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Black Rock Desert



 
 
The Black Rock Desert is a dry lake bed and the surrounding endorheic basin in northwestern Nevada
Nevada

Nevada is a U.S. state located in the Western United States of the United States of America. The capital is Carson City and the largest city is Las Vegas, Nevada....
 in the United States
United States

The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...
. The flat expanse of dry lake, or playa
Playa

A playa is a dry or Ephemeral lakebed, generally extending to the shore, or a remnant of, an endorheic lake. Such flats consist of fine-grained sediments infused with alkali salts....
, is a remnant of the prehistoric Lake Lahontan
Lake Lahontan

Ancient Lake Lahontan was a large endorheic lake that existed during the ice age, covering much of northwestern Nevada, extending into northeastern California and southern Oregon....
, which existed between 18,000 and 7,000 BC during the last ice age
Wisconsin glaciation

The last glacial period was the most recent glacial period within the Quaternary glaciation, occurring in the Pleistocene epoch. It began about 110,000 years ago and ended between 10,000 and 15,000 Before Present....
. During the lake's peak around 12,700 years ago, the desert floor was under approximately of water.

The area was used in the mid-1800s by branches of the California Trail
California Trail

See also: Oregon TrailThe California Trail was a major overland emigrant trail that lead to the 1800's version of Hollywood. It was about across the western half of the North American continent from various Missouri River towns to what is now the state of California....
 and Oregon Trail
Oregon Trail

The Oregon Trail was one of the main overland migration routes on the North American continent, leading from locations on the Missouri River to the Oregon Territory....
 for settlement of the US West Coast.






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The Black Rock Desert is a dry lake bed and the surrounding endorheic basin in northwestern Nevada
Nevada

Nevada is a U.S. state located in the Western United States of the United States of America. The capital is Carson City and the largest city is Las Vegas, Nevada....
 in the United States
United States

The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...
. The flat expanse of dry lake, or playa
Playa

A playa is a dry or Ephemeral lakebed, generally extending to the shore, or a remnant of, an endorheic lake. Such flats consist of fine-grained sediments infused with alkali salts....
, is a remnant of the prehistoric Lake Lahontan
Lake Lahontan

Ancient Lake Lahontan was a large endorheic lake that existed during the ice age, covering much of northwestern Nevada, extending into northeastern California and southern Oregon....
, which existed between 18,000 and 7,000 BC during the last ice age
Wisconsin glaciation

The last glacial period was the most recent glacial period within the Quaternary glaciation, occurring in the Pleistocene epoch. It began about 110,000 years ago and ended between 10,000 and 15,000 Before Present....
. During the lake's peak around 12,700 years ago, the desert floor was under approximately of water.

The area was used in the mid-1800s by branches of the California Trail
California Trail

See also: Oregon TrailThe California Trail was a major overland emigrant trail that lead to the 1800's version of Hollywood. It was about across the western half of the North American continent from various Missouri River towns to what is now the state of California....
 and Oregon Trail
Oregon Trail

The Oregon Trail was one of the main overland migration routes on the North American continent, leading from locations on the Missouri River to the Oregon Territory....
 for settlement of the US West Coast. Since then, the area has been host to scattered mining activity. The Black Rock Desert also hosts various recreational, scientific, commercial and record-breaking activities which take advantage of the playa's enormous flat expanse.

Most of the region is federal land administered by the Bureau of Land Management
Bureau of Land Management

The Bureau of Land Management is an agency within the United States Department of the Interior which administers America's public lands, totaling approximately 264 million acres or one-eighth of the landmass of the country....
 (BLM), including the Black Rock Desert-High Rock Canyon Emigrant Trails National Conservation Area
Black Rock Desert-High Rock Canyon Emigrant Trails National Conservation Area

The Black Rock Desert-High Rock Canyon Emigrant Trails National Conservation Area is federal land in Nevada under the Bureau of Land Management....
 and 10 federally-designated wilderness area which protect the areas that had been part of the historic trails. BLM also manages recreational activities in the area.

