[NevadaWolf]

My day started off slow. A loose chain required some tweaking and a GS rider nearby required some parking lot socializing. Turns out he was on a big trip from So Cal to Prudhoe Bay. I like seeing folks shorter than me riding bigger bikes because that gives me more confidence that eventually I can get a larger bike and be able to safely ride it.

Headed south towards Reno on the second leg of my adventure. I stopped at the Tulelake Internment Camp where Japanese Americans were sent first just for being Japanese, then later for answering No to a misleading loyalty questionnaire. A quick stop in Carson got the old cable with a homemade fix routed in case the new one failed along the way plus another quick tighten up of the chain (this is not a good sign). Then it was off towards Rye Patch Reservoir for my first State Park stop and a night of camping along the river. Met a really nice couple with their three boys heading to California to visit family and taking a road trip through parks and other scenic places. They invited me over for hot dogs and chips and we talked and shared stories around the camp fire.





Rye Patch Reservoir

Originally Posted by Nevada State Parks

Rye Patch visitors enjoy camping, picnicking, fishing and water-skiing at the recreation area's 22-mile long reservoir on the Humboldt River just west of Interstate 80. Located 22 miles north of Lovelock and 50 miles Southwest of Winnemucca, Exit 129 will take you to the main park entrance, dam and campgrounds. Rye Patch is open year round. The reservoir has 72 miles of shoreline and 11,000 acres of water surface when full. The high water elevation is 4,135 feet.

The next day I woke up early, got packed up, and headed east for the next two parks on my list. I've now ridden I-80 several times and am starting to pick out my favorite points that I look forward to that'll break up the interstate monotony. I have also discovered that the backpack full of water I've been carrying around for two years has gotten unbearable and now strap it to the tail bag. AHH relief! Made it down to Spring Valley just as the sun was setting to set up my tent for another night under the stars. Jupiter and Venus are looking amazing these last few nights!



Wild Horse Reservoir

Originally Posted by Nevada State Parks

Wild Horse State Recreation Area is located on the northeast shore of Wild Horse Reservoir. The 120-acre recreation area is an excellent focal point when visiting Wild Horse. Visitors to the area enjoy camping, picnicking, hunting, fishing and boating. Facilities include campgrounds, a trailer dump station, boat launch and ranger station. The park is open year-round, but access may be hampered by extreme cold and snow in winter months. Wild Horse Reservoir commonly boasts the state’s lowest winter temperatures. The park is located 67 miles north of Elko on State Route 225.

South Fork Reservoir

Originally Posted by Nevada State Parks

South Fork Reservoir covers 1,650 acres and is surrounded by 2,200 acres of wildlife-filled meadow lands and rolling hills. It is popular for hunting, camping, boating, picnicking, winter sports and wildlife viewing. The park is best known for its trophy-class trout and bass fishery. Facilities include a boat launch, campground, trailer dump station and picnic area. South Fork State Reservoir is located by traveling seven miles south of Elko on State route 227, 5.5 miles south on State route 228, and 3.5 miles southwest on Lower South Fork Road.

Spring Valley

Originally Posted by Nevada State Parks

Spring Valley State Park is a popular area for fishing, camping and sight-seeing. Visitors also enjoy hiking, exploring and touring the historic Ranch House museum. The park is located 20 miles east of Pioche via State Route 322. Spring Valley State Park is open all year, although snow may make winter access difficult.

Wednesday morning saw me waking up to the sounds of birds. Again, it seemed I woke up before much of the rest of the campground so briefly had the place to myself. Then a morning jogger trotted by heading towards the lake. Time to pack up and head over to the next state park before continuing on down the road. Several things were on the agenda today, first and foremost getting gas in Pioche. I had always just taken US 93 past town, never actually gone in. What the heck have I been missing!?! Pioche is a beautiful little town with the most scenic main street I've seen (sorry Virginia City). Plus a really fun twisty road leaving town to head back down the mountain to the highway. I will not be missing this place in the future. A quick stop in Caliente for lunch even scored me a deal, 2 dogs and a soda for $1.07! Cannot beat that!









