Travel Log : The Big Smoky Valley of Central Nevada

The Big Smoky Valley is one of the big surprises that a person is likely to find when wandering around the state. I know I certainly was surprised the first time I accidentally stumbled into this valley. You see, I was returning to Reno from a week spent in Las Vegas. Highway 95 passes through the small town of Tonopah…which sort of acts as a travelers rest station and is a good place to get gas (just don’t try the McDonalds there…it is beyond terrible!).

In any event, I wasn’t paying attention and instead of going straight on Highway 95 north through town I made a right on Highway 6. I had seen this highway before and had been interested in what was on it, so when I realized my mistake I didn’t immediately turn back. Instead I plowed on for a few miles.

And then I remembered my map…wasn’t there a state paved highway that cut north just outside of Tonopah and led up towards Austin somewhere? Hmmm…good question. So I stopped my truck and dug up my map and, sure enough, there is was…Highway 376 that led up through a valley called the Big Smoky Valley and through a tiny town called Hadley.

And so, armed with this knowledge and a full tank of gas, I found the turn-off for Highway 376 a few miles outside of Tonopah, pointed my truck to the north, and headed into a place few people, even lifelong residents of Nevada, have never seen before.

The first dozen miles or so are rather boring…although the hulking mountians in the background do offer some tantalizing hints of what lays before you. To the left when heading North (or the West) are the Toiyabe Range…a mountain range with a massive vertical rise and which is home to the seldom visited Arc Dome Wilderness Area. And to the east are the Toquima Range…a mountain range that isn’t quite as impressive…at least visually from the road…as they sit a bit further back from the highway and have their western flank blocked a bit by foothills.

And so I continued North. Past the intersection with Highway 377 which leads off to the semi-historic town of Manhatten.

And then things began to get interesting.

The sun began to come out…a very pleasant treat after driving through a rare cloudy day in Nevada. And then…while nearing the town of Hadley, the clouds more or less parted ways over the valley floor…opening up the beautiful vista that one finds in the Big Smoky Valley.

The Big Smoky Valley is a big, massive valley…and extends for more than 50 miles and averages from 5-20 miles in width…depending on where you are within it. The mountains, particularly the Toiyabe Range, rise abruptly off the valley floor, with the taller peaks having a 5000 foot vertical rise.

As this trip was in March, the mountains were all covered in snow. Yet, because we had had a dry winter up to this point, the valley itself was snow-free…allowing a beautiful meshing of desert, snow, mountains and sky. Couple that with a quickly setting sun and you had the makings of a beautiful panoramic. One I was only too happy to enjoy in this lonely and forgotten corner of Nevada.

I then remembered I had my camera and tripod with me. So I took the first road that cut off towards the mountains hoping to find some high ground to get some better photos. As it turned out, the road I turned off on led up to a deserted and long-forgotten mining town named Ophir. From here, I took some photos, poked around this forgotten about little piece of Nevada history, and simply enjoyed the sights of this beautiful place in Nevada that nobody really knows exists.

But it was still March…and the sun was setting. And I still had a very, very long ride ahead of me back to Reno. So it was time to head out…but I’ll always remember the hours I spent here in the Big Smoky Valley, this hidden little gem of a valley in Central Nevada.

Towns & Services

There are three towns inside the Big Smoky Valley…Hadley, Carvers and McLeod. Hadley, as it is home to most of the miners who work at the nearby gold mine, has a surprising amount of BASIC services. As does Carvers which is just a few miles down the road. The town of McLeod, though…has very little…nothing, truthfully…except during the summer. Additionally, the town of Austin is found on the north end of the valley…on the other side of Austin Summit on Highway 50).

In short…you won’t run out of gas or starve in this valley…which is more than can be said for most scenic valleys in Nevada. Still, don’t go looking for a hotel…you won’t find one.

Getting Here

The Big Smoky Valley lies to the South of Highway 50…to the east of Austin. Or, alternatively, you can access it by heading east on Highway 6 outside of Tonopah for a few miles, then picking up Highway 376 North. Either way, you’ll have a gorgeous and unforgettable drive.

Related Information About the Big Smoky Valley on Exploring Nevada

• Big Smoky Valley Photographs : Gallery 1
• Big Smoky Valley Photographs : Gallery 2
• Big Smoky Valley PhotoBlogs