does not flow to the ocean; instead, it’s deposited in underground aquifers. The four major White Pine County basins are Newark, Steptoe, Spring, and Snake. They range from 5,000 to 7,000 feet in elevation, and are the sites of transportation, agricultural activity, and other economic development.
Steptoe Valley, between the Egan and Schell Creek ranges, is one of the longest valleys in the United States, at 100 miles. It extends from Elko County to the north, runs the length of White Pine County, and contains 70,000 acres of agricultural land. Duck Creek and Steptoe Creek are the major tributaries.
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Nevada Dark Sky
The Loneliest Highway Brings Out The Stars
The phenomenon of light pollution increasingly impacts both humans and wildlife, with 80 percent of our population affected. Today, few places afford views of the heavens like White Pine County: Within 30 minutes of Ely, bikepackers and night-sky photography lovers will appreciate some of the best stargazing conditions in the world.
Locations throughout the county offer the chance to enjoy the unspoiled cosmos. They include Ward Charcoal Ovens, Cave Lake State Park, the ghost town of Hamilton, and Great Basin National Park. The last is recognized as an International Dark Sky Park, and every September hosts the Great Basin Astronomy Festival. This event includes guest speakers, star parties, photo workshops, and tours of the Great Basin Observatory.
Whether you’re overnighting in the backcountry after a day of riding or getting into a car to find your spot, the night sky of White Pine County will leave you feeling wonderment and remind you of the vastness of the universe.
Gravel X-Files: UFO Activity in Ely-White Pine County
Nevada has long been considered a hotspot for unexplained sightings in the sky. The community of Ely has contributed to the narrative over the years, with its own, intriguing UFO-related stories. Paranormal investigators of these reports even consider Ely to be as important as the UFO ground zero of Roswell, New Mexico. Since 2016, in White Pine County alone there have been approximately 20 UFO sightings reported.
The most notable story alleges that there was a UFO crash, in either 1952 or 1953. The exact date is in dispute, however what is peculiar about the incident is that it supposedly includes the recovery of 16 extraterrestrial bodies from the crash. It occurred west of Ely at a pit owned by Robinson Mine, with a number of the copper-mine employees sharing accounts of the incident. They described seeing a purple, oval-shaped, intact, glowing object on the pit embankment.
Later, a sheriff arrived, forced the workers to vacate, and blocked the road into the area. The U.S. military was called, who then loaded the craft onto a flatbed truck and hauled it away. The supposed claim of “16 bodies recovered” is confusing due to the craft being intact and not possessing windows. Nobody could see inside it. However, an investigator who has interviewed eyewitnesses claims their stories are consistent in suggesting bodies were recovered by the military.
In the summer of 1964, a freight train heading north out of Ely braked suddenly because the tracks were “thrown around like pretzels” due to another alleged UFO crash. Train crew and local ranchers on the scene reported that the craft consisted of a glasslike silver material that appeared wet or molten. The craft was partially broken apart, with one person collecting a piece of it; objects viewed through this shard looked greenish-black, as if seen through night-vision goggles. Witnesses claimed a hole was ripped in this craft, revealing brown-colored bodies, about three to four feet tall. Once again, the military supposedly arrived and took everything away.