Geography

The Black Rock Desert region is in northwestern Nevada
Nevada

Nevada is a U.S. state located in the Western United States of the United States of America. The capital is Carson City and the largest city is Las Vegas, Nevada....
 and the northwestern Great Basin
Great Basin

The Great Basin is a large, arid region of the western United States. Its boundaries depend on how it is defined. Its most common definition is the contiguous drainage basin, roughly between the Wasatch Mountains, in Utah and the Sierra Nevada , that has no natural outlet to the sea....
. The playa extends for approximately northeast from the towns of Gerlach and Empire
Gerlach-Empire, Nevada

Gerlach-Empire is a census-designated place in Washoe County, Nevada, Nevada, United States. The combined population was 499 at the United States Census 2000....
, between the Jackson Mountains
Jackson Mountains

One hundred seventy five million years ago continental plates collided causing the rise of the Jackson Mountain Range. Today the majority of the range is divided into two federally protected wilderness area, the North Jackson Wilderness and the South Jackson Wilderness....
 to the east and the Calico Mountains
Calico Mountains (Nevada)

The Calico Mountains are a mountain range in northwestern Nevada. The range runs north to south along the western edge of the Black Rock Desert....
 to the west. The Black Rock Desert is separated into two arms by the Black Rock Range
Black Rock Range

The Black Rock Range is a mountain range in northwestern Nevada. It is named for Black Rock Point, which is located at the southern end of the range....
. It lies at an elevation of and has an area of about .

There are several possible definitions of the extent of the Black Rock Desert. Often people refer just to the playa surface. Sometimes terrain which can be seen from the playa is included. The widest definition of the Black Rock Desert region is the watershed of the basin that drains into the playa. The intermittent Quinn River
Quinn River

The Quinn River, once known as the Queen River is an intermittent river, approximately 110 mi long, in the desert of northwestern Nevada in the United States....
 is the largest river in the region, starting in the Santa Rosa Range
Santa Rosa Range

The Santa Rosa Range is a line of mountains in northern Nevada in the western United States. The range extends for approximately 75 miles north from the Humboldt River west of Winnemucca, Nevada through eastern Humboldt County, Nevada to the border with Oregon....
 and ending in the Quinn River Sink on the playa south of the Black Rock Range. The watershed covers including the Upper and Lower Quinn River
Quinn River

The Quinn River, once known as the Queen River is an intermittent river, approximately 110 mi long, in the desert of northwestern Nevada in the United States....
, Smoke Creek Desert
Smoke Creek Desert

The Smoke Creek Desert is found in northwestern Nevada in the United States. The desert lies to the north of Pyramid Lake, west of the Fox Range and east of the Smoke Creek Mountains....
, Massacre Lake, and Thousand Creek/Virgin Valley watersheds of northwestern Nevada as well as small parts across the borders of California and Oregon.

Humboldt
Humboldt County, Nevada

Humboldt County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nevada. As of 2007, the population was estimated to be 18,052 . Its county seat is Winnemucca, Nevada....
, Pershing
Pershing County, Nevada

Pershing County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nevada. As of the United States Census 2000, the population was 6,693. Its county seat is Lovelock, Nevada....
 and Washoe
Washoe County, Nevada

Washoe County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nevada. The population was 339,486 at the United States Census, 2000; 2006 United States Census Bureau estimates listed a population of 396,428....
 Counties of Nevada intersect at the Black Rock Desert.

The following mountain ranges are within or bordering the Black Rock Desert region.
  • Antelope Range
    Antelope Range (Pershing County)

    The Antelope Range is a mountain range in Pershing County, Nevada, Nevada.References ...
  • Badger Mountains
    Badger Mountains

    The Badger Mountains is a mountain range in Washoe County, Nevada, Nevada. The southern portion is within the East Fork High Rock Canyon Wilderness. The northern portion is within the Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge....
  • Black Rock Range
    Black Rock Range

    The Black Rock Range is a mountain range in northwestern Nevada. It is named for Black Rock Point, which is located at the southern end of the range....
  • Calico Mountains
    Calico Mountains (Nevada)

    The Calico Mountains are a mountain range in northwestern Nevada. The range runs north to south along the western edge of the Black Rock Desert....
  • Division Range
    Division Range

    The Division Range is a mountain range in Humboldt County, Nevada, Nevada.References ...
  • Granite Range
    Granite Range (Washoe County)

    The Granite Range is a mountain range in Washoe County, Nevada, Nevada west of the town of Gerlach-Empire, Nevada and the lower Black Rock Desert playa....
  • Fox Range
    Fox Range

    The Fox Range is a mountain range in Washoe County, Nevada, Nevada.The Granite Range is adjacent to the north. The Selenite Range is to the east. Pyramid Lake is to the south. The Smoke Creek Desert is to the west....
  • Hannan Range
    Hannan Range

