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


Manhattan Gap s(u)
aka: Silver State Trail: section Bennett Pass - Stampede Gap(sh)

The Silver State Trail is technically an ATV trail designation. But this section at least,  is mostly a good gravel road, except where noted, before the summit on the south side. The high section of the road looks out over some fantastic dessert scenery. I didn't meet a single vehicle of any type on the unpaved section of this profile, but instead many wild horses in the area around Bennett Pass.

There are generally no signs at any of the intersections, making the description a little difficult. There are however small arrow signs, that mark turnoffs following the Silver State Trail. But some of these are ambiguous.

01.START-END EAST:jct US93 - Airport Rd, just west of Panaca
02.turnoff to Bennett Pass on left
03.Bennett Springs Rd s(u), profile turns right
04.first shoulder summit at road, connecting with Dry Lake Valley
05.second shoulder summit
06.another jct with rd connectiong to Dry Lake Valley
07.TOP, 7240ft, Manhattan Gap s(u)
08.profile turns right onto Nv320
09.jct NV320 - US93
10.START-END WEST:jct US93 - Airport RSd, same as point 1


Approaches

From South. 
There are many possibilities for the lower approach, but this is the only one that starts near a town: Panaca. On US93, just north of the jct with Nv319, a short lane leads to the town's airfield. From there a sign points the way to Bennett Pass.

It is a low approach rolling over badlands, with further picturesque rock monuments nearby. This road appears to reach a pass. Roads crossing at the pass are signed with small "Silver State Trail" signs in both directions. According to the map, the official Bennett Pass is just south of here. But the profile goes right onto a good, straight unpaved road, climbing further along the western flank of the Highland Range. This traverse contains some magnificent views onto Dry Lake Valley. Of the many mines marked on the map, only one contains structures, that are visible from the road. There are several opportunities to branch off this road and descend into Dry Lake Valley. All of these are possible shoulder summits for smaller loop rides.

Miles later the main road traversing along the ridge sofar, also turns down into the valley. But continuing the traverse is also possible, albeit on a much smaller, wavier track. This is what the profile does. At the junction this route is signed with the Silver State Trail logo. Progress slows down considerably here, and then again more on the last section approaching the top, as the road weaves around many mountain coves.  On these handfull of miles before the summit, a mountain bike would be better companion. In my case it probably wouldn't matter, because I would walk the many extremely short steep sections with either bike.

Note that the road traversing along the ridge does not show up on Komoot on the linked Nevada Map page. It will show up, changing the map selection to "National Geographic".

But finally the road reaches a high unsigned pass, not far from a spot labeled "Manhattan Gap" on maps. Here it meets up with a larger dirt main road, connecting Stampede Gap, further up in the Bristol Range with the valley to the east. At this junction the profile turns east, down to the right.



From North. (described downwards). The wide dirt road has fairly deep sand, and in places is a true pain to negotiate. But it's downhill, and it eventually meets up with Nv320, which is about as little traffic on a paved road as most people will ever see in their life. You could continue on unpaved roads at this junction. But why toture yourself any longer. The profile chooses to head back south direction Panaca on pavement, and meet up with the starting point of the profile on US93.


cLiCk on image , arrows , or thumbnails to advance slideshow


Dayride with this point as highest summit:

PARTIALLY PAVED / UNPAVED

( < Panaca Summit | Silver State Trail, section: Bristol Lake - Bennett Pass > )

Silver State Trail: section Bennett Pass - Stampede Pass(sh) , additional out and back: Nv319, east pf Panaca at ~5600ft > Nv319  west > Airport Rd west > Bennett Springs Rd west > apr location of Bennett Pass > Silver State Trail rd north <> out and back to dead end in mountains > Silver State Trail: section Bennett Pass - Stampede Pass(sh) > unsigned road down east side of the gap > Nv320 south > US93 south > Panaca > Nv319 east back to starting point:58.3miles with 5020ft of climbing in 6:41hrs (garmin etrex30 m3:22.5.20)


advertisement

advertisement