Historical Markers of Elko County


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GET ME TO JARBIDGE!
Jarbidge, known by many people as "Nevada's most remote town", also holds two of Nevada's most-remote historic markers (#69 & 153). One thing is for certain: Jarbidge commands commitment for anybody willing to make the trek. The town of Jarbidge, set in an absolutely beautiful setting, hides far away from what most Nevadans would call "civilization." To conquer 'the Jarbidge markers', hunters must drive a minimum of two hours on dirt to reach the town; we took notes for the exact distance as shown below, and although tempting, didn't make any diversions to get there. The results: #69/#153 are located approximately 103.2 miles N of Elko and 52 miles from the nearest paved road.

You just know when signs don't lie.

The typical rural Nevadan sees 103.2 miles as just a bump in the road. Most urban Nevadans however, may think twice before diverting this far from the highway; the "cherry-on-top" is knowing that more than half of your journey will be on steep dirt and gravel grades, roads that wind right into the heart of the Jarbidge Mountains. As a precaution, I advise hunters to bring everything they might need -- water, extra batteries etc. Surprisingly, gasoline CAN be purchased via one gas pump, but the owner runs it only on request. Even so, people should expect to pay at least forty cents more compared to Elko; as hunters makes the drive to Jarbidge, they should keep an eye out for the occasional local on ATV's and give them right of way. A visit in the fall will reveal plenty of hunters, many of whom are very friendly and will help if needed. Otherwise, hunters: expect this conquering to be a solitary run: just you and the gorgeous terrain.

Three ways to Jarbidge:
Read carefully: There are three ways to get to Jarbidge. Urbanites, listen up: no matter which way you take, YOU WILL be on dirt and YOU WILL be on your own for much of the trip! There's just no way around it. In other words, get over it...

Access #1: (Charleston Road)
The first and easiest way is by heading north out of Elko on SR 225 toward Mountain City. Approximately 56 miles N of Elko, you will see the following sign...

...Make the right turn here, and say goodbye to the pavement. The next piece of pavement you run across (not counting a few instances in Jarbidge Canyon), will be some seventy miles away. This route follows the path of County Road 746, also known as, "The Charleston Road"; the Charleston Road is a good, graded track into the heart of cattle country. Watch the road for lazy bovines and other stray wildlife.

At Mile 24, you'll come to this sign and a road fork...

Congratulations. You're halfway there, but the fun has only begun! Make the left turn here, onto County Road 748, ("Jarbidge Canyon Road/Rogerson Road"), your link to Jarbidge. You'll quickly see why the vehicle of choice for Jarbidge residents are ATV's. Let me get this in the open, folks -- although it's only 27 miles to Jarbidge, these will seem like the longest 27 miles you'll ever drive. Not only does CR 748 become extremely steep, but the scenery becomes nothing less than breath-taking. Certainly, time is a non-existent factor on this road; time neither "flies by" nor "drags on", a curse and a blessing at the same time. While these two county roads are both passable by the family sedan, I HIGHLY recommend a high clearance vehicle, preferably one with front-wheel drive; a front-wheel drive insures maximum torque to climb the road's extremely steep grades and TWO, (that's right), TWO mountain passes to Jarbidge. Needless to say, trailers and RVs are NOT recommended via this route; CR 748's tight switchbacks and narrow road width make it tricky, if not dangerous for trailers. This is especially true when descending from Bear Creek Summit, or during the wet-spring season. Although people do maneuever trailers up here every year, the drive is long and downright risky. In other words: drive at your own risk. You've been warned. Another thing to keep in mind -- Elko County regularly closes CR 748 in the winter. Generally, only locals ply the road. To put it mildly: don't expect to get to Jarbidge during the cold season.

Access #2: (Deeth/Tabor Creek Road)
The second route to Jarbidge is by way of CR 747, which heads north from Interstate 80 at Deeth (Exit 323). Please keep in mind that people use this road even less than 746/748; pay extra attention to how you travel in this area. Like CR 746, 747 traverses the traditional high desert terrain typical of Nevada. A plus however, are some nice campsites all along this route, notably at Tabor Creek, with maintained facilities and better-than-average scenery. 747 is popular with hunters and will eventually lead up to the above junction (photo shown) with CR 748.

Access #3: (Rogerson Road)
The third route to Jarbidge is via Rogerson, Idaho. Locals from Jarbidge use the Rogerson route to get home during the winter; most likely, this route will be your way out when leaving town. To find this route, follow Interstate 80 to Wells and head north on US 93 toward Jackpot, entering Idaho at Mile 61. Continue on US 93 for another twenty miles to Rogerson, Idaho -- a sign will clearly direct drivers to "Rogerson, Jarbidge". (Nice to see that such a tiny, remote, outpost town like Jarbidge is worthy of a freeway sign!) Take this turnoff from US 93 through Rogerson's main center and make another left at the Gas Station/Store (you can't miss it). (This road is listed on some maps as "Three Forks Road") Unlike the other two routes, the Rogerson route cuts through high plateaulands and dry, agricultural valleys, right on the northern border of the Great Basin; while it may not seem like it, this road will take get you to Jarbidge. Forty miles later, the road loses pavement, and immediately descends down into the Jarbidge Mountains. (The photo below is what you'll see as the pavement ends -- a quick change in scenery.)

Shown below is the steep and inaccessible canyon of the East Fork Jarbidge River.

Once in the canyon, you will pass through Murphy's Hot Springs, a tiny hamlet of about twenty souls living alongside the river. In another 3 miles, a BLM signed road fork signed "to Jarbidge", will appear on your left. This road will eventually become our old friend, CR 748. Four more miles of Idaho and a small signpost states the quiet entry back into Nevada. (A milepost will appear on the left, stating the return of "Elko 748." As an added note, this area of extreme northern Nevada is worthy of a state (if not National) park. For the next twelve beautiful miles, drivers will be treated to outstanding views of natural arches and volcanic buttresses of the canyon walls towering above the river. 748 tightly parallels the Jarbidge River into town, making way for narrow conditions and a necessary slow-going. (Be prepared to yield to northbound/uphill traffic at times.) Keep your eyes on the road rather than the scenery, because you'll quickly notice this road is heavily traveled. Lastly, always obey the posted 15MPH speed limit, especially around some of the road's blind curves...

...Then suddenly, you round a bend and you will be greeted by the sign below -- not that you were in any hurry. If you were, you've come to the wrong place!

Welcome to Jarbidge, my friends.

Before heading to this marker, I highly recommend viewing our

TRIP TO JARBIDGE.

Our "trip to Jarbidge" will give you a great heads up as to what you will face when attempting to conquer "the Jarbidge markers" If not, feel free to jump to any one of the Jarbidge markers below, but remember -- like most Nevada markers, the journey itself is often more exciting than the actual marker itself. These are no exception! Enjoy.

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