    The Hannan Range is a mountain range in Pershing County, Nevada, Nevada.References ...
  • High Rock Canyon Hills
    High Rock Canyon Hills

    The High Rock Canyon Hills is a mountain range in Humboldt County, Nevada, Nevada.References ...
  • Hog Ranch Mountains
    Hog Ranch Mountains

    The Hog Ranch Mountains are a mountain range in Washoe County, Nevada, Nevada.References ...
  • Jackson Mountains
    Jackson Mountains

    One hundred seventy five million years ago continental plates collided causing the rise of the Jackson Mountain Range. Today the majority of the range is divided into two federally protected wilderness area, the North Jackson Wilderness and the South Jackson Wilderness....
  • Kamma Mountains
    Kamma Mountains

    The Kamma Mountains are a mountain range in Pershing County, Nevada, Nevada. The ghost town and railroad siding at Sulphur, Nevada is on the west side of the Kamma Mountains at the eastern edge of the Black Rock Desert playa....
  • Little High Rock Mountains
    Little High Rock Mountains

    The Little High Rock Mountains is a mountain range in Washoe County, Nevada, Nevada.References ...
  • Massacre Range
    Massacre Range

    The Massacre Range is a mountain range in Washoe County, Nevada, Nevada. The range is partly within the High Rock Canyon Wilderness....
  • Montana Mountains
    Montana Mountains

    The Montana Mountains are a mountain range in Humboldt County, Nevada, Nevada.References ...
  • Pine Forest Range
    Pine Forest Range

    The Pine Forest Range is a mountain range in Humboldt County, Nevada, Nevada.References ...
  • Poker Brown Mountains
    Poker Brown Mountains

    The Poker Brown Mountains are a mountain range in Pershing County, Nevada, Nevada.References ...
  • Santa Rosa Range
    Santa Rosa Range

    The Santa Rosa Range is a line of mountains in northern Nevada in the western United States. The range extends for approximately 75 miles north from the Humboldt River west of Winnemucca, Nevada through eastern Humboldt County, Nevada to the border with Oregon....
  • Selenite Range
    Selenite Range

    The Selenite Range is a mountain range in Pershing County, Nevada, Nevada. To its southwest is the Fox Range. To its northwest is the Black Rock Desert playa....
  • Sentinel Hills
    Sentinel Hills

    The Sentinel Hills are a mountain range in Humboldt County, Nevada, Nevada.References ...
  • Seven Troughs Range
    Seven Troughs Range

    The Seven Troughs Range is a mountain range in Pershing County, Nevada, Nevada.References ...
  • Sheephead Mountains
    Sheephead Mountains

    The Sheephead Mountains are a mountain range in Pershing County, Nevada, Nevada.References ...
  • Smoke Creek Mountains
    Smoke Creek Mountains

    The Smoke Creek Mountains is a mountain range in Washoe County, Nevada, Nevada at the California border, west of the Smoke Creek Desert....
  • Yellow Hills
    Yellow Hills

    The Yellow Hills are a mountain range in Washoe County, Nevada, Nevada. They are located within the East Fork High Rock Canyon Wilderness....


  • History

    Image:Thrustssc.team.750pix.jpg|Thrust SSC team after land speed record, November 1997 (photo by Andrew Graves) Image:Kluft-photo-CSXT-2004-amateur-space-launch.jpg|CSXT
    Civilian Space eXploration Team

    The Civilian Space eXploration Team, known as CSXT, is a team of about 30 civilians interested in private spaceflight. They are not interested in profit or personal gain and pursue space exploration purely due to interest....
     first amateur rocket launch to space, May 17, 2004 (photo by Ian Kluft)
    In the mid-1800s, particularly during the California Gold Rush
    California Gold Rush

    The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was discovered by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill, in Coloma, California, California....
    , the Applegate-Lassen Cut-Off of the California Trail
    California Trail

    See also: Oregon TrailThe California Trail was a major overland emigrant trail that lead to the 1800's version of Hollywood. It was about across the western half of the North American continent from various Missouri River towns to what is now the state of California....
     left the main route of that Trail near present-day Rye Patch Reservoir, and crossed the Black Rock Desert, on the way to Goose Lake
    Goose Lake

    Goose Lake may refer to:...
     in northeast California, and the California gold fields. The explorers who mapped the routes through the area and the emigrants who followed them named the Black Rock Desert for a prominent point near a spring along the route now known as Black Rock Point. It is still often called simply "the Black Rock".

