< Left Panel   Nevada Summits and Passes   Areas   Tables   Maps   All Favorites  
Main Panel:   Main Page   Map+Profile   Nevada Map  


Earthquake Faults Rd s(u)

This name may sound familiar, if you have traveled on US50 between Fallon and Austin. One of the very few signs along the road indicates "Earthquake Faults", that way.

I have no idea if this is the real official name of the road. But there are no other signs, and my maps don't have any additional labels either. Maybe it doesn't have a name. But it goes over a low flank alongside Fairview Mtn.

You can also see a road track to the top of Fairview Mountain. But the prospect of a bikable route all the way to the top of Fairview Mtn is not realized. Instead the trek over the gentle dirt road summit next to the peak is a ultimately enjoyable experience in scenic desolation, with an uncommonly bike friendly surface. - Great loop

1.START-END NORTH:low point on US50 between Middlegate and Drumm Summit
2.profile turns south onto Earthquake Faults Rd
3.TOP,6320ft; turnoff up Fairview Mtn is immediately after this
4.profile turns off onto road heading east
5.START-END SOUTH:jct Nv361 - unmarked road heading west across small arroyo


Approaches

From North. As already stated, one of the few, if not the only sign between Sand Mountain and the Middle Gate rest area, is one that says "Earthquake Faults". A road straight as an arrow leads north up a shallow slope alongside Fairview Mtn. The surface is very gravel biking friendly - the best. Getting close to the top of this gentle saddle it meets another approach road angling in more from east. The view area of the faults is again labeled at a turnoff. But the profile continues straight to the wide saddle.

At the top an unsigned road leads up to the microwave facility on Fairview Mtn. After the Fairview Mtn road exits the debris field near the turnoff and starts climbing the actual ridge, it becomes abundantly clear that this track is not ridable - at least not by anybody sane. It makes a nice hike anyway and I included a few pictures from this


From South. (described downwards) This main road however remains very bike friendly and a short ,gentle decent can be enjoyed at full speed. The desolation of the gentle mountain bowl on the south side is inspiring. The profile aims to get back to paved Nv 361, and it does so by taking a left at every heavily used intersection. This leads over another gentle rim, that is not large enough to be counted as a summit. Past that it leads through a small ravine flanked by in a few places by rocks resembling portal gates. Eventually it meets the pavement of Nv361.



wildlife crossing

Slideshow of the two way bike summit

cLiCk on image , arrows , or thumbnails to advance slideshow

Dayride with this point as highest summit

( < Sand Springs Pass| Carroll Summit > )

Earthquake Faults Rd s(u) , Nv361 Middle Gate s(u) : a short distance up Earthquake Faults Rd > up Earthquake Faults Rd <> out and back partially up Fairview Mtn with turnaround point at 6880ft >> down north side of Earthquake Faults Rd > first major road on left as shown in profile > Nv361 north > Nv361 Middle Gate s(u) > US50 east > back to starting point on Earthquake Faults Rd :41.4miles with 3100ft of climbing in 4:26hrs (garmin etrex e32 m5:23.05.18)
Notes: day also included a hike up dirt track to first peak on Fairview Mtn: b+h: 44.3miles with 4370ft of climbing in 5:38hrs). - Hottest day sofar.

Slideshow of the hike to the top of Fairview Mtn

cLiCk on image , arrows , or thumbnails to advance slideshow



advertisement

advertisement