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The Dirt: Comstock Historic District

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From the Truckee River in the North, to Virginia City and Gold Hill in the South, Storey County offers unique and convenient opportunities for Off-Highway Vehicle recreation.

There are many OHV friendly communities which make great staging areas or starting points for OHV adventures. If you are interested in seeing the history of Nevada's mining industry, try staging along the outskirts of Virginia City or Gold Hill. You can also access Virginia City by staging out of Washoe Valley, either near Washoe Lake State Park or at the terminus of Jumbo Grade. Heading further East from Virginia City will take you to petroglyph sites, old ranches, and more mining ruins. A limited number of trails extend all the way to the Truckee River, both due North (towards the city of Sparks) and Northeast (towards the towns of Fernley and Wadsworth).

Storey County is home to Virginia City, one of the most famous and spectacular boomtowns in Western United States history. Numerous historic roads, along with more modern roads by today’s land managers, allow visitors to explore Mount Davidson, the site of the famous Comstock Lode. Evidence of the exploitation of the Lode can be found all around, from the ruins of mills and mine entrances to the more mundane piles of tin cans and other artifacts. To see even earlier legacies of human habitation, check out the Lagomarsino Petroglyph Site, which is home to over 200 individual petroglyphs. For dirt bike enthusiasts, the Virginia City Grand Prix is a must-attend event, held late in the spring every year since 1977. 

Some other popular routes in Storey County include adventure routes from Washoe Lake to Virginia City, and from Virginia City to Lagomarsino petroglyphs. More information about these routes can be found on their related dirt pages.

Directions

There are many points of access for public lands in Storey County. A few are listed below:

  • There are several dirt roads and pullouts along Geiger Grade Road, such as the pullout at Sevenmile Canyon, which can be used to stage trailers.
  • It is also possible to reach Virginia City from Washoe Lake State Park, just West of Storey county in neighboring Washoe County. Please see our related dirt page for more information.
  • Jumbo Grade Trail OHV Area is accessed from Eastlake Blvd., off of I-580 in North Carson City, or from Old 395 (South Virginia St) in South Reno. Virginia City is approximately 8 miles over the mountain.

Rules of the Road

Land Manager: Bureau of Land Management, Sierra Front Field Office

BLM Sierra Front Field Office
5665 Morgan Mill Road
Carson City, NV 89701

Telephone: (775) 885-6000

Email: ccfoweb@blm.gov

Motor vehicles are permitted on designated trails only.

Always plan ahead and prepare for uncertainty. Travel with warm clothing, first aid, food, water and appropriate tools to fix a problem.
Traveling in groups is always a good idea, as well as informing someone of where you will be going.

  • Register Your Vehicle
  • Make sure your vehicle is equipped with a spark arrestor
  • Plan Ahead and Prepare
  • Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
  • Dispose of Waste Properly
  • Leave What You Find
  • Minimize Campfire Impacts
  • Respect Wildlife
  • Be Considerate of Other Trail Users

Leave No Trace

Tread Lightly

Historic Preservation


Plan Your Visit

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