Toiyabe Crest National Recreation Trail

Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, Austin-Tonopah Ranger District, and Arc Dome Wilderness (Toiyabe Range, between Austin and Tonopah)

The Toiyabe Crest National Recreation Trail follows the spine of the Toiyabe Range in central Nevada, from Kingston Canyon south through the Arc Dome Wilderness to the Twin Rivers. Halfway Anywhere calls it the longest named trail in Nevada and lists it at 63.3 miles, with more than 14,000 feet of climbing southbound.

Tahoe Quarterly, which followed it in October 2018, describes a trail built in the 1930s for horses and hikers that “has seen little use since.”

The hike

The trail starts at the Kingston Trailhead, which the Forest Service lists as the northern access to the Toiyabe Crest Trail, about five miles west of State Route 376. Halfway Anywhere describes a first climb of more than 3,000 feet in 4.9 miles to near 10,500 feet, then a 1,500-foot drop to Washington Creek, about 8.6 miles in. Tahoe Quarterly’s party found no sign at the start, only a “dull footpath on the slope,” and camped on a ridge after a late start.

South of Washington Creek, Halfway Anywhere found water every three to five miles until about mile 30, with Tierney Creek a reliable source and an exception to the trail’s scarce campsites. Travel Nevada notes that the route often stays above 10,000 feet with little tree cover; Toiyabe Dome rises to 11,361 feet. Halfway Anywhere warns of exposure, afternoon thunderstorms in summer, and little shade on the northern ridge.

Ophir Pass, roughly mid-route, is the only point on the trail reachable by vehicle, according to Halfway Anywhere. Tahoe Quarterly’s hikers cached water near Ophir Summit, and a sheepherder they met pointed them to springs. Halfway Anywhere found no reliable on-trail water from about mile 30 to mile 45.

The southern third enters the Arc Dome Wilderness, which Travel Nevada calls the largest in Nevada at about 115,000 acres. American Southwest says the trail loops around three sides of Arc Dome; Travel Nevada lists the 11,778-foot summit as an optional side trip. Halfway Anywhere puts the trail’s high point at 11,133 feet on a pass west of Cirque Mountain.

The south end is the hardest to follow. Halfway Anywhere describes brushy tread over the final 15 or so miles, frequent river crossings, and a trail that “often disappears,” and lost it on the final day. Tahoe Quarterly’s party retraced its steps six times in six hours, explaining that “if there’s no contrast, the trail gets lost in the brush.” The trail ends at the North/South Twin Trailhead beside the South Twin River.

Travel Nevada suggests shorter options using the Stewart Creek, North Twin River, and Cow Canyon Trails. For a loop in the south end, see Arc Dome Wilderness: Twin Rivers Loop. For another long Nevada crest route, see the Ruby Crest Trail.

Tips

Arrange a shuttle. Halfway Anywhere found no public transit or rideshares to either trailhead and hitchhiked between them.
Carry extra water capacity. Both Halfway Anywhere and Paria recommend it; Travel Nevada warns of “long, waterless stretches.”
Wear pants and gaiters for the south end. Halfway Anywhere found the brush cut up its legs.
Wear bright colors in fall. Halfway Anywhere met hunters near Ophir Pass.
Watch the roads. Halfway Anywhere says the graded access roads are open May to October, depending on conditions; heavy snow can close them.

Camping

No permits, registration, or fees are required, according to Halfway Anywhere and Paria. Camping is dispersed; there are no campgrounds on the trail. The Humboldt-Toiyabe’s forest-wide order 04-17-24-04 limits camping to 14 days in any 30-day period. Kingston Campground (7,100 feet) sits near the north trailhead; the Forest Service listed it open in June 2026, with no potable water. Neither trailhead has potable water. No wildfire closures for the Austin-Tonopah Ranger District were listed on the forest’s alerts page on Oct. 11, 2026.

Inside Intel: Halfway Anywhere warns that “camping opportunities are extremely limited in the northern two-thirds of the trail,” with few sites near water, and singles out Tierney Creek as the exception; it suggests looking for saddles and trail junctions on the topo map. Paria’s itinerary names camps at Washington Creek, Tierney Creek, Marysville Canyon, Peak 10,375, the Reese River, and a South Twin tributary. Tahoe Quarterly’s hikers camped in an aspen grove and on a pass near South Toiyabe Peak at the edge of the Arc Dome Wilderness, where they watched sunset and moonrise.

Trail facts

Distance: About 62 to 63 miles (Halfway Anywhere, Travel Nevada, Paria); some hikers report 70 or more
Route type: Point to point
Difficulty: Very strenuous
Elevation: About 6,225 feet at the south trailhead to 11,133 feet on the trail (Halfway Anywhere)
Campsites: Dispersed; few flat sites on the northern two-thirds
Water: Seasonal and scattered; long dry stretches; treat all water
Permits: None
Rules: 14 days in 30 (forest-wide order); certified weed-free hay for stock
Dogs: Leashed at trailheads (Forest Service)
Trailheads: Kingston (north, vault toilets) and North/South Twin (south, vault toilets); no potable water at either
Ranger district: Austin-Tonopah (Austin office 775-964-2671; Tonopah office 775-482-6286)
Last verified: October 11, 2026

The Lowdown

Rocky, exposed camps on the Toiyabe crest:

Flat ground is scarce along most of this 63-mile ridge, so a pad that smooths out a lumpy saddle is worth its weight. See which sleeping pads testers recommend.

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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.