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NOTES: Be prepared for a long way off the beaten path. #159 is one of the most remote markers in the system, requiring a long drive no matter which direction a hunter comes from. Fortunately, the marker can be readily accessed from almost any town. Expect to travel an average 1.5 hours from Tonopah, 50 minutes south of Austin, 1 hr & 10 minutes from Fallon and 1 hour & 5 minutes from Hawthorne. Needless to say, prepare yourself for this one.
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The long, lonely drive to #159 ...
Despite it's isolation, Ione can be accessed by many routes. The most popular route comes from the Reese River Valley via unpaved County Road 21. CR 21 leads south from Austin and crosses over the Monitor Range through Ione Canyon, delivering a hunter right on the east entrance to town. The second route (unpaved) is via Union Canyon (unpaved), leading from SR 376 in Big Smoky Valley. Union Canyon Road leads to Berlin-Ichthyosaur S.P, where it connects to CR 21 in Ione Valley. However, the most convenient route is via paved SR 361, the Gabbs Valley Highway; this route makes a long beeline up the entire valley, linking US 95 near Luning (E of Hawthorne) to US 50 at Middlegate (E of Fallon). Again like most roads in Nevada, one man's treasure can be another man's monotony; SR 361 lives up to that motto. If you don't like the desert, SR 361 will surely disappoint. However, there are only a few reasons why a person drives SR 361. If you don't know the reasons, maybe you needn't conquer this marker.
Along SR 361, about Mile 16 from US 50. The journey has only begun!
A little over 20 miles from US 50, and it's already time time to leave SR 361.
 Don't let appearances deceive you. SR 844 is one scenic little beauty! |
Allow me to introduce to you, State Route 844 -- a lonely blacktop which leads to Berlin Ichthyosaur State Park. According to NDOT, SR 844 is one of Nevada's most loneliest roads, quite ironic for a route that leads to a state park. The truth is, even during peak holiday tourist months (June-August), SR 844 is lucky to receive an average of 50 cars a day. According to Nevada State Parks, Berlin-Ichthyosaur receives the least amount of visitors of any Nevada state park. In other words, if you seek solitude with your state park experiences, Berlin awaits your arrival!
 Notice the brown sign in the background. In case you're wondering, this sign reads, "Fossil Tours, Sat-Sun 10AM-2PM". |
Only 3 miles onto 844, we immediately start climbing into the mountains. SR 844 has to tackle two small mountain passes to reach Berlin-Ichthyosaur.
After climbing over the last mountain range, SR 844 drops into Ione Valley, a long dry expanse that stretches all the way to Tonopah, some sixty miles to the south.
At the end of the valley, we are greeted with this sign. Now the fun begins!
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