This 36-mile-long National Recreational trail is located in North Eastern Nevada, filled with sweeping vistas over the unique arid sage lands and remote peaks. While this trail technically has two trailheads, the whole trail is commonly completed from Harrison Pass in the south and ending at Lamoille Canyon in the north. You may be wondering why the trail starts at the north, and there are two reasons: the sun will be at your back, and the unique scenery only gets better as the trail hike goes on.

The elevation at Harrison Pass is considered relatively low, and in this part of the US, the landscape has very little shade or protection and is sagebrush-dominant. The first 5-10 miles of the hike are on a 4-wheel automotive road, which is not what an average hiker would expect a beautifully recognized trail to look like. But, it isn’t after the 10-mile mark that the scenery starts to open up, and the Ruby mountains -also known as Nevada’s Alps- start to show off their unique magic with the beautiful Tipron Peak in the foreground.

After crossing the first pass, you’ll be greeted with a magnificent view of Overland Lake, which is the perfect site after traversing the arid landscape of the Harrison Pass. After going by the lake, the trail goes up and down through some drainages and ends on the range’s authentic crest. From the crest, hikers can admire the heart of the Rubies come in sight. This trail ends at the Lamoille Canyon, which features magnificent peaks and alpine lakes.

The Ruby Crest Trail’s lowest part is at Harrison Pass at 7,200 feet, and the highest is at 10,893 feet elevation at Wines Peak. It features numerous lakes, such as Lamoille, Dollar, Favre, Liberty, North Furlong, Castle, and Overland Lake. Apart from North Furlong and Castle, all lakes have fish in them. You can also find a wide variety of wildlife at Ruby Crest Trail, such as mountain goats, mule deer, some rocky mountain bighorn, and Himalayan snowcock at Wines Peak.