Ruby Crest National Recreation Trail

Ruby Mountains Wilderness, Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest (Lamoille Canyon to Harrison Pass, southeast of Elko)

The Ruby Crest Trail follows the spine of the Ruby Mountains, a glacier-carved range rising out of the northeast Nevada desert. Wilderness Connect says the Ruby Mountains Wilderness holds 10 peaks above 11,000 feet and more than two dozen alpine lakes, and calls Lamoille Canyon “Nevada’s Yosemite.”

The trail runs about 38 miles between Lamoille Canyon and Harrison Pass, with lake basins at each end and a long, dry crest in the middle.

The hike

Backpacker and Hiking Project describe the trail north to south, from the Roads End trailhead at the top of Lamoille Canyon (about 8,780 feet). Dollar Lakes come about 1.5 miles in, and Liberty Pass (about 10,445 feet) at roughly mile 3.5. Hiking Project calls the view of Liberty Lake from the pass one of the best in the range. The trail drops to Favre Lake (9,510 feet), with Castle Lake nearby, just under 5.5 miles from the trailhead.

Next comes the saddle near North Furlong Lake (10,135 feet) and North Furlong Creek, which Backpacker calls the last water for 9 miles. The trail then climbs to Wines Peak and follows the crest near 10,000 feet, with views down to Ruby Valley. Backpacker suggests watching for mountain goats and bighorn sheep near Wines Peak.

The trail descends to Overland Creek, then climbs to Overland Lake (9,453 feet), around mile 21.5 by Backpacker’s count. From there it crosses a ridge into the Smith Creek drainages, passes McCutcheon Creek and Green Mountain, and finishes on an OHV road to Harrison Pass (about 7,200 feet), Hiking Project says.

Travel Nevada says most thru-hikers go the other way, south to north, and suggests four days: Harrison Pass to the South Fork of Smith Creek, then Overland Lake, then North Furlong Spring, then out to Lamoille Canyon. 100 Peaks followed nearly that plan in September 2020 over about 35 trail miles. It reported that the Middle Fork of Overland Creek, a cascade about 1.25 miles past Overland Lake, was the only reliable water north of the lake.

Shorter trips use the same trail. See Lamoille Lake to Liberty Lake from the north end and Overland Lake from Ruby Valley on the east side.

Tips

Fill up at North Furlong. Carry enough water for the whole crest, plus extra for a dog.
Pack a wind layer. 100 Peaks describes strong, cold winds on the ridges.
Plan the shuttle. Leave one car at Lamoille Canyon and drive or arrange a ride to Harrison Pass; 100 Peaks used a 4WD vehicle for the Harrison Pass road.
Check the season. Hiking Project says snow usually closes the trail from November to May and can linger high into July.
No cell service. Travel Nevada says to tell someone your route and return time.

Camping

Travel Nevada says no permits are required for the trail, Lamoille Canyon, or the wilderness, and dogs must be leashed. Wilderness rules apply, and Hiking Project advises camping at least 100 feet from fragile areas and burying waste 200 feet from water, trails, and camps. Under the 2026 Stage 1 restrictions, campfires are allowed only in approved pits or grills in developed sites; portable gas stoves are allowed (BLM release). Roads End trailhead has vault toilets but no potable water, and the Forest Service lists its season as July to November, depending on weather. Backpacker says there are established campsites with fire pits at Favre and Castle Lakes and flat, open ground on the crest above Wines Peak.

Inside Intel: Backpacker says “Some of the route’s best campsites are perched along the banks of Overland Lake.” On the 100 Peaks trip, the group skipped the sites by the old cabin for a spot by a granite outcrop on the lake, and the writer called it “one of my favorite days of camping of all time.” They found North Furlong Lake boggy and busy with horse groups, and camped instead near North Furlong Spring.

Trail facts

Distance: About 38 miles (sources range from 33 to 43)
Route type: Point to point
Difficulty: Strenuous
Elevation: About 7,200 feet (Harrison Pass) to about 10,893 feet (Wines Peak)
Campsites: Dispersed; established sites at Favre, Castle, and Overland Lakes (Backpacker) and South Fork Smith Creek (100 Peaks)
Water: Plentiful at the lakes; none for about 8 to 11 miles between North Furlong and Overland Creek
Permits: None
Dogs: Allowed on leash
Trailheads: Roads End, Lamoille Canyon (north); Harrison Pass (south, high-clearance road)
Ranger district: Mountain City-Ruby Mountains-Jarbidge, 775-752-3357 (Wells) or 775-738-5171 (Elko)
Last verified: October 11, 2026

The Lowdown

Melting snow on the Wines Peak crest:

Early in the season, the dry miles past Wines Peak can mean melting snow for water, a job for a stove that sips fuel. See which stoves testers rate.

Read the full guide →

Where this comes from

This page draws on the sources below, along with other guides and trip reports. Links go to the original pages.

Before you go: This page is based on published trail guides, trip reports, and reviews, along with official park and agency information where we could find it. It’s meant to help backpackers discover new trails, not to replace current, official information. Conditions, closures, permits, campsites, and water sources change, and some details here may be out of date or wrong. Confirm everything with the managing agency and check current conditions before you head out, and don’t rely on this page alone for safety or navigation. Backcountry travel involves risk.