Trails

Goshute Peak Trail

See Also Wildlife Viewing

Goshute Peak Trail is an established but not always maintained path. It starts at the bottom of what is called Christmas Tree Canyon and extends 2.5 miles into a Wilderness Study Area, ending at the mountaintop (not actually Goshute Peak). At the top you will find remnants of a scientific research project run by HawkWatch International, Inc. The organization conducts research on the mountaintop counting, banding and studying birds of prey as they pass down the intermountain flyway. For more information on HawkWatch and their research, connect here http://www.hawkwatch.org.

WSA Information about the Hawkwatch Project

Leave No Trace

The trail is open year round but could be hard to identify when snow-covered. The trail is rated moderate to difficult due to the steep terrain and the fact that it is not always maintained. Visitors could encounter trees across the path or even washouts along the trail. The HawkWatch organization does maintain the trail before their research begins each year (mid August). Once to the top, the area offers vast views of the Goshute Mountains, Goshute Valley, the Ruby and Humboldt Mountain ranges, the Great Salt Flats, and Pilot Peak. The trail is also an opportunity to experience the Goshute Peak Wilderness Study Area (WSA). Within a WSA please stay on existing roads and if you travel off the trail, please practice Leave No Trace ethics. There are no amenities available on the Trail. Please be sure to bring plenty of water.

From West Wendover, Nevada, take Alternate US Highway 93 south approximately 24 miles to Ferguson Springs Station; follow the main road and signs depicting binoculars, five miles to the trailhead. Specifically from Ferguson Springs Station, follow the dirt road west 1.8 miles to a “T” (binocular sign here). Turn right at “T” and follow for 1.3 miles to the sign pointing left to Christmas Tree Canyon and Goshute Peak Trail. Follow this 2 miles to the parking area. Park only in already disturbed areas, you are within the Goshute Peak Wilderness Study Area. High clearance vehicles are required.

Although there are few established hiking and mountain biking trails, opportunities to backpack, hike, and explore are almost unlimited. You can walk or ride through badlands, river canyons, mountain forests, or wide-open high "deserts". The mountain ranges, wilderness study areas, and vast desert basins of the Elko District provide a variety of settings to plan your own adventure. Many of these areas are accessible by vehicle, providing excellent places to hike and ride bikes. If you are interested in extended hiking trips, there are countless remote areas that offer outstanding opportunities to "get away" and enjoy the back country solitude.

The Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forests also offers several outstanding areas for backpacking, hiking, camping and mountain biking. The Jarbidge, East Humboldt and Ruby Mountains Wildernesses provide excellent backpacking opportunities. The 40 mile long Ruby Crest Trail traverses the Ruby Mountains Wilderness.

For maps and/or additional information contact: 

Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest
Ruby Mountain Ranger District
(775) 752-3357 or online at www.fs.fed.us/r4/htnf/

Pilot Peak

Although Pilot Peak is not a designated trail, it offers grand views and a chance to relive a piece of history. The name of this historical peak is attributed to Captain John C. Fremont. In 1845, the explorer and his party were traveling west along the south shore of the Great Salt Lake in hopes of finding a shorter route to the central Great Basin and onward to California.

From the summit of the Cedar Mountains in Utah, Fremont was able to see a signal from his scout, Kit Carson. This enabled his party to safely "pilot" across the salt flats to life saving water and food. An informal hiker’s guide to Pilot Peak is linked below.

Fact Sheet – Hikers Guide To Pilot Peak
Pilot Peak Maps


For other great trails in the area contact:

Humboldt_Toiyabe National Forest
Ruby Mountain Ranger District
(775) 752-3357 or online at: www.fs.fed.us/r4/htnf/