Then it was off to Echo Canyon, Cathedral Gorge, Beaver Dam, and Kershaw-Ryan State Parks.

Echo Canyon

Originally Posted by Nevada State Parks

Camp, fish, hike and enjoy the beautiful Eastern Nevada scenery at Echo Canyon State Park. Echo Canyon State Park offers a 35-acre reservoir with a campground, picnic area, group use facilities and boat launch. Abundant wildlife, a wide variety of native plants and unique rock formations make exploration a favorite activity. The park is three hours north of Las Vegas, off Highway 93 by State routes 322 and 323. It is 12 miles east of Pioche and is about 12 miles from the Nevada-Utah border.

*Note the canyon to the east of the reservoir is a really fun, short, twisty road that is very very scenic. So glad I continue down the road vs just heading back to town for gas.





Cathedral Gorge State Park

Originally Posted by Nevada State Parks

Cathedral Gorge is located in a long, narrow valley where erosion has carved dramatic and unique patterns in the soft bentonite clay. Trails abound for exploring the cave-like formations and cathedral-like spires. Miller Point, a scenic overlook just north of the park entrance on U.S. 93, offers excellent views of the scenic canyon. Shaded picnic areas and a tree-shaded campground area are open all year. Hiking, picnicking, camping, nature study, photography and ranger programs are the most common activities at the park.

Beaver Dam State Park

Originally Posted by Nevada State Parks

Experience the peaceful splendor that is Beaver Dam State Park. The deep canyons, flowing streams, waterfalls, pinyon, juniper and ponderosa forests of Beaver Dam have beckoned people for centuries. Today, a visit to Beaver Dam State Park allows visitors to experience the pristine, natural beauty and primitive, rustic character that distinguishes this park from all others. The park is about three hours north of Las Vegas on the Utah border.

*Note, there is a 28 mile dirt road to access the park. 26 miles of it is hard packed dirt, with light washboard and a thin coating of loose gravel. Easily a 35-40 MPH road. The last two miles drop down into the canyon and have looser gravel, sharper turns, and more run off ruts. Still, Ninja friendly road save the very last section through the camp ground getting down to the parking area. That took some careful riding to pick out the right line.





Kershaw-Ryan

Originally Posted by Nevada State Parks

Kershaw-Ryan State Park is situated in a colorful, scenic canyon at the northern end of Rainbow Canyon in eastern Nevada. Steep canyon walls tower to 700 feet and overlook a long, narrow valley. Early settlers in the area cultivated a garden of grape vines, fruit trees and a grass lawn surrounding a spring-fed pond, providing a beautiful contrast to the rugged landscape. A picnic area, children’s wading pool, playground, group-use area and trails offer visitors nature study, photography, picnicking and hiking. The park has a new 15-unit RV/tent campground. Kershaw-Ryan State Park is located two miles south of Caliente via U.S. 93 and State Route 317.

Suddenly realizing it was a lot earlier than I thought it would be, I headed south towards Vegas and the southern parks. Passing back through Alamo was a treat in bringing back the memories of the last two years taking part in the Team Lyle Alamo rides. I'm getting way too used to that Sinclair dinosaur sitting along side the road. The temps were also starting to climbing, though it had been a hot week anyway, and I was stopping more often to refill my water bladders and to resoak my LD Comfort sleeves and Harley vest. Ahhhhhh evaporation. However, As I was leaving Las Vegas to head to Spring Mountain, I forgot it was Wednesday and was there at 4:30pm. My route down Charleston Ave got me caught up in rush hour traffic, sitting way too long, facing a way too hot sun, with my water now out of reach behind me. I overheated after 30 minutes and spent the next hour resting in the shade of a gas station with a nice homeless woman who turned out to be just who I needed when I needed her. I enjoyed my conversation with her.

