Sept. 6-7, 2023 Doug had a route to an area I have long been advised to ride. It was an easy yes when he asked if I was interested. On top of that it was a bikefishing trip! This was my first trip in the Santa Rosa Range. We were starting in Paradise Valley, just 20 miles north of Winnemucca. Winnemucca on I-80 and Austin on US 50 have been my “barriers to dispersal” as far as working my way east in the state (there have been a few trips further east but not that many). The closest I had been to this trip was our Thacker Pass overnight.

My first impression of Paradise Valley was it is the friendliest town. Everyone waved at the strangers with bikes rolling into town. That night we camped off Cottonwood Creek Road, to the north of Paradise Valley off Hinkey Summit Rd. Cottonwood, Mullinix, and Solid-Silver were roads that caught my eye for future rides. We headed east out of town and followed Martin Creek on China Rd. Unfortunately we had to cross private property at Hardscrable Ranch. With hindsight I found a possible route on the south side of Martin Creek that I would use as an alternative to the first 13 miles of this route. Other than lower Martin Creek, which we didn’t fish, you wouldn’t miss much. The views really explode after mile 20.

There was an interesting change in the environment that felt like it coincided with entering the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest from the BLM land. I don’t know if it was due to management practices, elevation, hydrology? Maybe a mix of all of the above. We camped after climbing 3100’ in 26 miles. There were some punchy bits, and some rocky bits, and fields of tumbleweed that tangled up in your spokes and derailleur, so we were ready to camp. This was the confluence of Duck Creek, Goosey Lake Creek and the North Fork of the Little Humboldt River. It was also a cow camp for dozens of head of cattle. We had water to filter and water to fish. Fortunately for Doug he had ear plugs against the all night cow serenade.

We woke to cow hauling trucks descending on the ranch from every direction. Then a barn-stormer made low passes blasting a siren and the occasional gun shots. This got the cows moving and in no time the cows were rounded up and gone. The valley was peaceful once again.

Packing up mid-airshow. Doug and his Binary Kinetik, me and my Falconer B+

Day two we were off through a canyon wonderland. This watershed is the most extensive I have traveled through. The network of creeks I imagine is second only to the Jarbidge Wilderness. We crossed or rode along 10 different creeks in as many miles. The canyons were not particularly deep but they added a dimension to the landscape that kept us interested. The further I rode the better I understood why this region was so highly recommended. While our visit to the Thacker Pass area was extraordinary in its own right, it did not hold a clue to the Santa Rosa Range across the Quinn River Valley to the east. The Nevada landscape never ceases to amaze me.

Doug’s original route had us continuing north above Long Canyon and looping south along a ridgeline to Buckskin Mountain. OHV Nevada describes the route perfectly here.  We short cut the route by a day and a few thousand feet of climbing (22 miles, 3700’), but we will be back. The short cut still had us riding along canyons, creeks, and ridges with stops in the shade of aspen groves on our way to Hinkey Summit.

We had no idea what we were instore for with the descent of Hinkey Summit Rd. Looking down into Paradise Valley there is always that sad feeling knowing the trip is over at the Paradise Valley park. The truck is waiting. But so is a cold beer at the Paradise Valley Saloon. But look at these rock formations! What I thought was a cave turned out to be a natural arch, you could see blue on the other side! We rode along this rockscape for 5 miles and sure enough, you could pick out bolt hangers and anchor chains glistening in the sunshine. Doug found the reference to this obscure crag here.

Back in Paradise Valley we took a few photos and stopped in at the saloon. They have the occasional steak specials and any kind of beer you want as long as it was Coors. Joking aside I’m sure they had more flavors of cold and yellow but Coors was fine. We made it into Winnemucca for pizza at Winnemucca Pizzeria! I can add it to my list of Winnemucca eateries, Chihuahua’s Grill and Cantina, Mariscos del Mar, and the Martin Hotel.

This wont be my last trip to the Santa Rosa Range. I would like to try the few roads coming into the National Forest from the west as well as starting in McDermitt and coming in from the north.

I made this trip on my Falconer Custom B+. In anticipation of fair weather and substantial climbing I went light with only my OR Helium Bivy, inflatable sleeping pad and 50^o synthetic quilt for shelter and sleeping. I brought my Tenkara Rod Co, Sierra Rod and a small selection of flies for fishing. Otherwise my kit has been very consistent this season.

Check out Doug Artman’s blog, Twenty Years From Now – Adventures of D&J and social media. He creates very deliberate routes with particular points of interest. He loves the mountains and the history of the people that have moved through these places.

In case you missed my most recent newsletter on Substack, here is the link: The Great Nevada Railroad Bazaar.