Lamoille

Lamoille

Lamoille, Nevada is a short 25-mile drive south of Elko in northeastern Nevada at the toe of the fabled Ruby Mountains and the mouth of glacier-carved, outdoor action-packed Lamoille Canyon. Come for the camping, hiking, fishing, and even heli-skiing. Stay for Lamoille’s slowed-down country vibes, awesome eats, and one-of-a-kind accommodations.

Where Old Nevada Meets America’s Alps

Lamoille, Nevada: Tiny Town with a Huge Backyard

Nested at the base of the Ruby Mountains at the end of northeastern Nevada’s State Route 227 (AKA the Lamoille Highway), the town of Lamoille, Nevada offers a mix of rural charm and outdoor adventure that’s hard to find anywhere—and hard to beat everywhere. The crown jewel of the Lamoille, NV area is the Ruby Mountains Wilderness. Often referred to as the “Swiss Alps of Nevada,” the Rubies boast 11,000’ peaks, picture-perfect hanging valleys, rushing creeks, and pristine lakes, which beckon outdoor recreationalists of every stripe, passion, and skill level in every season—especially in glacier-carved, 12-mile-long Lamoille Canyon.

After a day spent exploring the stunning Ruby Mountains, visitors can head back down Lamoille Canyon Scenic Byway for a hearty meal, a comfortable stay, and a hard-earned beverage or three in the town of Lamoille itself, which easily steals the hearts of countless photographers and anyone looking to escape the bustle of city life.

Northern Nevada Map Graphic

Region

Northern

Average Temperatures

Summer

81°F

27°C

42°F

C

Fall

61°F

16°C

25°F

-4°C

Winter

37°F

C

11°F

-12°C

Spring

56°F

13°C

26°F

-3°C

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History of Lamoille, NV

The Elko County town of Lamoille was first settled by John Walker and Thomas Waterman in 1865, who originally named the new community “Vermont” in honor of their home state. A few years later, Walker opened the Cottonwood Hotel, along with a blacksmithery, mercantile store, and saloon. By the 1880s, the town’s population had grown to more than 200 residents and was renamed Lamoille, after a landmark river in the state of Vermont.

Lamoille became an important regional stopover for wagon trains heading to California to replenish their supplies. In 1905, the town erected its first permanent church, Little Church of the Crossroads, which looks like something out of an old painting. In fact, today, this rural Nevada icon is one of the most photographed structures in the entire state. 

TRADITIONAL BASQUE SHEEP CAMP
Traditional Basque Sheep Camp
Historic Wagon Train, National Parks Service, California Trail, Westward Expansion, Wagons
California-bound wagon trains

While people have been visiting the nearby wilderness for generations—including plenty of Basque sheepherders, whose tree trunk doodles can still be seen adorning many aspen trees across the region—Congress designated the Ruby Mountains Wilderness in 1989. This was good news for the Royer family, who had launched a helicopter skiing outfit 12 years before—and who continue to run it, as Ruby Mountains Heli-Experience, to this very day.

Travel Nevada Pro Tip

Lamoille is pronounced “luh-MOY-ull.” If you didn’t get that right away, you’re not the first. The town is named after a Vermont river that was originally La Mouette, before a mapmaker neglected to cross those two t’s.

Things to Do in Lamoille

Today, the biggest draw in these parts is unquestionably Lamoille Canyon, the spectacular (and most easily accessible) centerpiece of the Ruby Mountains Wilderness that offers something for every level of adventurousness. Especially in the summertime. That’s when flowing streams, alpine lakes, aspen groves, and meadows bursting with wildflowers beckon hikers, cyclists, fishermen chasing (this is a dry flyers Shangri-La), Sunday drivers seeking the perfect picnic spot along Lamoille Canyon Scenic Byway, and more. Come winter, the 12-mile road transforms into a snowmobile superhighway, both for locals and visitors opting to rent, as well as a staging ground for backcountry skiers looking to skin up the slopes and earn their turns back down.

Travel Nevada Pro Tip

Pro Tip: Looking to boot up and romp around the Rubies? Get our rundown on easy family day hikes, all-day excursions, and multi-day thru-hiking adventures along the Ruby Crest National Recreation Trail here.

Lamoille Canyon Scenic Byway
Ruby Crest National Recreation Trail
Ruby Mountain Heli Ski, Heli Ski, Heli Skiing
Ruby Mountains Heli-Ski Experience

Speaking of backcountry skiing, there’s also an “express lane” to the top, and it’s called Ruby Mountains Heli-Experience. Since 1977, this family-run operation has whisked skiers to towering peaks, pristine bowls, white-knuckled chutes, and plenty of non-expert terrain, to boot, in a range that boasts some of the deepest and driest powder in the entire nation—generally under the instructive eye of expert local guides. Point is: if you’re into the fluffy stuff, the Rubies should be on your bucket list—those who know…really know.

