Lamoille Canyon, Ruby Mountains Nevada

The centerpiece of the Elko region of Nevada is the glacier-carved mountain range known as the Rubys, access is via Lamoille Canyon Scenic Byway. This 12-mile paved road works its way up past vistas straight out of a photographer’s dream. Often compared to the Swiss Alps, the Ruby Mountains’ steep, craggy peaks rise nearly 5,000 feet above the valley below, capped by Ruby Dome at 11,387 feet. A 45-minute drive puts you at the top of Lamoille Canyon Scenic Byway, where the hikes range from couple-hour excursions to multi-day thru-hikes on the Ruby Crest National Recreation Trail, all to beautiful, trout-packed alpine lakes. Come winter, the Rubies boast 300 inches of the driest, fluffiest snow in the USA—seducing snowshoers, snowmobilers, and powder-hungry backcountry and heli-skiers alike.