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Loneliest Road in AmericaApr 11, 2009
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5 miles across valley
A Car!
8 miles!
Today we drove “The Loneliest Road in America”, Highway 50. The highway crosses Central Nevada through the Great Basin, a unique area because no water leaves the basin. This Nevada portion of Highway 50 got this name by Life magazine in July 1986. The name originates from large desolate areas traversed by the route, with few or no signs of civilization (there is only two small towns on the route!). The highway crosses several large desert valleys separated by numerous mountain ranges towering over the valley floors.
The route has been a pathway for travellers over the centuries. The Native Americans followed migrating herds of deer, antelope and other game. Early explorers crossing Nevada included John Fremont and Jedediah Smith, The Overland Stage later followed Smith’s route; then the Pony Express took this route, and finally, the transcontinental telegraph.
We drove 268 miles (a long day for us) crossing a series of mountain ranges and crossing valleys anything from 5 to 8 miles wide with vistas either side of 20 to 30 miles. We saw very few cars and only two small towns and only the occasional tree!