Back down in “town,” things move at a little bit slower of a pace. Photographers delight in roaming the charming rural lanes, seeking pastoral scenes of period homes, ranchland vistas, and the iconic, wooden, 1905-built Little Church of the Crossroads. In drier months, motorists can slow-poke it past old ranches and the lush Humboldt River drainage lands that trace the foot of the Ruby Mountains, and either return back the way they came, head to Elko via NV-229 and I-80, or make a loop of it all back to Lamoille.

Little Church of the Crossroads
Little Church of the Crossroads

Where to Eat and Drink in Lamoille

Whether you’re looking to fuel up for the day’s adventures or recharge at the end of them, Lamoille’s got two solid dining options that are popular with visitors and Elko-area locals alike. O’Carroll’s Bar & Grill opens daily for breakfast to offer up AM classics like omelets, scrambles, steak ‘n’ eggs, and chicken fried steaks; for lunch and dinner, choose from beefy burgers, hot melts, chili, steaks, and Basque chorizo. About a minute’s walk down the street, the Pine Lodge Dinner House lives up to its name with juicy steaks and prime rib (topped with lobster tails or shrimp), salmon, soups, salads, and more—all with a rustic and authentic ambience.

Ruby Mountain Pizza Co.
Ruby Mountain Pizza Co.
Pine Lodge Dinner House
Pine Lodge Dinner House

Just down the road in Spring Creek, hit up the Mudd Hutt for coffee and espresso, Rolberto’s Mexican Food for south-of-the-border fare galore, Ruby Mountain Pizza Co. for cheesy pies of any size, or Muley’s Bar & Family Grill for satisfying pub grub and cold beers. If you’re looking to stock up on things to stuff in the cooler, Khoury’s Fresh Market has everything you need, along with plenty of the camping supplies you forgot to bring—or ran out of, because you didn’t want to leave quite yet. (We don’t blame you.) 

Lodging in Lamoille, Nevada

For rustic rooms in the heart of it all, the 1907-built Hotel Lamoille offers three multi-room suites in the middle of “town”—just next door to the Pine Lodge and across from a shady park called the Grove. It’s open year-round, but be sure to call ahead; it’s popular for weddings and family gatherings. (If you go, you’ll find out why.)

 Hotel Lamoille
Hotel Lamoille
Ruby 360 Lodge
Ruby 360 Lodge

On the other end of the spectrum, there’s the Ruby 360 Lodge—a modern, luxury accommodation that lives up to its name with unbeatable views of the Ruby Mountains and the surrounding valley from 10 guest rooms, plentiful balconies, a hot tub patio, and an outdoor game lawn. On-site dining, group packages, and guided adventures are all on offer, thanks to the folks at Ruby Mountains Heli-Experience, who run the lodge—a four-decade-long dream that the Royer family made real in 2017. 

The same longtime Lamoille family outfitters also run two of our favorite Uncommon Overnighter options, in the form of some of the West’s most glamped-out yurts—both of which are outfitted with cozy beds, a fireplace, a propane stove, and even solar-powered Wi-Fi. The Conrad Creek Low Yurt is set against a babbling brook in a grove of aspens, with sprawling views of the valley below. Meanwhile, the Ruby High Yurt sits perched at nearly 10,000 feet on a tree-lined ridge with views for days and a luxed-up backcountry vibe that’s impossible to beat; the only catch is this: you’ve got to take a 2-to-4-hour hike (solo or guided) to get to it—or catch a lift with a helicopter. As for getting back down, depending on the season, you can hike or ski. (See what we mean?)

Ruby High Yurt
Ruby High Yurt
Lamoille Canyon Scenic Byway
Lamoille Canyon & The Ruby Mountains

If you’re camping in a tent or a land yacht, head up Lamoille Canyon Scenic Byway to Thomas Canyon Campground. Located at the confluence of Lamoille and Thomas Creeks and flanked by the deep canyons they’ve cut over millennia, the seasonally reservable campground offers 40 beautiful sites, spread out beneath groves of aspen and cottonwood trees—many on or within earshot of the rushing water. 

Of course, if you’d rather ditch the crowds, hop on the Ruby Crest National Recreation Trail and pitch your tent at primitive sites near a number of alpine lakes, picturesque peaks, and wildflower-blanketed meadows. No permit is required. But if you plan to fish (and if you don’t, you’re missing out), make sure you purchase a license from NDOW. (Yes, they check. And, once you get there, you’ll see why a ranger would want this beat.)

Ruby Crest National Recreation Trail
Ruby Crest National Recreation Trail

Events in Lamoille

If Lamoille Canyon’s two-footed options are too “slow” for you, June’s Ruby Mountain Relay lets you speed things up. On the third weekend in June, runners flock to the Rubies for their choice of foot races, which range from five-person relays, half-marathons, full marathons, and even the Timberline Trail Ultra-Marathon. (If you’d rather use it as an opportunity to walk, you’ll find plenty of company on that front, too.) 

Ruby Roubaix: Gravel Fondo
Ruby Roubaix: Gravel Fondo
Ruby Mountain Relay
Ruby Mountain Relay
Eric Cachinero

For those who’d rather pedal in cleats than wear out their feet(s), the Ruby Roubaix: Gravel Fondo calls to cyclists with 20-, 36-, 62-, and 117-mile options that carry riders on and off pavement through some of the most spectacular scenery in Nevada. “Fondo” is the operative word here, meaning it’s up to each participant whether they want to make it a race or simply a scenic ride.