    The flatness of the surface has led to its use as a proving ground for experimental land vehicles. It was the site of the most recent successful attempts on the World Land Speed Record
    Land speed record

    The land speed record is the fastest speed achieved by any wheeled vehicle on land, as opposed to one on water or in the air. There is no single body for validation and regulation; what is used in practice is the Category C flying start regulations, officiated by regional or national organizations under the auspices of the F?d?ration In...
    . In 1983, Richard Noble
    Richard Noble

    Richard Noble, Order of the British Empire was a holder of the land speed record between 1983 and 1997, and was the project director of ThrustSSC, the vehicle which currently holds the land speed record, set at Black Rock Desert, Nevada in 1997....
     drove the jet-powered Thrust2
    Thrust2

    Thrust2 is a United Kingdom designed and built jet engine propelled automobile, which held the world land speed record from 4 October 1983 to 15 October 1997....
     car to a new record of . Noble also headed up the team that beat the Thrust 2 record. In 1997, ThrustSSC
    ThrustSSC

    Thrust SSC is a United Kingdom-designed and built jet engine-propelled car developed by Richard Noble, Glynne Bowsher, Ron Ayers and Jeremy Bliss....
     became the world's first and only supersonic car, reaching .

    In addition to the flat surface, the uncontrolled airspace over the area also attracts experimentation with rockets. The following are highlights of amateur rocketry records set at Black Rock:
    • On November 23, 1996, the Reaction Research Society
      Reaction Research Society

      The Reaction Research Society is the oldest continuously operating amateur rocketry group in the United States. Founded by George James on 6 January 1943, originally as the Southern California Rocket Society, the organization's name was changed to the Glendale Rocket Society two months later....
       launched a rocket to in altitude, a significant leap in amateur rocket altitude records at the time.
    • On May 17, 2004 the Civilian Space eXploration Team
      Civilian Space eXploration Team

      The Civilian Space eXploration Team, known as CSXT, is a team of about 30 civilians interested in private spaceflight. They are not interested in profit or personal gain and pursue space exploration purely due to interest....
       launched a rocket to in altitude, which was the first amateur rocket to exceed the Karman Line
      Karman line

      The K?rm?n line lies at an altitude of 100 km above the Earth's sea level, and is commonly used to define the boundary between the Earth's atmosphere and outer space....
       required to claim a space flight.


    Use

    Prospecting and mining has occurred in the area since the 1800s. US Gypsum Corporation operates a gypsum
    Gypsum

    Gypsum is a very soft mineral composed of calcium sulfate dihydrate, with the chemical formula calciumsulfuroxygen4?2water....
     mine and drywall
    Drywall

    Drywall is a common building material typically made of a layer of gypsum plaster pressed between two thick sheets of paper, then kiln dried. Drywall is used globally for the finish construction of interior walls and ceilings....
     (brand named Sheetrock) manufacturing plant in Empire. The Sulphur mining district on the east side of the desert has been the location of sulfur
    Sulfur

    Sulfur or sulphur is the chemical element that has the atomic number 16. It is denoted with the symbol S. It is an abundant Valence non-metal....
    , mercury
    Mercury (element)

    Mercury , also called quicksilver or hydrargyrum , is a chemical element with the symbol Hg and atomic number 80. A heavy, silvery d-block metal, mercury is one of six elements that are liquid at or near room temperature and pressure....
    , alunite
    Alunite

    Alunite, or alumstone, is a mineral that was first observed in the 15th century in Monti della Tolfa, north of Rome, where it was mined for the manufacture of alum....
    , silver
    Silver

    Silver is a chemical element with the chemical symbol Ag and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it has the highest electrical conductivity of any element and the highest thermal conductivity of any metal....
     and gold
    Gold

    Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and atomic number 79. It is a highly sought-after precious metal, having been used as money, as a store of value, in jewelry, in sculpture, and for ornamentation since the beginning of recorded history....
     mining including a currently-active gold strip mining operation. An opal
    Opal

    Opal is a mineraloid gel which is deposited at a relatively low temperature and may occur in the fissures of almost any kind of Rock , being most commonly found with limonite, sandstone, rhyolite, and basalt....
     mine is in the base of the Calico Mountains on the west side of the desert.

