ISLAND LAKE
Contributed by Dave Dobak
FACTS
Country: United States
Location: Ruby Mountains, Nevada
Round trip: 6 km
Start elevation: 2680 m
Final Elevation: 3050 m
Maps: : Humboldt National Forest recreation map of “Ruby Mountains and East Humboldt Wildernesses”
GETTING THERE
Drive Highway 227 and Lamoille Canyon Road, south of Elko, NV, to the trailhead. Approximately 30 miles, paved
PARTIAL PLANT LIST
Rudbeckia occidentalis
Aquilegia formosa
Lonicera involucrata
Sedum debile
Eriogonum microthecum
Mimulus primuloides
Hypericum formosum
Epilobium angustifolium
Streptanthus cordatus
Rosa woodsii
Comandra umbellata
Holodiscus microphyllus
Cryptogramma stelleri
Polygonum phytolaccifolia
Cymopterus nivalis
Pedicularis groenlandica
Lewisia pygmaea
Vaccinium caespitosum
Zigadenus elegans
Monardella odoratissima
Pellaea breweri
Penstemon sp.
Eriogonum sp.
Agastache sp.
Gallium sp.
Castilleja sp.
Delphinium sp.
The trail is about 3 km one way to the lake; an extra 1 km should be allowed for wandering among the ponds on the bench above the lake. The trail ascends gradually and continuously mostly through open meadows or lightly forested areas. You may want to spend time at Island Lake looking for mountain goats on the rocky slopes high above the lake. The bench above Island Lake should definitely be botanized. You may wish to extend the hike on an unofficial trail up to the pass that leads toward Thomas Canyon.
This hike may not occupy a full day; extra time could be used for botanizing along the road in Lamoille Canyon
For a detailed trail description with scenic photos, visit rubymountains.net .
“Montane Islands in a Desert Sea” by Theodore Cochrane in Rock Garden Quarterly, Spring 2002, 60:1.
Hiker’s Guide – Trails in the Elko Area, and Ruby Mountains Visitor Guide, both by Larry Hyslop
(grayjaypress.com/hiking.htm) .
Ruby Mountain Flora, by Steve Anderson et. al. (www.museum-elko.us), a popular wildflower guide, is somewhat useful.
ISLAND LAKE GALLERY.
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