Next up was Valley of Fire, Old Mormon Fort, and Spring Mountain.

Valley of Fire

Originally Posted by Nevada State Parks

Valley of Fire is Nevada’s oldest and largest state park, dedicated in 1935. Ancient trees and early man are represented throughout the park by areas of petrified wood and 3,000 year-old Indian petroglyphs. Popular activities include camping, hiking, picnicking and photography. The park offers a full-scale visitor center with extensive interpretive displays. Several group use areas are also available. The park is open all year. Valley of Fire State Park is six miles from Lake Mead and 55 miles northeast of Las Vegas via Interstate 15 and on exit 75.

*Note, super super friendly Rangers here made my visit longer than expected. Had a nice chat with the Fee Booth lady who was so excited to stamp my book and the two Rangers in the Visitor Center who were excited to meet someone who'd been to most of the parks in the state already. My tour of the parks has turned into a meet the awesome folks who work for the parks.

I also goofed in Cathedral Gorge, thinking I wanted to get to Valley of Fire by nightfall. So, unthinking, I turned to the Valley of Fire page and stamped. Luckily caught the mistake before I left that park.





Old Mormon Fort

Originally Posted by Nevada State Parks

The first permanent non-native settlers in the Las Vegas Valley were a group of Mormon missionaries who built an adobe fort along Las Vegas Creek in 1855. The fort was called Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort. They successfully farmed the area by diverting water from the creek. Today, the park includes a remnant of the original adobe fort, which contains interpretive displays. The Visitor Center contains exhibits on the history of the site, as well as historic artifacts. Historic interpretation is and will remain the focus of the park. The Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort is located in downtown Las Vegas, at the intersection of Las Vegas Boulevard and Washington Avenue. The Park and Visitor Center are open from 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, year round.

Sorry no pictures. I pulled up at 4:35pm as the Ranger was closing things up. This is my second visit to the Fort so had been through the museum before. She was kind enough to stamp my book though could not open the museum up again for me to get pictures.

Spring Mountain Ranch

Originally Posted by Nevada State Parks

Spring Mountain Ranch State Park is located 15 miles west of Las Vegas, via Blue Diamond Rd., in the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. The many springs in these mountains provided water for Paiute Indians and later brought mountain men and early settlers to the area. This 520 acre oasis was developed into a combination working ranch and luxurious retreat by a string of owners who have given the area a long and colorful history. Past owners of the ranch included Chester Lauck of the comedy team “Lum & Abner,” German actress Vera Krupp, and millionaire Howard Hughes.

By now, I realized my chain had developed a rather ugly sounding clunk every time I began moving forward. My Scottoiler wasn't doing it's job and now I had a tight spot that was signalling the death of the chain, and taking my sprockets with it. I opted against camping at the next park and decided instead to hotel it at the Tropicana in Laughlin so I was rested, rehydrated, and ready to head over to some much needed repairs.

Props goes to River Rat Motorsports in Bullhead City for not only supplying the chain, but getting it installed quickly. Also picked up a SnapJack so I could deal with the chain easier since my oiler was on the fritz.

The final day in Nevada took me to the southern most park where I met a very friendly Ranger who let me hang out and chat as we told stories of our adventures and of the various parks and places around Nevada we both love to visit.

Big Bend of the Colorado

Originally Posted by Nevada State Parks

Big Bend is one of Nevada's newest state parks, opening in 1996. Situated on the shores of the Colorado River below Laughlin, Nevada's southern tip, the park offers dramatic views of the river and surrounding mountains. Popular activities are picnicking, boating, fishing and swimming. The park also offers camping, hiking and group facilities. The town of Laughlin is also relatively new, and it offers many amenities including casinos, golf courses and an outlet mall. The park is within the Laughlin town limits, one mile south of Casino Drive on South Needles Highway.