    Black Rock's unusually flat landscape has been a recurring set for movies, TV, videos and commercials. Examples include The Winning of Barbara Worth
    The Winning of Barbara Worth

    The Winning of Barbara Worth is a western film, released by United Artists in 1926 in film, and starring Ronald Colman, Vilma B?nky, and Gary Cooper ....
     (1926), The Misfits
    The Misfits (film)

    The Misfits is a 1961 United States drama film, written by Arthur Miller, directed by John Huston, and starring Clark Gable, Marilyn Monroe, Montgomery Clift, Thelma Ritter, and Eli Wallach....
     (1961), Far From Home
    Far From Home (film)

    Far From Home is a 1989 Suspense/Independent Film/Thriller starring Drew Barrymore, Matt Frewer, Jennifer Tilly, Dick Miller and the late John Spencer in a cameo role....
     (1989) and MythBusters
    MythBusters

    MythBusters is a popular science television program produced by Australian firm Beyond Television Productions originally for the Discovery Channel in the United States and Canada....
     (2003, Episode #1: Rocket-Assisted Chevy).

    Image:Lightmatter burningman.jpg|Burning Man
    Burning Man

    Burning Man is an annual event held in the Black Rock Desert, in Northern Nevada. It takes its name from the ritual burning of a large wooden effigy on Saturday evening....
     festival Image:Kluft-photo-dual-hpr-launch-Sep-2004-Img 2757c.jpg|High Power Rocketry

    Recreation

    Black Rock is the site of the annual Burning Man
    Burning Man

    Burning Man is an annual event held in the Black Rock Desert, in Northern Nevada. It takes its name from the ritual burning of a large wooden effigy on Saturday evening....
     festival. It is the largest event that occurs there.

    The area is also used by several prefectures (regional chapters) of the Tripoli Rocketry Association
    Tripoli Rocketry Association

    The Tripoli Rocketry Association is one of the two major organizing bodies for high powered rocket in the USA . It was founded in 1964 as a high school science club, integrating both rocketry and space science, and slowly evolved into a national organization....
    . The hosts "MudRock" in June, "Aeronaut" in late July or early August, and "eXtreme Performance Rocket Ships (XPRS)" in September. The hosts "" in September. It is a significant launch site for high power and amateur rocket
    Amateur rocketry

    File:Model rocket launch 2 .jpgAmateur rocketry, sometimes known as amateur experimental rocketry or experimental rocketry is a hobby in which participants experiment with fuels and make their own rocket motors, launching a wide variety of types and sizes of rockets....
     hobbyists. These organizations arrange airspace waivers from the FAA up to altitudes of and sometimes higher.

    The flat surface and frequent winds also attract land sailing
    Land sailing

    Land sailing, also known as sand yachting or land yachting, is the act of moving across landform in a wheeled vehicle powered by wind through the use of a sail....
     enthusiasts. Similarly, glider
    Glider

    Heavier-than-air unpowered aircraft do not need propulsion once airborne. Gliders, balloons and kites are unpowered aircraft.Gliders such as gliders, hang gliders and paragliders gain their initial flying speed from some launch mechanism, and then gain additional energy from gravity and from updrafts such as thermal currents....
     pilots from Reno host a regional annual soaring race from Reno to Black Rock called the Gerlach Dash.

    Another recurring recreational activity is rockhounding
    Rockhounding

    Rockhounding is the recreational collecting of Rock and/or mineral specimens from their natural environment.Early rockhounds were Prospectings looking for valuable minerals and gemstones for commercial purposes....
    . BLM places regulatory limits on quantities of rocks which may be removed per person per day from public lands that it manages.

    Hazards

    The Black Rock Desert region has vast areas of land where travelers who experience a breakdown might not be found by others. The ease with which a visitor can drive onto the playa allows newcomers to take risks that they may not realize. Some web sites about the area have suggestions about preparation and survival. These and other sites have in common the usual desert travel advice to carry enough water, let people know where you plan to go and bring enough supplies to wait for a potential rescue if needed. In general, they advise taking the dangers seriously and giving some thought to survival skills
    Survival skills

    Survival skills are techniques a person may utilize for an indefinite duration in order to survive a dangerous situation . Generally speaking, these techniques are meant to provide the basic human needs for human life: fire, water, food, shelter, habitat, AND the needs to think straight, to signal for help, to navigate safely'...
    . The hazards of the desert have led to fatalities as long as people have visited the area.

