Nevada Note: Crystal Peak

Posted November 30th, 2008 in Family Outing, Hiking, Milagros News, Outside of Portland

We are in Nevada visiting family for the Thanksgiving holiday. Milagros IS OPEN!

Yesterday we headed up to the mountains. Mila and Gael’s great-grandmother has always wanted to see Crystal Peak, so we decided to load-up (5 adults and 4 kids) and head out. It took some effort trying to figure out how to get there. We did some searching on-line and finally pieced together directions from three different sources. For one thing, Crystal Peak is actually in California – not Nevada – and is generally known on maps as Crystal Mine.

Once you are off the highway you pass from sagebrush desert up to pine forest. We encountered a lot of families cutting Christmas trees in the forest. Eventually you pass through Dog Valley. Dog Valley was named for packs of wild dogs that use to roam the area. The defining characteristic of Dog Valley these days are the groves of aspen trees which provide a striking contrast against the surrounding conifers. After about 9 miles from the main highway on dirt roads, the turn-off to Crystal Mine emerged. Then it was up the hill to the parking area.

We didn’t know what to expect, we figured maybe there would be some rocks found but at a minimum we would enjoy a day in the woods. But it turns out that Crystal Peak is appropriately named, there is quartz EVERYWHERE. No digging needed.

The area had been blasted extensively during World War II to ensure that there were plenty of crystals for radios needed for the war effort. What remains is an exposed peak of quartz veins, boulders, and crystal rock of all variety of sizes and coloring (rose quartz, smoky quartz, clear crystals, you name it). The views from the top of the peak are very lovely as well. The kids – and adults – had a great time rock collecting and hiking to the top of the mountain! Enjoy!

Getting there from Reno:

• 395 North to Bordertown (Exit 83)
• After you exit, go back over the highway (toward the Bordertown Casino) and take a right at the stop sign.
• Travel past the Bordertown Casino to another stop sign. Continue past the stop sign and follow a sharp left over the railroad tracks onto Long Valley Road (the map shows the terrain from this point).
• It is advisable to set your trip odometer at this point so you can note your progress. You will travel about 9 miles from this point until the turn-off to Crystal Peak.
• Continue to follow Long Valley Road into the National Forest where it becomes Forest Road 002. Stay on 002 – you will go through Dog Valley which is not marked but you will see aspens! – until the junction with Forest Road 033. This junction is marked.
• Take a right onto 033 and head up the mountain to the Crystal Peak parking area. Happy rock hunting!

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