#TravelNevada

Whether you’re hiking among wildflowers, shredding some of America’s driest powder, or chowing down on a hearty steak in a rustic restaurant, tag your snaps with #TravelNevada so we can follow—and possibly share—your Lamoille adventure.

Nevada, not Las Vegas. 
I grew up in northern Nevada raising sheep at the base of the Ruby Mountains, catching fish from the creek off the the deck in the backyard.  I’ve traveled all over the world and currently live in a beautiful city; however, no sight will ever compare to that of home. 
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.#lamoille #Nevada #silverstate #countryaf #homesick
It took years for Axle to be trusted off leash. Now that he is, I think he wishes he would have started listening sooner.
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#homemeansnevada #hikenevada #lamoille #lamoillecanyon #libertylake #nature #womenwhohike #dogswhohike #hikingadventures #hikenevada #nevada #travelnevada #dfmi #northernnevada #explorenevada #highdesert #nevadaoutdoors #pitbull #brindlepitbull #optoutside #outdoors #wanderlust
The Sierras, Rockies, Tetons…and Rubies?

We were blown away by the rugged beauty of Nevada’s Ruby Mountains. We visited in early June, when late-Spring snowmelt sent waterfalls streaming down into Lamoille Canyon, and patches of snow on north facing slopes made it still feel like winter in the shade

Having visited many of America’s best Mountain ranges, we honestly felt the Rubies were just as stunning as some of their more famous neighbors.

Just 30 minutes south of Elko, and miles from any crowds 

Have you been? 
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visitnevada #travelnevada travelnevada #hikingbuddy #gettingout #gettingoutside #gooutsideandexplore #kidswhoexplore #kidswhoexplore #adventurefamily #rubymountains #familytravelblog #familytravels #hikingtheglobe #hikingwithkids
Little late but had a great weekend out in Elko for my birthday. Spent a little time at Ruby marshes which was a huge success. #homemeansnevada #battleborn #flyfishing #rainbowtrout #cutthroattrout #elko #rubymountains #rubymarshes #troutitswhatsfordinner #dontbeboring #livewildbefree
Ruby Mountains | 6
Photography has taken me to some pretty incredible places over the years. This trip to Nevada's Ruby Mountains was no different.⁠
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Many sunrise images, like this one, typically start by hiking hours earlier in the dark to what I hope will be an epic display of light. Sometimes Mother Nature cooperates and sometimes she doesn't. This time we were right in sync.⁠
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#TravelNevada #ThatNevadaLife #onlyinnv #naturalnevada #RubyMountains ⁠
#loweprobags #Manfrotto #drobostorage #YourShotPhotographer #NikonNoFilter ⁠
#natgeo #natgeoadventure #natgeoyourshot #optoutside #earthfocus #roamtheplanet #earthpix #wonderful_places #beautifuldestinations #master_shots #jaw_dropping_shots #naturegeography #ourplanetdaily #curatethis1x #igbest_shots #lonelyplanet #discoverearth #hiking #findwhatyourelookingfor #photooftheday
Al sur de Elko, la comunidad de Jiggs cuenta con una fascinante historia, como lo es Jiggs Bar, que fue construido en los años 50 con un colorido concepto.

Jiggs Bar es un lugar perfecto para visitar y disfrutar de una dosis sólida de historia sin filtro. 

#TravelNevada #HomeMeansNevada #NVOutdoors #Nevada
Pretty amazing hike yesterday in Lamoille Canyon, NV. The Mountain Goats are becoming a bit more welcoming to me, which is allowing for some amazing shots! 

#GoatAlliance #MountainGoat #Eberlestock #LamoilleCanyon #Nevada #Outdoors #Photography #Wildlife #Animals #Nature #Roads #Epic_Hunts #NaturePhotography #EpicOutdoors #NatGeoYourShot #WildlifePhotography #GoHunt #TravelNevada #NevadaMagazine #PhotoOfTheDay #WildlifeConservation #Landscape #CanonUSA #CanonCameras #TravelNevada #Sigma #SigmaLenses #1stPhormOutdoors canonusa sigmaphoto #SigmaPhoto goatalliance #RockyMountainGoatAlliance outdoorsmans 1stphormoutdoors barstooloutdoors mountainhatchoutdoors epic_hunts outdoorchanneltv nevadawildlife wildlifeplanet natgeo natgeoyourshot natgeotravel natgeowild travelnevada
Backpacking in Lamoille Canyon. Liberty lake #lamoilecanyon #rubymountains #getoutside #leavenotrace #landscapephotography#travelnevada
Did you know? Many Native American tribes associate the Mountain Bluebird with high significance, considering the sight of one a sign of prosperity, good news, transformation, and growth. What will this bluebird bring you? | Ruby Mountains - Lamoille Canyon - Island Lake Trail | 5/19/2021 | 📸 Nikon p950
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