    Typical hazards include muddy surface, vehicle breakdowns, dust storms, hot days and cold nights. Dehydration
    Dehydration

    Dehydration is the removal of water from an object. In Physiology terms, it entails a relative deficiency of water molecules in relation to other dissolved solutes....
     is always a factor in the desert. It's easy to get lost on the vast flat surface. The lakebed and dirt roads are generally impassable in the wet season.

    Sometimes well-prepared travelers have come to the assistance of others in distress. In July 2008, a particularly unique rescue was reported. A general aviation
    General aviation

    General aviation is one of two categories of civil aviation. It refers to all flights other than military aviation and scheduled air transport flights, both private aviation and commercial aviation....
     aircraft pilot, John Morgan, flying across the Black Rock Desert noticed an injured and dying man lying face-down isolated on the playa. Morgan landed his Aviat Husky
    Aviat Husky

    The Aviat Husky is a two seat, high wing, utility light aircraft built by Aviat of Afton, Wyoming.It is the only all-new light aircraft that was designed and entered series production in the United States in the mid to late 1980s....
     on the lakebed and taxied to where the man was lying. He contacted a passing airliner on the radio and arranged a message to be relayed so the man could be taken by medevac
    MEDEVAC

    Medical evacuation, often termed MEDEVAC or medivac, is the timely and efficient movement and en route care provided by medical personnel to the wounded being evacuated from the battlefield or to injured patients being evacuated from the scene of an accident to receiving medical facilities using medically equipped ground vehicl...
     helicopter to a hospital in Reno
    Reno, Nevada

    Reno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, Nevada, United States. A 2006 estimate indicated that the city's population had increased to 214,853, but ranked Reno as the third largest city in the state following Las Vegas, Nevada, and Henderson, Nevada....
    .

    Transportation

    The main highway in the area is Nevada State Route 447 from Interstate 80
    Interstate 80 in Nevada

    In the U.S. state of Nevada, Interstate 80 traverses the northern portion of the state. The freeway serves the Reno, Nevada-Sparks, Nevada metropolitan area, and also goes through the towns of Fernley, Nevada, Lovelock, Nevada, Winnemucca, Nevada, Battle Mountain, Nevada, Elko, Nevada, Wells, Nevada and West Wendover, Nevada on its way throu...
     at Wadsworth
    Wadsworth, Nevada

    Wadsworth is a census-designated place in Washoe County, Nevada, Nevada, United States. The population was 881 at the United States Census 2000....
     and Fernley
    Fernley, Nevada

    Fernley is a city in Lyon County, Nevada and Washoe County, Nevada counties in the U.S. state of Nevada. The city incorporated in 2001; prior to that it was a census-designated place ....
     to Gerlach. Some pre-1978 decommissioned highways remain mostly as dirt roads which are generally not usable in wet or snowy conditions, and may require high ground clearance even in good conditions. Old Highway 34
    Nevada State Route 34

    SR 34 is a signed decommissioned highway in Nevada from prior to the state's highway restructuring in 1978. A portion of Nevada State Route 447 was formerly SR 34, though SR 34 is still used from Gerlach, Nevada to near Vya, Nevada...
     provides access to the playa on the west side and to the Hualapai Valley. Old Highway 49
    Nevada State Route 49

    State Route 49, also known as Jungo Road, is an unimproved road from State Route 447 near Gerlach, NV east to Winnemucca, NV via Sulphur, Nevada and Jungo, Nevada...
    , also known as Jungo Road, is a dirt road that provides access to the playa from the west and connects to Winnemucca
    Winnemucca, Nevada

    Winnemucca is a city in and the county seat of Humboldt County, Nevada, Nevada, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the city had a total population of 7,174....
     via the ghost towns of Sulphur and Jungo. Old Highway 48
    Nevada State Route 48

    State Route 48 is the previous designation for State Routes Nevada State Route 399 and Nevada State Route 854 from Interstate 80 at Lovelock, Nevada northwest to near Eagle Picher Mine, then northwest along an unimproved road to meet former State Route 49 east of Gerlach, Nevada....
     is a dirt road that connects the playa to Lovelock
    Lovelock, Nevada

    Lovelock is a city in Pershing County, Nevada, Nevada, United States. The population was 2,003 at the United States Census, 2000. It is the county seat of Pershing County, Nevada....
    .

