Cowboy Country
The beautiful Jarbidge Wilderness Area and the surrounding forests, north of Elko, are excellent regions to sightsee by horse. Wildhorse and Southfork Reservoirs are known for their good fishing, as are the wetlands of the Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge. The Ruby Mountains, where visitors can try their hand at the sport of heli-skiing, also make an excellent hiking ground.
The Western Folklife Center in Elko, known for the Cowboy Poetry Gathering, is dedicated to the preservation of Western ranch culture. Elko’s historic Commercial Casino (dating from 1869) has reopened after a fire caused its 10-month closure. The casino now includes 72 new machines and 49 new games and various new entertainment areas.
Some 32km (20 miles) along Highway 227 (a National Scenic Byway) are the Ruby Mountains, and Lamoille Canyon. On the edge of the Bonneville Salt Flats at the Utah-Nevada border is the resort of Wendover, and up near the Nevada-Idaho border is Jackpot. Winnemucca, once a stop on the emigrant trail, now entertains visitors in true cowboy tradition. In Elko, the Northeastern Nevada Museum is well worth a visit, featuring exhibits on mining, ranching, railroads, natural history and Native Americans. In Lovelock, the Pershing County Marzen House Museum has displays of mining equipment, home fixtures, Native American artefacts and a Lovelock Cave exhibition. The Great Cowboy Cookout in Wendover offers a horse-drawn wagon ride and a cowboy-style cookout.
The following is a selection of special events occurring in Nevada’s Cowboy Country in 2005:
Jan 22-29 Cowboy Poetry Gathering, Elko. Mar 11-13 Shooting the West XVII (photography conference), Winnemucca. May 27-29 Run-A-Mucca Motorcycle Rally, Winnemucca. Jun 7-9 Silver State Stampede Rodeo, Elko. Jul 2-3 National Basque Festival (includes dancing, parades, wood chopping and games), Elko. Jul 29-31 50s Fever and Good Times Street Drags, Winnemucca. Aug 27-Sep 5 Elko County Fair & Livestock Show, Elko. Sep 2-4 Tri-County Fair and Stampede, Winnemucca. Dec 31 Countdown in downtown, Elko.
Elko’s airport is the J C Harris Field. Scheduled air services are provided by Delta Connection-Sky West; chartered services by El Aero Services. Amtrak trains stop at Elko on route from Chicago to Emeryville in California (see Travel - International section). All major transport facilities are available, including Greyhound bus connections and car hire.
Temperatures reach a summer high of 94°F (35°C) in Lovelock, while winter temperatures can drop below 10°F (-12°C) in Elko and Wells.
|
