Drive through the ‘Wild, Wild, West’

With museums, art galleries and guest ranches, few routes
brim with as much Western heritage as the one called the
‘Cowboy Corridor’ in Nevada, USA. We bring to you the first
in a series on the much-revered road trip, divided into three
legs, so you don’t miss a single item on your things-to-do list!

The first leg we cover is Reno to Winnemucca (driving distance: 267 km/166 miles). While many Nevada destinations are currently closed, in the meantime, we urge you to bucket-list your way around the state! With a population of around 250,000, Reno is Nevada’s second-largest metropolitan area. Despite being one of the western USA’s increasingly hippest, artsiest cities, its Wild West legacy still lives on. The first leg of the Cowboy Corridor begins in Reno, which has an impressive Riverwalk District, downtown white-water kayak park, unmatched line-up of annual events and the gateway to unlimited outdoor activity. Rodeos are a big part of the cowboy culture, and Nevada does them right. The Reno Rodeo is known as the wildest, richest rodeo in the West. The Reno Rodeo Cattle Drive is another opportunity for those with an interest in living the cowboy life. Your reservation buys you a seat in a saddle, a spot around the nightly campfire, trailside dinner, and an unforgettable experience in the American West.

Drive east to Fernley

From Reno, it’s off to Fernley, about a 30-minute drive east, where stunning views of the picturesque Truckee River Canyon meandering below Interstate 80 Nevada are offered. Refresh yourself with a variety of tasty milkshakes at Mary and Moe’s Wigwam (you can’t go wrong with butterscotch) and check out its collection of American Indian artefacts. Keep your eyes peeled for the Main Street Art Park, a sculpture garden that houses some of the artwork from the annual Burning Man gathering, which takes place just north of Fernley in the Black Rock Desert.

Off to Lovelock

Continue east about an hour to reach Lovelock, which has a population of just 1,900. Lovelock was once a stop for pioneers traveling to California for the Gold Rush of 1848. The section of Interstate 80 from Elko to Lovelock roughly follows the California Trail, which followed the path of the Humboldt River, the longest river in the state. Lovelock is anchored by Lovers Lock Plaza, where couples help Lovelock live up to its name by “locking their love” to a never-ending chain, symbolizing (you guessed it) eternal love. Standing here, you can’t miss the nation’s last circular courthouse, designed by locally renowned architect, Frederic DeLongchamps. When in town, check out Nanny Jo’s for some amazing antique shopping.

Into the Cave

From here, an 11-site Backcountry Byway carries you to Lovelock Cave, an ancient Shoshone shelter that housed nearly 10,000 artefacts, including the world’s oldest tule duck decoys (circa 400 BC) — named Nevada’s Official State Artefact. You may visit the BLM office in Reno, Winnemucca, or Elko for a copy of the “Lovelock Cave Back Country Byway” brochure, which includes a map and more information about the area.

Thunder Mountain Monument

Look left about 24 miles down Interstate 80 and you’ll spot Rye Patch State Recreation Area, a 22-mile-long reservoir with hiking trails and campsites. Ready for something on the more unique side? About 20 minutes past that is a delightfully offbeat roadside attraction called Thunder Mountain, a colorful, imaginative folk-art array of sculptures and buildings constructed almost entirely from items found along the highway decades ago. Watch for the Imlay exit, then follow your camera lens around this special addition to the Nevada State Register of Historic Places.

Fancy a detour?

Opt for a short jaunt to Unionville ghost town, a 19th-century mining community where Mark Twain once tried (and miserably failed at) mining. It is just a half hour south of Interstate 80 on Nevada State Route 400. Keep an eye out for Mark Twain’s original cabin and consider an overnight at the lovely Old Pioneer Garden B&B Guest Ranch, where many historical buildings (like the town’s original blacksmith shop) have been repurposed into guest rooms. From the turnoff to Unionville, it’s less than 30 minutes to Winnemucca. However, if you’re still in the “living ghost town” mood, shoot the extra 40 miles north on US-95 and then east on SR-190 to Paradise Valley. About 100 or so people still live in the area which was aptly named by settlers who were under the impression they’d actually found Heaven on Earth.

Welcome to Winnemucca

Less than an hour north of Thunder Mountain Monument is Winnemucca, one of the state’s oldest settlements due to its location near the Humboldt River.

Named after the famous Paiute Indian chief, Winnemucca is home to the artefact-packed Humboldt Museum, as well as the Buckaroo Hall of Fame & Heritage Museum—equal parts museum and shrine—honoring the Great Basin’s “Legendary Buckaroos.”