    A freight rail
    Freight train

    Freight train or goods train is a series of railroad car#Freight cars hauled by a locomotive on a railway, ultimately transporting cargo between two points as part of the logistics....
     line goes through Gerlach and up the east side of the playa on its way between Oroville, California
    Oroville, California

    Oroville is the county seat of Butte County, California. The population was 13,004 at the United States 2000 census, and is one of the faster growing towns in California, with an 11.9% increase in population from 2000 to June 2007....
     and Winnemucca on the Feather River Route
    Feather River Route

    The Feather River Route is a rail transport line that was built and operated by the Western Pacific Railroad. It was constructed between 1906 and 1909, and connects the cities of Oakland, California, and Salt Lake City, Utah....
    . It was built as part of the Western Pacific Railroad
    Western Pacific Railroad

    The Western Pacific Railroad was a Class I railroad railroad in the United States. It is now part of the Union Pacific Railroad . It was the second railroad company to use this name....
    , now part of Union Pacific Railroad
    Union Pacific Railroad

    The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
    . There is no passenger rail service.

    The Empire Airport
    Empire Airport (Nevada)

    Empire Airport is a public airport located on the west side of Empire, Nevada, in Washoe County, Nevada, Nevada, United States....
     in Empire has two unpaved runways. Light aircraft have also landed on the Black Rock Desert playa to attend events there. The nearest commercial airline service is at Reno.

    Federal lands

    Image:BLM-Winnemucca-NCA-Map 1-01 reference.gif|map of Black Rock-High Rock NCA
    Black Rock Desert-High Rock Canyon Emigrant Trails National Conservation Area

    The Black Rock Desert-High Rock Canyon Emigrant Trails National Conservation Area is federal land in Nevada under the Bureau of Land Management....
     and 10 wilderness areas Image:Black Rock Desert BLM Sign.jpg|BLM sign at Eight-mile playa entrance
    The Bureau of Land Management
    Bureau of Land Management

    The Bureau of Land Management is an agency within the United States Department of the Interior which administers America's public lands, totaling approximately 264 million acres or one-eighth of the landmass of the country....
     manages the Black Rock Desert-High Rock Canyon Emigrant Trails National Conservation Area
    Black Rock Desert-High Rock Canyon Emigrant Trails National Conservation Area

    The Black Rock Desert-High Rock Canyon Emigrant Trails National Conservation Area is federal land in Nevada under the Bureau of Land Management....
     (often shortened to "Black Rock-High-Rock NCA") and the following 10 wilderness areas in the Black Rock Desert region.

    • Black Rock Desert Wilderness
      Black Rock Desert Wilderness

      The Black Rock Desert Wilderness is a National Wilderness Preservation System in Nevada under the Bureau of Land Management. It is located in the east arm of the Black Rock Desert playa east of the Black Rock Range and west of the Jackson Mountains....
    • Calico Mountains Wilderness
      Calico Mountains Wilderness

      Calico Mountains Wilderness is a National Wilderness Preservation System in Nevada under the Bureau of Land Management. It is located in the Calico Mountains ....
    • East Fork High Rock Canyon Wilderness
      East Fork High Rock Canyon Wilderness

      The East Fork High Rock Canyon Wilderness is a National Wilderness Preservation System in Nevada under the Bureau of Land Management. It is located on the northeast side of High Rock Canyon but does not include the 4x4 trail inside High Rock Canyon nor a 4x4 trail to the Yellow Hills....
    • High Rock Canyon Wilderness
      High Rock Canyon Wilderness

      The High Rock Canyon Wilderness is a National Wilderness Preservation System in Nevada under the Bureau of Land Management. It is located on the southwest side of High Rock Canyon and north of the Little High Rock Canyon Wilderness....
    • High Rock Lake Wilderness
      High Rock Lake Wilderness

      The High Rock Lake Wilderness is a wilderness area in Nevada containing the northern portion of the Calico Mountains. High Rock Lake, for which the wilderness was named, was created about 11,800 years ago after a large rockslide closed the outlet to High Rock and Little High Rock Canyons....
  • Little High Rock Canyon Wilderness
    Little High Rock Canyon Wilderness

    The Little High Rock Canyon Wilderness is a National Wilderness Preservation System in Nevada under the Bureau of Land Management. It is located south of the High Rock Canyon Wilderness and west of the High Rock Lake Wilderness....
  • North Black Rock Range Wilderness
    North Black Rock Range Wilderness

