Markers: 20

Elko

The name "Elko" is said to mean "white woman" -- said to be spoken by a Native American chief upon his first glance at the region's first white female settlers. Others believe that the name was given by a man who enjoyed putting the letter "O" after certain animal names. Rambunctious? It's in Elko's nature after all.

Conquering Elko's markers will require a bit of strategic planning if you wish to maximize your fuel consumption and a gruesome amount of backtracking. But, there's little to worry about. Elko is an isolated nucleus of miners, ranchers, sportsmen, truckers, buckaroos, and saddle makers. High dollar to hole-in-the-wall casinos. Fine dining to a burger with fries to freeway food.

Saddle up cowpokes: Elko County awaits.

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See the description on the map below for each marker's locals' tips and tricks!

Trip to Jarbidge

- 3 - West End of Hastings Cutoff

"The canyon was first traversed in 1841 by the Bartleson-Bidwell Party, the earliest organized California emigrant group."

- 45 - Humboldt Wells

"These springs, seen as marsh spots and small ponds of water in the meadows here, are the Humboldt Wells, a historic oasis on the California Emigrant Trail."

- 46 - Pilot Peak

"In the period 1845- 1850, it was a famous landmark and symbol of hope and relief to the Reed-Donner Party ..."

- 47 - Fort Halleck Military Reservation (1867-1886)

"Established as Camp Halleck by Captain S.P. Smith July 26, 1867, to protect the California Emigrant Trail and construction work on the Central Pacific Railroad."

- 48 - Tuscarora

"In 1871, W.O. Weed discovered the rich Mount Blitzen silver lodes, two miles northeast of the Beard claims."

- 50 - Carlin Canyon

"The Bidwell-Bartleson Party was the forerunner of the 1841-1870 California Emigrant Trail tide through the canyon--then known as Wall Defile or Fremont Canyon."

- 69 - Jarbidge

"The name Jarbidge comes from a Shoshone word meaning "a bad or evil spirit."

- 73 - The Unknown Soldiers

"Victims of the influenza epidemic of 1918, the graves of ten soldiers buried here represent a mystery to this day as to their identity."

- 106 - Elko

"On December 29, 1868, representatives of the Central Pacific Railroad started laying out lots for the future town of Elko."

- 107 - Elko Airport

"On April 6, 1926, Varney Air Lines pilot Leon Cuddeback, carrying one bag of mail, landed his tiny Curtis Swallow bi-plane at Elko, Nevada ..."

- 108 - Ruby Valley Pony Express Station

"... Fine. I will eat my ballcap should this reconstruction ever receive a dose of spray paint!"

- 109 - Lamoille Valley

"Because heavy use denuded the grass from the main Fort Hall route of the California Emigrant Trail along the Humboldt River, many emigrants left the river near Starr Valley."

- 112 - Carlin

"Carlin, the oldest town in present Elko County, was established as a railroad division point in December, 1868, by the Central Pacific Railroad."

- 151 - Duck Valley Indian Reservation

- Northernmost Marker in Nevada -

- 153 - Jarbidge Community Hall

"With 1,500 population in Jarbidge Canyon by 1910, citizens built this pioneer type community hall with a "floating" maple floor."

- 229 - Oil From Shale

"Driving of the main shaft began in 1916. Of several tries at extracting oil from shale, this was the only successful operation in Nevada."

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- 244 - Dinner Station

- Missing since 2003 -

- 251 - Diamondfield Jack Davis

"This historical marker commemorates the lasting notoriety of flamboyant western gunman Jackson Lee Davis (1870-1949), who was better known by the colorful name, "Diamondfield Jack."

- 260 - Contact

"In the 1870s gold was mined in Contact, and a five-ton smelter, built in Contact, ceased functioning after three test runs."

The Great Escape

Eastern Nevada's mini city is nestled in a broad valley just a few miles from the massive ramparts of the Ruby Mountains, located 368 miles east of Reno and more than 250 miles west of Salt Lake City, Utah. Elko enjoys its freedom and spaciousness in the far open expanses of northeastern Nevada. Elko relishes its seclusion and seems to get by just fine. "The Heart of Nevada" writes its own rules.

But, this place backs itself up on much more than gold.

Geographically, Elko County comprises a massive chunk of Nevada that encompasses the entire northeast corner of the state. It even prides itself with a few superlatives. Elko is home to at least a dozen mountain ranges, including the Ruby Mountains, the most well-watered range in the Great Basin. It's also the birthplace of the Humboldt River, the longest waterway in Nevada and in addition to the Humboldt, hundreds of miles of streams tumble down its ranges.

Here, it's simple to feel like a player in the county's sprawling outdoor arena.

Elko County comprises an area larger than New England.

Founded: September 18, 1869
Size: 17,203 sq. mi.
Rank: 2nd out of 17
Population: 53,495 (2022)
Rank: 5th out of 17
Density: 3 sq. mi.
Rank: 8th out of 17
Largest Community: Elko (20,659)
County Seat: Elko (20,659)
Highest Point: Ruby Dome (11,387')

Known for ...

Ruby Mountains & Wilderness, Lamoille Canyon & Scenic Byway, East Humboldt Range & Angel Lake, Elko Cowboy Poetry Festival, Elko Basque Festival, Wild Horse State Recreation Area