    The North Black Rock Range Wilderness is a National Wilderness Preservation System in Nevada under the Bureau of Land Management. It is located northeast of Soldier Meadows and south of the Summit Lake Indian Reservation....
  • North Jackson Mountains Wilderness
    North Jackson Mountains Wilderness

    The North Jackson Mountains Wilderness is a National Wilderness Preservation System in Nevada under the Bureau of Land Management. It is located in the Jackson Mountains north of the South Jackson Mountains Wilderness and east of the Black Rock Desert Wilderness....
  • Pahute Peak Wilderness
    Pahute Peak Wilderness

    The Pahute Peak Wilderness is a National Wilderness Preservation System in Nevada under the Bureau of Land Management. It is located in the central Black Rock Range west of the Black Rock Desert Wilderness....
  • South Jackson Mountains Wilderness
    South Jackson Mountains Wilderness

    The South Jackson Mountains Wilderness is a National Wilderness Preservation System in Nevada under the Bureau of Land Management. It is located in the Jackson Mountains south of the North Jackson Mountains Wilderness and east of the Black Rock Desert Wilderness....


  • Hot springs

    Among many recreational activities at Black Rock, some people like to visit hot spring
    Hot spring

    A hot spring is a Spring that is produced by the emergence of Geothermal groundwater from the earth's crust . There are hot springs all over the earth, on every continent and even under the oceans and seas....
    s. BLM distributes pamphlets and even has billboards on Interstate 80 saying "Hot springs on public lands - stay out and stay alive!" They describe reasons in their press release, . BLM's "stay out and stay alive" campaign was the result of a lawsuit filed against it by the family of a woman who died in 2000 at Double Hot Springs. She fell in the water trying to save her dog that had jumped in.

    Fly Geyser

    At Fly Ranch, the Fly Geyser is one of two geysers at the ranch - the other being dormant, possibly because of the upheaval of the second geyser. The Fly Geyser continuously sprays hot water. This hot spring fountain was accidentally formed by a water well drilling that hit a geothermal source. Fly Ranch is private property which does not currently allow visitors.

    See also

    • Black Rock Press - University of Nevada, Reno
      Black Rock Press - University of Nevada, Reno

      Black Rock Press was founded by Kenneth Carpenter in 1965. It is named after a landmark in the Black Rock Desert in northern Nevada that guided emigrants on the Applegate Trail....
    • Bonneville Speedway
      Bonneville Speedway

      Bonneville Speedway is an area of the Bonneville Salt Flats near Wendover, Utah, that is marked out for motor sports. It is particularly noted as the venue for numerous land speed records....
    • List of endorheic basins
      List of endorheic basins

      The following is a list of endorheic basins ? watersheds which do not drain to the sea....
    • List of Nevada-related topics
      List of Nevada-related topics

      The following is a list of topics about the U.S. State of Nevada....
    • List of North American deserts
      List of North American deserts

      This is a list of North American deserts. There are four major deserts , in North America, all located in the western United States and northern Mexico....
    • List of rivers in the Great Basin
      List of rivers in the Great Basin

      This is a list of rivers of the Great Basin in North America.*Amargosa River - Death Valley *American Fork River - Utah Lake *Bear River - Great Salt Lake ...
    • Rain shadow
      Rain shadow

      For the Australian television series see Rain Shadow .A rain shadow or rainshadow, or more accurately, precipitation shadow, is a dry region of land that is leeward of a mountain range or other geographic feature, with respect to prevailing wind direction....
    • Reno–Sparks Metropolitan Statistical Area
      Reno-Sparks metropolitan area

      The Reno–Sparks Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of two counties in Western Nevada Nevada, anchored by the cities of Reno, Nevada and Sparks, Nevada....


    External links

    • Regulatory
    • Regional info
      • - Information about Black Rock Desert region conservation projects, current conditions, events, maps, and more.
      • - overview, safety info, photos and links oriented toward rocketry at Black Rock
      • - coordination of radio frequency usage among licensed amateur radio
        Amateur radio

        Amateur radio, often called Etymology of ham radio, is both a hobby and a service in which participants, called "hams," use various types of radio communications equipment to communicate with other radio amateurs for Public services, recreation and self-training....
         operators
    • Rocketry
      • - Association of Experimental Rocketry of the Pacfic, host of the "MudRock", "Aeronaut" and "XPRS" annual high-power rocketry events at Black Rock
      • - Arizona High Power Rocketry Association, host of the "BALLS" annual high-power rocketry event at Black Rock
    • Fly Geyser